Dirty Laundry Good for your Business!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A WINNER NEVER QUITS AND A QUITTER NEVER WINNER-YOU ARE A WINNER!


I receive this email today and found it rather interesting, it is food for thought for all you home business entrepreneurs as well as other that work out of an office or your personal office. It is a good read, let me know what you think.

Dirty Laundry is Good for Your Business






By MaryEllen Tribby



"I love working from home. I get so much laundry done, and today I even cleaned out my refrigerator."



This was a comment I overheard the other night while waiting for the PTA meeting to start at my daughters' school.



Unfortunately, that was far from the first time I have heard a work-at-home mom say something like that in the last couple of months. And my first question is always, "How's your business going?" And inevitably I hear, "Well, I just don't have time to develop new products or work on my marketing plan."



Is it any wonder?



I know I did not start my business so I could get more laundry done. My goal was to turn my passion into income by helping other working moms make more money and live a healthy, more balanced life.



If you talk to successful entrepreneurs most will tell you there are three main reasons people start their own business. They are:



1. Money


2. Freedom/flexibility


3. Cause/passion

Of course there are other reasons. But nowhere on the list will you find laundry.



The reason most entrepreneurs fail is because they focus on the wrong tasks, usually those that don't yield revenue. It is human nature to work on things you can easily accomplish. These are generally the tasks that you don't fear or feel overwhelmed by. But by no means are they automatically important to your business.



In order to get your business soaring to the next level, you need to break out of your comfort zone. Take on new challenges that will bring you more revenue. This also means self-discipline and getting into good habits. By following just a few simple rules you will notice a big change in your productivity, which can increase profitability in your business significantly.

Seven Golden Rules for Productivity

1. Your business day starts the night before. Each evening after the kids are in bed, the school lunches made, and the dinner dishes clean, I plan my next day's business activities. I write out a good old fashion "to do" list. I do not put my list on my computer or BlackBerry. I use a note pad. I list everything I think I need to accomplish the next day. After I have done a complete "brain dump," I prioritize each item. Not only am I ready to go the next morning, but I also sleep a whole lot better at night.



As my day progresses I cross off my completed tasks, as well as write down any that may have come up unexpectedly that I need to address. This way I have a full record of how my time was spent.



2. Set an alarm clock. Many entrepreneurs think because it's "my" business they don't need a schedule - that they can do what ever they want. Wrong. I have seen this over and over. I hear complaints from people that their business is not where they want it to be. I ask a basic question like, "What time do you set your alarm?", and I hear, "I don't use an alarm clock, I just get up when I wake up." This is counter-productive. You need to take control from the start of your day.



3. Never work in your pajamas. Your mindset is one of the most important factors in determining your success. You need to respect yourself, your customers, and your business enough to dress appropriately. By doing so you will notice that you are more confident and assertive. And you'll even get more done in the same amount of hours.



4. Do not schedule meetings or take phone calls before noon. You are at your best first thing in the morning. Get the important things on your list done first. Scheduling meetings and conference calls in the morning is counter-productive. Interruptions are the biggest factor in not completing tasks. Let your employees, colleagues, and friends know that you will speak with them in the afternoon if need be.



5. Take a midday exercise break. A study by Jim McKenna from the University of Bristol showed that exercise during the workday improves job performance. And performance is also consistently higher, as shown by better time management and improved mental sharpness.



I like to take a 30-minute bike ride or speed walk around the neighborhood in the afternoon. (I do my hardcore workout first thing in the morning). By this time my important tasks for the day are usually complete. I let my mind wander and this is when ideas hit me, ideas for content or marketing or new joint ventures deals. This is one of my favorite times of the day.



6. Have lunch with a mentor, colleague or protégé once a week. We can all get caught up in our own little world. We are so busy with our families and careers. But having lunch with someone smart and energetic will expose you to new ideas and different viewpoints. Your ideas become stronger, making them easier to implement. This one lunch will make a huge difference in your productivity, not only in your business, but in your family life as well.



7. Reconcile your "to do" list. At the end of your workday look at what you had planned to accomplish that day and note what you actually accomplished. If you completed 75% or more of the items on your list - you had a good day. We all have to adjust for emergencies, whether those situations arise in our business or our family life.



However if you fell below the 75%, you need to make some changes because you are likely not in control of your business. Instead your business is in control of you.



When you examine the list above what should be obvious is that these are very fundamental rules. These are guidelines that everyone can implement in one form or another. None of these rules require any monetary commitment, but they all call for a mental and emotional commitment.



Start today and in just seven days from now I bet you see a big difference in your productivity.









Check It Out!



Got It All? - You're grateful for what you have in life... but you still want more, right? More success. The ability to provide your family with financial freedom. And you really want to enjoy retirement. An early retirement, at that. But how are you going to get there? Do you have a plan? Bob does...











Quick Tip



Family time can be fun and productive at the same time.



As I alluded to in today's essay, I do not do household chores during the day. However, they still have to get done.



I like to turn these chores into fun challenges for my kids.



If we are watching a family movie in the evening, I will often divide laundry into individual baskets for my kids and have them fold it. Whoever has the neatest pile by the end of the movie wins.



Their prizes range from going first on the trampoline to a pass on clearing the table after dinner.