Now that we have entered June, it’s just about time to evaluate how your Newtown Square, PA small business is looking at the halfway point of 2013. Can you believe that?
Well, since I write these Notes mainly to Newtown Square, PA small business owners, I’d like also to make some productivity suggestions which I’ve noticed aren’t usually followed by many business owners, especially the younger ones.
Because, frankly, it’s often poor productivity at the top of the food chain which causes poor growth in a small business.
But these tips are true, really, for busy executives of any stripe. I call this my “Don’t Do” list…
Stephen Venuti’s Productivity ‘Don’t Do’ List
Just because you work harder doesn’t mean that your business is going to grow.
In fact, many times it’s the opposite.
Sometimes, you find that you are “working harder” because you have fallen into a pit of poor productivity and efficiency.
What I have found to be helpful is creating a “Not To Do” to get out of these kinds of ruts.
As an idea starter, here are four things you can not do starting today to give you the margin you need to think and act more clearly in business and life:
Venuti’s Tip #1
Dumb uses for smartphones.
If you’re constantly checking Facebook, answering or originating random text messages, or have any social media account alerts turned on, you’ll never be as productive as you could be.
Venuti’s Tip #2
Only check e-mail twice a day.
Turn off your alerts here, too. Whenever you click on the “Get Mail” button, your brain drip feeds small doses of Something-Important-Is-About-To-Happen-Juice. Except, it’s not true. Try this out for just one week and see if you don’t accomplish more than you thought possible.
Venuti’s Tip #3
Stop answering the phone.
Emergencies aside, send your calls to voicemail first and return them only during set times (and state those times on your voicemail greeting). This has three instant benefits. First, it tells people you are a focused person, which they will respect and even appreciate. Second, it makes you a focused person–keeping you on task and freeing you from interruptions you can’t anticipate. Third, you can determine if you’re the right person to handle the call or if it can be delegated.
Venuti’s Tip #4
Just say no.
There is a big difference between being busy and being productive. Want to know where you’re just “busy”? Keep track of everything you do every 30 minutes, every day, for one week. Then take all the items that aren’t moving you toward your goals and stop doing them, delegate them to someone else, or hire someone to do them for you.
What will you do with all that extra time? Concentrate only on activities and processes that make money or move you ahead.
The key to more productivity is not more work. The key is more focus. Creating your “Not To Do” List will reset your priorities, refresh your morale and could even remake your career.
I would ask that you forward this article to a business associate or client you know who could benefit from our assistance–or simply send them our way. While these particular articles relate to business strategy, as you know, we specialize in tax planning and accounting for small business owners. And though we’re reaching our limit of new clients, we always make room for referrals from trusted sources like you.
Warmly (and until next week),
Stephen Venuti
610-353-0686
