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ASK
OUR EXPERTS...
I run a homebased business where I wear pretty much all the hats. Can
you give me advice on time management?
By Illiki Rai of Rising Women Magazine
When wearing more than one “hat”, being well organized and more
importantly, sticking to the plan is crucial. Following are some simple
regimes that work great.
1) By the Month - Before the start of each month I make a list
of what needs to be accomplished. In my daytimer, I highlight, using
different colored highlighters, specific days and/or time slots for specific
tasks. For instance, if I have a tradeshow scheduled for the third weekend
of the month, I first make a list of what needs to be done to prepare for
the show. A week and a half before the show I choose a specific day
(highlighted in blue) to do the running around, such as picking up display
items and other supplies, creating any marketing materials needed and/or
sending projects out to get printed (banners, handouts, extra business
cards). I also block out a specific time or day (also highlighted in blue)
for say, packing the Jeep with everything needed for the show. With these
specific days and times highlighted in blue, I know that I will only
concentrate on tradeshow tasks during these days or times. For the rest of
the monthly tasks, I literally set the day or times needed and give each
project a specific highlighted color...and I stick to the plan!
2) By the Week - At the beginning of the week, I make a list
of what needs to be done that week. In my daytimer, I plan the days and
times that make the most sense for completing these tasks. This is very
important. For instance, my general weekly projects include administration
(billing, bookkeeping, banking), sales (follow-ups, coldcalling, meetings)
and design/editing work. Mondays, for me, are an excellent day to tie up the
administration. Tuesdays and Thursdays are perfect for sales, but only for
follow-ups and coldcalling, so I know that I am in the office on these days.
I leave Wednesdays and Fridays for these types of sales as well but I also
keep them open for booking appointments outside of the office. My Friday
afternoons are always booked for design work and editing...and I stick to
the plan!
3) By the Day - In my experience, this is most important time
management regime for success. At the end of every day I make a list of what
needs to be accomplished, in order of importance, for the next day. From
this list I set specific time periods to get them done...and I stick to the
plan!
If you make it a personal policy to refuse to get sidetracked during the
specific time/days you set, you will soon discover the great satisfaction to
wearing more than one hat!
For more advice on time management, email our panel of Experts at
experts@risingwomen.com
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