The challenges associated with a home-based business are magnified when it comes to time management. The techniques remain virtually the same, but the business clock at home is based on 24 hours, not the traditional 9-5 (although even in the non-home-based business 9-5 no longer is traditional either!).
Here are some tips for you to implement in your business:
Set long-term goals for your personal life and your business. Be certain that the goals reflect you and not those out of a book. They need to originate from you. Make sure they are measurable, attainable and specific so that you can manage your progress on a day-to- day basis. To do this you will need specific tools for managing yourself (personal organizer, computer and sufficient work/file space).
Focus on projects that you know will provide long-term benefits. These are activities and programs that will help your business both today and tomorrow. If you are focused on the desired outcome, your efforts will not be wasted. The impact of your focus will be the ability to control extemporaneous events.
Make a to-do list daily. Actually, this list should be a done list. In reality this is the challenge—be sure to assemble your to-do list on a daily basis with a commitment to actually get it done on the date for which the list appears. The best time of the day to plan the to-do list is at the end of the day, enabling you to make your priority commitments at a time of the day during which you are least likely to be interrupted.
Concentrate your activities on one thing at a time; you will only be able to do this if your workspace and mind are free from clutter. A cluttered workspace makes this task impossible. The ability to do this enables the strongest opportunity for profitable productivity.
Delegate everything you can to others. Sounds difficult, especially when you are working from your home. The reality is you have several choices for delegation. Find people capable of assisting your business and learn to utilize their skills. In the case of your business, this will provide the maximum opportunity to duplicate your role in your business and therefore generate the most profitable sales for you. The trick to delegation will be your responsibility to follow-through with the people you’ve delegated to. If they recognize your commitment to meet deadlines, then they will most likely respond on a timely basis.
Set up "availability hours" and "quiet time." This is both for family and clients. Both will respect your schedule if they know you are busy. Consider blocking out 11:00 am to 12 noon daily to return calls—make this message known on your voice mail. The perception to people you do business with is that you are busy—this will have lasting value to your business relationships. The perception to your family, if given a specific time as to availability, will be to respect mommy or daddy’s workspace as official.
Remember not to plan more than 60% of your day. This will allow you plenty of time for adjustments resulting from interruptions or crises.
Give yourself time off as a special reward when you’ve accomplished important tasks or objectives. You will need to be the first person to pat yourself on the back. Make time off, even if it is for an hour or two, a special reward. You need relaxation, and if you can tie it to accomplishing something in your business then you will gain the sense of achievement and greater self-esteem needed to go on to the next major task/activity.
Do it now. Don’t waste time procrastinating. Focus on what needs to get done, be sure you know why it’s important and JUST DO IT!
Setting Hours
Although reasons for wanting to work from home are many and varied, most home-based business owners cite the ability to set their own hours as a major factor in their decision.
Your clients will need to know when they can reasonably expect to reach you in the office. And you will stay focused more easily if you set specific work hours for yourself. Posting your hours on the office door helps you and your family keep the boundaries. Stating your hours in your voice mail message will reduce the number of business calls "after hours." Adding a surcharge to your invoice for work the client expects you to perform outside your "normal" working hours is one way to train clients to your preferred work hours.
Getting Away From the Office
Home-based business owners have been known to become "workaholics" because they office is so accessible. Don’t become a slave to your business; get out of the office regularly to renew yourself. Close the door to your office and go into your "home" area to live your personal life. If you find it difficult to ignore a ringing phone in the office, turn the ringer off and the volume on the answering machine down.
You aren’t required to be available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week just because your business is located in the home. After all, you have an office in your home…not a home in your office!
"Give a man fish and he will eat for a day...
...teach a man to fish and he will eat for a lifetime"
source unknown
The Number 1 Home Based Business we recommend to "teach a man to fish" is Project X. For more information Click Here.
