Sam

It’s always amazing how, when I do seminars, webinars or consulting, people want to know the “big secrets” to success, but when we get down to details, it’s always themselves who are the problem. It’s about mindset and about time management. It’s really not that hard to set up a lead capture page, or whatever you want to start with, and get some traffic going. What’s hard is to get it done.

Most people have excuses and they totally suck at time management. This is the biggest obstacle on your way to success, so here are a few tips that can get you going:

1. There will NEVER be a perfect moment to do something. Just do it. Now. Are you still reading this? I said now!

2. Make time for focused work, and turn off everything else. The best thing is, if you’re working from home, to have your office in a room where you can close the door. No pets, no spouse, no kids, no one else but you. Turn off your cell phone and don’t install a landline. Log out of all instant messaging software, close your email software, and get to work! It’s amazing how little interruptions totally ruin momentum, so don’t let them happen.

3. Know when to quit. Sometimes you just gotta do it. Either quit or outsource. If a project is taking much longer than you though, you have to figure out if the hours are worth it. Ask yourself what you could be doing instead that would be more profitable. Don’t be a hero.

4. If you have a big project, split it up into several deadlines. One of the most important things to build, and uphold momentum, is to get things done and move on to the next thing. One big project with one big goal is too much for most people.

5. Don’t get too detailed with your projects. Get them done good enough for a release or launch, and focus on the details later. I can’t say how many people I’ve met in various businesses that never get their stuff out, because they’re working on “the details”.

6. There is no such thing as “no time”. If you really want something, you can make time for it. Get up an hour earlier, skip an hour or two of watching TV or playing video games, and do some creative stuff instead.

7. Don’t waste your own or other people’s time. If you work in a team and need to have meetings for some reason, make them quick. Remember, a 1 hour meeting with 5 people costs 5 work hours. Yup, that’s what 5 people could have accomplished in that hour. Is it worth having a meeting? I’m usually very strict IF I have meetings. Have a clear agenda, and even if we’re 10 people, it’s 20 minutes tops. I have everyone report what I want to hear, they get 2 minutes each, and that’s it.

8. Get sleep! This is very, very important. Get the sleep you need. No sleep completely destroys creativity and mindset/attitude. Sleep, and healthy living (exercise, food) is NOT a cost, it’s an INVESTMENT in the most important thing in this world…YOU.

9. Lots of people I meet “just need to read another book” or “take another class” before they can get started. Forget that. Go for it, learn as you go. If you’re smart, you’ll write your own book about your learning experience and sell it on the forums and on a website. Maybe you’ll be the next big “guru” (oh, god).

Until next time!