Time management

Starting a small business is not an easy task. Even if you have an innovative idea, passion and desire to help, there are several things to consider before you start. You need to create a business plan, marketing strategies, and determine what type of structure to use.

In addition, research the accounting system, find contact groups, set your goals, and choose whether you want to work from home or online. It is also important to establish your niche market, create your value proposition, and find potential customers.

Managing your online presence and the multiple tasks required in the 21st century can make you feel overwhelmed. Many new business owners get discouraged before they even get started due to lack of time to balance their personal life, family, and full-time job. Unfortunately, there's not much you can do to avoid being busy.

In this business world, it is essential to have good planning and time management to achieve success. As a small business owner, you will always have a busy schedule, especially in the early years.

However, it is important to maximize productivity in the time available through good time management. As the business grows, you can hire others to handle the more tedious tasks.

Tips for managing your time

There are certain things you can do as an entrepreneur, especially when starting out, to better manage your time and find that coveted balance. Here are the ones I consider most important.

Prioritize

Managing time as a small business owner can be a challenge, especially on hectic workdays. One way to maximize productivity is through prioritization. Establish your most important criteria and create a calendar accordingly.

Once you have your priorities straight, be sure to follow your calendar and avoid unnecessary distractions. It is important to have a defined set of goals and daily tasks to avoid inefficiency and wasted time. You can organize your time based on your current priorities, either through an hour-by-hour breakdown or a daily task list. Be sure to establish a structure to follow, otherwise you may waste time trying to decide what to do next.

To maximize your productivity as a small business owner, it is essential to prioritize your tasks and set a schedule to accomplish them. Make sure you have a clear set of goals and tasks for each day and organize your time based on your current priorities. Set specific days for tasks such as sales calls, invoicing, networking, and dedicate your afternoons to strategy and order fulfillment. Make sure you follow a structure, otherwise, you will end up wasting time without getting your tasks done.

Avoid multitasking

Working on one task at a time may seem inefficient, but it can help increase your performance and productivity. Instead of trying to multitask, focus your attention on a single task.

Avoid the temptation to answer emails or text messages while working on something important, as this will only distract you and take you longer to complete the task. Instead of trying to do everything alone, don't be afraid to ask for help when necessary. This will allow you to be more efficient and not waste time on unnecessary research.

To determine the right price for your services, it is important to research the market and compare with competitors. Consulting with trusted people and specialists in the field can also be helpful. In addition, it is important to assign specific tasks to others to maximize your time and focus on what you do best. It is also essential to take time to rest and relax, as this can improve your productivity and prevent burnout.

Organize your space

Organizing your physical space is essential to maximizing your productivity. A cluttered environment can make it difficult to work and cause wasted time. One study revealed that 43% of Americans are disorganized people and are late to the office twice a week. By keeping a clean and tidy space, you achieve an organized mind and greater work efficiency.

By keeping your files neatly organized and color-coded, you can easily find them when you need them. This saves time and allows you to focus on more important tasks. In addition, keeping your workspace free of clutter will help you keep a clear mind and increase your productivity.

Balance your time

To avoid wasting time, it is important to be aware of distracting activities and take steps to eliminate them. Keeping a journal can help us identify these patterns. You can also consider blocking problematic websites or setting time limits for specific tasks.

In addition, President Eisenhower's 80/20 rule reminds us to focus on what is truly important and not what is urgent. To maximize productivity, you can use the Pomodoro technique to structure your time and focus on one task at a time. The 80/20 technique, according to which 80% of the results come from 20% of the effort, is used by many people.

One way to implement it is through the Pomodoro method, developed by Francesco Cirillo in the late 1980s. It consists of setting a timer for 25 minutes and focusing on a single task until the alarm goes off, then taking a short break before focusing on the next task. It is useful for improving concentration, structuring time and ensuring that sufficient time is spent on each task. In short, it is important to find a balance in the use of time.

Automate processes

To maximize your efficiency, you should identify and eliminate those activities that are not essential. Prioritizing your tasks in order of importance will allow you to dedicate adequate time to each of them. It is important to avoid unnecessary distractions, such as spending too much time online or on other tangents. Using automated tools and applications can help reduce time spent on repetitive tasks, allowing you to focus on what is important to your business.

One often questions how some of today's largest companies would have handled marketing on social platforms, among other essential activities today. Despite this, modern technology offers numerous opportunities to speed up and simplify tasks, with nearly a million apps, programs and services online.

There are so many ways to automate tedious and time-consuming tasks, allowing the computer to take care of them.

Keep track of your finances

It's important to keep an accurate record of your finances to avoid unnecessary stress. An accounting system like QuickBooks or Zero can help you simplify the process and automate tasks. This way you can spend your time on other important activities instead of worrying about your finances.

The goal is for you to maintain adequate control of all financial aspects of your business, while allowing yourself time to pay attention to other business tasks in an equitable and responsible manner.

Avoid distractions

To avoid distractions and maximize productivity as a sole proprietor, it is essential to establish a clear separation between work and personal life. This may include turning off your phone and using unnecessary website blocking apps during work hours, as well as keeping business matters out of family time.

In addition, it is important to learn to divide the day into segments and plan ahead to ensure efficient use of time. This also means keeping family time completely separate from business hours. However, while it can be difficult to reduce the to-do list, using time effectively can help achieve time management success.

Plan ahead

Before you start your day, it is essential to have a plan in place. To avoid wasting time organizing your tasks, try to plan ahead. You can do this the night before or just before you go to work that day. Take 15 minutes to organize your workspace, using your computer to make a list of what is most important for the next day.

Think about the networking events you'll be attending, the exercise classes you'll be teaching, the calls and follow-ups you'll need to make. If you prefer to do it in the morning, take a few minutes to write down the most urgent and important items for the day and work on them when you are most productive.

Value your time

In any case, your time is precious. So is mine. That's why we must value it. Research how much other professionals earn on average per hour, whether it's a life coach, health coach, etc. Then convert it into a monthly, weekly and daily salary. By doing so, you will realize the real value of your time in money.

And remember, wasting time is also wasting money. Although finances can cause stress, it's important to prioritize and remember that time is one of the most valuable assets in a business of your own. That's why I advise you to always try to prioritize your time properly, because without this you will not be able to lead your business to true success.

Managing your business online or in-person

Let's discuss managing your business online, in person or both when starting any type of business. Planning your new venture and success is exciting, although it can be a little tricky these days with all the pandemic restrictions, so make sure you choose the best option for your coaching business.

From a financial standpoint, we need to decide how we can make the most money, spend as little as possible, and at the same time provide our clients with quality service while maximizing expected sales and profits. You also need to consider your personal balance when deciding from where you want to manage your venture.

In any case, it is important to consider both money management and quality customer service when planning your business. One of the key decisions is to determine the best location option for your business, whether it's online, in-person or both. It is crucial to balance these business aspects with your personal life when making a decision on how to run your business.

Prior to the pandemic, I may have advised you to only meet with clients in person, either at their home or at a location of their choice. Conduct written and physical assessments in person, to better guide them. I have always been a firm believer that face-to-face meetings are always better than any other form of communication, whether by phone, email, text message or video call.

However, due to the difficulties of the pandemic, you may need to adapt your approach and consider a virtual consultation to connect with your clients. Although, it is important to keep in mind that non-verbal communication and facial expression are important and can be misinterpreted or missed in a video call. Therefore, I will always recommend a one-on-one consultation with the client as the best option for the right business.

Meet with the client face-to-face

Even though 2020 changed many things in our lives, there are still several ways to deliver quality services to your clients. One option is to continue with face-to-face meetings, as long as it is allowed in your area. This is an efficient way to communicate and get to know your clients, as well as allowing them to get to know you.

Although, there are also other options available, such as virtual meetings or online netwo