The Productive Entrepreneur

Productive Goals

If you set goals to increase your productivity, you had better set productive goals. Make sense?

In a previous post, I talked a little about being specific when setting goals. That's very important. Let's also talk about a few other concepts that you will want to keep in mind as you consider your own goals.

Set a goal and know that you can accomplish it. Don't doom yourself to failure before you even start! If you don't think you can accomplish it, then don't set it as a goal. You have to be convinced that your objective is attainable. It's important to set up your plan in a way that guarantees success.

Don't take on too much. While it's good to have the big picture in mind, be realistic about what you can accomplish in the next few months. If you set the bar too high too soon, you could end up frustrated. Start with smaller pieces that will eventually help you get to the bigger picture. You'll enjoy the benefits of these little steps while you chip away at that big dream.

Decide what will motivate you and arrange for it to happen. Don't expect to find success just because you've written something down. You will need to put some effort into this! If you need to find a mentor, coach, or friend to hold you accountable, go for it. You may be an entreprenuer, but that doesn't mean you are on your own. Positive encouragement from others will only help!

Joy Duling is a Business Strategist and Managing Director of A 25 Hour Day, LLC.  If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com.  Each month, Joy presents resources and educational teleseminars aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners become more productive and more strategic so that they can accomplish BIG goals.

Setting Goals Increases Productivity

To be more productive, research tells us that we need to set goals. In fact, you could increase your productivity by as much as 25% just by deciding what needs to get done and writing them down. That in and of itself should be a great motivation for taking on the task of setting goals.

By identifying what you want to do, you can focus your time and energy. As an entreprenuer, your day is filled with more tasks and responsibilities than you can hope to tackle. Your attention is pulled in several directions and you just can't gain any momentum to accomplish the things that really matter. You may not even know what those things are. Suddenly, you feel overwhelmed and discouraged.

Setting goals help you prioritze your activities so you avoid wasting time on things that aren't really important. You can concentrate on one task, knowing that your efforts are being invested wisely. You have a clear target - something to aim for, something to motivate you to action. By harnessing the power of this motivation, you can increase your productivity and accomplish more.

So, take time to set goals and see how it benefits your business. We'll continue to talk more about effective goal-setting in future posts.

Joy Duling is a Business Strategist and Managing Director of A 25 Hour Day, LLC.  If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com.  Each month, Joy presents resources and educational teleseminars aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners become more productive and more strategic so that they can accomplish BIG goals.

Goals - Clear and Specific

When you start identifying your goals, there are a number of things to keep in mind. You may already be familiar with the SMART concept in setting goals - Specific, Measurable, Action-oriented, Realistic, and Time-bound. Those are really helpful characteristics to consider when we start defining our goals.

I especially like "specific." All too often, the goals we create for ourselves are too vague. We start thinking of grandiose ideas and broad aspirations:

• I want to make more money.
• I want to spend more time with my family.
• I want more clients.

These are valid wants, but they aren't very personal. Nearly every entreprenuer wants these things. If you're going to stay motivated and focused, you need to start with specific plans. What is the exact change that you want to see? Set clear, concise goals for change:

• I want to increase my income by $5,000 over the next 6 months.
• I will leave the office by 5 pm at least 4 nights a week.
• I want to add at least 10 new clients in the next 3 months.

With these statements, you know exactly what you're trying to accomplish. And you will be able to see you success as you move toward accomplishing the goal.

Joy Duling is a Business Strategist and Managing Director of A 25 Hour Day, LLC.  If you enjoyed this post, we invite you to explore the resources available at www.theproductiveentrepreneur.com.  Each month, Joy presents resources and educational teleseminars aimed at helping self-employed, entrepreneurial business owners become more productive and more strategic so that they can accomplish BIG goals.

An Entrepreneur Can Have The Perfect Life, Too

I have a great opportunity for all professional women out there who feel unfocused and want more out of their businesses and their lives. I am conducting a personal development retreat, and if you are in the Peoria, Illinois area, I would love to have you attend.

Life is too short to "settle." Infusing your life with elements of perfection, however YOU define those, is a completely valid undertaking.  This retreat will kick-off a transformational experience for its participants. As an attendee, you will have the opportunity to engage in thought-provoking discussions with other entrepreneurial women on topics such as money, self care, relationships, professional success and state of grace. You will define success as you see it, and then be inspired to move toward your goals and true desires.

You can find out more by accessing a printer-friendly flier, but here are a few details:

Date: July 11, 2008
Time: 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Location: Kickapoo Creek Winery, Edwards, Illinois

If you have any questions, be sure to send me an e-mail.

Wishing you all the best,

Joy

Welcome to The Productive Entrepreneur!

Have you ever found yourself saying, "My business has taken on a life of its own!"?

As part of The Productive Entrepreneur program at A 25 Hour Day, LLC, we offer advice and resources to help small business owners regain control and find ways to be more productive. And we're not just talking about making better use of your time. We want to help you set goals, stay motivated, keep focused, and succeed!

This blog is designed to be a companion to the services offered by our strategic planning and business coaching firm.  Business strategist Joy Duling helps her clients focus on planning and building systems so they can leverage resources to give them more time, more freedom, and more money.

Here, Joy and her team share ideas, resources, and suggestions to help self-employed, independent professionals who want to do more but need to figure out a plan to get there.

Feel free to offer your comments and let us know how we've helped you become a Productive Entrepreneur!