FM Walsh & Associates Inc.

Stay in Control!

Many entrepreneurs end up feeling like the business runs them, rather than the other way around. Here’s 5 tips to put in play to get that control back.

1. Keep focused on your most profitable business. The 80/20 Rule really does apply in business. As an entrepreneur there are a million calls on your time and energy. You cannot possibly do it all. Do you know which customers or products are your most profitable? Keeping them happy should be your primary focus.

2. Celebrate your successes. Take a moment at the end of every day to review what you have accomplished. Celebrate your victories, especially the small ones. Too many of us never take the time to recognize what we have accomplished – we’re too focused on all the stuff still left on the to-do list.

3. Just touch stuff once. Don’t re-read emails or documents a dozen times; don’t listen to voicemails partially and skip over them. Most of us can end up wasting up to an hour every day handling the same stuff over and over. Make yourself a new rule that you only pick up an email or piece of paper or listen to a voicemail if you have time to take action right then. Otherwise leave it till you do have time.

4. Work less hard. There will always be more stuff to do as a business owner – the pile never goes away! And you always have tomorrow to tackle that next thing. Life passes quickly. Go home at a decent hour every day and spend time with those you love.

5. Recharge yourself. You don’t try to run your car without gas, so why do it to yourself? You are the most valuable asset your business has, so make sure you take time to recharge. Find a hobby, an activity that gets you to unplug totally, so you are not thinking about work. Recharge yourself on a regular basis and you’ll be surprised at how creative and refreshed you will be when you are at work.