5 Steps to Guarantee You’re Doing the SMART Stuff First – and Avoid Spinning Your Wheels, Getting Lost in Information Overload, or Wasting Your Time on Social Media
Here’s the SHOCKING truth: MOST ALL of the budding entrepreneurs I meet are wasting their time taking the wrong actions.
This is NO exaggeration.
(What’s sadder is they rarely have ANY idea they’re doing it.)
But RESULTS speak: If you’re not serving a lot of people and making a great living, you likely are part of that 98%.
When I quizzed my entire mailing list 2 weeks ago, and asked what you’re struggling with MOST in your biz, this fact hit home. The topics HIGH on the list were things like this:
“How do I know if I’m taking the RIGHT business steps?”
And: “I’m overwhelmed – what should I be doing FIRST?”
Far too many women are working blind – scouring the web for free business and marketing tidbits, and trying to piece them together all by their lonesome in a hodge-podge sort of way.
They’re wasting endless hours on Facebook, Twitter, email, the internet and other marketing-shmarketing that promise big results (but rarely deliver).
So if you want to TRULY be successful, you’ve got to learn what to do FIRST –– and what to cross off your list, pronto.
HOW do you determine this? Well, the results rest in 1 thing and 1 thing ONLY:
Your INCOME!
Don’t get me wrong: I’m not talking about turning you into some money-hungry, heartless zombie who’s only reason for living is to make a quick buck at the expense of others. (Shame on you for even thinking such things!)
But you’ve got to have a litmus test to know when you’re on track, and when you’re off.
And since business is set apart from hobbies by the fact that they make money – if you’re bringing in the bucks, you’re doing something RIGHT.
If you’re not, well… it’s important to get out of denial, and realize that something’s off.
There are lots of reasons to not be making money.
But today, we’re going to focus on how you’re using the time that you’ve got, because it’s the easiest thing to adjust on your own. (And it’s the thing that newbies and seasoned-pros struggle with a LOT.)
THE 80-20 RULE
You’ve likely heard about the 80-20 Rule… (If not, no worries!) It means that 80% of people’s productivity comes from 20% of their actions.
(Or for women like us, more like the 98-2 Rule…)
Anyhoo, that also means you want to be doing MORE of the 20% of smart, lucrative actions, and way, way LESS of those 80% wheel-spinners.
THE MOST SHOCKING STATISTIC EVER:
(Or almost…)
If I could get my mitts on you, and force you to get back ONLY 30 MINUTES of productivity each day (which is nothing compared to the endless hours wasted by most modern women on the boob-tube alone) you’d get back:
(drumroll)
One entire freakin’ MONTH of work-time…. EVERY BLEEPITY-BLEEP YEAR!!!!
Seriously.
Do the math: That’s 22.25 eight-hour work days.
(Yowza, Batgirl.)
Wheel-spinning and working on non-vital/non-lucrative actions happens for several reasons:
• You want to avoid the tasks that scare the panties off ya
• You want to “artificially” feel that you’re being productive
• Because you just don’t understand smart business (yet)
• You’re uber-distractable or disorganized
• You’ve got some lousy old bad habits
(Don’t worry: even I can answer “YES!” to all of the above sometimes, too.)
As they say, the first step is to acknowledge there’s a problem — and shine the good ol’ bright light of awareness onto your deepest, darkest stinky-spots.
So let’s start there! Which of these lil’ buggers are jamming YOU up sometimes?…
TOP-5 TIME-WASTERS
Here are the Top 5 Biggest Time-Wasters for most female entrepreneurs:
1. Social Media (Facebook/Twitter)
If you’re finding yourself lost in the social interwebs for hours, and DON’T have a clear plan on how to monetize those actions, then you’re probably wasting your time.
3. Email/Texting
How LONG are you spending — and how OFTEN are you checking it? Depending on which study you read, it can take up to 15 minutes to get yourself back on track.
4. Internet Surfing
It’s super easy to be researching a profound fact, only to wake up 45 minutes later watching cats play pianos… (Not that it’s EVER happened to me… cough-cough).
4. “Organizing”
I see so many women get FILLED with inspiration from the Organizational Fairy or the Cleaning Gods – exuberantly pushing around papers, planning up a storm, or whipping out the Windex. (Funny how their visits coincide with those uncomfortable tasks, or a dreaded deadline.)
5. Futzing
Futzing comes in many forms, like: creating the perfect business card, fidgeting with the colors on your website banner, writing the perfect tagline for your business, or any other distraction techniques.
So now that you’re starting to spot some of your sneaky saboteurs, let’s shift focus to what you can start to do INSTEAD:
TOP-5 ACTIONS OF “UNSTOPPABLE” ENTREPRENEURS
For most healers, coaches and soulful service professionals here’s what you SHOULD have front-and-center on your week’s To-Do list:
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Connecting 1-on-1
You’ve GOT to let people know you exist: in-person (or even via phone). Seeing your gorgeous mug, or hearing your voice — AND learning all about your brilliance — is the fastest, most LUCRATIVE route.
-
Sending “Warm Letters”
Send snail-mail letters to everyone you know, telling them: WHAT you’re up to, WHO you’re looking for, HOW you work, the RESULTS you get (or intend to get), and how they can HELP you — a great way to get referrals!
-
Giving Talks
Speaking is one of the best ways to grow your business – via in-person talks, teleseminars or phone interviews and summits. You get to share your message intimately with people who are already interested in what you do – often creating long-term raving fans!
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Make Joint-Venture Connections
Spending time connecting with people in high places is never a bad idea. The more buddies you have who serve your same target market, the more likely you’ll be to collaborate and support one another down the road.
-
Write a Regular Newsletter
Which “technically” this is a long-range strategy, there’s something magical and mystical about the chutzpah generated by showing up as a Pro. People will see you as the expert – and you’ll likely radiate a whole new level of contagious confidence.
Now I know that list might sound daunting. But it’s better to hate me now (and love me later!)…
UNSTOPPABLE ACTIVITY
So, I have 2 EASY homework assignments for you today:
- Write down the BIGGEST time-waster that’s hurting your mission.
- Write down the ONE lucrative, smart action you’ll take instead.
Then share your answers in the Comment-Box below. (My FAVORITE!)
Until next time, be Unstoppable!
XOXO Stephanie
PS:
Do your business issues go deeper?…
Perhaps you don’t know how to create packages that sell, which business direction is the best, how to talk about what you do, or ways to find the right customers — AND you’re a go-getter hungry to blow this biz-thang out of the WATER already! — let’s chat.
I’ll see if I can help you sort things out.
To do that, simply apply for a FREE Unstoppable Breakthrough session – they’re all sorts o’ DREAMY-cool fun: http://www.UnstoppableApplication.com )
(Just check out what other Unstoppables who’ve come before you have said: www.UnstoppableSuperstars.com )
