Are You Busy or Productive?

Ever have days when you seemed to be busy all day long, but at the end of the day you did not have much to show for the time? There is a distinct difference between activity and accomplishment. Do you relate to that feeling? Me too.

My solution revolves around time management. Each evening I write my “to do” list for the next day. Back in my property management days, it meant looking at not only new items to be accomplished but reviewing the completed work orders to determine what had been completed. Frequently it also involved a site visit to personally inspect the work performed. With a home based business, the buck stops right here at my own desk.

I am responsible for the action items placed on the schedule and I am responsible for the follow through to be certain they are completed. Anyone who has ever owned a small business understands this very well. Owning a home based business generally means one person, or perhaps a couple in the case of a partnership or marriage, shoulders all of the responsibility. In this case, “if it is to be, it is up to me” has absolute significance.

Scheduling time slots for specific tasks and committing to a complete and focused performance of that specific activity and only that activity during that time slot is imperative. Avoid answering personal emails or personal phone calls or any other distraction. If you have to lock your office door and seclude yourself, then do it.

Schedule specific times for the five things every successful entrepreneur does every day.

1. Meditate and visualize your goals in absolute detail using all 5 senses. Be certain your goals are SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and timely)
2. Income producing activity – lead generation, conversations with potential business partners and follow up conversations.
3. Personal development – personal development always precedes financial results
4. Mastermind with other leaders who have the same forward-thinking goals and mindset for success
5. Cultivate the expectation of leadership. BE the leader, DO what the leaders do, and you will HAVE what the leaders have.

These rules apply whether you have a home based business, a small business, or a franchise. These principles apply regardless of the industry.

Schedule your time in 30 to 60 minute blocks depending on the task. Plan ahead so that you know you can and will adhere to the schedule.

Time management insures that your time will be more productive rather than just busy. If it helps, you can set a kitchen timer or the alarm on your watch or the timer on your phone.

No one wants to face themselves in the mirror night after night and admit that nothing was actually accomplished that day. A day is a precious commodity, don’t waste it.

Always Be Growing – Visualize

When Walt Disney passed away, someone commented to his widow that it was a shame that he did not see his dream of Disney World completed. His wife replied, “Oh yes he did. He saw it completed in every little detail in his mind before they ever broke ground.” That is being a visionary as well as visualizing your goal completed before it is actually reality to the rest of the world.

Every great leader in history has visualized his success far in advance of its appearance in the eyes of others. Great athletes see themselves crossing the finish line or seeing the ball sail over the goal post or into the net at the goal. A famous Olympic skier sees themselves crossing the finish line standing up to the cheers and cow bells of their enthused fans.

It is important to see the accomplishment in such detail that you hear the roar of the crowd, you touch the cool metal of the winner’s medal or trophy, and you feel the pride of victory. Engage your emotions in the entire process. Feel the feelings. Use all 5 senses to totally immerse yourself in the experience.

If you are in network marketing, see the email informing you that you have a new member of your team, Visualize your bank account with the deposits from your sales, Read the emails from happy team members who are learning and growing; feel the pride of leadership as you truly help others achieve their goals. See yourself on stage receiving awards. See your growing list of team members in your back office.

Now take it a step further and really see yourself enjoying the rewards of a successful business. What will it change in your life? How will your life improve? What will you be able to do for friends, family and team members now that you have achieved all of your goals and dreams? It is not about the money; it is about what that added income and accomplishment will do for you as a person and for everyone around you.

Jim Rohn, noted business philosopher, says “if you inherit or win a million dollars, the first thing to do is become a millionaire.” In other words learn how to think and act like a millionaire would act. It is not about earning the money; it is about the person you become in the process.

See yourself in your mind as not only accomplishing all of your goals but as the person you really choose to become in the process. What kind of legacy do you choose to leave behind you? It is all about visualizing yourself as the person you desire to become. That is the true goal. Seeing yourself accomplishing is only step one. The big step is seeing yourself as a leader and a quality person.

Are you ready to visualize yourself as a successful human being as well as a success in your chosen profession?