Do you cringe and grimace when it’s time to get down to business on one of your toughest projects? If you don’t know where to start, it often leads to procrastination, which ultimately hurts your business! Don’t get caught in this vicious cycle. Below I’ve shared some of my top tips for getting started on tough projects.

If you have problems with time management, you’re not alone. Most of the small business owners and solopreneurs I know seem to have more work than time. But this is not always the case. Sometimes, it’s just a matter of prioritizing and managing your time in an effective and efficient manner. Check out my tips for time management.

Every day, we have a fresh chance to start over, work hard and accomplish much. But somehow the promise of the morning sometimes slides into the ides of mid-afternoon, which suddenly can crawl into dusk before we’ve completed many of the tasks we started the day wanting to accomplish. What slows down your progress? How do you prioritize tasks when the days are not long enough? And, most importantly, how do you make the most of each day? I’ll give you my strategies in this video.

To-do lists are a hot topic these days. Isn’t that kind of funny? I think it is anyway!  There are many people (like me), who LOVE a good to-do list. There are even books about to-do lists!  There there’s the other camp – the “throw away your list – who needs it?!?” camp and the “you can’t do it all anyway, so why bother?” camp. I see where they are going (sometimes) and I typically get the points they are trying to make. 

I don’t know about you, but my list is never completely crossed off. And that’s okay. It just means there’s more great stuff for me to do and groovy things in the works. Yes, some of it can be mundane, but usually it adds up to or contributes to some greater good for my life or business. Hopefully you can say the same thing. If that’s not the case, you might want to revisit your list and evaluate – is it something you REALLY need to do? Can it be delegated to someone else? Or does it not really need to be done at all? I know it can be hard (I deal with it daily), but there really are some things you should delegate and there are still others that could be left by the wayside entirely.

Why do I keep a to-do list? Well, because I love lists, that’s one thing. And granted, sometimes I do look at my list and freak out. Yes, just like you, I wonder what to tackle first. But often times, my list helps me keep perspective. Whether I keep a written list or not, there are still a million things to do – why not write them down so that as few things as possible slip through the cracks? PLUS, when I do get overwhelmed by all of the things I need to handle, I can look at my list and PICK something off of it to do, cross it off my list, and feel a sense of accomplishment. Ahhhh. I got something done! Now, what else can I do??

It usually takes that first check mark but after that – watch out baby, I’m on a roll!

Why am I telling you this? Because I dealt with that yesterday. And who knows, it may resurface today. I’m speaking at a conference in less than two weeks, putting on two events in April that I not only need to promote, but need to be prepared to speak at. I’m revamping my sales and marketing plans, working WITH clients, familiarizing myself with a handful of new tools and resources so I can share them with you AND trying to have a life outside of work. Whew!

Everyone I talked to yesterday had a million things to do or some great big awesome thing to work on. Just like me. Just like you. You’re not alone in this.

So try keeping a list – even if it’s just to get everything out of your head so you can think clearly! I know that when I’m trying to remember everything, I forget everything! So I add to my list, jot on post-its, make voice memos – basically the things that work for ME to remember what I need to do. Once I have it down, I can cross of what isn’t actually important, delegate what I don’t want to do, group similar tasks together, etc.

Here are three quick tips to make to-do lists work for you:

1. Choose a format that works best for you – on paper, on your computer, iPhone app, index cards – what do you like best? Don’t be afraid to play around until you find what feels right.

2. Brain dump everything. Yes it may look messy and the list may look long, but get it allllll out. As stupid as it sounds, I’ve put off scheduling doctors appointments for months. In my head I’ll think “well, no sense in calling today or putting it on my list, I won’t get an appointment for a month. I’ll tackle that later” But then a month passes and guess what – I still haven’t called OR seen the doctor – I’ve just delayed the process further. So get it down and get it done!

3. Keep your list handy at all times. If you’re like me, ideas, appointments, events, etc pop up constantly. Be prepared to get them on your list and out of your head so you can move onto the next thing. So, if you are keeping a paper list, keep one small enough to fit in your back pocket, man-bag, or purse. Or jot your notes in a small notebook and transfer to your big list later. If you’re doing it electronically, consider syncing the notes on your phone with Outlook or getting a Droid or iPhone app.

I’ll share some of my favorite tips, techniques, and products in an upcoming post, but I just wanted to share some ideas to help you get started.

Oh – and about those books I mentioned, here are a few good ones:

Books I own:

Books I wish I owned:

Somehow I missed this commercial when it was on television:

…and it is true. I really have no excuses. As stressed as I might feel, as limited as I feel my time might be right now, I have no excuses for not doing the things I want to do. I just need to be more careful with the time I have, think creatively, and figure out ways to accomplish my goals and get things done. And that doesn’t just go for my business life and goals – my personal life matters too.  I think it is very easy for entrepreneurs to get caught up in work, work, work. Our ventures our important and we love what we do – but life is more than work.

No excuses. I can make it happen. So can you.

Which excuses have you allowed to hold you back? What could you accomplish if you left your excuses in the dust?

It’s very rare that I make on-the-fly blog posts. This is good and bad. The good is that I like to think out what I am sharing with you. The bad is that I lose a lot of great ideas in the moment due to overthinking (anyone else have that problem?).

My goal for today was to operate at 100%. For me, that means being present, focused, and intentional. Poor planning yesterday is now kicking my butt today. Plans derailed and all that good stuff. It’s not even lunch time here in Los Angeles, but I already felt like time slipped away and I was done for. There’s no way I could accomplish anything. WRONG.  There’s always time to course correct – I’m not dead yet.

So, what did I do? I looked at my calendar and though I hate to do it, I found an appointment that I could reschedule – the one breaking up my entire day – and asked for a later date. Problem solved right? WRONG AGAIN. Now, I suddenly have “all this time” and “so much to do” that I didn’t know where to start. Do you see how I created a problem from what I previously thought was a solution? Nice.

Here’s what I am doing to get myself on track:

1) Set micro-goals – What can I do in the next hour? What about the hour after that? And after that? Repeat until I have to get to leave in the evening

2) Check-ins with my accountability partners – I will tell them what I intend to do. That’s a good motivator for me to actually stay on track.

3) I created a vision map of what my day was like, written as if it was 11pm and I’m looking back on how things went – what I did, which goals were accomplished, how I felt, etc. Whenever my mind wanders, I will look at this vision to help pull me back in.

4) Cut off a huge chunk of brie, threw it on a plate with a pile of crackers and settled in to write this blog post. Why? Because that’s what I do and if you don’t like brie, I’m not sure we should even know each other. Just kidding…sort of.

Creating micro-goals helps me see that the things I want to accomplish CAN be done in less time than I think if I stop wasting time and start focusing on the big picture of what I want. I can’t accomplish my BIG GOAL if the little goals that support it have not be completed. And surrounding myself with accountability is a valuable tool I use as a solopreneur to support myself. And of course, I give back to my partners as well.

When you are having trouble focusing, what are some of the ways you get back on track? I’d like to know!

Keep it simple. Please. I'm begging you. Kinda...

Last week, I had a chance to speak to a fantastic group of professional women. I've been fortunate enough to speak to several different groups of people, actually. I share tips, tools, resources, answer questions. I love to help! What I have found each and every time without fail is that when I tell the crowd "Keep it simple. Take baby steps. Break the project down into the smallest pieces that you can," a light bulb seems to go on.

I think deep down inside we all know that its OKAY to take things slow, to just tackle it piece by piece. I also think our busy lifestyles and the demands placed on us by others - and ourselves - makes us feel like that isn't okay. We have to tackle a big project and finish it in a snap. We have to dive into our jungle of a closet and have it perfectly organized by sundown. Our desk, piled high with a years worth of papers has to be reduced to a minimalist's dream by the time the work whistle blows. Well, of course you feel overwhelmed!

Keep it simple.  What can you do in a month? Okay, now what can you do this week? What small part can you tackle today to push you toward the goal? What can you do for the next 15 minutes? Yes, drill it down that small if you have to. As someone I recently coached put it, "it's 15 minutes more than I would have spent on the project if I hadn't thought of it this way."

Every little bit helps, it's true. It's very easy to resist that notion, but it's true. If you don't toss that first pile of junk mail and old credit card offers, you won't toss the second one...or the 10th. You have to start somewhere.

Chart your course. Pick a place to start. Start small. Get moving.

Personally, I do not make New Years resolutions. There’s nothing wrong with making resolutions. They make people feel warm and fuzzy. It’s nice to feel warm and fuzzy sometimes. The problem with resolutions is that most people drop them by the end of the month – some people simply state the resolution and never even really try. Do you know many people join gyms in January? A lot!

If you want to get organized this year, whether it is for your home, office, car, purse, or brain, I have a challenge for you.  Write down the resolutions. Post them up somewhere prominent. Put them in your planner. Tell your friends and family.  But don’t just stop with stating the resolution – turn it into a goal and turn that goal into your reality. Set manageable deadlines and milestones.

If you want to “get organized in ’09″ stop being so broad. What do you want to organize? Even if you feel like you want to organize “everything,” list what everything means to you – your home, your office, your paperwork, children’s rooms, the garage, the basement, family photos.  List out what you want to do so you have a better picture of what is ahead of you.

You can NOT do everything at once – even if you have nothing else to do with your time. So break down the work. What is your goal for January? The office? Okay, great. So maybe at the top of your January calendar page you write “Goal: Organize my office.”  The next thing you should do is decide what you can do each week to get you closer to that goal. For example:

• Week 1: Filing all papers so that all 2008 stuff is out of the way and I have fresh files for 2009
• Week 2: Organizing all office supplies and making sure I purchase the appropriate ones so I have everything I need.
• Week 3: Getting everything out of the office that does not belong in the office
• Week 4: Rearrange the furniture, have a cleaning crew come through, creating a marketing plan for 2008, etc.

While “organize everything” and “organize my office” are broad goals, these narrowed down sub-goals are practical, achievable goals. Of course, you can break it down further. For week one, a daily goal could be to spend 15, 30, or 60 minutes a day filing (based on how much paper you have!). Of perhaps your goal is to schedule someone to come in during week one and do the filing for you. Perhaps you’ll hire a Professional Organizer. Maybe during week 4 you will with a feng shui expert, a cleaning crew, an interior designer, and a marketing consultant who can have you create a system for marketing your business.

This same formula can work for every area you want to organize. Just scale it appropriately. Maybe you spend a week cleaning out your car and set daily goals: toss all trash, buy a receipt organizer, buy small baskets for the car and talk to the kids about only having as much stuff in the car as will fit in the basket. When everyone gets out of the car, they put all of their stuff into their container. Purchase a mobile organizer that holds notebooks, pens, calculators, etc.

If you want to achieve your goals, whatever they might be, you have to do more than simply stating them. Take action. Start now while the calendar is fresh and there is optimism in the air. If you start planning now and work toward your goals, you will achieve great success this year.

What is it that you want out of life right now? A successful business? A romantic partner? An organized home? A vacation?

Are you living a life that reflects what you want for yourself and what you value? Not sure? Try this:

Grab a piece of paper, a journal, or open up a new document on your computer. Ask yourself, “what’s taking up my time?” Make a list. Here is an example of things you might include: work, time with your spouse or kids, time with other family, time with friends, volunteer commitments, spiritual development, errands, home improvement, etc.

Examine your list. Your list reflects who you are – but is that who you want to be?

What do you want for your life? Do you wish you could adopt a dog, yet you have a schedule that keeps you away from home 18 hours a day? Do you share with your friends how much you want to have a “special someone” in your life and yet you don’t leave room for dating? Or maybe you are already in a relationship, but you aren’t taking the time to cultivate and nurture it with your partner?

Take time to carefully plan out what you can scale back on or cut out entirely so that you can create room in your life for the things that you want. Go to the next step: now that you have created the time, what else do you need to do to bring those things into you life?  Just because I took two weeks off from work does not mean that I have the resources to take a trip to Argentina. Most likely I’d need to put in more hours at work for a short time, curb any unnecessary spending, apply for a passport, and so on.

While it can be nice to fantasize, wouldn’t you love to turn those flights of fancy into reality? How can you turn these things you want into tangibles? How can you get your time to reflect your values and the things you really want?

• Decide what you really want.
• Figure out what you need to do to get what you want.
• Turn that list of things you need to do into goals and priorities.
• Create milestones and deadlines for your goals.
• Tell people you trust about what you want to create accountability and support for yourself.

You won’t get what you want by sitting around on your butt all day – unless what you want is more time to sit on your butt. Dream about it, but make sure you back those dreams up with actions. We’re given 24 hours in a day. Leverage your time and create the life you want.

The concept of “working at home” is nothing new. People have been working at home since the dawn of time. The ever changing world of work and business has seen an increasing number of people working from home, and there are no signs of that changing any time soon. Writers, independent sales reps, freelancers, small business owners and entrepreneurs, and employees whose companies permit telecommuting are just a small sampling of the kinds of people working from home these days.

Most people in the working world have experienced having some sort of manager or boss in relatively close proximity who can pop in at any moment to see what they are up to. It’s safe to say that for many people, this is what helps keep them on their toes. But what about those of us who work from home at least part time? I spend the majority of my time in someone else’s office, but when I come home, I still have writing deadlines to meet and things to do for my own businesses.

What can we do when the couch (or in my case, the bed) is calling our name? How do you resist the urge to explore everything the internet has to offer? Here are some suggestions to managing yourself when no one is watching.

1. Get dressed for work every day. It doesn’t have to be fancy – unless you are meeting clients and that is what is expected. Get in the habit of viewing working from home as any other legitimate work environment. Take a shower, get dressed, drink your coffee, eat breakfast, or whatever your normal routine would be if you were leaving the house.

2. Keep work and home separate. Do the best you can to keep home life and work life separate. While you are working from home, remember, the key is WORK. Dedicate a room, or a least space in a room for working. Don’t work in bed. Create a space specifically for work – get in the habit of realizing you are at work. If other people are at home during the day (house mates, spouse, kids, other relatives), close your door. Send the message that you are at work. An open door sends the message that people can come in at will and interact with you.

3. Set office hours. Maintain those boundaries. Act as though you are at work – because you are. Return personal calls on your lunch break or when you are done with work for the day. Save the housecleaning for later. When work hours are over, enjoy your time with family, friends, or time alone! Sure, you’ve got some leeway, if you were working in an office or store, you’d turn off the lights and head home. Do the same thing at home. Wrap things up and walk away until tomorrow.

4. Plan your work day. Create a to-do list for the day. What absolutely has to get done? What else needs to be accomplished but is less pressing? Set up a mini-road map for the day to provide some structure for yourself. Yes, even artists can use a little structure. I’ve had plenty of artist clients!

5. Create a schedule that works for you. One of the benefits to working at home. If you aren’t a morning person, start a little later, or do tasks earlier in the morning that get your warmed up for when you are at your peak. Perhaps you start the morning with a few non-essential tasks because you know you hit your peak at 11 and you can power through something really important then that will take more of your focus and energy.

6. Take breaks. Take a lunch break. Get up and stretch your legs once every hour or two. Take breaks during times your typically feel sluggish. Use that time to check personal emails or play around on the internet during this time.

7. Create a healthy work environment for yourself. Make sure you have adequate lighting. Get a comfortable chair. Buy a plant. Listen to music that isn’t distracting – avoid mellow sleep inducing music, songs that bring down your mood, or music that makes you want to get up and dance every two minutes. Find the balance between upbeat and out of your seat. Tidy up your work space at the end of the day so you don’t dread starting work the next day because of the prep work you have to do just to get started. Getting started is tough enough as it is – don’t make it harder for yourself.

Working from home can be great as long as you can manage your time. For some of us, working from home can be a luxury (I know it would be for me!), so it is important to make sure that boundaries are put in place so that we get things done. This is important across the board regardless of who you are – but it is really horrible if you convinced your boss to let you work from home twice a week and you get nothing done on those days!

Are you a person who works from home? What struggles have you faced? Which habits and practices work for you?