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Procrastination
I have severe ADD and have found conducting business
efficiently has always been a major challenge. Procrastination is an integral
component for those who have Attention Deficit Disorder. The tendency to
get distracted and to feel like there is something more interesting to
pay attention to is a constant determent.
Soon after launching my business development firm
in 1991, I found I had to create systems in order to accomplish even the
basic tasks that are required of me as an entrepreneur. I began by assigning
specific days of the week to focus on specific tasks that would keep my
business operating smoothly.
On Mondays I call new contacts to set up face-to-face
meetings; Tuesdays I attend business meetings and speak at a service organization;
Wednesdays and Thursdays I conduct my business development courses; Thursday
evenings I attend other organizations events such as chamber events, to
constantly meet new contacts and on Friday mornings I meet four new contacts
for one hour each, to exchange business cards and keep the new resources
of contacts continuously flowing.
When the Internet became available to small businesses
in 1995 and then the advent of search engines, it became nearly impossible
to stay focused. I would search for information about a company I wanted
to talk with and an hour later I couldn’t remember what I had started to
search for. When it became too overwhelming, I would catch myself getting
up from my desk to do household chores such as the dishes or even dust,
rather than making the phone calls I needed to do.
It was much easier to procrastinate on basic tasks
and make an excuse justifying it in my own head that I would be able to
catch up later in the week.
Most of these tasks are what every entrepreneur
has to accomplish:
• answering emails;
• returning phone calls from a week, a month and even three months
prior until all of the calls were complete;
• creating marketing materials;
• booking speaking engagements;
• checking inventory;
• updating my website;
• trying new advertising methods each month
After many years of conducting my business, I found
it was more difficult to stay focused because of the routine of it all.
I decided one day that I had to set daily goals for each of the tasks I
have to accomplish.
As an example, I realized that when I make 20 approach calls
to new contacts, I would end up with at least one new client with at least
one new client. I wanted to increase my revenue, so I decided to make no
less than 20 dials a day. There are always days where instances would interfere
with my routine, but I will try to make it up so I have 100 new dials completed
by the end of the week.
We are often are own worst enemy when it comes to
conducting our business. Most of us started out by having a job and a boss
who would tell us what we need to accomplish. But as an entrepreneur, we
have no one to keep us on track. There in lies the biggest challenge for
most entrepreneurs. We can put things off and no one knows nor cares.
But when we do all we can to ensure our success;
we are the ones who reap the rewards. By creating small achievable goals
as well as systems to help us keep our focus, we will be more likely to
reach the level of success we desire.
Sharyn Abbott
Author and Speaker
www.sharynabbott.com
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