Tag Archive: schedule

The Solo Entrepreneur: Tips for the Lone Ranger

The Solo Entrepreneur: Tips for the Lone Ranger

The benefits of being a solo entrepreneur often outweigh the minuses, yet working by yourself day in and day out can, at times, negatively impact your mood and, by extension, your revenue. To help battle the solo blues, many entrepreneurs tap into Meetup groups or rent communal office space, but there are other low-cost, high-impact strategies to help boost your psyche and your bottom line. We spoke with some solo entrepreneurs to get their take on the best strategies to stay connected even when working alone.

1. Set a schedule and stick to it

Every entrepreneur knows there is always something he or she could be doing at any given moment to build the business. But if an over commitment to work is causing you to ignore other parts of your life, it can heighten those feelings of loneliness. Be sure to organize your calendar around work hours and meetings, as well as time with others and evenings off.

Don’t work 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. every day locked in a little room,” says Mike Scanlin, CEO of Born To Sell, a website dedicated to covered call investing. “You can do it for a couple of weeks if you’re working towards some deadline or having a burst of creative output, but you will get lonely if you don’t keep regular hours and make time to get out in the evenings or weekends.” Beret Kirkeby, owner of Body Mechanics Orthopedic Massage NYC, agrees that downtime is essential especially during the beginning stages of building your business. “Work on a schedule. You need attention just as much as your business,” says Kirkeby. “Try scheduling one day a month to start where you force yourself to make a commitment to do something for yourself such as spending an afternoon at the spa or hosting a potluck with friends. As the load lightens, [devote] one day a week [to your life outside of work].”


2. Curate a support dream team

One of the most valuable—and necessary—elements of running your own business is the ability to bounce ideas off of someone whose opinion you value. Angie Nelson, a solo entrepreneur since 2007, offers advice to fellow business owners on her blog TheWorkAtHomeWife.com. She says her best tip for avoiding loneliness is to form friendships with fellow entrepreneurs. “These people get it and understand the crazy hours and unique obstacles you will face,” she says. “They can offer the support that most friends and family can’t.” Take time each week to touch base via email or Skype with fellow business folks and mentors who can offer guidance and support—and vice versa. MeetUp is a great place to reach fellow entrepreneurs, as is MicroMentor.org.

3. Get out of your element

You’ve already joined business organizations to network and stay current in your field, but certified business coach, consultant, and owner of The Neoteric Group Nicki Morris encourages her clients to devote some time to groups that have no ties to their business.

 

Join a not-for-profit board. It provides an opportunity for you to ‘give back’ and offer your time and, potentially, your expertise on a volunteer basis,” explains Morris. “It also provides social connections with other board members, the management of the organization, and other community members.” Another idea: sign up for an adult baseball team or a cooking class—anything to combine a much-needed break from work with doing something good for your body and mind. Scanlin agrees: “Get a hobby that involves other people—play on a team or go for a group hike. Do something outside with other people.”

 

4. Build strategic local partnerships

You run a one-person show, yet your company can benefit from partnering with a fellow small business owner at times. “Build strategic alliances with other solo entrepreneurs who have a business or target market in which you can both have synergy and mutual benefits,” suggests Morris. “For example, a solo physiotherapist who has a senior citizen clientele could build a strategic alliance with a solo financial planner with a similar clientele.” Partnering at certain times throughout the year can buoy your bottom line and combat the loneliness factor.

 

5. Remember why you chose this path

You have a vision of what you want your life to be. When you’ve been working 14 hours a day for seven months to reach that goal, and you are feeling a little lonely, step back and remind yourself why you are doing it. “You are a self-starter, and you are choosing a lifestyle that has benefits beyond companionship of co-workers,” says Scanlin. “The best solo entrepreneurs are the ones who can network with others when needed (via email or phone), but are also happy working by themselves.”

 

Time Management Tips for Small Business Owners

Time Management Tips for Small Business Owners

Few would argue that being a small business owner can be enormously demanding. Whether it’s dealing with vendors, managing staff, or serving customers, finding the right balance for these tasks can be a formidable challenge. While some try to handle the time management dilemma by working overtime every day, this kind of solution can often lead to burnout. How then can business owners successfully manage their time without sacrificing their health and personal lives?

Following are time management tips from several small business owners who have faced this challenge:

1. Don’t be afraid of shutting down technology to complete a project.

Because technology allows us to instantaneously access information via an unending assortment of mobile or wireless devices, it can be tempting to constantly check for e-mails or alerts—and then just as quickly respond to them. Try to avoid this trap. Unless you are waiting for a time-sensitive response from a client, your time is probably better spent attending to other aspects of your business.

Diana Ennen, president of Virtual Word Publishing, an online PR/marketing firm that handles book authors, wholeheartedly agrees.

“You absolutely need to focus and turn off all notifications when working on projects,” she urges. “That means turn off your cell phone, social media, Skype, or e-mail notifications. Log out of Outlook so that way you won’t see new e-mails coming in. If it helps, set a timer and work for several hours.”

To prove her point, Ennen, who works with four subcontractors regularly, says she often does this when writing press releases and articles for clients. As a result, she can complete the job easily. “It’s so much better because I’ve committed to it and am fully focused,” she says.

2. Carve out a block of time to complete jobs.

If you want to use your time productively, schedule in your calendar a block of time to work on a key job or project. This way you will be able to concentrate on what needs to be done without scattering your energies or letting your attention wander to a host of other things.

Time_Management_PQ.jpg

Dana Manciagli, a Bellevue, Washington-based career consultant with her own business, says this is an imperative.

“Schedule your important work as an appointment to yourself,” advises Manciagli, who previously worked at Microsoft as a worldwide sales manager. “If you need to write proposals that you are not getting to, open your calendar and make an appointment with yourself for it. If you need to remind yourself which ones to work on, put more details in the body of the invitation.”

3. Master the art of saying no.

Cultivating potential customers and associates at meetings or networking events is good for business. But if your attendance prevents you from planning your monthly budget or training new personnel, you might have to decline the invitation to focus on the task on hand. Be strategic when weighing the pros and cons of invitations as well as favors that others may ask of you.

“Learn how to say no,” insists Manciagli. “I made a lot of mistakes in my first year [as a small business professional] and this is one of them. Ask yourself: Which line item of my P&L will benefit immediately if I attend this event? Cost-Savings? And within revenue, be more specific with yourself. Will new clients be there? Will I get leads? If not, say ‘no, thank you.’”

4. Get up early.

It might be a platitude but the old saying, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man, healthy, wealthy and wise,” might have some validity for business owners seeking to better manage their time. Drew Stevens, owner of Stevens Consulting Group, which helps small struggling healthcare professionals improve their revenue, endorses this takeaway as a great way to get things done.

With the extra time, Stevens says small business owners can review a perplexing client issue or look over notes or PowerPoint slides for an upcoming board meeting. “I remember getting up at 5 a.m. to get my master’s work done before I commuted to work,” he says. “And if you do commute, do some work on the train rather than read a book or sleep.”

5. Create a to-do list.

Sometimes scheduling time to complete a project is not enough. You might need to actually write out a to-do list on a regular basis. Then once you’re finished with each task, just cross it off until you get to the next job. It might sound like an obvious time management solution for small business owners, but not too many do it, says Essen. However, if you don’t adhere to this simple best practice, you might be subjecting yourself to a lot of all-nighters.

“To feel more in control, make this a habit—even on your busiest days,” she advises. “It takes away the feeling of being overwhelmed and the fear of forgetting something. For me, it has been instrumental as well in completing larger projects, such as redoing my website. It’s amazing how freeing it is to take large projects a chunk at a time. And if they don t get done, put it on the list for tomorrow.”

6. Learn to delegate.

As a small business owner, it is not incumbent upon you to do everything yourself. Lighten your load by learning to assign some duties to your staff or others who can help you.

Says Stevens: “There is no reason to be involved in everything. For example, I operate a very busy coaching business and recognize I cannot do it all. To that end, I hire freelancers for my graphics, my invoicing, my collections and even printing. This allows me to focus on my most vital aspect—clients.”

Small Business Owners Management Tips

Small Business Owners Management Tips

Small Business Owners Management Tips

Small Business Owners Management Tips

By Iris Dorbian.

Few would argue that being a small business owner can be enormously demanding. Whether it’s dealing with vendors, managing staff, or serving customers, finding the right balance for these tasks can be a formidable challenge. While some try to handle the time management dilemma by working overtime every day, this kind of solution can often lead to burnout. How then can business owners successfully manage their time without sacrificing their health and personal lives?

Following are time management tips from several small business owners who have faced this challenge:

1. Don’t be afraid of shutting down technology to complete a project.

Because technology allows us to instantaneously access information via an unending assortment of mobile or wireless devices, it can be tempting to constantly check for e-mails or alerts—and then just as quickly respond to them. Try to avoid this trap. Unless you are waiting for a time-sensitive response from a client, your time is probably better spent attending to other aspects of your business.

Diana Ennen, president of Virtual Word Publishing, an online PR/marketing firm that handles book authors, wholeheartedly agrees.

“You absolutely need to focus and turn off all notifications when working on projects,” she urges. “That means turn off your cell phone, social media, Skype, or e-mail notifications. Log out of Outlook so that way you won’t see new e-mails coming in. If it helps, set a timer and work for several hours.”

To prove her point, Ennen, who works with four subcontractors regularly, says she often does this when writing press releases and articles for clients. As a result, she can complete the job easily. “It’s so much better because I’ve committed to it and am fully focused,” she says.

2. Carve out a block of time to complete jobs.

If you want to use your time productively, schedule in your calendar a block of time to work on a key job or project. This way you will be able to concentrate on what needs to be done without scattering your energies or letting your attention wander to a host of other things.

Dana Manciagli, a Bellevue, Washington-based career consultant with her own business, says this is an imperative.

“Schedule your important work as an appointment to yourself,” advises Manciagli, who previously worked at Microsoft as a worldwide sales manager. “If you need to write proposals that you are not getting to, open your calendar and make an appointment with yourself for it. If you need to remind yourself which ones to work on, put more details in the body of the invitation.”

3. Master the art of saying no.

Cultivating potential customers and associates at meetings or networking events is good for business. But if your attendance prevents you from planning your monthly budget or training new personnel, you might have to decline the invitation to focus on the task on hand. Be strategic when weighing the pros and cons of invitations as well as favors that others may ask of you.

“Learn how to say no,” insists Manciagli. “I made a lot of mistakes in my first year [as a small business professional] and this is one of them. Ask yourself: Which line item of my P&L will benefit immediately if I attend this event? Cost-Savings? And within revenue, be more specific with yourself. Will new clients be there? Will I get leads? If not, say ‘no, thank you.’”

4. Get up early.

It might be a platitude but the old saying, “Early to bed and early to rise makes a man, healthy, wealthy and wise,” might have some validity for business owners seeking to better manage their time. Drew Stevens, owner of Stevens Consulting Group, which helps small struggling healthcare professionals improve their revenue, endorses this takeaway as a great way to get things done.

With the extra time, Stevens says small business owners can review a perplexing client issue or look over notes or PowerPoint slides for an upcoming board meeting. “I remember getting up at 5 a.m. to get my master’s work done before I commuted to work,” he says. “And if you do commute, do some work on the train rather than read a book or sleep.”

5. Create a to-do list.

Sometimes scheduling time to complete a project is not enough. You might need to actually write out a to-do list on a regular basis. Then once you’re finished with each task, just cross it off until you get to the next job. It might sound like an obvious time management solution for small business owners, but not too many do it, says Essen. However, if you don’t adhere to this simple best practice, you might be subjecting yourself to a lot of all-nighters.

“To feel more in control, make this a habit—even on your busiest days,” she advises. “It takes away the feeling of being overwhelmed and the fear of forgetting something. For me, it has been instrumental as well in completing larger projects, such as redoing my website. It’s amazing how freeing it is to take large projects a chunk at a time. And if they don t get done, put it on the list for tomorrow.”

6. Learn to delegate.

As a small business owner, it is not incumbent upon you to do everything yourself. Lighten your load by learning to assign some duties to your staff or others who can help you.

Says Stevens: “There is no reason to be involved in everything. For example, I operate a very busy coaching business and recognize I cannot do it all. To that end, I hire freelancers for my graphics, my invoicing, my collections and even printing. This allows me to focus on my most vital aspect—clients.”