Technology QotW: Small Business Tools & Tricks

What tools and tricks do you use to increase your business’ productivity?
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• First you have to enjoy what you do.  Enjoying it makes you more productive and successful at the task you are trying to accomplish.
• Work in bursts...I usually work all day long but in bursts for an hour 1/2 or so then I stop to do something else or take a break.  Working in small bursts allows you to mentally rest and refocus what you want to get done.
• Evenings are more productive for me to do work online.  During the day I catch up on important phone calls or emails I have to reply.  Also during the summer for me it is also actually cooler and quieter to work at night so that would be my next suggestion choose a particular time of day where you feel most comfortable to get work done.
• I like to take notes and plan out what I will be doing the next day that way when I get up I am ready and focused with the tasks I have set for myself for that day and ready to tackle them.
• I would say keep a notepad or memo pad handy to take notes or I like to use my smartphone's notepad when I am away from the office.
• Though I like to keep busy and work it is definitely important to get enough sleep and bed rest or else your productivity level will be low
• I must admit this one....my office space tends to be a mess consumed by mail, cd's, statements and all kinds of stuff that people leave on my desk.  I constantly have to clean it or I just can't focus it is a great distraction.  So whenever possible clean up your space!
• Some people would say turn off your television because it is a distraction.  For me I never watch it!  I always listen to it and usually am listening to something productive or educational I am always plugged to PBS and it works for me.  Listen to Globetrekker!
  
• Keeping a calendar is great!  I never did before but now I find it is crucial to keep up with not only upcoming appointments but also things that were already done.
• Though I am great at multi-tasking I find that multi-tasking is really not that productive especially when you are trying to run your own business.  I try to accomplish one task at a time to its completion.
• Set goals for yourself....by next week you want to get ? accomplished and stick to it and get it done.  I know its hard but you will gain a great amount of satisfaction to know you did it and you met your goal.
• I love this one...when my phone rings at home my answering machine goes off and picks up the call if it is someone I want to talk to I can pick it up if it is a telemarketer I won't even bother getting up from my seat.  That's two minutes I did not waste to pick up the phone.
• Take breaks in between and eat a sensable meal...I usually don't I am a coffee addict but once in a while I eat my fruits and replace my coffee with iced tea.
• Stay on top of your game and keep up with technology go to seminars and career bootcamp I just went to one and it was fabulous.  It helped me reorganize and consider where I want my business to go and how I should get it there.  Also networking with other career minded people allows you to exchange ideas and grow as well as expand.
  

Comments

[France]

hey those are some great ideas and tricks! great post!

[nbm1]

[this is good] Thank you!