by Donna Maria on March 7, 2010
One of my favorite recent discoveries is David Allen, author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
. (affiliate link) Allen’s book is wildly popular and his methods are used by some of the nation’s most well-respected organizations. Recently, my friend Tasra Dawson told me about the video of part of a presentation David Allen delivered to Google employees about how to master your work flow.
(If you’re reading this via email or RSS and can’t see the video, click here.)
Allen says that someone has called this “knowledge work athletics.” I found his points so compelling that I jotted them down to share with you. It’s worth 45 minutes of your time to watch the video, but if you can’t, take note of these 5 keys to gaining control of your work flow. (These are my summaries of Allen’s words, not Allen’s words.) Continue Reading…
by Donna Maria on December 27, 2009
This is the third in a series of posts featuring small business owners’ suggestions for things you can do to be successful in 2010.
Last week, I told you about Joan Morais, an IBN member who increased her productivity and profitability this year by hiring a virtual assistant. I also told you about Marla Bosworth, a member who doubled her 2009 sales by doing a few simple things that anyone can do. Today, I’m sharing how fragrance therapist and natural perfumer JoAnne Bassett used a free blog to beef up her business in 2009.
Of course you know from the posts in my Blogging Category that I firmly believe that anyone who wants to maximize their business opportunities needs to use a blog to do it. That’s why it gives me great pleasure to know that JoAnne is enjoying great success with her blog. Here’s how blogging helped JoAnne expand her business this year, and her suggestions for why you should launch a blog of your own, if you haven’t already done so. Continue Reading…
by Donna Maria on December 23, 2009
This is the second in a series of posts featuring small business owners’ suggestions for things you can do to be successful in 2010.
Earlier this week, I told you about Joan Morais, an IBN member who increased her productivity by hiring a virtual assistant. Today, I’d like to share the story of Marla Bosworth of Back Porch Soap Co. near Boston, Massachusetts. Marla is teaches classes on how to make cosmetics, and provides private consulting for new and existing businesses. Marla leads the How To Launch A Successful Beauty Business Group at our social networking site.
That’s me and the fabulous Marla at this year’s Conference of Handcrafted Soap Makers where we were both speakers this year (and will be again next year!) (Enjoy the entire photo album on FaceBook.) I was excited when Marla shared with me the strategies she used to double her sales in the past 12 months. While individual results may vary, I can’t imagine a scenario where implementing Marla’s simple steps would not benefit any business. Here’s what Marla said she did this year to double her business, and how you can do it too. Rear more about Marla’s big success!
by Donna Maria on December 21, 2009
This is the first in a series of posts featuring small business owners’ suggestions for things you can do to be successful in 2010.
Do you do the work of 10 people in your business, then complain that there aren’t enough hours in the day to get it all done? It kind of makes me think of Hoarders, the cable television show that examines how accumulating stuff you don’t need can ruin your life. Eventually, the stuff controls you instead of the other way around.
The same thing can happen in business. When we hoard all the work for ourselves, we can eventually become the servant of our business instead of the other way around. Joan Morais, pictured above with one of her students, helps people launch and manage successful cosmetics businesses. Joan has avoided becoming a small business hoarder. Maybe her story can help you avoid it too! Continue Reading…
by Donna Maria on September 24, 2009
Yesterday, I published an article about how to cure Entrepreneur’s Attention Deficit Disorder. As I continue to treat myself for this incredibly devastating disease, I am also learning that I don’t have to work as hard to achieve astounding results. This really hit home during a recent staff meeting with my husband business partner.
We were reviewing some of our 2009 milestones and discussing some of the things we are behind on. (Sad but true.) When I commented that we need to work harder on that particular thing, he replied, “We don’t need to work harder. We just need to work to our focus.”
Continue Reading…
by Donna Maria on September 23, 2009
Have you ever heard of Entrepreneur’s Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)? IBN member Jim DeBetta mentioned it to me a few months ago. I had never heard the term before, but I immediately realized that it perfectly describes a lot of people I know, me included from time to time. The Urban Dictionary defines Entrepreneurial ADD as having so many things to do that you don’t get anything done (my paraphrase). I like the way my friend Brian Hamlett (@mpoweringu) described it when I posed the question on Twitter this morning:
I couldn’t have summed it up better myself, Brian!! Do you see any of yourself there, especially number one? After my talk with Jim a while back, I began to ponder how much of myself I saw and I didn’t like it, so I decided to take action. Here’s how I began to cure myself immediately of Entrepreneur’s ADD.
Continue Reading…
