Visit any college campus early in the morning, and you'll find yourself on what looks like the set of a horror movie: an almost-deserted area with just a few zombie-like individuals staggering around. To keep your business days from getting off to similar starts, it may be a good idea to schedule early appointments.
One of the nice things about being self-employed is the ability to do some things when you like; it may not matter whether a load of paperwork gets filed before the crack of dawn or at 3:32 PM, for example. But on the whole, it's best not to give in the temptation to hit the snooze button 17 times.
Becky McCray recommends making daily 9 AM appointments. "Without one, it's too easy to let yourself start slowly," she writes. "Or to get started on the wrong things in the morning. . . . The best 9 a.m.'s are outside the house, face to face with a client, because that means you have to get up, get ready, be professional, and focused on business by 9 a.m."
Can't find someone (or several people) willing to meet in the morning? McCray knows an entrepreneur who goes to the post office, or another possible destination is the bank.
We're sure that most of you are responsible folks to whom this advice won't apply, but maybe you can just take it as a small reminder and a respite from more depressing economic stories.
Keep Your Best Employees Sticking AroundHow Much Money are you Throwing Away on Wasted Time?Dawn of the Extra StaffManaging Your Time WiselyAre You Spending Enough Time Learning?Time Out For Time ManagementManage Your Online Reputation in Real TimeDealing with the Loss of a Key EmployeeFlexibility for Employees Could Mean Money SavedThe Top Five Content Management Systems | |||
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Excellent Tip
Thanks
Basic good principal.
When you work for someone else, they set your daily schedule for you.
When you work for yourself, you must set your own schedule and stick to it. Of course, being excited about what you do makes it a breeze to kick off the day early on a routine basis.
hard to implement
With entrepreneurial work hours that often stretch into the night, becoming an "early bird" on a consistent basis is not just hard, it will make you sick. Gotta have those 6-8 hours, whenever they can be squeezed in.
This plan is a great idea, though, especially for businesses on the West Coast, as a 9am meeting is a 12 noon meeting in New York. Hmmm... better make it an 8am meeting. Or 7am. Or 6am.
Note to the East Coast -- sleep in! ;-)
(As for those zombie-like college students -- have you forgotten what college was like? There's a reason they look like that.)
No Time Left for You
That's great advice to get going earlier. Unfortunately, the reality is all of us are baraged with too many things to do at work today due to employee cuts, and it carries over to our night life. Add to that, the need of working out, surfing the internet, answering your text messages, walking the dog, adjusting your fantasy baseball roster, and watching Letterman at night and we are all getting later starts.
No Motivation needed
It is important to be motivated, but if you are self employed you already have that. you hopefully know what it takes to get yourself moving thats why you left your cubicle behind in the first place.
If you dont have to meet face to face with a client then dont it is really a waste of time in most situations.
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