In my previous post, Just Choose One!, I spoke of 7 habits that can make a huge difference in your business. Habit number 2 is the power of an hour.
“Book an hour a day to work on your business! – Already, I can hear “I can’t because…” going through some peoples’ head. I’d like to suggest that you are your business’s most important client. If you can focus on working on your business for an hour a day just image where it can go. This needs to be sacred time; would you cancel or reschedule time for your most important client? Personally, I find this to be one of the most important habits/strategies I’ve formed, which has made an improvement in the development of my business.”
So how do you get the most of that hour? You need to create a “sacred” and productive environment.
4 Step Power of an Hour Process
Step 1: Identify where you do your best work – this is a very individual choice. I know someone who does their best thinking and creating in a coffee shop, with pen and paper. Another of my colleague’s best place is on her balcony with a cup of coffee. What is best for you? Where will you do your best work?
Step 2: Determine your best time of day – What time are you most creative and focus? Is it first thing in the morning or perhaps late in the afternoon? That is when you should be booking your hour to work on your business. Personally, I’m finding that my sweet spot is between 11 am and 1 pm.
Step 3: Get rid of the distractions! – The 4 biggest distractions we face are Smartphones, emails, social media and other people. So turn them off, turn off the phone, turn off alerts, avoid all social media and put up a Do Not Disturb sign if you must.
Step 4: Work on one thing at a time! – Yes, only 1 thing! Imagine spending an hour focused on one important task without multitasking and distraction. What difference would that make for you? Imagine doing this 5 or 10 times a week! What will that do for your business?
Step 5: Schedule it! – Right now, take out or pull up your calendar and schedule your Power Hours. Ultimately you want to have at least one Power Hour per day, if not two. Image what you could do in 5 to 10 focused hour a week, what would that do for your business?
Bottom line
The bottom line is to control your environment to minimize interruptions and distractions and focus yourself on one task at a time. These techniques will increase your productivity and as a result Ignite Your Business and Market.
When will you start? What productivity tools do you use? Comment below and let me know.
I love to see entrepreneurs follow their passions, serve more people and create the lifestyle of their dreams.
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Great post. I always say I never have time to work on my business.
Step 1: Identify where you do your best work – Honestly, in bed because I am comfy and I can focus better in my bedroom for some odd reason.
Step 2: Determine your best time of day – After my son is put to bed and usually my husband is not far to follow. Once he is asleep, I can shut the TV because I hate to have that on while I am working.
Step 3: Get rid of the distractions! – Once everyone is sleeping, I have no distractions.
Step 4: Work on one thing at a time! That is so true!
You know what happened while I was reading this: I came up with an idea for a post and I had to write it down right away. That was about 2 hours ago… so much for distractions and working one thing at a time. LOL
LOL 🙂
I really like shutting off all distractions! There are times I deliberately don’t take my phone with me although that’s when I’m out and about, running errands or visiting with friends. I haven’t extended that step to work time so it’s an excellent idea! Next time I go to our local coffee shop, I’m going to do that…it’s a start.
I find this to be true for me. If I really focus on just one thing, I get so much more accomplished.
Brilliant advice and I know that when I use this principle I have a much more productive day. And I’m extra Happy. 🙂 Thank you.
Whether we coach it in terms of us as our business’ most important client or the other way, it works out to be the same message, and an important one at that.
Excellent advice. An hour a day can take you sooooo far, it is easy to get lost in other stuff, if you keep that hour of focus it will be ok!