Three Simple Ways To Boost Your Productivity
by Yan Revzin
Productivity can be a major challenge when you’re in business for
yourself. This can be especially difficult for people making the transition
from employee to entrepreneur. Unlike a job, business owners must set their own
schedules and manage their own time. Entrepreneurs often feel as though the day
isn’t long enough to fit in everything that needs to be done. In my own time as
an entrepreneur, here are three key things I’ve found that can help any
entrepreneur become more productive.
1. Identify Your Ideal
Work Environment
When you have a job, you go to work at the office or wherever the job is
located. Entrepreneurs, on the other hand, have more flexibility in this area.
You can work from home, rent an office or even work from your laptop in a cafe.
Or, if there’s an ocean nearby, at the beach. Yet, if you don’t find the right
environment for you, it will be hard to be productive.
Working at home is great for some people, but for others it presents too
many distractions. Likewise, some people find that traditional offices stifle
creativity. On the other hand, you might find that an office helps you focus.
Working from your laptop at your neighborhood cafe, which has become a cliche
for living the “Internet lifestyle,” is another option that may or may not be
right for you. It’s perfect for some, but others find crowded public spaces too
distracting.
You may even be an entrepreneur that thrives on variety. In this case,
you might vary your work locations from day to day. Others are just the opposite
and need a stable workplace to feel centered and productive. It’s important
that you figure out which category you fit into so you can find the work
environment that brings out the best in you.
2. Be Aware of the
Pareto Principle
The Pareto Principle, known also as the 80-20 rule, roughly states that
20% of your efforts product 80% of your results. While it would be hard to
prove whether or not this exact number is correct, the general
principle is valid in most cases. The point is that a few actions generate a
majority of results, and to identify which actions reap these greatest rewards.
To understand how the Pareto Principle works, try to identify areas of your
business where it might be relevant. For example:
- 20% of your
products might account for 80% of your sales
- 20% of your website
pages might account for 80% of your traffic
- Or 20% of your clients
might produce 80% of your revenue.
Keep in mind that this principle applies to undesirable events as well as
positive ones. For example, 80% of your refund requests might come from
20% of your products.
This concept can help you identify both productive and unproductive
aspects of your business. When it comes to negative events, you can sometimes
simply get rid of the problem (such as the 20% of products that people are
returning). On the other hand, you obviously want to devote more resources
to the areas that create the best results.
3. Reduce Distractions
Distractions can never be entirely eliminated, as they are
simply part of life. However, entrepreneurs need to be aware of how to
avoid distractions that cut into their productivity. For many people, the
Internet is one of the biggest distractions of all.
Only check email, Facebook and other social media accounts at certain
times during the day. Avoid the temptation to do this every few minutes. There
are now many apps designed to help you block distractions. One of the most
popular is called Freedom, and it’s available for Windows, Mac and Android. You
tell the app how long you want to focus and for this duration you’ll be blocked
from surfing the web.
The phone can be another distraction. While some calls are obviously
necessary for business, if you are constantly making and answering the phone,
it can be difficult to concentrate on a task. For periods of time when you have
to work solo on a project, you can always turn off your phone. Try to schedule
business calls the same way you would in-person meetings, so you aren’t
disturbed at random times.
Staying productive is essential for anyone who wants to build a
successful business. There are many strategies that can help you become more
efficient and better manage your time. In addition to the above three tips, try
to identify any particular obstacles that tend to make you less productive.
Then see if you can devise a strategy to overcome this obstacle and take
your productivity to the next level.
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