entrepreneur! here are 7 steps to a more productive
TRANSCRIPT
© 2011. All Rights Reserved. Araceli Gonzalez
Araceli GonzalezBeProductiveToday.com
7 Steps To A More Productive You!
© 2011. All Rights Reserved. Araceli Gonzalez
The 7 Steps to a more productive you!
The action steps to take to make the changes.
Have an open mind to embrace productivity.
Today’s Overview
© 2011. All Rights Reserved. Araceli Gonzalez
I’m a Business Productivity Expert. I help passionate professionals and Entrepreneurs to:
• Achieve more by working less
• Streamline systems to create efficiency and growth
• Find their unique roadmap to productivity
What are my beliefs?
• Productivity is the key to success• Prioritization is a must!• A Balanced Lifestyle makes us complete- productivity is the
fast track!
About Me…
© 2011. All Rights Reserved. Araceli Gonzalez
• Productivity can give you peace of mind• Productivity can give you clarity• Productivity can fortify relationships• Productivity can multiply your revenue• Productivity can stretch your mind to new possibilities• And so much more…
What can Productivity do for you?
© 2011. All Rights Reserved. Araceli Gonzalez
Myths About Productivity
Activity means productivity.
Time is Money. Money is cyclical. Time is something you cannot get more of, a one-way street. Therefore, treat time as a special commodity, not as money.
Work hard to achieve more.
Busy equals productivity. Feeling busy or “being” busy is usually the consequence of lack of focus.
© 2011. All Rights Reserved. Araceli Gonzalez
You are solely responsible for the way you spend your time.
• Blaming others for your lack of time does not give you more
• Unable to take control of your day
• Unable to meet own expectations
Step 1: Embrace Personal Responsibility
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1. Suggest a time that works for you.
2. If need be, practice saying no! Say ‘no’ with kindness ~ Three-Step Process
Acknowledge request Ask questions Negotiate alternatives
Your Action Steps:
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• Activities you constantly repeat that are not accounted for in your calendar
•Time Busters are things that constantly grab your attention away from your main focus
• Negative vs. Positive distractions
Step 2: Identify your Time Busters
© 2011. All Rights Reserved. Araceli Gonzalez
Information Overload
Having access to more data than you can consume in a lifetime The Univ. of So CA recently found we consume an
equivalent of 174 newspapers a day and produce 6. “It’s not information overload. It’s filter failure.” ~
Clay Shirky
How to build better filters Email begets email Streamline your processes Designate times for information gathering
© 2011. All Rights Reserved. Araceli Gonzalez
1. Identify activities you currently do that are not in your to-do list or calendar
2. Divide the activities into two sections: Positive and Negative Distractions
3. Make a conscious effort not to repeat the negative activities.
4. Include the positive activities that are beneficial to you- in your to-do list.
Your Action Steps For Identifying Time Busters.
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•You need to know where you are going before you can get there.
•Mapping out your action plan for the next two weeks can give you your daily purpose (your to-do list).
•Working without a plan is depleting to your efforts and sets you back to unproductive activities.
Step 3: Create An Action Plan
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How your Master Plan works for you
Keeps youfocused
Gives you purpose
Creates your to-do list
Plan of Action
© 2011. All Rights Reserved. Araceli Gonzalez
• Reserve a time slot (I do three hours) at the end of the week to Map out the next week.
• Take the tasks for the week and divide them into your working days of the week.
• If you feel daring, instead of weekly plans of actions- do a monthly plan instead!
Your Action Steps for Creating an Action Plan
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• Budgeting your time = allotting the total time it takes to complete one task
• You may be budgeting the incorrect amount of time for your tasks.
• As part of your scheduling process, you must include the real time it takes to complete a task as well as the extras.
Step 4: Budget & track your time
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1. Plan your next day based on how long it takes to complete tasks vs. the predetermined hour or half hour. Add all the hours it takes to accomplish your tasks.
2. Once you add the time it takes to complete, do not book more than you want to work.
3. Include travel, prep or transition time from one item to another.
4. Conglomerate similar things back to back. 5. Only schedule a valid amount of hours in the day. 6. Leave room for the unexpected.
Your Action Steps For Budgeting Your Time
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• Creating an effective to-do list is a roadmap that guarantees success.
• Doing a correct to-do list can prevent the panic attacks and frustrations of overwhelm.
• If you have a to-do list, you can gladly deny or turn away any unnecessary distractions.
Step 5: Create an effective to-do list
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1. Go back to the budget exercise and select the correct time for the activities you have to accomplish.
2. Re-visit the weekly action plan and make sure you have accrued the correct amount of time for each.
3. Conglomerate all the activities that go together. 4. Calculate the amount of time you want to work5. Input in your daily calendar and create your to-do list.
Your Action Steps To Creating Your To-Do List
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• Based on a recent study, you probably have over 300 hours of projects pending (to read, to finish, to start)
• It never ends & you may never get caught up
• Result: Stop doing things!
• Set Correct Priorities by using the 80/20 Rule
• Eat the frog first
Step 6: Prioritize for Success
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• If you have ten things to do, select the top two.
• Out of the two, finish one first- then move on.
• Work on larger projects first (small things multiply)
Your Action Steps For Prioritization
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Step 7: Cease To Multitask
According to neuro scientific research, the human brain cannot focus on more than one thing at a time Stanford University study of heavy and light multi-
taskers
Task switching, not multitasking
Fast is not better - it merely takes more effort
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This is Your Brain While Multitasking
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Action Step To Cease Multitasking:
For 30 minutes, concentrate on one project at a time.
If need to work on something else, cease the 1st project and move on to the other.
Breakdown larger projects into smaller chunks to allow for better concentration.
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Bonus Step: Breathe
To Disconnect- To take a moment and allow your mind to stop turning so fast!
Do you ever feel like your head will explode?Do you struggle to focus on tasks because you just cant give more of
yourself?Its time to breathe!
Facts:1. Your body sends you signals that its tired. It may manifest as
frustrations, headaches, exhaustion. 2. Attempting to work thru those signals (ignoring them) have
extremely negative results.3. Listen to your body!
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• As soon as you feel the sign that says “I need a break” take one.
• Schedule your break times in advance.
• Make it a priority to recharge.
• Do simple sitting breathing exercises to calm the mind.
Your Action Steps:
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Find your inspiration!
Implement the 7 steps so you can become more productive.
Resources in the packet in front of you.
Seek support. Find resources at www.BeProductiveToday.com
Blog Small Business Productivity Kit Free Teleclasses and virtual Events
Your BIG Action Step:
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THANK YOU!
For your time For your positive energy For joining me today
If you have questions, or wish to share your thoughts, please email me! [email protected]
Make it a productive day!