Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I have a dirty secret to share. And I need your help and advice in getting rid of it. I leave almost everything until the last minute. I don`t do it on purpose. I`m actually very organized. (In fact, I think that may be part of the problem) I know when a deadline is coming, I know about how long it will take (or I think I know), and then I work until midnight to get it out on time. Part of the problem is that I have a lot to do. Business is good. So I`m often just taking care of what seems most important - putting out fires. I end up at the last moment calling a client for a last minute needed detail - it embarrasses me and I think it is unprofessional.

Would you mind sharing with me your strategies for overcoming this problem? I know I can`t be the only one with this disease. And I believe others have overcome it. I have read time management books, I have read get organized books. But they don`t seem to help me. I don`t think they address whatever is at the heart of this problem. I`d love to hear from fellow sufferers and overcomers. Thanks,

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Pat Palmer
Accutrack Business Solutions
Working with You to Keep Your Organization on Track
407-957-4140

Standard work.  All processes need to be documented.  Templates are great too.

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Travis Tschepen
Hibachi Bros. LLC

--My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am.--

If you are losing business because of it, you may want to outsource some of your workload. I know what you mean about being organized. I think we are so much wanting our businesses to be successful, we want to do everything. If you do not have a smart phone, I recommend it if you are having to rush home to get in the internet. Plus, you can set a schedule and do reports with it on the go. This has helped me quite a bit.

I know that I work my best when I am under pressure, but I also learned that life can be so much easier without the stress of the pressure and like you said it doesn`t leave a good impression - especially not with clients.

So seeing that i had to change my workstyle, I simply started with the work I don`t like that much first thing in the morning ..I better concentrate then and its funny how easy and fast things get done. After I got rid of the stuff I don`t like I treat myself with some work I really enjoy doing :) Give it a try

And then there is always an option to outsource some of  the work as someone already suggested

Good luck in getting rid of that bad habbit !

 

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Silvia
www.justaphonecallaway.com

Pat, Are you a perfectionist?
I`ve seen people that seem to shut down if given too much time to get something done.  You might try picking the things in your job that are a medium priority and setting a new standard.  Like say, C+. Seriously . . .  Say you need to organize your computer files... sort them out to a C+ level and move on to more important things. Be comfortable in your new C+ lifestyle. Not everything has to be perfect. Try to make a conscious decision to do something fast and average.  If you`re a perfectionist, this might be painful at first, but you might find time for the important A+ work.
Hope this helps

I keep a to-do list with items that I can change priority on with a click of the mouse.  It is a constantly revolving process.  I almost always do the hardest, longest or least exciting things first.  If something comes up that I need to do but sucks, I move it up in priority.  Or if I need a break from hard work, I schedule in a fun job.  And of course, client related stuff usually floats to the top of the list.  Every morning I alter my to-do list and it changes throughout the day.

Part of my problem in procrastinating is 1) stuff I don`t want to do and 2) feeling overwhelmed.  For me, the rotating priority list helps to curb the issues.  I find it to be a simple solution over using entire organization methods.  It doesn`t solve everything (I wish) but I think it helps.

I am a perfectionist. And right now I feel completely overwhelmed with the amount of work that I have to do. I am full-time self-employed, working from home. I`ll have to give some thought to what I could outsource. I do accounting and taxes. That`s part of the problem right now; just got through tax season and picked up several new clients. But those clients need a full year`s worth of bookkeeping and accounting done, plus, I was so busy during tax season that I let my own books get behind. My husband has a business and also works from home. I let his books get behind too. So I`m feeling like a lot of what I have to do is an A priority.

CampSteve, I`d be interested in knowing more about your to-do list that can be changed with a click of the mouse. I`ve tried various software approaches and the to-do list can become one more thing "to-do".

And SunnyDays, I`m just the opposite. I don`t really get cranking until about 2 p.m. I`m in the office by 9 a.m. It would help tremendously if I knew before stopping for the day what I would be working on in the morning. If I wait until morning to decide I just sort of spin my wheels.

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Pat Palmer
Accutrack Business Solutions
Working with You to Keep Your Organization on Track
407-957-4140

I don`t procrastinate but I have a similar problem though. I am a certified ADD poster child..umm...adult. I live by lists, they are essential to my getting anything done. At the end of every day I make a list of everything that needs to get done the following day and I force myself to stick to it no matter what. You need to break down your work into manageable bits and make a list for the entire week. Leave some leeway for the `fires` but force yourself to stick to it. I use an old fashion pen and paper because I am a very tactile and visual person. Something about actually writing helps me remember events and helps me visualize my day. 

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Sharon Murphy
Owner
Northwoods State of Mind, Inc.
NorthWoods