From the Wisdom Vault…

Are any of these statements true for you?

- “I start a lot of things but often don’t complete them.”
- “I open my email and before I know it half the day is gone!”
- “My schedule is so full there’s no time to develop my business.”
- “I work hard but not on what will positively impact my success.”
- “I end many days feeling guilty about what I did not accomplish.”

If so, you’re in good company. I hear these frustrations from just about every solo-entrepreneur I know. What you need are systems to keep your days flowing happily along.

Six Time Blocking Steps

Use this time-blocking process to get more done and have more fun in your business:

1. Spend 30 minutes each day planning.
Set a time slot at the end of each day to plan for the next. Choose 1- 3 high pay off activities to complete early in the day, so you make significant progress every day. Remember, a high pay off activity brings you closer to achieving your top revenue and developmental goals.

2. Make your calendar your daily guide.
Most people only put appointments and birthdays on their calendar. Try this — put all of your business tasks and timed goals on it as well. Time management guru David Allen says: “Anything you consider unfinished in any way must be captured in a trusted system outside your mind, or what I call a collection bucket, that you know you’ll come back to regularly and sort through.”

Whatever goes on your calendar is a sacred agreement with yourself. Sure, sometimes you’ll need more time or realize that there are more pieces to a project than you thought, so go ahead and move a few things ahead. The key is to review your open projects regularly and keep them moving forward. When you get into a good rhythm your calendar becomes an ally for your success.

3. Set specific days for coaching and times slots for clients.
In my practice, Monday, Wednesday and Thursday are clients days. Two sessions before lunch and two after is a good pattern. Each client has their own dedicated time slot so that it’s easy to manage my schedule. When you have a full practice, this system makes it easy to stay on track. Why not start it now so that you’re set up for success?

If you have an open slot, imagine your ideal client is on their way and use the time for bite size marketing tasks to attract that client.

4. Block out several hours each week for project development.
The alpha waves are flowing in the morning — so that’s often the best time for writing articles and creating marketing campaigns, designing new products and services. Turn that dream for another revenue stream into reality!

5. Have set times to respond to emails.
Tim Ferris, in the 4 Hour Work Week, suggests checking emails only at noon and 4:00pm. Get your high pay off actions done first, and only then open your email. If you let email get the best of you, this one is for you. And have a standard of getting everything out of your court and out of your inbox every day or at least every week.

6. Set time blocks for Finance, Writing and Marketing

- Financial Focus Time
This is where you update your revenue and expense projections, pay bills, and input your bookkeeping into Quick Books. Of course, you could outsource most of this. But do stay in touch with your finances — it’s a prosperity principle.

- Wildly Creative Writing Time
If you publish an ezine or re-purpose articles into blogs and directories, a regular writing habit is critical. Ezines only work for you if they are punctual like a train.

- Magnetic Marketing Time
Plan your work and work your plan. If you market continuously and consistently, you will have more clients than you need. Plan a set of well-leveraged, repetitive approaches, some of which are high touch (voice to voice) and some that are automated internet processes. Add in some of your own products and you have the Magic Marketing Suite!

Do some of these things seem like drudgery to you? Reframe your thoughts about them. Make each aspect of your business a friend and ally. A smart colleague of mine, changed up to a fun attitude by giving her time blocks upbeat names like the ones above.

Now, start using this time blocking process and watch yourself accomplish more than you thought possible week after week!

Sue’s Success Secrets
This week’s question is:
What are the advantages and disadvantages of using other people’s articles in your ezine?
Prosperous Coach Mentor, Sue Brundege answers…

May your time blocking system bring you greater prosperity in your coaching business!

Rhonda Hess
Founder, Prosperous Coach