How to handle things in your business that you dislike doing
2011/01/26 6:00 AM
Wearing all the hats in the business can be tricky as you know. There are things we are good at, can do quickly, are required of us, perhaps only we can do, and the things we dread……….but still have to get done. I know them all inside and out from running many companies of my own over the years, and have done everything from sweeping the floor to being interviewed on ET! and Access Hollywood……. and everything in between. Funny thing, is that most of my experts who commented below, mention that either they or "most entrepreneurs" don't like the accounting part of owning a business. Personally I LOVE numbers; love crunching them, figuring out cogs, the bottom line, playing with margins and cheering for profits. But numbers are not for everyone. My experts below mention outsourcing, rewarding yourself and just good old fashioned plowing through the tough spots first thing every day.
They have some great experiences to share and some food for thought when tackling your dreaded list.
One of the things I have all my clients do when their dreaded list gets big, is to make a list for an entire week of all the things you do each day. Then divide the list into the "A" list – things you MUST do yourself, and the "B" list – things others (like a VA) can do for you. Once you can afford to hire someone, get them on that "B" list right away so you can enjoy your "A" list life!!
Please let me know if you try some of these tips and how it works out for you.
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There are 12 comments
Robert says: Hey,
Thanks for the suggestion on using a VA! Loved the concept. I was not aware that something like it exists. Just visited http://www.rentasmile.com and signed up!
Great article Sarah and thanks for sharing my tip here. So much insight above that I’m sure every busy business owner sweating the small stuff will find some great gems to help them succeed in this post.
Natalie
All such good ideas. The real goal is to keep moving forward! Now, what are we waiting for?! These days, there are consultants, VAs and interns to assist with just about anything. Thanks!
I love this! I tend to get the hard stuff out of the way first otherwise my mind is distracted. A free mind creates lots of energy and lets me power thru my day. If mundane tasks that I must do, I put on the good tunes and set a timer for 10 or 15 minute intervals of straight focus where I power thru and take mini breaks before resetting the timer. When I start crossing the mundane off my to do list it gives me momentum and I tend to get more done than I even thought possible.
Amitoj says: In tip # 57 (Joy Singhs’ Psych out your psyche) “Accomplishment boosts self esteem, procrastination lowers it.” is going on my wall of “words of wisdom”.
Thanks for bringing together such a fantastic group of entrepreneurs Sarah! These are all great tips, and I love the reward system idea!
When I saw this earlier this morning, I couldn’t deal with it. I knew at that point that I was really stuck on yuck. Thanks for the proverbial ‘kick in the pants’.
A big thank you to all your contributors too.
Like many entrepreneurs, I used to do EVERYTHING in my business. Now, elance.com is my best friend and I’ve stopped doing the things I dislike so I can focus on the “bigger picture” of growing my company. Great post!
Natalie MacNeil, She Takes on the World
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