The Highly Effective Entrepreneur’s Schedule
When I worked outside the home, I had a pretty good routine going. I got up at 5 am every morning, pulled on my clothes, and headed out for my morning walk. I’d get home about 5:30, pray, shower, dress, and fix a protein shake to drink when I got to work. I drove 20 minutes to catch a bus and then spent the next 30-40 minutes reading my scriptures or writing in my journal. By the time I got to work at 7:30, I felt like I’d gotten a good start on the day.When I started my own home business, all of that structure flew out the window! I still got up early, but instead of heading out for that morning walk, I rubbed my eyes and walked into my home office down the hall. I’d get so involved in checking email, working on my website, organizing paperwork that I’d totally lose track of time. Some days it might be 10 or 11 am before I stopped long enough to even go shower. My dream had always been to work at home in my pjs, but this was ridiculous!
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Okay, so I may not be a highly effective entrepreneur…yet…but the same principle applies to those of us who are just trying to get buy. Since I am working from home now, I know how easy it is to get distracted from what I need to be doing by what I should be doing. I can’t say that I have my system all worked out yet, but I’m getting there.
My nomal routine is that I get up with my husband and get ready for the day. This means that I shower, eat breakfast, and treat my morning much the same way as if I had a job to get to at a particular time.
When I need to get some housework done I use my timer. I got this idea from FLYlady. If I have several things that all need to be done right now, I will make a list of three or four things. I tackle each of those things for 15 minutes. When I get to the end of the list, I give myself a few minute break and then start at the top of the list again. When one item on the list is finished, I add another item to the bottom of the list.
I have found that if I think about what’s for dinner early in the day then it will get made on time for supper. If I wait until the last minute, we live off of burritos, tomato soup, tuna, and take out. I think this is a good habit for anyone (work a home or not).
My last tip for this entry is to have a home office. Right now my home office is a computer cabinet in the middle of oour living room. This computer also doubles as the family entertainment center. While I am trying to relax with some music or TV I am constantly reminded of the work that I need to do. Having a home office will allow me to shut the door at the end of the day and mentally go home.
The key to being a successful entrepreneur is to treat your home-based business the same way you would treat a job working for someone else. If you were your boss, would you fire you? I think I would fire me.
Tags: Personal Development
March 30th, 2007 at 7:24 am
There’s something I want to make for dinner. I hope I get a chance to do it before May. The end is soon. So weird. I’m no graduate.