If you're Aiming for a Busy Day, then you've got the Wrong Target

It's the end of a long day, you get home and relax with a warm drink or a glass of wine. You think back at all the work you did, all the hours spent in meetings or answering emails, all the calls you took and all the documents you read through. Now ask yourself this question; did everything you did today significantly help your business grow or improve?

If the answer is no to any degree, then you need to aim your attention on being more productive. Surprisingly, to succeed you need to do less, not more. Before starting any task or agreeing to meetings, think about how what you're about to do will help you or your business do better. If you cannot think of anything, then skip the task. If you have a list of tasks choose the one which has the highest success/time ratio (meaning which task has the highest potential of success for the least expenditure of time) and start with that.

When carrying out a task remember to also consider time, location and the company you're with. Find out when and where you are most energetic and focused to carry out different tasks. For example I am most creative when I am at a quiet cafe with a view (I am in one as I write this post). Don't lock yourself in the office and force yourself to focus, your body will fight you all the way and you'll waste time.

Choose your company carefully too. Sometimes that means being alone, without distractions. Other times it means having someone with whom to bounce ideas off and get the creative process going. Other times still it means having a well groomed colleague stand by you and give you the confidence you need to close a deal with a client.

Don't worry if you suddenly find yourself with a lot of free time. You're an entrepreneur, which means your mind now has time to think of your next product, to plan your next business and to see how to have fun.

What TIME, LOCATION and COMPANY help you be more productive? Leave your comments below.