My dream is to have a “business in a bag” that I can run from anywhere, anytime.

And this dream is definitely a reality because I’m a HUGE techy fan. Wherever possible I use software and apps that are cloud based because they offer the flexibility I need to be able to work seamlessly around my family.

However I can’t afford to be at a loss when I have no internet connection.

Inside my bag is my iPad and keyboard which I pretty much rely for most of the stuff that I do. But in addition, I have a Moleskine and a pen which become essential tools when I’m offline or the internet is absent.

You can’t afford to waste a moment of valuable time in your business. So if the Internet is down, don’t write time off, instead make it quality time with these 7 business building ideas.

1.   Write handwritten notes:
Yes it’s quicker and cheaper to email but do you really stand out from the crowd? Keep a stack of cards and notelets and stay in touch with your best customers with a handwritten message. It could make all the difference.

2.   Read:
Take advantage of the wisdom of successful entrepreneurs and business people. Always keep a book to hand and use your time to read, digest and figure out how you could apply your newfound understanding to your own business. A few of my favourites are The E Myth, No B.S Time Management for Entrepreneurs and anything by Jim Rohn.

3.   Listen:
If you’re more of an audio learner, invest in some audio books or downloads and tune in to the voices of smart entrepreneurs. It’s a proven way to absorb new ideas and knowledge to apply to your own business.

4.   Use the phone:
Make a list of calls that you need to return and plan a schedule to close them all down. Make a few notes before you ring to ensure you cover off everything you need to say.

5.   Think:
Don’t underestimate the value of thinking time. Is there a tough marketing problem niggling you? Are you struggling to get to grips with a new market or a new product / service? Are you stuck with a process within your business? Whatever it is, write the issue down on the centre of a sheet of paper and start brainstorming ideas and solutions.

6.   Plan your next month’s goals:
Jim Rohn said:
“You must take personal responsibility. You cannot change the circumstances, the seasons, or the wind, but you can change yourself. That is something you have charge of”.
If there’s something that you want to achieve in your business, take the time to plan a strategy to make it happen. Perhaps you want to attract a new set of customers, increase your profitability or grow your email list. Whatever your business needs to grow and develop, record your goals in your Moleskine (or notebook) and identify the baby steps you need to take to make them a reality.

7.   Create your customer avatar:
A lot of small business advertising tries to appeal to everyone and ends up appealing to no one. The simplest way to hone your marketing so it speaks directly to the right people is to create a customer avatar. This simply means creating a bio that outlines who your ideal customer is. It should cover basics like their approximate age, gender, lifestyle and occupation, and then go deeper. Figure out your customer’s desires. Understand their fears. Get clear on what keeps them up at night. Do this and when you come to working out what you need to say to attract the right person, your message will be significantly tighter.
 

What could you do without the Internet?

 
If you’re serious about working less and earning more you have to be super efficient with your time. So don’t allow the absence of the internet to be an excuse for slacking off, instead revert to good old fashioned pen and paper and make progress elsewhere.

How could you grow your business without the Internet? Let me know your top tips in the comments below (and if you’re enjoying these business efficiency tips, sign up now so you can save more time and get them direct to your inbox).