Would a Not-To-Do list help you?
Sent Thursday, July 30, 2009
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Focused Business Action
Simple Strategies to Get into Action and Grow your Business
brought to you by Scott Lewis, MSW
Hi, .
I am excited and relieved to be putting the final touches on my new
program called Focused Business Action Circle. This four month
program provides business owners with tools and tips to work better
on their business, not harder in their business.
This has been a huge project that I have been working on for almost
a year now. Because of its complexity, I didn't have a choice but
to create a plan. I hired a marketing coach, got support from a
Mastermind buddy, and utilized the very tips I share in the FBA
Circle. During this process, I was sometimes on plan and sometimes
not. In the article below is an example of one of the tips I found
very helpful for getting me back on track and following my plan.
Warmly,
Scott
P.S For those of you who are ready to be more productive and grow
your business, there's more info about the FBA Circle after the
article along with a special offer for you to try it out at no
charge.
Would a Not-To-Do list Help You?
[To see this article in color and including links, go to
http://www.focusedbusinessaction.com/2009/07/make-a-not-to-do-list/.]
At times I am fond of using strategies that at first seem
to be the complete opposite of what you think you should do. For
example, when you are stuck on one step of a project, one option to
get moving forward is to chuck it.
Another situation where you might do the opposite of what you think
you should do is when you are getting distracted from doing the
things on your To-Do List. Instead of focusing on what you do want
to do, having a "Not-To-Do list" can be just as effective. It gives
you an opportunity to get the distractions out of the way so you
can focus on what is most important (your To-Do list).
When Jim Collins, author of Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make
the Leap... and Others Don't, sits down at the beginning of every
year, he doesn't "write down any strategic objectives until [he
has] identified corresponding things to stop doing." For instance,
it wasn't enough to decide he wanted to read more; he had to first
unplug the TV.
In your business, once you have created a plan and set goals for
yourself, consider how you're spending your time. How much of it
falls outside of your plan and does not contribute to your goals?
If the answer is most of it, a not-to-do list could be your most
valuable tool.
Here's a few of mine that I do my best to follow during work hours:
* Do not check email if I have checked it since my last meal.
* Do not go through the refrigerator to figure out what I'm having
for dinner.
* Do not check to see what's happening on Facebook.
* Do not go check to see if the mail has come.
* Do not check to see if anyone has responded on Twitter.
* Do not call friends just to chat.
* Do not check my Facebook fan page to see if anyone has left
comments.
Jeffrey Yamaguchi, publisher of 52projects.com, has a Not-To-Do
list on his site that is humorous and poignant. It also includes:
"Do not read any further...caught you! Stop reading now, and get to
work on your project."
What would you put on your own Not-To-Do list? For those who would
like to comment about this article, feel free to do so on my blog
at
http://www.focusedbusinessaction.com/2009/07/make-a-not-to-do-list/.
Focused Business Action Circle
This virtual program helps business owners get into action and grow
their business. They stay on track and apply what they learn with
weekly assignments from the Action Guide. There's much more
including two monthly seminars over a conference line to learn the
finer points of implementing the strategies. There's even an online
forum where members can ask for help if they're stuck or celebrate
their successes. All of this is included in the FBA Circle. For
more details you can go to
http://www.focusedbusinessaction.com/programs/, but first let me
share with you a special invitation.
I am offering free memberships to the first 10 people who respond.
You will have full access to the program for one month. For those
who want to continue after that, the cost is just $1 for your first
month and $27 each month after that.
Yes, there's a catch, but it's not too bad. In return for the free
membership, I am asking for 3 things from you:
1. Try out the simple tips found in the Action Guide.
2. Send me your feedback, I could really use your help to make the
site as user-friendly as possible. I want you to tell me what's
working and what you would like to see different.
3. Send me a testimonial. Assuming you find value in the program,
by the end of your free month I would like you to spend 5 minutes
writing a 3-5 sentence testimonial about your experience in the FBA
Circle.
I think you'll be pretty impressed with the tips you'll find in the
membership area and everything members get for $27 per month. I've
worked hard to create a program that will make a significant
difference in your business and your life.
Be one of the first 10 people to join the FBA Circle. Become a
member at
http://www.focusedbusinessaction.com/fba/join-the-fba-circle-for-free/.
Do it now! I promise you, it will change the way you do business.
Are you a small business owner struggling to grow your business,
but can't seem to get into action? Find tips to work better, not
harder at the http://www.focusedbusinessaction.com/blog/.
Connect with me on Facebook at http://www.tinyurl.com/fbafacebook.
Copyright © 2009
All rights reserved.
Do you want to use this article somewhere else? You may publish
this article anywhere you want providing you acknowledge my
contribution by including the lines directly above this paragraph.
That way people who are inspired by my work can find their way back
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