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schedule their days so tightly that
there is no time for unexpected
opportunities or problem
solving. Finally, schedule time
each day for self care. Exercise,
meditate, write in your journal—
do anything that lets you free
your mind.
4
Look at your list and
choose at least one task
to focus on first. Some
time management experts say
start with the biggest task. Some
say complete smaller tasks so
you can feel the satisfaction of
crossing things off your list. Do
what works for you. Then, commit
the estimated time necessary
to complete the task. And,
get started!
Organizational management
is a construct of time, but it’s
not time itself. Remember that
you can only
manage
priorities.
You cannot manage time.
Understanding what you do helps
you see what’s really important
to you. Note the things you’re
not doing. Chances are they’re a
weak link in your organizational
management and something of
which you want to be aware.
5
It’s important to realize
where you are in the process
as an entrepreneur, as
a business owner, and as the
manager of a project. Learn to
celebrate your successes no
matter how small. Instead of
focusing on the weak links (which
is different than being able to
identify them), work at making
your strong skills stronger.
6
Stop asking for, and listening
to, other people’s opinions
about how you should run
your business. Unless you’ve
hired them as a consultant or a
coach, unless they have a specific
expertise and you’ve asked their
opinion, run your own business.
Be open to learning, be involved
in your industry, but take the
information you gain and use it
to make your own decisions. Be
accountable to your business.
Being a business owner will
be the hardest thing you’ve ever
done. Take advantage of simple
steps like preparing your mind for
business and your business for the
task at hand, and you will find that
these simple considerations make
your entrepreneurial journey
simpler and more fulfilling.
Watch for Part 2 of this series
on branding your company
in the December issue.
Abigail Tiefenthaler is the founder
of Aiken, South Carolina-based
distributor Sweetspot Strategies,
Inc. She is passionate about helping
entrepreneurs run the business they
really want to run. With 30-plus years
of business experience, including 15
years in corporate America working in
a variety of marketing capacities, and
19 years running an award-winning
promotional products business that
put her in the top five percent of the
industry, Tiefenthaler understands
how critical it is to play full out, and
use marketing for the heavy lifting it
is designed to do. Her goal is simple:
simplify the marketing process
and eliminate confusion. Reach
her at
spmi@mindspring.com.
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