The Accountability Minute:Business Acceleration|Productivity

Today we are talking about software tool #6 that every business owner needs, which is ProofHub – a Task Management Software.

Even business owners can feel quite overwhelmed when working on and managing projects. The pressure alone is enough to make a competent entrepreneur feel disheveled, scattered, and disorganized. 

Proofhub is efficient all-in-one-project management software, which also manages tasks quite well. It increases accountability, organizes everything, and facilitates efficient communication. 

Highlights:

Today we are talking about software tool #5 that every business owner needs, which is Zoho – a Suite of Software for the Entire Business.

Do you need a productivity tool that brings your marketing, client support, and sales activities together in a harmonious process? Zoho is just what your business needs then. It is a single repository that unifies all essential business processes, people, and policies into one organized platform. 

It also has a centralized data center where you can store all your important data and inventory into a single syste...

Today we are talking about software tool #4 that every business owner needs, which is Wrike - a Project Management Solution offering Visibility and Control.

If you wish to have maximum control and visibility of your projects, you can’t find a more effective solution than Wrike. This productivity tool is one of the most popular apps among business owners for various reasons. 

This app helps accelerate performance, delivers better efficiency, and automates complex tasks, among other things. Wrike is among the favorites of a large portion of the F...

Today we are talking about software tool #3 that every business owner needs, which is Basecamp - a Project Management Tool.

Basecamp is not just a productivity tool, it’s a wholly better way to work. Adopting Basecamp as part of your business’s productivity strategy will help it become better organized and productive. In the age of remote working, Basecamp is especially more helpful for entrepreneurs who run remote work teams. 

It helps them create a better channel of communication and needs fewer meetings. Basecamp breaks projects into sm...

Today we are talking about software tool #2 that every business owner needs, which is Project Turf- People, Tasks, and Project Management.

For business owners, Project Turf is the best project management solution. It facilitates daily communication, organizing project teams, managing assignments and tasks, etc. This productivity tool also helps entrepreneurs gain valuable business insights, which helps drive growth and optimize processes. 

This software simplifies all four management functions, including leading, controlling, organizing, and planning. 

Highlights:

Today we are talking about software tool #1 that every business owner needs, which is Slack - the Best Team Collaborative Software.

Businesses with a united and well-coordinated team progress faster than those who don’t. Slack is among the handiest productivity tools that business owners can use to unify their entire team communication. 

The best feature of this tool is its integration with your daily-use apps such as Dropbox and Google Drive, etc. If you wish to transform the way your team connects with information and how your...

Productivity is never an accident for business owners. It does not happen by chance. Rather, it happens out of a commitment to excellence, stellar planning, consistent efforts, and great productivity tools. This is the age of technology, where there’s an app for everything. 

If you’re an entrepreneur looking for foolproof ways to improve your business processes and growth, we will be exploring the top 10 productivity tools over the next 10 days that you need to strongly consider using. With these tools in your business arsenal, your business will stay well above the fiercely competitive atmosp...

Today we are talking about tip #9 of the 9 tips to help you stop procrastinating which is to Just Do It.  

Sometimes you have to bite the bullet and just get it done.  You can discuss, strategize, and write lists all day, but without any action, you won’t be any better off.  Force yourself to sit down and knock off one of your high payoff items on your list before you take lunch, for example.  Then get to another one before your afternoon meeting.   

Procrastinating some of your work...

Today we are talking about tip #8 to help you stop procrastinating which is to do One Thing at a Time.  

When you really must get a job done, just concentrate on that task.  Don’t try to get other things done at the same time because it will distract you.  Get one thing done well and complete it before you move onto the next activity. If you need to log-off of email or put your phone on silent to help you focus on what you need to and reduce distractions, then do it...

Today we are talking about tip #7 to help you stop procrastinating which is to Start with the Best. 

What part of your activity list do you need to do the most for you to bring in revenue?  For example, if you need to make calls to prospects but you may not like this part of your job, do it first thing in the morning and move on to the other activities that you may enjoy more.  You have to do only what you can do and nobody else can do, whether you...

Today we are talking about tip #6 to help you stop procrastinating which is to Be Choosy.  

As you know, we all can be huge time wasters at times.  Maybe your chatty clients want to tell you about what’s new in their life during a business meeting.  It’s okay to take a raincheck on that conversation, as you haven’t allocated the time for a lot of personal conversations time in the scheduled business meeting.  You want to work by appointment only, face-to-face, on the phone, or in a virtual environment...

Today we are talking about tip #5 to help you stop procrastinating which is to Eliminate Time Wasters.  

We all know we are susceptible to getting sucked in by the number of things that happen in an office each day.  Put a time limit on how often you check your email, for example, to be at 11:00am and then again around 4:00pm (sometime before you leave for the day). Time block your calendar and work hard to follow what it says to do, when it says to do it. Whatever your major tem...

Today we are talking about tip #4 to help you stop procrastinating which is to Anticipate Challenges.  

No goal is without challenges, so expect that you will run into some roadblocks, but don’t let them slow you down.   Think about solutions ahead of time, so that when issues do come up, you are prepared to conquer them. 

Tune in tomorrow for Tip #5 for helping you to stop procrastinating. 

Put an end to the procrastination cycle and make progress...

Today we are talking about tip #3 to help you stop procrastinating which is to Make a Timeline.  

Having one deadline for a project is pure procrastination.  When you break your project into milestones, set a deadline for each one, and sit back and feel a sense of accomplishment as you check them off.   You should do this daily, so you know what you have to get done every day, every week, and every month.

Tune in tomorrow for Tip #4 for helping you to stop procrastinating. 

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Today we are talking about tip #2 to help you stop procrastinating which is to Break it Down.  

Cut your task into smaller pieces that are more manageable to handle.  You’ll find that you feel like your workload is not quite as overwhelming and you will be able to knock off a couple of tasks in no time. It is so much easier to make progress on tasks when you have them broken down into smaller pieces. 

Tune in tomorrow for Tip #3 for helping you to stop...

Today we are talking about tip #1 to help you stop procrastinating which is to Announce Your Goals.  

Telling people about what you want to achieve holds you more accountable to it.  I strongly suggest you also want to write about it or write it down for your own purposes.  Revisit or talk about it often, so that it does not stray too far from you mind. Tracking your goals also helps you to not procrastinate because you know where you are at against your annual goals at any given moment in time...

Why Do You Procrastinate?

Understanding why you are not working on something can help you to manage it.  Piers Steel, who wrote The Procrastination Equation states that procrastination occurs for three distinct reasons:

1.      Lack of self-confidence to achieve a goal.

2.      Not interested in the task.

3.      Distracted by impulsive behavior.

According to Steel, if you do not value or expect that you will achieve your goal, you are more likely to procrastinate in some aspect of it.  If you are influenced by short-term gratifications, you can also be dist...

Procrastination is Affecting Your Business More Than You Realize

We’ve all had an action item on our to-do list that has been there all week or even all month, and we avoid it like the plague.  You know you should be working on it, but you’ve refilled your water bottle 5 times, done your client service work, checked all your social media, completed some online business training, and are reading any blog you can find.  And then the activity you have been dreading is now due and the deadline has been missed.  For some...

In a survey of business professionals, when asked they consistently feel they waste approximately 2 hours a day, which translates to 10 hours a week, etc.  Let’s not focus on how much time is actually wasted as the focus needs to be on what you can do with the wasted time to generate even more money, work less, or do other things you really want to do.  

Use a time log to help you know where you are actually spending your time during the day. Periodically use this time log for a 2-week period of ti...

Today we are talking about Tip #14 of the 14 tips for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Know When to Say NO.

It can be difficult to say no, but it is absolutely vital to maintaining life/work balance. We often carry irrational thoughts and emotions when it comes to saying no. Whether it’s a fear of rejection or criticism, we often say yes when we really want to say no. If you are not willing to honor your own well-being and happiness, how can you effectively do...

Today we are talking about Tip #13 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Know When to Say YES.

Struggling to find balance may be the result of saying yes to the wrong things. Your time is very valuable, so only say yes to the things that are in alignment with your core values and help put you in the highest probability of achieving your goals. The activities that are not important or are done out of obligation are better to be delegated or deleted from your task l...

Today we are talking about Tip #12 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Integrate the Weisure Lifestyle.

A number of years ago, there was a CNN topic which highlighted a growing trend among entrepreneurs that blurred the lines between work and lifestyle. Today, that trend definitely continues as many more professionals and entrepreneurs find enjoyable ways to combine business and leisure. Opportunities to integrate the “weisure” lifestyle are vast, which creates more time to honor the perfect work/life balance that works for you. This might be somet...

Today we are talking about Tip #11 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Offer Virtual/Remote Services.

It may not be necessary to always meet face-to-face with clients and business partners. Explore virtual or remote services that can still be very effective in order to relieve the stress and expense of travel/commute time. There are many web conferencing services available today. A few examples you may want to review are Gotomeeting.com, Zoom, freeconferencesharing.com, WebEx, Skype, and more. Choose the right one for you and y...

Today we are talking about Tip #10 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Reduce Travel Time.

Are you constantly racing from one client meeting to another? Reduce travel time by “chunking” client meetings together either by area or days of the week. Better yet, have them come to you, if at all possible! That would be the very best option.

Tune in tomorrow for Tip #11 for helping you to maintain work life balance.

Are you ready to take your busines...

Today we are talking about Tip #9 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Hire Personal or Professional Support.

Success requires assertiveness, and as a successful business owner you’re likely to be effective at getting things done. But are you trying to do it all? Are you still doing too much of the low payoff activities yourself? Hiring a personal and/or professional support person can help you regain balance but picking up some of the slack – even if it’s only a few hours per week.  You shou...

Today we are talking about Tip #8 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Outsource Domestic Chores.

If domestic chores aren’t your cup of tea – consider delegating them. Really, unless household chores bring you a sense of pleasure or satisfaction, there is simply no reason to spend your valuable time tending to them. Remember, the name of the game is finding life and work balance. Hiring domestic help is an easy solution to finding more balance. Typically, this is a good investment in your life.

T...

Today we are talking about Tip #7 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Request a Salary Increase.

As a business owner, you can always give yourself a raise, assuming there is enough profit in the business.  Do the math and make sure the numbers work and give yourself that well-deserved salary increase.

Tune in tomorrow for Tip #8 for helping you to maintain work life balance.

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Get the proven stra...

Today we are talking about Tip #6 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Raise Your Prices.

As an entrepreneur, raising your prices is one of the easiest and fastest ways to find more life/work balance. It’s pretty simple; when you’re generating more revenue, you have more of an opportunity to work less.  Always make sure the value you provide exceeds the price you are charging (perceived value can be different for different people). Increasing value doesn’t mean adding more work time. There are many way...

Today we are talking about Tip #5 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Reduce Your Expenses.

It’s easy to get caught up in all the “doing” of life, only to lose track of how much you have to do to keep up with all the “having.” Look around you and ask, “Do I really want or need that _________?” If it’s a financial burden, and provides little or no fulfillment or return, it’s time to dump or downsize. When you don’t have to keep up with all the “havi...

Today we are talking about Tip #4 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Work Remotely 1-2 Days per Week.

If you work best outdoors or in your favorite peaceful environment, schedule “remote” days where you can head to your favorite destination to brainstorm new business ideas or boost your production.

Tune in tomorrow for Tip #5 for helping you to maintain work life balance.

Are you ready to take your business to the next level? Get the proven strategies and resourc...

Today we are talking about Tip #3 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Establish a Home Office.

If you struggle with traveling to and from an office away from home, save time and get even more done by establishing an effective home office.  Word of caution: it can be easy to get distracted by personal matters and family members when working from home, so set clear “office hours” where you can focus on work and will not be disturbed. Working virtually is much more common today than it use...

Today we are talking about Tip #2 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Know Your Priorities and Schedule Them.

If it’s really important, time must be scheduled for it in your calendar. As I often say, honor thy calendar. In other words, do what your time blocks in your calendar say to do when they say to do them, assuming you have the right activities in it. Work and family are not the only important priorities, so be sure to schedule “you” time where you can refuel...

Today we are talking about Tip #1 for helping you to maintain work life balance, which is to Identify Your Core Values (or what is truly important to you in life).

Above all, honoring your core values is vital to maintaining a sense of balance because it directly affects your quality of life. Identify your core values and make the necessary life/work changes that honors them, so you can enjoy the kind of life you truly want and deserve.  

To find out what is really important to you in lif...

Maintaining balance when the demands of work and life are pulling you in different directions can be a bit challenging at times. What’s at the heart of finding balance in your life? Peace, happiness, rest, health? The definition of balance is different for everyone: What may be balance to me may not be balance to you; which is why it’s important to get to the heart of what’s uniquely important in your life. 

Over the next 14 days we will explore 14 tips for helping you to maintain work life balance. So, tune in tomorrow...

If your life looks the same today as it did a year ago… that’s not fate — that’s a decision – a choice. Nothing changes until YOU change. The most successful people didn’t wait for life to happen — they created it. When you’re ready to stop settling and start manifesting the business and life you truly want, download “Your Formula for Manifesting  Anything You Want” book right now. It’s time to step into the business and life you have dreamed of having.

Download Your Formula for Manifesting Anything You Wantbook by going to ...

Today we are talking about consistent habit #10 or the 10 habits of successful entrepreneurs, which is to Never Stop Learning.

Curiosity is an underrated key to success, and it’s important to never stop learning. When you’re learning new things, you’re constantly generating new ideas or innovative solutions to problems. Having a growth mindset allows you to find success by learning from your mistakes and improving upon them. It also helps you to welcome new challenges and increases your resilience to failure. When you never stop learning, you increase your own pot...

Today we are talking about consistent habit #9 of successful entrepreneurs, which is to Stay Physically Active.

Studies show that regular exercise can increase happiness and improve your energy levels and overall mental health. Some of the most successful entrepreneurs, including Sir Richard Branson and Tim Cook, include exercise among their daily habits. Exercising can also increase creativity and give you the energy needed to tackle the mountains of tasks you have to do throughout the day.

Tune in tomorrow for consistent habit #10 of successful entrepreneurs.

Today we are talking about consistent habit #8 of successful entrepreneurs, which is to Set Aside Time for Creative Thinking.

A great habit to practice is setting aside time for creative thinking that is important for you to do in order to grow your business to the next level. One of the best things you can do for yourself and your business is to allow space and time to innovate, without taking immediate action. When you’re blocking time on your calendar, set aside a few hours each week to think about you...

Today we are talking about consistent habit #7 of successful entrepreneurs, which is to Invest in Your Team.

While investing in your team financially is a great practice, it’s even more important to invest in the well-being of your team. Take time to check in on your team members each day and be transparent about what you’re working on, especially if providing context will help set them up for success. A truly motivated team is one that knows with absolute certainty that their leader is behind them 100 percent.

T...

Today we are talking about consistent habit #6 of successful entrepreneurs, which is to Set Boundaries.

Setting boundaries is a habit that may take more time for some more than others to practice. It’s not always easy, but it can show you where your energy is best spent. Your boundaries may range from not checking your phone too often, to deciding how much time to spend on one task versus others.

Once your boundaries are defined and set, you can more clearly see the priorities and goals need...