The Top 10 Ways for Entrepreneurs to Get More Done wortechnologies.com Business Articles and Info

Entrepreneurs are well known for being passionate about their businesses, ambitious and success driven. However, the reality is that most entrepreneurs have never-ending to-do lists, juggle many balls in the air, wear too many hats, are burnt-out, work harder but find it increasingly difficult to produce results and sadly, have 'lost that lovin feeling' - the passion for their business.

The good news is that there are secrets and proven systems to get more done and to have more success in your business. Here are the top 10 ways to get more done:

1. Build your virtual support team.

The starting point to increasing your productivity is to make the best use of your time. Always apply Pareto's Principle -- The 80/20 Rule. This rule states that 20 percent of your activities produce 80 percent of your results. So in prioritizing your to-do list, determine which tasks are in your top 20 percent and then eliminate or delegate the rest.

Did you know that one of the most common reasons small businesses fail is their owners are unwilling or unable to delegate? Many entrepreneurs will invest thousands of dollars in programs and products that they think will make them money but are hesitant to invest in the single most important strategy that is proven to help them achieve success -- leveraging the time and talents of others.

Successful entrepreneurs have gone through the growing pains of letting go to get the support they need, by hiring a Virtual Assistant for example. They understand the power of leverage and that success in any endeavor is accelerated by using leverage. Are you ready to make a change? Ask yourself right now: "What would it be like to be among the entrepreneurs that succeed?"

2. Know your high revenue generating activities.

High revenue generating activities are those tasks that will provide a valuable payoff in the long run. Usually they are based on your priorities, values and goals. These are activities that you love doing and do best. You have passion for these activities and it creates immense value for your clients. You could do them all day long and probably even would do them for free.

3. Create and follow a strategic plan.

You may have heard the saying, "Failing to plan is planning to fail." Strategic planning is often thought of as something only big businesses do, but it is even more critical for small businesses. If a big company makes a strategic error, it is likely that the business will still survive; but if an entrepreneur makes a strategic mistake, it can put him/her out of business.

Also, when opportunities are available you will be able to take action on the right ones. You will be proactive instead of reactive because you have a strategic plan.

4. Slow down to move ahead faster.

Entrepreneurs often start many projects on the go without actually completing all of them. They often pursue new solutions, projects and learning opportunities without knowing if they will get the results they want.

You probably have a lot of things you want to accomplish and you can achieve your goals faster by taking the time needed, by slowing down, to evaluate your options and create a plan for your life. What you want your life to look like and feel like? Then design your business to support your lifestyle.

5. Manage the unexpected.

Life happens to all of us. Unexpected or unwanted events occur that demand your time and energy whether you have any to spare or not. One way to manage these disruptions is to schedule time in your day for the unexpected. This way if something comes up, you have a window of time to face these issues and still meet most of your deadlines. What also helps is to reach out for support, let go of resistance, and accept what is. This can be hard to do, but the sooner you can accept what is, the quicker you can take positive action to address the circumstances.

6. Cultivate marketing relationships.

Savvy entrepreneurs look to relationship value to achieve their business goals. Recruiting affiliates is a sure-fire way to get more done. Affiliates will spend their time promoting your products or services in exchange for a commission when a sale is made. It's a win-win!

Creating strategic alliances is another excellent way to get more done. You can find other entrepreneurs with complimentary businesses to yours (that serve the same target market) and collaborate on service offerings or develop new products. Strategic alliances are based on the same principle of Mastermind groups - when you have several people working on a project and brainstorming you get more breakthroughs and unique perspectives than you would if you were working on it alone.

7. Use the Law of Attraction.

You may have heard about "The Secret." This movie explains with simplicity the law that is governing all lives, the Law of Attraction. The Secret offers knowledge of how to create, intentionally and effortlessly, a joyful life, unlimited happiness, love, health and prosperity. Discover how to apply this Law to attract more of what you want in your business and less of what you don't want.

8. Leverage systems.

Any business can be broken down into two parts -- Vision (what do you want) & Systems (how will you get it). Entrepreneurs are usually challenged by the "How will you get it" part and skip this crucial step.

Michael Gerber, author of the "E-Myth," tells us to make our companies "system dependent, not people dependent." Dr. Edwards Deming, a statistician who revolutionized American business practices, tells us that 97 percent of all failure is due to the SYSTEM and not the person. Systemizing your business will save time, reduce errors, increase efficiency, simplify tasks, enhance communication, keep you organized and help remember important things to get done.

In marketing professional services, entrepreneurs rarely fail due to lack of information about effective sales and marketing techniques. Having a marketing system that enables you to choose a set of simple, effective things to do consistently is the magic formula for professional services. A system will provide you with both structure and the tools you need to achieve marketing success.

9. Ruthless time management.

You have to be ruthless with managing your time and setting boundaries. How do you handle phone calls, emails, and interruptions? Emails are instant but your response doesn't have to be. Have you identified the time wasters throughout your workday? Do you schedule blocks of time in your calendar to work on tasks? This is one of the secrets of successful entrepreneurs -- they make and keep scheduled appointments.

Another secret is to ask yourself, "Is what I am doing right now, this minute, moving me closer to my goal?" Just the simple act of asking yourself this question several times throughout the day will dramatically increase your productivity. You should not be doing anything that isn't directly related to your goals. If it isn't then you need to either eliminate or delegate those tasks.

10. Hire a Business Coach.

"There are people who make things happen, those who watch what happens, and those who wonder what happened." A coach will help you make things happen. A coach will help you to develop steps to reach your goals and provide you with the necessary support and structure you need to realize your dreams. A coach will become a champion for your success.

Copyright 2008, Michele Hanson-O'Reggio. All rights reserved.

About the Author
Michele O’Reggio is a Business Development Specialist. She empowers entrepreneurs to grow their business strategically and to get more done with less effort. Discover how to make more money and have more freedom with virtual outsourcing at the Secret of Prosperous Entrepreneurs Webinar at http://outsourceforsuccess.com/webinar.html . Michele Hanson-O'Reggio may be contacted at http://www.bizsuccesspartner.com. Click here to view more articles by Michele Hanson-O'Reggio.