How To Reduce The Number Of Hours You Work And Still Get Tons Of Stuff Done
I used to measure my productivity success by counting up the number of hours I worked.
Boy was I busy. I’d regularly clock up 60 hours plus with the side effect that my stress levels went through the roof and I’d frequently fall through the door, shattered only to find my little angels fast asleep.
Yes business was good but my work-life balance was shot.
But here’s the strange thing.
I now work less. A lot less but conversely I get a lot more done.
And it’s not because I’m some sort of time magician, it’s because I work smarter and adhere to the SpinLessPlates Rules. And today I’m going to share them with you.
Here goes…
1. Be dispensible and outsource what you can
I outsource. A call handler answers my calls, a bookkeeper keeps my books in order and a web developer helps me with my coding. It leaves me to be 100% focused on the tasks that only I can do and that I do best. And the result? SpinLessPlates’ output has multiplied.
2. Do your power hour
Each day (without fail) I work ON my business during my power hour and focus on those tasks that will help me find and keep customers. It’s my most productive time of the day and after it’s done, everything else is easy because the most important work is already complete.
3. Don’t just dream it – implement it
One of the things that separates business owners from super successful business owners is their ability to make things happen. Ideas are the lifeblood of a progressive business, but if they only stay in your head or remain on paper, they mean nothing. Implementation is the secret ingredient that is guaranteed to take your business strides ahead.
4. Banish work avoidance strategies
Whether it’s the pinging of an incoming email, the ringing phone or the overwhelming urge to discover what’s happening on Facebook – STOP! These common work avoidance strategies drain your time and reduce your productivity – significantly.
5. Manage your time on social media
Resist the temptation to camp out on Twitter. Instead use Twitter lists, schedule a selection of tweets in advance and respond and engage in 10 minute blocks. Then use the rest of your time to get your work done!
6. Set goals
If you’re not planning ahead, your business will at best stagnant and at worse back peddle. Set goals annually, monthly, weekly and daily. Then get satisfaction and a motivation boost when you are able to tick stuff off as complete.
7. Set deadlines
Without an unmoveable timescale, that task will extend endlessly into the time you allowed. Instead set a go live date. Allocate a certain number of hours to a job and stick to it. You’ll get far more done as a result.
Use these rules and get more done in less time…
I’ll admit it. None of these rules are rocket science. Then again it’s often the case that the simple things work best.
But here’s what each of them have in common.
Each of these rules requires discipline. They also require consistency and a commitment to a different way of working. Many people will dabble with these rules. They’ll see some short term results but will soon fall back into the status quo and continue with the approach that requires long laborious hours.
Others will take note.
They’ll see the impact these rules can have on not only your business but your quality of life.
And let’s face it. You should work to live – not live to work.
So what are you going to do? Please tell me in the comments below.
Free Ebook: The Most Valuable Asset In Your Small Business
Hi, I'm Paul.
Husband of Michele, daddy to Isabella and Jemima, owner of over excitable dog Ben.
I developed SpinLessPlates to be the easiest to use, most time saving B2B micro business management software in the world.
If you'd like to save tonnes of time managing your B2B business, simply click here to find out more.
Mathias
Twitter: kolargol
Hi Paul, thanks for this list, I’ll try to implement them… I personally have a problem with “work avoidance strategies” and I really need to work on that, they quickly become kind of addictive.
Mathias recently posted..Is guest blogging a good way to grow your business online?
Paul
Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
Focus on just one step at a time Mathias.
If work avoidance is your biggest thing challenge it head on.
For social media I have set times of the day for checking and use a kitchen timer so I don’t stay on too long.
Ann Marie
Twitter: ATMPMedia
Thanks for this! I will definitely be implementing the power hour into my day. Which tasks do you suggest focusing on for that hour?
Paul
Thank you so much for reading Ann Marie
I would suggest marketing, marketing and marketing.
Looking at your fantastic website (love the white space BTW) how about blog articles, white papers, guest blogging, link building, PPC, SEO, research, reading, reviewing you analytics to see where or how your leads are coming from or taking the hour to walk around your fantastic city and gather inspiration of amazing things done by other none related businesses that you can apply to your own business.
How about doing a wonderful ebook ‘Promote Your Small Business On Social Media Like An Expert In Just 1 Hour’ then having it as a download on your homepage once the visitor fills in their email address. Can then follow this up with a once a week email giving a power tip that your potential small business clients can implement and perhaps support this with a once a month google hangout where you can answer a group of small business owners questions on how to get the most out of social media for their businesses.
Would certainly go some way to position you as the go to person for social media management in the small business arena in your area and differentiate you from thousands of other companies.
Can then replicate it with blogging and web design once you have it in a systemized format
Update: Or you can sign up to SpinLessPlates and save time managing your business
Susan Payton
Twitter: eggmarketing
Fabulous post! I really like the idea of a Power Hour. Working ON my business is one of those things on my list, but as we all know, that often gets pushed aside.
Susan Payton recently posted..Bad SEO Advice – What Not to Do
Paul
Thanks for the comment Susan.
Working in your business can sometimes just get pushed back and back and back.
So if can schedule your hour in before you check an email, log into social media or answer a phone then it is always done, everyday … without fail.
Heather
Twitter: thedesignengine
Great article. Good, sensible tips and would definitely like to find out more about your product (after being recommended it on Twitter). I’m looking for a timekeeping software, estimate and billings software currently.
Paul
Hi Heather.
Thanks so much for reading and commenting.
Be great to find out more about what you are looking for and then see if Spin can help.
Have your email on your comment so if ok I will email you tomorrow and arrange a date for a virtual catch up
Have a lovely evening.
Mpendulo
Twitter: mpekamercy
Thank you Paul, for this is something that i was looking at doing in the year 2013, so with more insight i am more thatn ready to emplement this.
Paul
My pleasure.
Work more on tasks that help you reach your business goals and less on ‘stuff’
Liz Staley
Twitter: DynamiteCandySt
These are great tips, some of which I use in my freelancing and coaching! I hope that you don’t mind, I linked to your blog post on the latest issue of my Tutorial Thursday feature because I thought my readers would get something out of this information!
http://dynamitecandy.com/?p=222
Liz Staley recently posted..Tutorial Thursday #6: Colored Pencils, Human Head, Time Management & More
Paul
Thanks very much for the reading and the link.
Really glad that you enjoyed it.
Have a brilliant Thursday.
Claire White
Twitter: _clairewhite
Great post Paul. Really succinct and a great advert for outsourcing too!
Paul
Thanks Claire.
Outsourcing (in my humble opinion) is the best way for micro businesses to grow without …. growing.