Today’s guest post is from Jennifer Williams. Jennifer is admittedly new to the online space, but has enough of a writing and business background to make the cut as a special guest on LoganLenz.com. Her knack for writing and ability to explain things will undoubtedly take her far as an up and coming blogger. If I have my way, you guys will be reading a lot more from her on this blog in the near future.
For now, enjoy her post that has been created to help you better organize your busy life as an entrepreneur.
As anyone who has worked as an entrepreneur can tell you, people with right-brain tendencies tend to have a real problem getting organized (note the undertone of working with many creatives and entrepreneurs who are almost so closely linked it’s scary). Highly creative individuals as entrepreneurs provide excellent results, but staying on task and avoiding chaos don’t tend to be on their list of virtues.
If you’re one of those crazy entrepreneurs hoping to make your way in the world, you may have encountered similar problems with your own work habits. Here are three simple tips to help get your work-flow organized.
Workflow Law Number One: Have a Blueprint
Your work in whatever field you work most in may vary greatly in its specifications, and that might even be part of the draw of the profession for you. That doesn’t mean, however, that you can just let things happen in free-form. Have a step-by-step procedure that provides you with a framework covering all your bases. Here are some things your workflow blueprint should contain:
- Your original sales or acquisition process.
- What is needed for your contract.
- Your normal deadlines and time lines.
- Your work schedule (how time will be divided, etc.)
If it seems that a particular project should diverge from your blueprint, by all means — diverge. But at least you’ll have a solid center to deviate from.
Workflow Law Number Two: “Methodical” Isn’t a Naughty Word
Modern email systems and file storage allow you to label, organize, and access information more readily than ever before. Your email should be clearly divided into useful labels, and filters can even be utilized to remove some of the labor from your task. Cloud storage can be used to store work files, copies of contracts, and can save you lots of time in transferring files (you have no idea how many people swear allegiance to Dropbox these days).
A web-based CMS is a great and legally accepted way to store notes on your clients. Perhaps most importantly, you should never throw anything away.
Workflow Law Number Three: Keep a Schedule
The hardest part of being en entrepreneur is managing your own time. You’ll catch many of these creative strategists playing when they should be working, working when they should be sleeping, and so forth.
One of the best solutions is to create a schedule that works well for you and that you can stick to. This can help overcome anxiety barriers, ensure consistent work, and keep your workflow moving.
As a part of this schedule, you will want to build in structured time to:
- Evaluate and prioritize your tasks.
- Set goals and long-term objectives.
- Work on different projects in clearly delineated segments of time.
- Work on acquisitions, building a portfolio, and otherwise strengthening your foundation.
You may also want to consider building in breaks and time for a meal. However, taking breaks for a “play-it-by-ear” recharge can also be a good option.
Creativity and leadership, all the fixings of an entrepreneur, is an in-demand trait in the modern world. Far more rare and desirable, however, is the one crazy entrepreneur who manages their time and projects effectively. By joining the ranks of this elite group, you open countless doors.
Jennifer Williams is a writer, turned traveler, turned blogger, who is slowly slinking her way into the social media and blogging landscape. You can follow her (extremely) new Twitter account: @JKWilliams82.