While being an entrepreneur does have its benefits, it also brings its own set of challenges no matter how many years you have been in the business. From establishing a brand, adjusting to match or exceed the competition to making your business profitable- achieving everything requires a great deal of enthusiasm and hard work. The journey is really long and you must follow your passion and vision to get that far.
As entrepreneurs need to work for so many hours in a day and have numerous tasks to accomplish, being productive and efficient are integral to success. It is critical to manage your time, resources and tasks properly in order to thrive in this competitive world.
Below are 8 tips to help entrepreneurs enhance their productivity and become successful :
Set your Targets the Night Before
Do not create a list of things you want to accomplish, in the morning. This is sheer wastage of time. Instead, do it the night before. Simply spend 15 minutes before you go to bed and create your to-do list for the next day and prioritize it. When you make your list the night before, your subconscious mind will work on your list all night long while you sleep. Often you will wake up with great ideas and insights that you can use to get your job done faster and better than you had initially thought.
Accomplish the “Top 3” Items First
Try to execute your top 3 (most important) tasks right after reaching office in the morning. Do not lose your focus by indulging in mails and other things until these three tasks are completed. Now that the biggest items which required the most effort have been finished, you will feel less burdened and set the tone for the rest of the day, and your business will move forward with incredible speed.
Be Accurate with Deadlines
Never over-promise yourself as it will lead you nowhere and create unnecessary stress. Always consider both existing and unforeseen circumstances and plan your deliverables accordingly. This will help you to achieve your deadlines, thus increasing motivation.
Get Rid of Distractions
Do not browse Facebook or open multiple tabs to read articles or go through latest news. De-clutter your desktop and focus on the crucial activities first. If you require to go through those articles, save them to check out when you have accomplished your tasks and have extra time. There are many tools available that will help you to create a list of what to check out later.
Stop Participating in Every Meeting
A founder doesn’t have to be present in every meeting that happens in his company. In fact, let your managers take charge of their respective team meetings. Being an entrepreneur, your job is to bring more revenues for the company and maximize profit. Your managers can very well handle the day-to-day operations of the company. So, stop wasting your precious time on meeting that do not value to your profile.
Use Productivity Tools Wisely
There are plenty of productivity apps available these days. But using too many of them can lead to confusion and you will be unable to prioritize things. Paying attention to all of them will lead you nowhere as you will be inundated with information.
Relax
Research has shown that humans aren’t designed to exert themselves continuously, but rather to follow a cycle of exertion and restoration. Taking out time for yourself is likely to make you more productive. Take regular breaks, stand up, take a walk and allow your brain to refresh itself.
Go Home on Time
Undoubtedly, an entrepreneur feels like working throughout the day and goes home a bit late. But, you don’t need to do everything yourself and on the same day. Go home on time and relax. If you will get tired and burnt out, your company and personal life are going to suffer too. Take a good night’s rest and maximize your productivity.
Also Read, 9 Key Traits of Highly Successful Entrepreneurs
