Article Contributed by Rigdha Acharya
Entrepreneurs, by nature, are great initiators. Think about it: You get hit by an idea and then set out to make that idea a reality. That’s what entrepreneurship is all about and that’s also why most entrepreneurs are haunted by unfinished tasks, enormous stress and dwindling profits.
You see, in order to grow your business and become successful, it is important to learn how to finish the projects you start so you can close more deals and bring in more profits. Unfinished ideas harm more than just your bottom line. Each new idea is like a new commitment, and commitments that are not kept put additional strain on you, as well as waste massive amounts of time.
Look at it this way; do you have a social media account that is collecting dust? How long did it take you to create that account? Wouldn’t you agree that the time spent on a proven strategy would have produced actual revenue?
The reality is most entrepreneurs have at least 10 half-done projects sitting on the shelf everyday amounting to nothing but wasted time, energy and resources because half done projects do not produce revenue.
Here’s what causes unfinished tasks, unnecessary headaches and lost profits for entrepreneurs:
1. Tasks get boring: Even the most interesting ideas get dull after a while.
2. Too much to do: Having too much work paralyzes you, preventing you from getting anything done.
3. Poor time management: Procrastination, distraction, overwork and lack of focus make a deadly recipe.
These 3 prevents business owners from reaching their full potential and earning the money they deserve.
However, there is hope. If you find yourself constantly battling against the idea bug, you can win by countering each of the above factors by applying these 3 proven strategies.
1. Measure your progress
Measuring your progress helps you fight boredom and lack of motivation when a project takes too long or doesn’t go in the planned direction. Create small milestones and celebrate when you pass each one. This will keep you excited and keen.
When you start out with a project that is especially tough to wade through, make a few goals that are easy to meet. For instance, if you’re struggling with a new brochure, one of your milestones can be selecting a font for the headline. This is small and simple compared to writing the content of the brochure. This milestone will get you moving and once you have momentum, it is easier to tackle the more challenging parts of the task.
2. Be objective about new opportunities
Small businesses are restricted by the amount of resources available. By this definition, there is always going to be too much to do and very few resources with which to do it. This requires you to develop an objective eye for new opportunities.
Look at each new opportunity and ask yourself if it will really help you achieve your goals. If it will, try to note it down and return to it after you finish your current undertaking. Just remember, a project delivered is more powerful than ten projects in production.
3. Learn how to manage your time more effectively
Lack of proper time management is a vicious circle. It can cause overwhelming stress, which increases the tendency to quit something before seeing results. This, in turn, leaves you with even more stress. Learn how to prioritize, reduce distraction and plan your day more efficiently to increase the chances of finishing everything you start.
Create small 45 minute blocks of focused time where you can focus on the project at hand and keep a notebook with you so can note any ideas or distractions that occur during the time block. As you get better with managing distractions, you can increase your time block to 60 or 90 minutes. This level of focus will aid you in getting your tasks finished before you rush to the next idea.
So, there you are; learn how to manage your time effectively, take an objective look at new opportunities and measure your focus to conquer the demons of unfinished tasks and generate more revenue.
About the Author:
Rigdha Acharya is the CEO of <a href=http://www.GetYourSuccessNow.com>Actionable Business Training</a>; her company delivers actionable, customized, caring and measurable business training to help entrepreneurs grow their businesses. You can learn how to prioritize opportunities, set measurable goals and manage time effectively by requesting her free course at http://www.ManageMyTimeNow.com.
