Let the Good Times (Management) Roll

Let The Good Times(Management) Roll

Mary Ellen BatesReluctant—Entrepreneur.comMay 20, 2017

Reluctant-Entrepreneur.com

Managing this time slot

Getting stuff doneAddressing procrastinationThe 12-Week Year for solopreneurs

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Getting Stuff Done

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Getting Things DoneWorkflow consists of

collecting, processing,organizing, reviewing,doing

Put everything in writing“What’s the next action?”

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Tips for Getting Stuff Done

Know your internal scheduleWhat is the natural flow of your day?When are you most creative?When can you focus closely?When can you enjoy office/adminwork?

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Look for 15-minute slots and havethings ready to doOrder office supplies, schedulemeetings during travel, outline talk,read book summary

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Batch your workKnow your workflow, next stepEasier tomaintainmomentum thancreate it

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When you put down a project, leavea hookKick-start your re-start when youreturn to it

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For distraction-prone projectsPark yourself at a coffee shop untilit’s doneOffer yourself a shiny toy when doneImagine the warm feeling of “done”

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Email and social media are often usedas distraction/procrastination

Seriously. Check 2-3 times/day.

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Procrastination

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Which are you?

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or


Check your ‘tude

How do you view procrastination?A moral failing?A powerful focusing tool?

Procrastination ≠ inaction

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Why we procrastinate

I’m afraid I’ll screw upWrite down the worst that couldhappen.

I don’t have enough ___________.What can you do right now?

I just don’t wanna do itSo what? Do it anyway.

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Choose your suffering

The lengthy pain of procrastination orThe possible short, intense pain of

failure or rejection

Resistance is futile

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The Pomodoro Technique

One task at a time25 minutes of focus (no email, nosocial media, no multitasking)5 minute breakRepeat

Have a goal of X Pomodoros a dayor a week

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Strategic procrastination

Just get the-dreaded-thing startedPut off the lower-priority stuffMake a decision at the “last best

moment”

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How can you structure your day sothat you fully enjoy intentionalfree time?

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The 12-Week Year forSolopreneurs

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Set juicy long-term goalsID the 12-week goals to get

you thereSpell out the tactics

required each week toachieve that goal

Evaluate your progressevery week

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Accountability on steroids

Clear one-year goals – tangibleindicators of success to you

Clear mid-range (12-week) goals toget you from here to there

Make them measurable!X% of goals completed this wek

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Not just big goals, not justbusiness goalsDo this for all your accountabilities

Long-term client projectsBuilding your businessVolunteer workPersonal goals

Include fun stuff and comfort-zone-pushing activities

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Business goal example

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Week ending: 5-May 12-May 19-May 26-May 2-JunGOAL: Get 2 newclients

Conduct 5 info interviewsResearch to ID10interviewees

Send first 5invitations

Review, rewordinvitations;scheduleinterviews

Complete allinterviews,review results

New outreach to marketReview, updateweb site, socialmedia profiles


Project management example

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Week ending: 5-May 12-May 19-May 26-May 2-Jun 9-Jun

GOAL: Manageclient project

White papersOutlinedraft

Draft toKate

First draft dueGet commentsfrom Kate,rework

InterviewsGet list ofcontacts,review

Schedule 6appointments

Schedule 5more if needed

Write up allfindings,review


Personal goal example

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Week ending: 5-May 12-May 19-May 26-May

GOAL: Get house ready to move

Clear out all rooms! Living room Guest room Garage

Repairs Do list of repairs Call handymanReview with Sue foraddl work needed


Now, you try it!

ID 1 business and 1 personal long-term quantifiable goal

For each one, ID 3 tactics and puteach on a separate line

What might be in each week’s box?

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Resources

Getting Things Done:gettingthingsdone.com

Pomodoro Technique: goo.gl/JfynmD

The 12-Week Year: 12weekyear.com

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+1 [email protected]: @mebsLinkedIn: maryellenbatesFacebook: maryellenbatesReluctant–entrepreneur.com

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