The Obstacle of Time Management

Many people who become self-employed later on in life find that they have problems with time management.

There is a lot of reasons for this; new business owners often find that they have too much work to do. They haven’t the resources or experience to get somebody else to get the work done. Procrastination can also be a big problem you put things off because you can’t tackle things.  Worse still you convince yourself you’re working when in fact you’re doing something inconsequential like checking whether you have made any money online every 15 minutes.

Lack of planning is a serious problem. For planning to be effective, it has to cover every single step of the project. While this might seem a bit daunting knowing every single piece that has to get done means that you have less opportunity to kid yourself you have plenty of time. It’s paramount when you’re self-employed that you deliver what you promised when you promised it!

Get Noticed For The Right Reasons

It’s never good to have a reputation for not completing work on time. Another great reason for having a detailed list of action steps is that it stops you being overwhelmed. If you’re doing a large project, it’s a bit daunting unless you break it down into mini tasks. First of all, divide the project into chunks and allocate how much time you have to do each of those chunks.

It’s never good to have a reputation for not completing work on time. Another great reason for having a detailed list of action steps is that it stops you being overwhelmed. If you’re doing a large project, it’s a bit daunting unless you break it down into mini tasks. First of all, divide the project into chunks and allocate how much time you have to do each of those chunks.

Don’t Con Yourself You have More time Than You Have

While this might seem a bit daunting knowing every single piece that has to get done means that you have less opportunity to kid yourself you have plenty of time. It’s paramount when you’re self-employed that you deliver what you promised when you promised it! It’s never good to have a reputation for not completing work on time. Another great reason for having a detailed list of action steps is that it stops you being overwhelmed. If you’re doing a large project, it’s a bit daunting unless you break it down into mini tasks. First of all, divide the project into chunks and allocate how much time you have to do each of those chunks.

Maintain Quality Control

When you rush work because you haven’t enough time you inevitably have to cut corners, and this always leads to a reduction in quality! When you work for someone else, it’s not that important that you do your best all the time at least in your mind but is imperative if you are self-employed. Sometimes it’s worthwhile having a project manager. If your primary business model is product creation, then it’s worth considering hiring someone to oversee the project.

Outsource the graphics and find three or four good freelance ghostwriters so that they are on hand should you ever need them. Make sure that you have a good copywriter to write your sales copy because this is an important area and even if you write yourself writing sales copy is a specialist job.

Focus on the jobs that you are good at! Get other people to do the menial grind that frees you to do things which are important such as marketing. It’s all about freeing yourself for the most lucrative tasks in the ones you find personally most rewarding.

Cash Flow Problems

Cash Flow Problems there are many reasons for cash flow problems and even the best run businesses have them from time to time because sometimes they happen as a result of something you can’t control such as the current market. Most the time they arise because you do not have good money management skills or there is insufficient marketing or branding. Sometimes the overheads are far too high, and they could be reduced to make them more manageable. When money is tight, inevitably business owner slow productivity which contributes in itself to the cash flow problem.

First of all decide if you have a long-term cash flow problem or a short-term one. In general short-term cash flow problems appear without warning. It may be you lose your biggest customer, or your largest customer goes bankrupt. Often short-term cash flow problems can be alleviated by taking on extra work even if that work is at a reduced profit margin; it’s important to cover your bills.

Long-term cash flow problems also sometimes occur because of industry practices. For instance, some local authorities may not pay you for several months. Sometimes the old-fashioned barter system works well in this sort of situation. If you can’t afford to pay for the solutions you need to barter for those services.

Making the Most Of Your Family

Your friends and family can be your biggest supporters or the most efficient detractors when you are self-employed. Make sure your friends and family understand your work obligations. It is not acceptable to ask you to do run around tasks in the day just because you don’t have a boss!

Make sure that your family and friends don’t interrupt you unless it’s a matter of life or death. Setting boundaries is a good idea it helps to keep productivity flowing. Emergencies do happen, and this is the time you can cross boundaries. It is important to make your family realize you are working even if you are doing so from home.

Your business is a business, and it is not a hobby if you treat it like a hobby then so will other people. Be firm, explain that you have a deadline, and it is necessary for you to work and not be distracted. Make sure that anyone who works with you is aware of their obligations, train them if necessary because if you don’t this will slow down productivity every successful business has systems in place.

The Pros and Cons of EMploying Family

If you employ your family, there are pros and cons to this. When it works well, it works fantastically well, better than any other system because you can trust them and you know them and understand them. However when a family member does not pull their weight, then there may be a problem.

As difficult as this situation is you have to let that person go to protect the family. Don’t forget it’s your responsibility to make your business success – if you don’t, then no one else will. Mindset severely affects business productivity If you have turmoil in your private life, then the chances are this will have an impact on your business. It makes it tough for you to keep on top of the tasks if you are distracted.

One of the biggest obstacles towards productivity is if you think you know it all! That stops you working and looking for faster efficient and less expensive ways of production. Apart from anything else learning encourages personal growth.

Even if you are happy with the way things are running don’t fail to see new opportunities. Everybody has difficulties in life, but it’s not barriers that are the problem. It’s how you are affected by those obstacles. Remain focused and take each obstacle is a time find ways to go over the obstacle, under it, through it or around it. Whatever you do don’t let the obstacle stand in your way.

Time Management for the Self Employed Needs not be an issue

Often it is applying a different mindset. Discipline or rather self-discipline is a lot easier when your business becomes profitable.