Focus is what successful entrepreneurs use to maximize their business growth while maintaining their work-life balance. Most solopreneurs are able to focus to a certain degree but start to lose focus as their business grows around them. Overcoming three distinct blocks can help solopreneurs who may be spinning their wheels increase their focus and take their business to the next level.

There are three major blocks that prevent solopreneurs from taking their business from where it stands now to a level that will give you them the success and peace of mind they went into business to achieve.

When Doing Too Much is Not Enough

If you’re a solopreneur, then by definition, you’ve gotten to where you are by doing things yourself. It’s your talent at your particular business that has allowed you to succeed to this point. But as your business grew, you no doubt found yourself spending most of your time on activities unrelated to the core of your business.

Imagine if you could spend the bulk of your time on your Power Skills ™  -  the things you love doing that utilize your greatest strengths. The 80/20 rule states that 20% of your business activities bring you 80% of your results. Ideally, you’d like to spend 80% of your time directly achieving results for your business.

Look at your to-do list and categorize each task as either something that is your Power Skills™ , something that is a side effect of your success -administration or something that helps grow your business – marketing. As you go through your list, you’ll probably find that more than half of the items fall into the last two categories.  These tasks that  take up valuable time and aren’t related to your  Power Skills ™ should be eliminated or outsourced.

Stay in Rhythm

Everyone has their own unique rhythms – times of day when they work best, times when they like to exercise, times when they need to relax. If your business forces you to work counter to your natural rhythms, it can be a drain on your productivity, not to mention your mood.

The first step toward working within your natural rhythms is to make a list. Are you a morning person? Do you need time after lunch to mellow out before you get back to work? Writing everything down will give you a thorough understanding of how your internal clock works and how it effects your work habits.

Now it’s time to rework your daily schedule to coincide with your rhythms. Don’t be afraid to change your routine, even to the point of asking clients if they mind a change in meeting time, for the sake of your rhythms. You’ll be rewarded by increased productivity and a brighter outlook.

Personalize your Workweek

Your workweek doesn’t have to be all work. In fact, for most people, it’s impossible to prevent some personal and family activities from encroaching on their workweek. So why not schedule these activities so they don’t constantly compete with your business?

If you have family obligations that are continuously pushed aside in favor of those of your business, add these activities to your calendar so that your business activities don’t step on them again.  You’ll eventually realize that creating a time for family obligations actually helps focus the rest of your day and week.

If you exercise on a regular basis, plug those times into your calendar, keeping in mind your natural rhythms.

The combination of delegating your non-core tasks, scheduling your business around your rhythms and integrating personal and family time into your workweek will enable your to focus more firmly upon your Power Skills™. At the same time, you’ll be able to approach each day in a more organized manner and with more energy to produce the results you want.

Copyright 2010, Michele Hanson-O’Reggio. All Rights Reserved.

Yesterday I was having so much fun  creating systems and managing my client’s virtual team, that  I skipped my lunch, didn’t take my cat out for her walk and do some  personal things I planned to do.  Now, please don’t get me wrong, I’m a serious advocate for work-life balance.  I usually stick to my master calendar which gives me the balance I want,  while increasing productivity. What I am sharing with you though, is that when you do  ONLY what you love and are passionate about, you will have more energy, produce extraordinary results and have fun working.  Everything else should be eliminated or outsourced. 

Imagine the success you can achieve when you have a team where everyone does only what they’re brilliant at! Leverage your brilliance to double your income, have more freedom and create a wealthy lifestyle.  Find out how at http://www.bizsuccesspartner.com/teambuilding

I often hear from entrepreneurs that they’re challenged with how to train their Virtual Assistant (or team member) effectively – to communicate exactly what they want done,  in the easiest and fastest way possible.

A simple training process that I use is the  5 step PEDAF technique. Educational and learning theory shows that the use of all 5 senses along with spaced repetition, increases the trainee’s understanding and retention. The PEDAF technique reinforces learning by tapping into 3 of our 5 senses.  The reason why many entrepreneurs don’t get the results they want with delegating is because they only do 1 of the 5 steps.

Today, I used the “Demonstrate” component of the technique which reinforces the trainee’s visual sense. It may not be relevant to use this with every task you delegate, but use it as often you can.  Your objective would be to show your Virtual Assistant (VA) what you want the end result to look  like  and/or what steps they need to take to complete a task .

For example, if you need your VA to do paperwork for you, show her what a completed form looks like. Or if you want your website or document to be formatted to look a certain way, show her an example(s) of what you like – make sure that you’re both looking at the same thing.  Today, I created a video  of a task I did on my computer to train my VA on  a new task.  I recorded step by step audio instructions, using Camstudio (a free and easy to use software).

Note that if you hire your Best Fit tm VA, she/he will often know the process to use to accomplish many of your tasks (ie. article marketing, social media marketing). However, there are things that you will want done a specific way – your way, and demonstrating what you want done will ensure success.

This technique is included in my Delegation Success Formula that I teach in my ‘Leverage Your Brilliance Team Building Program’.  If you’d like to  grow your business by leaps and bounds and have more free time with team building,  schedule a Free consultation with me at:
http://www.bizsucccesspartner.com/consultation

Are you struggling in the effort to make your small business successful?  Does it feel like you are working harder and you still don’t see the results you desire? Or maybe you want to grow your business to the next level of success. Let’s take a look at the top 10 ways to increasing productivity and better time management.

Increasing Productivity

1.  Team Building- Build your virtual support team
Have you ever heard of the 80/20 rule?  In business, 20% of your business activities yield 80% of the results.  You need to determine which tasks are in your top 20%, and eliminate and/or delegate the rest as a means of increasing productivity and experiencing better time management.  Unfortunately, many small businesses fail or don’t grow to the next level because  they don’t take advantage of small business resources like team building . An excellent way to get started is to work with a Virtual Assistant.

2.  Cultivate marketing relationships
Recruiting affiliates is one of the resources for entrepreneurs to increasing productivity and better time management. Affiliates spend their time promoting your products or services in exchange for a commission on the sale. In addition, find other entrepreneurs with complementary businesses and collaborate on services or developing new products.  You get more breakthroughs and unique perspectives when you are not working on business development alone.

3.  Leverage systems:  Any business can be broken down into two parts — Vision (what do you want) & Systems (how will you get it). Entrepreneurs are usually challenged by the “How will you get it” part and skip this crucial step. Increasing productivity by systemizing your business is one of the critical resources for entrepreneurs.  Systems will save you time, reduce errors, simplify tasks, enhance communication, keep you organized and help remember important things to get done.

4.  Hire a Business Coach or Productivity Expert
A business coach or increasing productivity expert are tremendous resources for entrepreneurs. These professionals will help you make things happen, develop steps to help you reach your goals, and provide you with the necessary support and structure you need to utilize better time management and realize your business goals.

5.   Know your high revenue generating activities
These activities provide valuable payoff in the long run. They are based on your priorities, values and goals, and are the activities you love doing and do best.  In turn, the tasks create immense value for your clients.

Better Time Management
You may have discovered  several ways of increasing productivity, but unless you know the keys to better time management, you may not achieve the results you want. You only have so many hours in a day; so, focus on specific areas consuming your time.

6. Handling Things More Than Once 

Do it, Dump it, or Delegate it! Handle things only once by evaluating every task that comes your way, decide what to do with it, and prioritize your to-do list. Once you’ve started a task, keep at it until it’s done. When you come back to an unfinished task, you need to take extra time to re-familiarize yourself with it and figure out where you left off. Successfully completing a task, no matter how small, gives you a great sense of accomplishment and encourages you to take on other tasks that come your way.

7.  Stop Multi-tasking

Many people try to do more than one task at a time. You kid yourself that you’re getting lots done. But you’re not.  When nothing gets your full attention, errors creep in. In the long run, you end up spending more time undoing those mistakes. Stop trying to do it all at once. By giving your undivided attention to one thing at a time, you’ll be much more productive.

8.  Manage the unexpected
Unexpected or unwanted events occur that demand your time and energy.  Practicing better time management means taking care of disruptions by scheduling time in your day for the unexpected. Give yourself a window of opportunity to face ‘surprise’ issues, and be open-minded about accepting support when needed.

9.  Ruthless time management
Practicing better time management means being ruthless with what you spend your time on and how you spend it. You need to set boundaries; identify the time wasters throughout your workday; schedule blocks of time to work on tasks; make and keep appointments; only do the tasks directly related to your small business goals and spend your time only on what you love and do best.

Ultimately, your goal should be to create work-life balance to ensure you are spending your time and efforts increasing productivity in a way so that you can take time off to rejuvenate and recharge your batteries without compromising your success. Creating a calendar of your ideal workweek is an excellent way to do this.

10.  Slow down to move ahead faster
Take the time needed, by slowing down, to evaluate your options and create a plan for your business goals and lifestyle. Then, design your business accordingly. Not only will this result in increasing productivity, but it is the epitome of better time management.

Now you know some strategies  for increasing productivity, and key aspects of better time management.  I guarantee that if you put this information into practice, you will work smarter and achieve greater success!  

Copyright 2009,  Michele Hanson-O’Reggio. All rights reserved.

Every now and then you stumble upon a set of small business resources so simple – yet so revolutionary – that rapid expansion of your business is ushered in.  For many of today’s small business owners and online entrepreneurs, hiring a Virtual Business Manager (Manager Online) is one such “big idea” whose time has come.

Imagine having a Virtual Business Manager who is responsible for the smooth functioning of your business to help you achieve your goals. Someone who while keeping an eye on the big picture, can manage all the pieces that bog you down, that you don’t do well or like doing. You’ll recapture the time and freedom you need to produce the results you want and have more work-life balance.

Read More at http://bizsuccesspartner.com/online-business-manager/

A Virtual Business Manager (VBM)  manages the administration, logistics, infrastructure and details of your growing online business, working in a long-term collaborative relationship with you.  A VBM gives you the  freedom and time you need to focus on  strategic activities to  sustain a profitable business, to do what you love best and to create the lifestyle of your dreams!

“Michele has been a tremendous resource to my business, Wellness With Rose Inc.

• She is a master at creating systems and streamlining everything from creating and building virtual teams, managing projects, and so much more!
• Michele got us setup on a project management system called Base Camp, that has revolutionized how we get things done.
• It’s nice to know as an internet marketer and entrepreneur that has ton of stuff going on that everything is being taken care of, and nothing is falling through the cracks.
• With Michele’s help I’ve been able to focus only on the things I need to do: bringing in new business, developing new products and services, and providing leadership for my company. Thank you Michele for your professionalism and your expertise!”

Rose Cole
Founder, Wellness With Rose Inc.
www.WellnessWithRose.com

Here’s what a Virtual Business Manager can do for you:

• Implement ideas and projects you haven’t had time to do
• Recruit and build your virtual support team – Virtual Assistants and talented professionals
• Manage your virtual team to ensure things get done, on time, the way you want it
• Source and manage vendors
• Offer recommendations and/or automate your business with technology
• Create and streamline business systems
• Implement business plans
• Create and maintain an Operations Manual
• Manage projects to successful completion
• Develop and implement solutions to things “falling through the cracks”
• Assess and manage your customer service process to ensure you provide consistent value to your customers
• Build and manage key business relationships to increase your profits (affiliates, joint ventures)
• Assist in the development of business strategies
• Help you to work smarter and be more productive
• Any other management tasks to free up your time and make you more productive!

Contact us for more info.

Who else wants to know the secret to exploding your profits and more freedom, with less effort?

Let’s go back to business basics. Every business needs a business plan. All business plans have two components – the vision and the system. The vision answers the question “What do you want”? The system component answers the question “How will you get it”? Entrepreneurs are notoriously challenged with answering “How will you get it?” The answer to this question is the key to their success – systems!

Systems will allow you to see the details involved to achieve your big picture goals. In each area of your business that you create systems, you will develop clear definitions of success and see a connection between where your business is now and where it is going.

It is critical that you understand and have the mindset that your business is not your life, they are two separate things according to Michael Gerber, the world’s #1 Small Business Guru.” Once you recognize that the primary purpose of your business is to serve your life you can then go to work on your business rather than in it.”

So what exactly is a system? “It is an organization of functionally interactive units for the achievement of a common goal. All systems have inputs, outputs, and feedback, and maintain a basic level of equilibrium. For example, in the human body the heart functions to support the circulatory system, which is vital to the survival of the entire body.” (Dictionary of Business Terms, 3rd edition, by Jack P. Friedman)

Dr. Edwards Deming, an American statistician who was credited with bringing quality control to Japan and revolutionized American business practices, tells us that 97% of all failure is due to the system and not the person.

Ray Kroc was armed with this realization when he went he took over the small scale McDonalds Corporation franchise in 1954 and built it into the most successful fast food operation in the world. He created a systems-dependent business, not a people-dependent business. A business that could work without him. Unlike small most small business owners before him – Ray Kroc went to work on his business, not in it.” (Michael Gerber, The E-Myth)

 Here are 15 great reasons why you need systems:

*   Have freedom to take time off as your business is on autopilot
*   Solve problems before they happen
*   Increase your capacity to get more done with less effort
*   Focus on money making and creative activities knowing that day-to-day details are taken care of
*   Things get done the way you want them to
*  Increase your profits
*   Have peace of mind knowing that important things aren’t falling through the cracks
*  Save thousands of dollars each year by getting the “little things” under control
*  Prepares you for successful delegation
*  Duplicate what you do by teaching others to do it your way
*  Do only the things you love to do
*  Increase productivity by doing the same things, the same way
*  Better time management
*  Better work-life balance 
*  Be consistent in doing business – people are more likely feel comfortable doing business with you if they know what to expect!

One of the things I love about systems is that they can help you recognize some of the attitudes and beliefs you have that at times may cause you to doubt or have less confidence. When you have systems in place they help to shift your energy. A great example of this is the common attitude “I don’t have time for marketing”. This attitude results in the “feast or famine life” that many entrepreneurs experience.

Many entrepreneurs realize they need strategic systems if they want their business to grow and thrive yet I’ve heard so many excuses why they don’t have or want to improve them! Let’s look at the top 3 excuses I’ve heard and some simple steps you can take today to begin systemizing for more profit and freedom.

1. I don’t have the time

2. It’s going to be too much work

Creating systems doesn’t have to be time consuming. You can set aside a block of time in your calendar each week (start small, even 1 hr) where you work on your systems consistently. In fact, having systems will save you tons of time!

3. I don’t know how or where to start

Here are a few simple steps to get you started:

Identify a system that you need – start by identifying repetitive activities and activities that are time consuming (i.e., scheduling, managing emails, following up)

Create an outcome you desire. What is your compelling goal – the finish line? It should be SMART- Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic and Timed.

Determine the steps needed to reach that goal.

Commit to working on your system for three (3) weeks. It takes twenty-one (21) days to form a habit – you can do this! Get the support of a business buddy or a Productivity Expert to get perspective, accountability and advice and to accelerate your success.

As entrepreneurs we have the ability to create the lifestyle of our dreams. We can learn and implement proven success strategies that make small businesses work. It all starts though, with a willingness to change. Are you willing?

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Outsourcing to Virtual Professionals will help your business grow and thrive! Outsourcing is not just business theory – it’s what successful entrepreneurs do to maximize their time and profits. There are so many great reasons to outsource!

• Outsource tasks that waste your valuable time – get at least 2 hrs of work off your plate each day!
• Finally get things on your ‘to-do’ list done
• Get the time you need to bring in new clients or develop new products
• Do only those things you love and do best in your business
• Strike a better balance between working and your personal life
• ENJOY your business so much, you’ll be reminded why you started it in the first place!

Outsource your administrative tasks, customer care and get sales and marketing support.

Administrative Support & Customer Care

Administrative tasks are the productivity killers and time bandits! They are tedious, mundane and take a lot of your time but are very important to the smooth day-to-day running of your business.  You need to get these off your plate as soon as possible!

Customer service is a critical area of your business. Your ability to communicate with your customers and provide them with the help they need is essential to maintain your relationships and to generate more demand of your services and referrals. However, the reality is that customer service can take a lot of your time and drain your energy. You need to get these tasks off your plate quickly!

• Respond to inquiries about your services/products
• Customer service
• Maintain client relationships - “It’s easier to keep a client than to find a new one”
  • with sendoutcards.com – send a printed greeting card with your customized message
  • touch base with them from time to time for feedback on your service, to provide them with updates, special offers
• Calendar management & appointment setting
• Word processing
• Proofreading & editing
• Email Management
• Manage travel arrangements

Internet Marketing and Sales Support

People do business with people they know, like, and trust. Without having at least one of these factors in place, getting and keeping business will be an almost impossible task. So the key to your sales and marketing success is to implement strategies that will build and nurture your relationships with prospects and clients.

• Follow-up with prospects in a timely manner by phone and email
• Conduct testimonial interviews with your clients
• Contact potential joint venture partners/affiliates to increase your sales
• Article marketing – become a recognized expert, establish credibility and generate long term and targeted traffic to your website
• Submit your press releases online to increase your visibility as an expert
• Setup and promote your teleseminars and webinars online to connect, prequalify prospects and increase sales (ie: Craigslist, teleseminar portals)
• Automated marketing – set up and maintain your online shopping cart to get more clients and sales (1ShoppingCart, Aweber)
• Ezine design & management – Ezines are a powerful tool for keeping in touch with your prospects and clients
• Direct response 1 page websites: sales pages, landing pages for promotions, squeeze pages to capture e-mail addresses, joint venture pages
• Keyword analysis – optimize your blog, article, and website copy so that people will find you through the search engine
• Copywriting – quickly and affordably, with the emphasis on bringing in the revenue you know you deserve

Ask me how to get started with outsourcing: http://bizsuccesspartner.com/contact-us/

“The Internet has revolutionized many business sectors and has single-handedly created one – virtual assistance.” (“More Firms Use Virtual Assistance” by Nick Eason, CNN.com)

For many years businesses have realized the benefits of outsourcing by contracting temporary administrative support personnel. However, the expansion of the Internet and modern technology has enabled virtual assistant home-based business support services to evolve and provide cost-effective business solutions for solo entrepreneurs. Communication is made by email, telephone, instant messaging or fax seamlessly, without compromise to timing, accessibility or quality. Your Virtual Assistant (VA) doesn’t have to be in your office, your city, or even your country!

What a VA Does for Your Business

VAs are flexible, working on an as-needed basis, often beyond traditional business days and hours if required. Virtual Assistants typically offer administrative support but some VAs offer marketing and technical support services as well. Services include e-mail management, online article promotion, data entry, Internet research, project management, lead generation, website design, desktop publishing, online newsletter (ezine) services and shopping cart management.

The VA’s primary clients are small business owners and solo entrepreneurs who realize that they can’t “do it all” and need an alternate solution to hiring employees. A Virtual Assistant gives them the freedom and confidence to achieve their business goals by taking care of the day-to-day details, follow-up and maintenance of their business. Large corporations have realized the benefits of virtual assistance as well. They call on VAs to work on special projects, handle overflow and for on-going assignments. A VA increases employee productivity and ensures the business maintains its quality reputation.

VAs are independent contractors, charging only for productive time – actual time worked. Clients avoid the hassles and costs of hiring employees and can reduce their overhead expenses by 50 percent (on average) when they hire a VA instead of an employee. Clients don’t pay for benefits, payroll taxes, recruiting costs, downtime, personal time, etc.; nor does the client have to provide a physical workspace, equipment or software.

Virtual Assistants typically have two service options to suit the diverse needs of clients: an hourly rate (Pay-as-U-Go) as well as monthly retainer plans with discounted retainer rates for clients who commit to a 3-month contract.

Some companies hire temporary staff through temp agencies. However, there are many downsides to this option. Recruiting and training costs can be high, with no flexibility on the minimum level of service to be contracted. It can also be difficult to ensure continuity of service, as you won’t always get the same temp.

Chances are, temps aren’t a viable option for the home-based business owner. Most temporary agencies don’t offer services to home offices because those offices tend to lack space, equipment and facilities for on-site staff.

There’s an extra benefit businesses get using a Virtual Assistant rather than hiring employees or temporary personnel. VAs are business owners who are highly qualified and experienced. Because they are entrepreneurs, they understand the needs of today’s business and go the extra mile in their work. Moreover, Virtual Assistants have a vested interest in their clients’ success. If VAs aren’t satisfying their clients, they’ll soon be out of business!

The Client/VA Relationship

Working with a VA can be a rewarding experience for the client. To get the most benefit from a partnership with a VA, here are some tips:

* Be concise and direct, especially when communicating by email.
* Be open to new ideas from your VA.
* Communicate any concerns you may have to foster a sense of trust.
* Be patient during the learning phase.
* Establish ground rules from day one.
* Keep in touch often.

Because of modern technology, there isn’t much that a VA can’t do if the client is willing to work to make it happen. Because of this flexibility, VAs will continue to remain the leaders in skills and overall ability to meet the changing needs of today’s business.

Copyright 2007, Michele Hanson-O’Reggio. All rights reserved.

Ask me how to get started with outsourcing: http://www.bizsuccesspartner.com/contact-us