I left my Job today! (advice needed)

[alexshelton]

Hey guys,

today was quite a turning point in my business and life to say the least!

I left a job at an Internet Marketing consultancy that I really did quite enjoy to work on my own business full time and travel the world! so i'm REALLY excited at the moment.

What I am seeking from you guys if possible is a bit of advice if that's okay?

My main concern at this time is a lack of focus and managing my time.

Do you guys have any tips on structuring your day? I was speaking with Dean Holland earlier and he spoke of planning your days/weeks in some detail (cheers Dean) and following them as closely as possible.

If you guys have any pointers i'd really love to hear them!

First stop, Thailand!

This is why I got into IM in the first place, to travel the world with a laptop and make money, to all of you new guys out there that are thinking of getting involved in marketing online, get stuck in and don't look back!

Wish me luck

Cheers

Alex

[GuerrillaIM]

Hi Alex, I am in a similar situation.

I am writing out daily tasks that need to be completed and making everything into a system. I am hoping this will mean I am consistent with my work efforts and it will notice if I start to slip.

[Darth Executor]

Hire a drill sergeant to yell at you whenever you're slacking off.

[Johnathan]

I was going to joke and say... well, with all this free time, you could go get a job

But serious. Set goals. Have an action plan. Have a 1-3-6 month plan of where you want to be, your goals, etc, and that should help.

[sandalfly]

You should be in good shape since you've been doing this for a while. Its not like you left your job and went home and said "Now what do I do?" You sound like you're already in the game. Just keep working at it and maybe watch your funds until you are making what you made before you left your job.

Good luck!

[JonMills]

Hey Alex congrats

I remember 6 years ago leaving my job to work online full time and it was really weird at first, you will learn the rhythm which is right for you.

Sometimes i do mornings and afternoons and then other days i work on my business at night and early morning

Set out what you want to do at the start of the week, and do what produces you the most results first

[RyanRingold]

If you figure it out, let me know. ;-)

[PCRoger]

A friend of mine has an ex-wife that was not only good looking but quite capable of beating the crap out of him until he made more money.

He became a successful stock broker.

I'm not sure but she might be currently un-attached

PCRoger.

[Mukul Verma]

First, Congrads!!!! It is scary, but a GREAT decision, you will look back at ask why you did not do it sooner

Read - 4 Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris.

One thing he talks about is asking yourself 3 times a day if you are being effective or just working for works sake.

Once again welcome to the team, GREAT WORK!!!!

[Brandstrom]

Gratz on making it to the point that most of us dream of reaching some day.

Creating a check list of goals and tasks that must be accomplished to reach those goals on a daily basis and crossing them out once they are complete can help keep you focused because you have something tangible to show you the progress you are making towards a goal even if that goal hasn't been reached just yet.

[alexshelton]

Wow great responses so far guys thank you!

Tim Ferris is such a cool guy, I read the book not so long ago

I will be creating a check/todo list for sure and producing weekly plans I think.


"Remember to try the soapy massage "

LOL erm.... Check!

Gonna be fun, hey Kingdom Mines just a quick side Q

Is there much sun out in Koh Samui atall at the moment, as it's the rainy season

[Pete Grantaire]

Congrats on going your own, Alex!

I have a pretty loose system because that's the way my "artist's brain" works best, but I hope that there are some strategies that you can put to good use.

My work day really begins the night before. Before I turn in for the night, I think about the tasks that I will be facing tomorrow, and I write down the ones I'm looking forward to least of all. Usually there is only one of these, but sometimes there are as many as five or six. Having written them down, I've done two things. Firstly, I've wiped them out of my mind. I know I don't have to think about them tonight, because come tomorrow morning there will be a reminder sitting right on my desk. This way I can enjoy my free time and recover from a hard day's work without a lot of anxiety. Secondly, I have committed myself to doing those tasks first. That means I don't check my email, I don't go through my physical inbox, I don't even answer the phone until they are done. That list sits on top of my desk until those tasks are finished. Once they are, the rest of the day is an absolute joy, because it's just coasting downhill from there.

The second trick I use is that, for an hour of each work day, I get out, tote my alphasmart neo down to a cafe or a park or some other quiet place, and just work on whatever writing stuff I have on my to do list. For you that might be writing a new sales letter for an infoproduct or building up links and a reputation my creating blog posts and ezine articles. I love my neo because I can type much faster than I can write by hand, it loads all the text into a text document on my computer, and it is distraction free, with a text only screen and no internet connection. But you can use a laptop or a regular pen and paper, obviously. I find I can get into a really great state of flow, and usually I get tons of writing done in that distraction free hour. The change of scenery is really therapeutic as well.

This third is one I just picked up recently. I can't remember who I learned it from, so if it was someone on this forum, thanks, and sorry for reproducing your idea here! If I get writer's block, or just plain bored/tired with my current task, I'll take a break from it. But I don't just go and get some espresso (though I'd definitely prefer it... :P). Instead I just start working on another task. A change is as good as a rest, or however that saying goes. Usually the mental switch is enough to get me interested in my work again, and I don't lose all that time doing nothing but staring at an empty spreadsheet! The one thing you have to watch out for (well, I know I have to) is that you don't start hoping back and forth every five or ten minutes. You can't really focus on a project in that short amount of time, and it will result in shoddy, slow, and tiring work.

Okay, so those last two have less to do with structuring one's day and more to do with harnessing inner chaos, but hey, I make my own rules.

Hope that helps, and enjoy Thailand!

[Mukul Verma]

Originally Posted by alexshelton

Wow great responses so far guys thank you!

Tim Ferris is such a cool guy, I read the book not so long ago

I will be creating a check/todo list for sure and producing weekly plans I think.


"Remember to try the soapy massage "

LOL erm.... Check!

Gonna be fun, hey Kingdom Mines just a quick side Q

Is there much sun out in Koh Samui atall at the moment, as it's the rainy season

I read his book in Jan 2008 and could not see what he said as being possible, forward 13 months, I spent a month in Argentina Feb 2009. I love it, I listen to the audio every other month and learn something new.

[MrDay]

Congratulations, I know when I went part time with my Full Time job it was so surreal.

It's funny cause I had it all planned in my head for so long on how it would be and how much more time and energy I would have for my internet business but instead at first I really didn't know what to do or how to stay focused. I had to much freedom and time. I would get distracted easily.

I then started planning my days, scheduling, setting goals, etc.... and I found my focus & motivation again. I also had read and researched on some of the "Big guns" in my niche's, to get advice and tips for going full time with a internet business.

You are one step ahead of me though you are "Full Time" but I will be joining you in exactly 5 weeks. I just put my notice in today.

Good Luck with your Business and I hope you find much success!

[alexshelton]

Excellent Thank You Pete!

I must say it seems very sensible to just move onto another task if you're struggling. I also like the idea of visiting the local park etc. and getting away from it all for a while, really appreciate your response

Yeah Mukul the audios are priceless too!

Ahhh bummer, may have to reschedule slightly then, cheers Ricky.

Thanks all

Al

[rancher2]

Thanks for your post. Really gives us newbies a challenge to think about. I probably should stay away from forums and emails a little more.

Thank You

[gjabiz]

Originally Posted by alexshelton

Hey guys,

My main concern at this time is a lack of focus and managing my time.


First stop, Thailand!

This is why I got into IM in the first place, to travel the world with a laptop and make money, to all of you new guys out there that are thinking of getting involved in marketing online, get stuck in and don't look back!

Wish me luck

Cheers

Alex

Alex,

You are living the dream. And you are right to concern yourself about your TIME. It goes quickly, no matter what you do...so, it is important to have a TO DO list, or a "bucket list" of things you want to do before you die. Do you have some dreams and goals?

Start with the places, get a physical map, or a globe and put big BLACK X's on the map of places you want to visit. And what will be doing when you get there?

Start with a MAP OF POSSIBILITIES, and cross off in RED all the places you DON'T want to visit. Black, red and then you make a list...of all the black x's and list them.

Go 1 to 10. Then compare #1 with #2 and pick ONE. Do this with the list and it will become a prioritizing system, when you are done, by comparing ONLY TWO at a time, that you will get a better feel for what you should do first, second and third.

THEN, if you know what you want to do, where you want to visit, you have to know the costs and the needs to get you there. How much money does your business have to KEEP making in order for you to do this list of things you want to do.

How will the banking be done? THINK through the processes and you'll come back with a list of things you need to do, and this will create a step by step plan for you follow.

You backward chain the necessary steps to the present moment and you give yourself a FOCUS for your daily activities, THAT IF YOU DO...

WILL AUTOMATICALLY TAKE YOU TO THE PLACE YOU WANT TO GO.

Just do the LIST and the time and focus take care of itself. Hope this helps a little.

gjabiz

[George Montagu Brown]

What free time? You got JV's to recruit and support tickets to answer!

Staying on topic... may I suggest video blogging?

Originally Posted by alexshelton

Hey guys,

today was quite a turning point in my business and life to say the least!

I left a job at an Internet Marketing consultancy that I really did quite enjoy to work on my own business full time and travel the world! so i'm REALLY excited at the moment.

What I am seeking from you guys if possible is a bit of advice if that's okay?

My main concern at this time is a lack of focus and managing my time.

Do you guys have any tips on structuring your day? I was speaking with Dean Holland earlier and he spoke of planning your days/weeks in some detail (cheers Dean) and following them as closely as possible.

If you guys have any pointers i'd really love to hear them!

First stop, Thailand!

This is why I got into IM in the first place, to travel the world with a laptop and make money, to all of you new guys out there that are thinking of getting involved in marketing online, get stuck in and don't look back!

Wish me luck

Cheers

Alex

[alexshelton]

Thanks for all the feedback guys, it's great to see so many other people that are working for themselves.

You guys rule!

[Pattaya-Addict]

hey alex.. i had the same problem as you. i often found it hard to focus. Wiriting your daily tasks down with a pen and paper worked wonders for me. Also i tried a software application called neuro programmer 2 which has improved my memory and focus/motivation.

Your gonna love thailand by the way.. i have spent long periods there. here are 3 places for you to visit:

soi 6 in pattaya
devils den in pattaya
club eden in bangkok

these places are not for the feint hearted though, if you need anymore info on thailand drop me a pm

the best of luck to you in the future mate

alan

[Anonymous Affiliate]

Originally Posted by alexshelton

I left a job at an Internet Marketing consultancy that I really did quite enjoy to work on my own business full time and travel the world!

My main concern at this time is a lack of focus and managing my time.

Here's a piece of advice from someone who's tried to travel the world while keeping up with his online business: it's hard as hell to focus and to keep up with it. I just couldn't manage my time and schedules to work on the road, so eventually I did see my income and productivity ratios dropping significantly.

In my opinion, it's not feasible to travel AND create new content. So I gave up on that.

What I do now is to travel AND manage my already-created content. So what I do is to create new projects at home when I am in full productivity mode, then release the product, get affiliates, generate traffic, etc, and THEN I go out traveling for a month or two knowing that I only need to manage a project that is ALREADY rolling and kicking.

Maybe you're able to pull it off, but I personally never managed to do both traveling and project creation.

[dherbert]

Make sure you get enough sleep. It's easy to lose track of time under the circumstances.

[Kevin Regier]

You are living my dream man! I am six months away from total freedom and I can already taste it. Thailand is my first stop.

My advice is to read Tim Ferris' Wonderful book The Four Hour Work Week it changed my outlook on living the dream and lays out how to deal with the problems you are having.

Keep us all posted on your travels.

[bhopkins]

I went fulltime earlier this year and I love it. I found myself killing myself working at first but then started to slack off. Then during the summer I pretty much just took off and spent most of my time with the kid. It was fine at first but then my business started to suffer.

I'm back on track now, what I've done to keep me on track is to create tasks in my outlook calendar of everything I need to accomplish on a daily basis. I've also set up normal work hours just as if I was going to a day job. I've also found that getting out of the house and going to a coffee shop or public library really helps my productivity.

Good luck with your endeavors.

Bruce

[Anthony J Namata]

Some balls you've got mate, good on you. I just hope you were already making money (before you quit your job). I think planning your daily schedule is key, but you gotta have a lot of room for flexibility. It ain't that cut and dried...at least I don't think so.

[Imran Naseem]

Alex that was the best decision you made buddy. Long as you stay focused nothing will stop you mate!

[darktemplar]

Hey man, congratulations on leaving your job! I'd really check out the Wake Up Productive program by Eben Pagan. It's a fantastic program! Best of luck!

SS

[alexshelton]

Thanks ladies and gents, well yeah I'm making money which is cool and have tried to keep my commitments to an all time low obviously.

I'll have to try and stay as focussed as possible on the content creation I guess, should be ok

Cheers all

[JoMo]

I read on this forum a while back a post that basically said, do 5 IM related things a day. This seemed a little simple at first, but when I thought about it and then implemented it, it worked great. They don't have to be the same every day, but you do need to keep up with the 5. This will help you when scheduling for the work week.



-joel

[Learnanew]

In the summer, I'd write out my day in 40 - 80 minute sessions, and set my alarm to go off at the end of each 40 minute interval. I think I remember reading it in a PDF by James Schramko.

Works well for me.

[ItsDubC]

I used to work at home full time and one thing that kept me on track was writing a few tasks on a white board at the end of each day that I would have to complete the next day. That way when I woke up in the morning the next day, it'd be much easier for me to continue what I was doing the previous day and it also kept me progressing on my work.

[RyanCoisson]

Alex,

What really made a big difference for me was planning ahead and breaking each day down into certain tasks.

Here is how I was taught to break down my week.

Sunday: do any research for the upcoming weeks activities. (get info together for a sales letter, research new video ideas, etc.)

Monday: Develop offers. I identify affiliate offers to promote, create product offers, organize special offers, develop my own products, etc.

Tuesday: List marketing. I work on getting new subscribers to my lists and generating additional revenue from my list.

Wednesday: Generate traffic. i focus on doing things that will generate more traffic to my sites. PPC campaigns, seo, viral reports, etc.

Thursday: focus on ways to improve my existing business. work on tweaks on salesletter, switch ad copy for split tests, create special offers, add auto responder sequences, etc.

Friday: pretty relaxed day network, look for jv's, work on specific jv sites, send emails and do some blog commenting

Saturday: Planning

hope that helps. This is what I use and find it helps any questions let me know

[slimshady22248202]

I think if you start with emails in the middle of the day. And Create A Time Schedule for yourself For The Day Or Week. You should create blocks of times. 1 hour for One Project, Read Email and Answer It. Next Go To The Next Project, 1 hour. Take a lunch break. If you constantly work, your productivity will decrease. This way you will be refreshed by taking 15 minute breaks in between. Set a Time Limit for Yourself. 8 hours or 6 hours. This way you will be on top of the time.

[LaRocca]

Great topic, i did the similar thing in a different job market not long enough.......refuse to be attached to a corporation struggling in the recession any longer!!!

[akasher]

Congrats!

Screw the norm, make your own money and work for yourself..

[Hackbridge]

I'm reading all of the great posts above, and I'm reminded of a website that gives you a free online white board.

skrbl: easy to share online whiteboard - Hope it helps some?

Brian

[alexshelton]

Hey dudes,

well it's been 2-3 weeks now and it's going great!

I still keep referring to the thread though, so thanks to those that gave their opinion.

[DavidJohnny]

Congrats Alex, great move! What a great opportunity you have to travel like that.

I often struggle staying focused. So I keep a task list, and if anything stays on it too long, I just do it. I try to keep in mind the tasks that are in the critical path for making money on my projects, and those are the tasks I don't let slide.

[avery123]

Good for you...
I think that being an IM marketer is an awesome way for your dreams to come true...
and anyone that is in this great circle is striving for the same things FREEDOM...

All the best in your travels...

[alexshelton]

Hey thanks

Yeah not long till the travelling begins, very excited! Appreciate the kind words.

[Brushtale]

Yeh Good luck, go for it.
Just make sure you focus on what you are good at and don't get distracted.
Cheers
Russell www.brushtale.com

[Richnana]

Congratulations. You are living the dream. Be careful that you don't waste your time. Do all your work in the morning as much as possible so you can spend your evening having a lot of fun.

Set up an online planner so that you get those little nudges when you have to complete a task. Microsoft Outlook is great for this. You have a calendar, reminders, list of clients that you need to call. automatic

I am so happy for anyone who can leave the 9-5 early enough to actually enjoy life.

[jojobusiness]

Hi there,
I've left my full time job and started my online business. I love what I was doing before but I wanted to see the world so I decided to take the risk and pursue my dreams.
So, I packed my laptop and booked my flights to many countries (some I've been before) which I dreamt of going. First stop, Thailand. "Sa Wa Dee Ka", then Malaysia "Selamat Datang", then France, Spain, Italy, Greece and last stop AMERICA.
So how did I get so much done online and still able to see the sights and do as much as what other tourists are doing?
My typical productive day:
1) Have a TO-DO List (not more than 6 tasks a day)
2) Delegate not so profitable activities to my team (they work faster and produce excellent results)
3) Have a 1 hour phone call with my clients a day so they don't feel left out
4) Spend only 3 hours or less to do my work that generates most income for me
5) then off to see the sights, and party at night :-)

Hope this helps for those who are looking to be online entrepreneurs!

[914454]

Good luck with your new endeavour and well done on taking the plunge.

I would highly recommend that you structure your day and write down the tasks that you want to achieve each day. Without a proper structure and knowing what you want to do each day, it is very easy to put off doing things and then not get them done. Before you look around, another week or month goes past and you have not achieved anything that you intended to.

I have worked at home for many years and one of the biggest downfalls of doing so is the possible lack of structure to your day - it is too easy to play games, have tea with your partner and her friends, play with your children, etc., because this is so much easier than work.

Set aside a room to use as your office and stay in that room until you have achieved whatever you want to, or need to, achieve each day. Don't allow yourself to get distracted until you have finished.

Use a diary. Make notes at the start of the day what you want to do - write articles, post to forums, create lenses, hubs, etc., create a product, advertise in ezines, then mark off each chore as you finish it.

I wish you every success and hope things work out as planned for you.

Cheers,

Barry

[Lance K]

• Go to your local book store or Amazon and buy " No B.S. Time Management for Entrepreneurs" by: Dan Kennedy.
• Also, try to work in specific blocks of time that work for you. It depends on how long you can work continuously before you lose focus. If you can work 25 minuses, do that then take a 5 minute break. If you can do work 50 minutes, do that then take a 10 minute break. Set a countdown timer. When you hit 25 or 50 minutes (or whatever you've decided on), stop what you're doing and force yourself to take the full break.
• I'd also recommend checking out this page on Andy Jenkins' blog. Video #3 on that page (The M.E.S. Principal) explains how to compartmentalize all of your daily activities into 3 categories. It's pretty good stuff (as are his other free videos).

Oh yea, I almost forgot...CONGRATS!!!

[alucard001]

Hi Alex.

Congratulation and I think you can create your new life with your experience in IM. Just go! Stick to 1 thing until completed. Focus, Focus, Focus and focus. Do not do anything until you complete something.

Hope it helps.

[Marcel Hartmann]

Congrats on taking your business up full-time. I have not done the same (yet), but find having a phone with a to-do list on the home screen to be very effective in keeping me organised on a daily basis.

[kfilliez]

I'm On the Tim Ferriss train....I just started my business and can't wait till i say adios to my day job.
While at work during the day I create 3 goals for my business accomplishments to be done that night...If i do more Awesome. But I always get the 3 done. And if something on my list for some reason isn't possible, I create a new goal on the spot to take its place.
Since You're going full time your "to do" list may be a little longer at first but I like Tim's idea of outsourcing all of life's B.S.

Congrats on the Freedom!

Kirstin

[alexshelton]

Awesome guys, thanks for the recommendation Lance, Dan Kennedy is a GOD.

Did you ever get a chance to look at his Renegade Millionaire product?

I'm actually leaving for Heathrow in a few hours and thought I'd check the thread one last time

Cheers all, you guys rock

Alex

[James Campbell]

Hi Alex,

My suggestion is to get an accountability partner. Someone who you have contact with at least twice a week, once at the start of the week to set-out what you will be accomplishing during this week and then one at the end of the week to review what you have accomplished, obstacles you faced, ways to improve your productivity and also go over the plan for the upcoming week.

Hope this helps.

James