Here's a question I get asked all the time:
"I don't know you how do it, Alicia...with two little ones
to care for and so few hours in the day to actually focus
on your work. Somehow you manage to write your weekly
ezine, hold a bunch of teleseminars each month, run your
10-week group coaching program, AND be creating and
promoting new offers and new products all the time. I'm so
impressed and inspired by you, but more than that, I want
to know how you do it all!?"
To be honest, sometimes I wonder myself! Something I often
say to other, especially new, mothers is, "despite what
everyone tells you to do, do whatever works for YOU." In a
way, that's how I started running my business after I had
my daughter. I just did whatever worked. I still do.
When she got a bit older, it was easier to manage both
being a fulltime mother along with running a successful
business. Then enter baby #2 and it was back to square one.
It's not easy but it is possible. And here's what's really
interesting (mompreneurs, take note): I'm making about $3k
more each month since having my son - and I'm working LESS.
A client recently pointed out to me that it seems the
biggest growths in my business have been when I've been
having babies - and she's right!
Over time, I've figured out how to get the most important
things done while still being able to focus the majority of
my time on my family (after all, that's one of the reasons
why I went into business for myself in the first place).
Here are the top three things that are working for me right
now:
1. Setting my work hours
My typical work day looks like this: I get organized the
night before for the next day. This jump-starts my day and
makes sure that when I do get those tiny pockets of time to
get something done, I know exactly what to do. This makes
me feel like I'm accomplishing stuff in-between having tea
parties, blowing bubbles, crawling around on the floor,
exploring the neighborhood or running errands.
But I don't get any real work done until naptime. I work
for about a total of an hour or so while the kids nap, five
days a week. Then I put in some more time after they go to
bed at night, whether I'm leading a teleseminar or catching
up on emails. My biggest block of focused time, usually
reserved for writing and product creation, is on Saturdays,
when I work approximately 4 hours.
During a perfect week, that would give me about 12 hours of
time dedicated to business. However, there's never a
perfect week (one or the other doesn't nap, I have some
pressing non-business-related task that I can only take
care of when they're sleeping, one of them is sick, etc.),
so my best guess is that this gives me about 8-10
productive hours to work on my business each week.
2. Ignoring the phone
I'm serious when I say that I ignore the phone. Some of my
clients get heart palpitations when I tell them that I
NEVER jump when the phone rings and suggest they do the
same. I don't even have the ringer turned on on the
business line. Does this mean I miss some important calls?
Probably. But my virtual assistant checks my messages in a
timely manner, takes care of what she can, and forwards the
rest to me. I then call people back at a more convenient
time for me.
3. Quick consults
When a prospective client wanted to speak with me about
'just a few questions', I used to gladly schedule a time to
talk. But instead of a few questions, I'd be on the phone
for at least a half hour, basically giving a free
coaching/consulting session, and being frustrated with
myself for not valuing my time more.
And until recently, when a potential client or customer
requested to talk with me further about working with me or
about one of my products, they could schedule a time to
talk for a much smaller fee than my usual hourly rate, and
if they decide to go forward with working with me, they
could apply the fee they paid towards the program or
product they were interested in. It's fair and values both
our time and investment in the process.
Now, however, prospects can talk with my virtual assistant
should they need more information about any of my programs
or products. If someone is interested in working with me
one-on-one, they need to apply for a private coaching spot
and if I feel it's a good fit, we set up an interview to
discuss moving forward.
BONUS: Make and use lists
I'd be lost without my lists! I'd never remember to do
anything if I didn't write it down. I keep a bunch of
reporter's notebooks around the house and anytime I think
of something I need to do, I write it down in whatever room
I'm in - whether it's business or personal. Then I
periodically gather the lists and separate them into three
main lists; personal, business, and other (which includes
the "someday I'd like to..." stuff; things that aren't a
priority but that I want to remember to do at some point),
and check things off in priority order from there.
If you start applying some of these steps now, I guarantee
the number of productive hours you spend on your business
will increase. And you'll also feel less overwhelmed and
lessed stressed about trying to get it all done!
----------------------------------------------------
Alicia M Forest, MBA, Multiple Streams Queen & CoachT,
founder of ClientAbundance.com and creator of 21 Easy &
Essential Steps to Online Success SystemT, teaches
professionals how to attract more clients, create
profit-making products and services, make more sales, and
ultimately live the life they desire and deserve. For FREE
tips on how to create abundance in your business, visit
http://www.ClientAbundance.com .
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