Obtain Maximum Results For Your Small Business Through Better Time Management

Most small business owners are faced with so many responsibilities and an unbelievable workload throughout the day. Mainly because of the many different roles that we have to play. On any given day a small business owner must be a customer service representative, collections specialist, marketing specialist, public relations representative, and the list continues. It's enough to drive the average person crazy. But we small business owners are made of a different stock yet still we succumb to normal, everyday pitfalls caused by poor time management. Poor time management can severely negatively impact your business through lost sales and disgruntled customers. A small business owner can't afford either.

First, whatever you are using as an organizer stick to it. A pocketsize organizer or palm pilot can do wonders. But they don't work on their own. They are only of use if you regularly enter your data and continuously review what you've entered.

Once you've decided which type of organizer will work best for you, begin the habit of entering tasks on a regular basis. For example, each Monday you could enter all new tasks that you know of for the upcoming few weeks. As the week progresses you may would add new tasks and remove completed ones. To truly make this system effective, you should begin and each day with a review of your tasks. This helps to keep you on schedule and minimizes the chances that you'll become overwhelmed with all you have to do as a small business owner.

Here are some steps you may want to take when creating and reviewing your weekly schedule:

Prioritize: Determine which tasks require your immediate attention and schedule your days accordingly.

Break down tasks: To ensure you reach your due dates, break down larger tasks. Breaking down tasks also works for any responsibilities that you may not be looking forward to such as collection or sales calls.

Reevaluate start and finish dates (keep them realistic): Enter realistic finish and start dates and work on completing your tasks a little each day.

Reward yourself: Rewarding yourself with a break or some other personal incentive can keep you motivated throughout the week.

Set limits: Determine how many hours per day you can devote to your small business. Schedule your daily task list accordingly.

Avoid negative thinking: If you miss a due date, it's not the end of the world nor is it a reason to succumb to frustration. Simply, use tips two and three of this list to begin the process again. Also, try to determine what prevented you from reaching your due date so you can avoid similar mistakes in the future.

Remember, with any plan, the key is consistency. Your success solely depends on you. Unlike most people, you don't have a nagging boss telling you what to do and when (one of the many benefits of small business ownership) but it could also cause problems if you haven't learned to manage your time well. So maintain your positive outlook in order to reach your daily goals.

Copyright © 2005 Rhonda Winn - All Rights Reserved. Rhonda Winn has been helping small business owners since 2000. She is the author of the popular eBook, "How to Live Your Dreams and Achieve Unlimited Wealth in Small Business" Receive the first chapter free, when you join her bi-monthly newsletter today: SmallBizStartupKit.com. Her site contains dozens of free downloads, articles, forums, resources, journals, and more.

You are free to publish this article as long as the content remains unchanged and copyright notice and byline is not removed from article.

---

Politics, Environmental Rules, and Mobile Car Washes

During the California Recall Election, I was very interested. Without... Read More

1 Overlooked Key to Small Business Success

Is this you?You dreamed of owning your own business, doing... Read More

A Day in the Life of a Self Employed Professional

It's Monday morning and Connie the Consultant sits in her... Read More

How to Promote Yourself to Small Business Riches

You've heard it before; we're living in an information age.... Read More

Small Does Not Mean Invisible!

Running a business on the net these days can be... Read More

Top 10 Record Keeping Mistakes Business Owners Make (and How To Avoid Them)

If you interviewed business owners of failed businesses, a majority... Read More

Serious About Writing A Business Plan... Start A Business Plan Library

Tap these treasures of ideas. The best money you can... Read More

Predicting Business Retirement Satisfaction for Business Owners

Most business owners do not think of selling their companies... Read More

How to Use Graphs and Charts in Your Business Plan

Many people ask how many graphs or charts they should... Read More

Employee Induction - Are you Inducting your People - A Practical How To

In today's fast paced marketplace it is easy to neglect... Read More

The Failures Guide to Small Business Success

How many "get rich schemes" have you joined? Or have... Read More

Truck Detailing Shop Business Case Study

As an entrepreneur you can learn a lot by following... Read More

Self-Employment: Do you know the Difference between Rates and Wages

The difference between rates and wages is not always clear... Read More

Lawyers Everywhere Telling Regulators What Laws to Make

The Federal Trade Commission decided to sit down and revamp... Read More

Want to Grow Your Business? Make an Irresistible Offer

My clients and many of my readers are small and... Read More

How To Write A Business Plan

Writing a business plan is a fundamental step to ensuring... Read More

Obtain Maximum Results For Your Small Business Through Better Time Management

Most small business owners are faced with so many responsibilities... Read More

Batting Cages Business - Making Profits With The Swing Of A Bat

There is a Batting Cages Business for those people who... Read More

Look Out for that Great Accountant

There are many factors to be considered when you are... Read More

How To Get Slightly Famous in Print

Early in my career, I wrote an article for a... Read More

Are You a Small Business Casualty?

When a person knows and knows not that he knows.... Read More

Small Business Newsletter Dilemma: Which Day Do I Send?

If you're just ramping up your small business email newsletter,... Read More

Going Public: The Process for Small and Mid-size Companies to Go Public

It's the dream of every person who starts a business... Read More

How Most Business Owners Sabotage Their Success

Owning a business is a challenging endeavor. If you're like... Read More

Its Spring - Time For A Compensation Program Tune Up

Now that winter has passed, the annual ritual of spring... Read More

Small Business and Branding ? Why and How?

When we speak of branding most of the time people... Read More

How to Create an Employee Manual

Large corporations use employee manuals to both educate employees about... Read More

Using Technology to Manage Customer Loyalty

Don't let your customer satisfaction research initiative collect dust on... Read More

Do I Have to Do EVERYTHING Myself?!

The air in my client's office nearly crackled with her... Read More

A Lesson From ?The Apprentice? That Can Make You A Master

I have to admit, I was curious. When I saw... Read More

4 Areas Where Your Business is Losing Money

In my 18 years of consulting I have heard it... Read More

Seven Common Mistakes Made By Small Business Owners

Most new small businesses won't be in business this time... Read More

Why Small Businesses Need Both A Logo And An Identity System

Experts urge small business owners to "brand" their business ?... Read More