Time management skills are vital for the small business owner. The need to manage your time is not a new concept. However, many neglect to prioritize their tasks. Every single day you must have a list of things you will accomplish. From that list you need to identify "the high payoff task".The high payoff task is the project that is in direct alignment with your goals and dreams. Many people consider the high payoff task to be that which will bring them money. Do not fall into this trap. The high payoff task will deliver something of true value to you, something more important than instant monetary gratification. When you complete that task it will have either moved you to the next level, or opened the doorway to the staircase that will take you there. It places you in a position to grow.Unfortunately, it is often hard to distinguish what the high payoff task for the day will be. We often have a list of things that we want to do, don't want to do or should have done all rolled into one. The key is to decipher from that list which project will bring you both joy and growth. The beauty of it is this, there is not a list of steps you have to follow to determine the high payoff task. Nor is there a key ingredient to creating one. It is simply a matter of getting in touch with your feelings and emotions. When you're engaging in your high payoff task you will know it because you will feel on fire. Every step and every decision will flow with ease.Sometimes we can identify the high payoff task before we even begin. If you read an item on your list and you become excited and feel good at the prospect of completing that task then you have identified your high pay off task. Other times we don't identify the high payoff task until we're knee deep in it. You may say things to yourself like "wow this is easier than I thought it would be" or "I feel like I'm actually making progress" and you will take pleasure in completing this task.Yet, what happens most often is that you find the high payoff task outside of the list. It may be as simple as an unexpected phone call, email or a chance meeting. It appears in the little things that make you say, "that just made my day"! This experience energizes and refuels you and this is what the high payoff task does. When something keeps you motivated and actively moving towards your goal or ignites you inner desires and your passion for life, you've found your high payoff task.Keep your eyes open because it may be in disguise, but it will always bring you happiness.Lyndsey Shaffer is the co- founder of the Onyx Six - Women of Color Business Network www.onyxsix.com. Onyx Six is a business development network committed to creating a supportive and influential community of minority women entrepreneurs and professionals. Contact Lyndsey Shaffer by email at lshaffer@onyxsix.com.
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As a mom with small kids and a business to run from home…things often get hectic. You’ve seen me in the parking lot with two kids under the arms, and another hugging one leg, while I load the van, talking to someone on my Bluetooth, with the coffee running intravenously through my veins. And everyone seems to think it’s the super powers that keep me going. Oh no, it’s the coffee. But seriously, there is no secret about what has to happen to keep me from tearing my hair out. The only way to get things done is to be organized. Here are some tips that keep me sane:1. Before my work week begins, I write down the goals I want to accomplish. I usually have 2 categories, one for my business and the second for my household.2. I make my goals realistic ones, for example, this week I will make 6-10 prospect/marketing calls.a. Your goal shouldn’t be make 20 calls, because the chances are with your hectic schedule you may not be able to achieve this goal;b. Then you will feel like you didn’t accomplish your task.c. However, once you’ve accomplished your goals, see if you can add-on to those goals.3. For all my appointments and calendaring of things to do, I make sure to use my computer to prompt me to check my “to-do” list each day. I put a reminder on my computer to “alert” me to check my events, or tasks on my calendar.4. Each week I try to focus on a different aspect of my business, e.g., marketing this week, newsletter next week; website week after next, and so on, and so on. And all these tasks are put on my calendar on my computer.5. I do my sales/marketing tasks in the morning when the kids are asleep or occupied with playing. I do these in the morning because I know by the late afternoon I’ll be too drained to make effective phone calls. It’s easier to answer emails throughout the day because I’m using my fingers; however, a fresh, sunny voice is best for me first thing in the morning. Again all these tasks are entered into my calendar on my computer.6. When I run errands, I always have my business cards with me within easy reach. Easy reach is very important, because you never want a prospect to see you fumbling around for your business cards. Their very first impression of you should not be that you’re not organized.7. And just an important aside here: Following-up with your prospects is very important. If you say you’ll call/or email in XX amount of hours, or YY days, make sure you keep your promise. Not keeping your end of the bargain is a sure way to loose a prospective client.8. At the end of the week, I analyze my goals and achievements and try to figure out what my next goals are, and then the cycle continues for the next week.So we super moms who stay at home with our kids, and run a business from our home, and who sit on the PTA organizations and who volunteer, etc, etc. don’t get overwhelmed. If you write your tasks down and attack them a little bit at a time, our tasks will not seem so overwhelming. And believe me, we are all overwhelmed with our duties as a mom, and CEO of our homes and business.Please feel free to add some tips that have helped to keep you organized. We can all use ideas of ways to make our days as super moms run more smoothly and more effectively. So let’s share, share, share.
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