5 Ways to Tackle the Most Dreaded Item on Your To-do List

Is there a better feeling than crossing something off your To-do list? Big or small, completing any assignment will give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, which, in turn will motivate you to keep plowing through the list. I actually know someone whose first item on any to-do list is “make list” so that she can scratch it off immediately. Yes, I’m embarrassed for her.

Some tasks, unfortunately, are not completed or deleted that easily.  You know, those pain-in-the-neck projects that you dread the most – the ones that never seem to get done. We all have a task or two that’s taken up permanent residence on our To-do list. It’s like the party guest who just won’t leave, who you’d hide in the coat closet to avoid talking to. Peek out from behind the parkas, and sure enough, he’s still there, double dipping his chips and boring everyone to tears.

When something on your To-do list is bringing the whole party down, it’s time to shake its hand and show it the door! Here are five easy tips to help you tackle that beast, once and for all:

Shine a Light – What is it about the job you’ve been avoiding that has made it so unapproachable? Maybe it’s something you don’t like to do, or maybe you just don’t know how to get started. Taking a closer look at the task and seeing it for what it really is will make it less daunting. If you don’t know how to get started, ask a friend for help, hire an assistant or a specialist, check out the GTD method – but EXAMINE it.

Break it down – Usually it’s the sheer size of a job that makes it hard for us to roll up our sleeves and dig in. If what you need to do seems insurmountable, start by breaking it down into digestible bites. “Build my website” will turn into “Buy my domain; Plan my pages; Outline my copy; Find photography, and so on”. Suddenly a giant beast of a project has turned into several smaller tasks that you can take on (or delegate) one at a time.

Set a deadline – When you work for yourself and there is no one telling you what to do, staying motivated can be tough. You’ll always be more gung-ho when it comes to your revenue generating activity but the multitude of operational and administrative tasks need to get done too. Set a deadline for each job on your list and schedule your time accordingly. 

Create a reward – Would you be more inclined to get to that project you’ve been putting off if you knew that there was a great pick-me-up waiting at the finish line? Like the lollipop the doctor gives your 4-year-old after a shot, you can motivate yourself to muscle through almost anything if there’s a sweet treat waiting for you on the other side!

Delegate, delegate, delegate! – When you’re running a business you have to wear a hundred different hats. You’re the salesman, the copywriter, the in-house techie, the product developer, the receptionist, the file clerk, and everything in between. Everything has to get done, but it’s just crazy to think you have to do it all yourself.  Identify the right resource, and delegate those items on your list that are not income-generating (or that you simply hate doing)! Focus on the things you love to do, delegate the rest, and you’ll be burning through those To-dos in record time!

Is there a better feeling than crossing something off your To-do list? Big or small, completing any assignment will give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, which, in turn will motivate you to keep plowing through the list. I actually know someone whose first item on any to-do list is “make list” so that she can scratch it off immediately. Yes, I’m embarrassed for her.
Some tasks, unfortunately, are not completed or deleted that easily.  You know, those pain-in-the-neck projects that you dread the most – the ones that never seem to get done. We all have a task or two that’s taken up permanent residence on our To-do list. It’s like the party guest who just won’t leave, who you’d hide in the coat closet to avoid talking to. Peek out from behind the parkas, and sure enough, he’s still there, double dipping his chips and boring everyone to tears.
When something on your To-do list is bringing the whole party down, it’s time to shake its hand and show it the door! Here are five easy tips to help you tackle that beast, once and for all:

Shine a Light – What is it about the job you’ve been avoiding that has made it so unapproachable? Maybe it’s something you don’t like to do, or maybe you just don’t know how to get started. Taking a closer look at the task and seeing it for what it really is will make it less daunting. If you don’t know how to get started, ask a friend for help, hire an assistant or a specialist, check out the GTD method – but EXAMINE it.
Break it down – Usually it’s the sheer size of a job that makes it hard for us to roll up our sleeves and dig in. If what you need to do seems insurmountable, start by breaking it down into digestible bites. “Build my website” will turn into “Buy my domain; Plan my pages; Outline my copy; Find photography, and so on”. Suddenly a giant beast of a project has turned into several smaller tasks that you can take on (or delegate) one at a time.
Set a deadline – When you work for yourself and there is no one telling you what to do, staying motivated can be tough. You’ll always be more gung-ho when it comes to your revenue generating activity but the multitude of operational and administrative tasks need to get done too. Set a deadline for each job on your list and schedule your time accordingly. 
Create a reward – Would you be more inclined to get to that project you’ve been putting off if you knew that there was a great pick-me-up waiting at the finish line? Like the lollipop the doctor gives your 4-year-old after a shot, you can motivate yourself to muscle through almost anything if there’s a sweet treat waiting for you on the other side!
Delegate, delegate, delegate! – When you’re running a business you have to wear a hundred different hats. You’re the salesman, the copywriter, the in-house techie, the product developer, the receptionist, the file clerk, and everything in between. Everything has to get done, but it’s just crazy to think you have to do it all yourself.  Identify the right resource, and delegate those items on your list that are not income-generating (or that you simply hate doing)! Focus on the things you love to do, delegate the rest, and you’ll be burning through those To-dos in record time!
- See more at: http://www.smallbizviewpoints.com/2014/01/27/5-ways-to-tackle-the-most-dreaded-item-on-your-to-do-list/#sthash.AN4cytic.dpuf

Is there a better feeling than crossing something off your To-do list? Big or small, completing any assignment will give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, which, in turn will motivate you to keep plowing through the list. I actually know someone whose first item on any to-do list is “make list” so that she can scratch it off immediately. Yes, I’m embarrassed for her.
Some tasks, unfortunately, are not completed or deleted that easily.  You know, those pain-in-the-neck projects that you dread the most – the ones that never seem to get done. We all have a task or two that’s taken up permanent residence on our To-do list. It’s like the party guest who just won’t leave, who you’d hide in the coat closet to avoid talking to. Peek out from behind the parkas, and sure enough, he’s still there, double dipping his chips and boring everyone to tears.
When something on your To-do list is bringing the whole party down, it’s time to shake its hand and show it the door! Here are five easy tips to help you tackle that beast, once and for all:

Shine a Light – What is it about the job you’ve been avoiding that has made it so unapproachable? Maybe it’s something you don’t like to do, or maybe you just don’t know how to get started. Taking a closer look at the task and seeing it for what it really is will make it less daunting. If you don’t know how to get started, ask a friend for help, hire an assistant or a specialist, check out the GTD method – but EXAMINE it.
Break it down – Usually it’s the sheer size of a job that makes it hard for us to roll up our sleeves and dig in. If what you need to do seems insurmountable, start by breaking it down into digestible bites. “Build my website” will turn into “Buy my domain; Plan my pages; Outline my copy; Find photography, and so on”. Suddenly a giant beast of a project has turned into several smaller tasks that you can take on (or delegate) one at a time.
Set a deadline – When you work for yourself and there is no one telling you what to do, staying motivated can be tough. You’ll always be more gung-ho when it comes to your revenue generating activity but the multitude of operational and administrative tasks need to get done too. Set a deadline for each job on your list and schedule your time accordingly. 
Create a reward – Would you be more inclined to get to that project you’ve been putting off if you knew that there was a great pick-me-up waiting at the finish line? Like the lollipop the doctor gives your 4-year-old after a shot, you can motivate yourself to muscle through almost anything if there’s a sweet treat waiting for you on the other side!
Delegate, delegate, delegate! – When you’re running a business you have to wear a hundred different hats. You’re the salesman, the copywriter, the in-house techie, the product developer, the receptionist, the file clerk, and everything in between. Everything has to get done, but it’s just crazy to think you have to do it all yourself.  Identify the right resource, and delegate those items on your list that are not income-generating (or that you simply hate doing)! Focus on the things you love to do, delegate the rest, and you’ll be burning through those To-dos in record time!
- See more at: http://www.smallbizviewpoints.com/2014/01/27/5-ways-to-tackle-the-most-dreaded-item-on-your-to-do-list/#sthash.AN4cytic.dpuf

Is there a better feeling than crossing something off your To-do list? Big or small, completing any assignment will give you a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction, which, in turn will motivate you to keep plowing through the list. I actually know someone whose first item on any to-do list is “make list” so that she can scratch it off immediately. Yes, I’m embarrassed for her.
Some tasks, unfortunately, are not completed or deleted that easily.  You know, those pain-in-the-neck projects that you dread the most – the ones that never seem to get done. We all have a task or two that’s taken up permanent residence on our To-do list. It’s like the party guest who just won’t leave, who you’d hide in the coat closet to avoid talking to. Peek out from behind the parkas, and sure enough, he’s still there, double dipping his chips and boring everyone to tears.
When something on your To-do list is bringing the whole party down, it’s time to shake its hand and show it the door! Here are five easy tips to help you tackle that beast, once and for all:

Shine a Light – What is it about the job you’ve been avoiding that has made it so unapproachable? Maybe it’s something you don’t like to do, or maybe you just don’t know how to get started. Taking a closer look at the task and seeing it for what it really is will make it less daunting. If you don’t know how to get started, ask a friend for help, hire an assistant or a specialist, check out the GTD method – but EXAMINE it.
Break it down – Usually it’s the sheer size of a job that makes it hard for us to roll up our sleeves and dig in. If what you need to do seems insurmountable, start by breaking it down into digestible bites. “Build my website” will turn into “Buy my domain; Plan my pages; Outline my copy; Find photography, and so on”. Suddenly a giant beast of a project has turned into several smaller tasks that you can take on (or delegate) one at a time.
Set a deadline – When you work for yourself and there is no one telling you what to do, staying motivated can be tough. You’ll always be more gung-ho when it comes to your revenue generating activity but the multitude of operational and administrative tasks need to get done too. Set a deadline for each job on your list and schedule your time accordingly. 
Create a reward – Would you be more inclined to get to that project you’ve been putting off if you knew that there was a great pick-me-up waiting at the finish line? Like the lollipop the doctor gives your 4-year-old after a shot, you can motivate yourself to muscle through almost anything if there’s a sweet treat waiting for you on the other side!
Delegate, delegate, delegate! – When you’re running a business you have to wear a hundred different hats. You’re the salesman, the copywriter, the in-house techie, the product developer, the receptionist, the file clerk, and everything in between. Everything has to get done, but it’s just crazy to think you have to do it all yourself.  Identify the right resource, and delegate those items on your list that are not income-generating (or that you simply hate doing)! Focus on the things you love to do, delegate the rest, and you’ll be burning through those To-dos in record time!
- See more at: http://www.smallbizviewpoints.com/2014/01/27/5-ways-to-tackle-the-most-dreaded-item-on-your-to-do-list/#sthash.AN4cytic.dpuf

5 Fundamental Rules of Marketing for Small Business Owners

Many small business owners we have met have misconceptions about marketing. They think of marketing as doing flashy advertising with catchy pictures and some coupons in a newspaper insert or with a direct mail company. This underestimates the power of marketing and the value good marketing can bring to your small business.

The reason many small business owners do this is because of lack of time and lack of understanding of what marketing is all about. Here are 5 fundamental rules of marketing that when used properly are sure to improve your sales. In no particular order:

1. Great marketing without great products is a waste of money
   Many small business owners spend lots of money in advertising their business to bring the customers to their doors, only to disappoint them. They come to your business with great expectations and are disappointed when your product or customer service does not meet those expectations. Make sure you get “your house in order” before spending money on marketing. Otherwise you might as well just throw away that money.

2. Marketing is everyone’s responsibility, not just a manager’s or owner’s
   Related to the first rule above, many small businesses think that only owner or manager can do anything about marketing. It takes a village to market your business including your customers, employees and anyone else that comes in contact with you. The employees can help by providing great service and keeping customers happy, customers help by spreading word about your business and so on. Don’t lose sight of all these other aspects of business by focusing solely on advertising.

3. The best marketing usually doesn’t cost you anything
   As we mentioned earlier marketing is everyone’s responsibility. When done properly your customers will do the marketing for you – FREE OF CHARGE!! This is commonly called word-of-mouth. If your customers like your product they will not stop talking about it in front of their friends and families. They will mention it when asked for recommendations. The best thing you can do is keep your customers happy and don’t be afraid to ask for referrals from them.

4. Marketing means more than just advertising
   As mentioned in the opening paragraph many small business owners fall into this trap of thinking that marketing is all about flashy ads. There is more to marketing than that. Strategic marketing involves understanding your customer base, finding the target market, and tailoring your products and services to that target market. Many small business owners do not spend effort in doing these things and end up casting their net too wide. Spending time in understanding your target market and focusing on it will make your marketing dollars go further.

5. You cannot ignore Internet and social media marketing in these times
   Internet and social media are where business happens these days. Your customers are using them for everything – from finding your business to understanding how good it is to giving their review to the world. If you are not spending effort and marketing dollars on these sites you are missing out on great opportunity to reach your customers.

Use these rules to modify your approach to marketing and you will get more bang for your buck.

7 Funding Options to Solve Cash Flow Crisis in Your Business

Cash flow crisis is the primary reasons most small businesses fail. If you don’t watch cash flow like a hawk your business will end up in trouble sooner rather than later, and in many cases this may prove fatal. Nevertheless, many small businesses will encounter cash crunch at some point in their existence. How you deal with this will determine whether your business survives or dies. The immediate action you need to take when facing cash flow challenge is to find found sources that can provide cash on a short-term basis and help you meet your cash obligations to your creditors and employees. 

 

Below are 7 options you can explore to find cash needed to keep your business going.

1.  Sale of Surplus or Slow-Moving Stock
The ideal way to manage a cash flow crisis is through internal funds and the fastest and often least painful way to do that is via inventory sale. A sale on surplus and slow-moving stock is particularly appealing because the long-term potential on that inventory was not particularly good anyway. An alternative to a sale is supplier buyback, which some suppliers may agree to in order to help a business survive.


2.  Reduce Expense
Another form of internal funding is self-financing. The easiest way to self-finance is to reduce expense, which then increases cash flow. The benefit to this approach is that the long-term penalties will be small or even non-existent.


3. Sell, Downgrade and Lease Vehicles
Selling or downgrading vehicles is different from other assets because a business owner can often sacrifice convenience and luxury while maintaining functionality. For instance, a company could sell owned vehicles for fast cash flow and meet its needs through lease that have low up-front costs.


4. Sale of Other Assets
The benefit of a sale is that the company can still generate a profit. Sometimes, however, it may even be necessary to break even or accept a long-term loss in order to generate the cash flow required now. For instance, a company might sell an asset, such as tools or equipment, in spite of knowing that it will have to one day buy that asset back again and thus lose money in the process.


5. Bank Loans
Perhaps the most traditional way to supplement cash flow during a crisis is through financing from a financial institution. This may even be the best funding option for an otherwise healthy business that is simply dealing with minor challenges from an unforeseen market condition. Business loans, however, are based on financial forecasts, and that means that they will not be practical for a struggling company.


6. Partners and Investors
Finding investors may be more practical option compared to bank loan because investors will be willing to temper their gains with the needs of the business. Investors are also a good option when the needed terms are simply too long for a traditional bank loan. You pay the price by relinquishing, at least partial, control, and that may change the business in a likely irrevocable way.


7. Personal Loans
Finally, some small businesses can turn to family and friends for a personal loan that is then transferred to the business. Unfortunately, such agreements can put a great strain on friendships and family relationships and can be emotionally tricky since they generally require a formal written agreement in order to protect the lender, the borrower and the business.

Is your business struggling with cash flow. Give us a call today to give you a kick start in solving your cash flow problems.

How to delegate

 

Show me a small business owner who doesn’t like to delegate, and I will show you someone who will not be able to grow beyond a certain point. Small business owners are called Chief Everything Officers (CEO) who are required to take care of all aspects of running a business. If you do not have good time management skills you are going to run out of steam at some point.

A big part of time management skills is learning to delegate tasks to others. The problem is, not everyone feels comfortable with delegation for the fear that if they do not take care of tasks themselves they will not be completed to their satisfaction. This is a myth! With proper planning it is possible to successfully delegate tasks and get them completed to your satisfaction. After all, there are only 24 hours in a day, and you have to go to sleep at some point! So what is the secret to successful delegation?

1. Prioritise – Before you can delegate you have to identify the tasks that can be delegated. The ideal list should contain tasks that are not absolutely critical or those that can be defined and explained to others and those that can be completed in a prescribed time frame. You have lean on the side of more delegation when going through the list. Looking at the importance and urgency of the tasks also helps you prioritise the long list of tasks and assign them to appropriate people.

2. Divide – When the task is too big or difficult for one person to understand or complete it helps to divide it in small pieces that can be farmed out to different people who have necessary skills to complete them.

3. Standardise – This is the most important step that helps you delegate the tasks and still feel comfortable that they will be completed to your satisfaction. By standardising the process for how to complete tasks you can remove any rooms for error resulting from different people handling it. When you think about it this is how all the franchise operators are able to grow and still maintain the quality of their products and brand.

4. Document – To remove any further doubt about the quality you can take standardization one step further and document in writing all the steps along with other necessary information required to complete the tasks. Again, you must be familiar with the standard operating procedure manuals that franchisors produce to help standardise operations across the entire system.

Finally, the success of delegation depends as much on your personal qualities as it does on the person you are delegating to. You have to be open and flexible to accept the fact that others are equally capable of completing the tasks as yourself, albeit in a different way. You have to learn to let go and not micro-manage all the details of the tasks. Otherwise, it defeats the purpose of delegation.

3 Tips to Make Your Meetings More Productive

 

“It is time for a business-related meeting.”  How do those words make you feel?  Do you feel like something productive will come out of the congregation, or think that it is going to be waste of time and productivity at hand?

So, how can you ensure you always host the former feeling?  Consider ways to host productive meetings at your place of business.

Accountability

If each member of the meeting is held accountable for particular areas of the business, disseminating associated information at each meet, there is greater chance of achieved momentum.

Set goals and minor achievements leading up to each meeting to-be addressed.  Make one member accountable for reporting whether goals reached or not.  Creating accountability helps team members ‘visualize’ contributions to the business.

 

Consistency

What happened to last week’s meeting?  It was cancelled; Bob had to leave early to get his children from school.  This week, it’s pushed back to Friday afternoon, a time when members wish they were driving home rather than staying at work.  Wavering consistency does not build respect and high regard for the contents of the meeting.  If the meeting is not held in high regard, it becomes less effective and productive.

Ensure your team is responsible for being present at each meeting.  Have the meeting take place at scheduled times on assigned days and make an attempt to keep time and place uniform.

 

Participation

Consider the layout of a rugby team’s defensive strategy.  Each player on the field is assigned an area of the field, a particular position.  Each player has a set purpose and goal every time the ball is recycled.  The level of participation at a business meeting should be similar.

Is each member assigned a function in the meeting – a facilitator, a recorder, a mediator, etc?  Furthermore, does the structure of the meeting invite opportunity for all members to participate, engage, and feel respected and valued?  Meetings demand time away from the desk and individual contributions; do participants feel their time away is valued and respected?  

Make an outline for each meeting, addressing agendas and individual contributions.  All members will be prepared for what’s to come, optimizing the time available.

People have to be held accountable, while at the same time executives and leaders need ensure all team members are engaged and contribute.  Teams need leaders who can effectively direct, using given time at hand.  How productive can you make your meetings?