Six Keys for Growing and Managing Your Business

If you are a fellow member of the self-employed, then your time is money. Time wasted is money wasted. Not only must you handle your time effectively, you also must have certain tasks pre-identified that will help you to both manage and grow your business.

Here are six keys that I have found to be useful:

1. Organize your day into time segments associated with specific tasks. Look at the specific tasks that allow you to both manage your consultancy and keep it growing. Here are some tasks that I have found to be necessary in my consultant work: Accounting, Organizing, Copywriting (including article and blog writing), Phone Calls, Letter Writing (including e-mailing), and Meetings.

2. Associate the time of day which you work best on each task. For example, I don't like to end my day with a disorganized desk so Organizing would be the last task I will do. The beginning of my day will be devoted to writing blogs and articles. During that time I tend to be fresher, more alert, and more creative. I allow time for Phone Calls during the day integrated with time set aside for Meetings. Letter Writing and Accounting are tasks that I do two or three times a week as needed. I periodically allow time for Letter Writing in the morning after Copywriting and an hour in the evening for Accounting before Organizing.

3. Check your e-mail during the time during the day that you would start your Phone Calls task. Follow up as needed or "star" the item for later follow up.

4. Set up a form to capture the essence of the conversations you have during the day. You need to capture the date, the person, the phone number, and the conversation. Just write it down when the conversation has ended. If you have a computer application to record the conversation, do it later.

5. Learn to use the keyboard instead of being a slave to the mouse. Use keyboard shortcuts for opening Microsoft Explorer (winkey key + E); to bring the desk top of other windows (winkey + D); and to minimize all windows (winkey +M). Use Ctrl + A to select all text; Ctrl +X, to cut selected items; and, Ctrl + V to paste selected items.

6. Have a specific time to end your day. You need time for Rest, Reflection, and Rejuvenation. Keep the three Rs in mind always. Do not allow yourself to be burned out. Keep stress at a minimum.Use it to spur yourself to greater achievement.

When Organizing, be sure to prepare for next day. Do not retire for the evening until this is done.


Do you have some keys that you have found to be effective?
Leave your comments below.

My 10 Favorite Self-Improvement Books

I recently read an article by a famous author who listed ten of his favorite self-improvement books. 

While I was reading the article, I realized that as an  independent consultant who believes in self-improvement and personal growth, 
I had read several of those books many years ago. 

I found them to be interesting and useful, but then moved on to more recent authors.

Here are my 10 favorites:
1. The Winners’ Brain, Jeff Brown and Mark Fenske
2. Eight Keys to Greatness, Gene M. Landrum
3. Attaining Personal Greatness, Melanie Brown
4. The Greatest Discovery, Earl Nightingale
5. Changing Minds, Howard Gardner
6. Quantum Learning, Bobbi DePorter with Mike Hernacki
7. The Art of Systems Thinking, Joseph O’Connor and  Ian McDermott
8. Practical Intelligence, Roger Peters
9. The Power of Mindful Learning, Ellen J. Langer
10. Mind Set, James Naisbitt

I hope you will take an opportunity to read several or all of these books. I believe they will benefit you in your self-improvement as they have done for me.

What do you think of these books? And, what are your ten favorites?

How to Write a Good Business Letter

A business letter should always be typed and free of spelling errors, incorrect grammar, and obvious correction.

• A good business letter should be kept to one page. 
• The average length of a sentence should be 15 to 20 words and a paragraph about six lines. 
• The letter should be simple, warm and as brief as possible. Clearly state the subject in the first paragraph in a matter-of-fact way and then find a way of emphasizing the positive.  
•  Keep in mind that an everyday business letter is also a sales letter, an idea presentation, a product service, or a request.

Business letters requesting the payment of a debt should be brief and firm without threatening the debtor. Write all your letters in everyday conversational language. Acquire a natural style of writing much as you would speak. Never use flowery expressions or a barrage of words. Make your letters interesting and a reflection of your personality. And, never write a statement which you could get you into legal difficulties.

Apply the conversational test to your business letters.  Ask yourself what you would say and how you would say it, if you were speaking your message instead of writing it. Not only ask the question as you prepare to write a letter, but read over the completed letter with the same thought in mind. 

 Any thoughts on this subject? Leave your comments below.