Shouldn't I Be Busier?

YES! I hate it too... honest to god I just feel like I'm falling into a rut if I don't have something productive going on.

5 hours 'productively' drinking Rioja however, yeah, some quiet time is welcome

I'm with ya Derek... I get what you're saying. Although right now, I WANT to be working the long days because I feel like I've acheived more than what most people do. Hell I like it purely because I've achieved, regardless of other people.

I love being able to dictate my own hours, but I want enough to do WITH those hours

Of course if I was earning plenty I'd find something to do with the money, but since I have none, my options are limited :p

I guess as I scale up it'll become more involved... but I do feel the absence of work.

Which, to be honest, is something I'm pleased with. At least it means I enjoy my work when I have it

Maybe it would be worth taking on a new project... hmm...

I find it to be extremely important that you set a schedule and make a list of tasks each day. I myself have a few home businesses that I work on each day. My day is spent mostly placing ads and a few hours of calling leads and doing follow up.

I used to spend a lot of time doing "busy work" and not getting much done at all. Now that I've been keeping track of the tasks that I want to accomplish and setting a schedule for each task, it's been easier for me to get things done daily.

I work about 6 hours a day and I make a very comfortable living. It is not productive to spend time watching hours of TV. Especially if you want to be able to pay your bills.

It actually sounds like you might be working a little too much mate, as nuts as that sounds

If you're really getting exhausted, your productivity will be in the toilet.

Give yourself a break, you'll get a fresh perspective on things when you come back to it.

Hmmm... not sure I have a solution beyond that right now. I know you've got options... you know what I'd suggest?

I know you're getting into the groove of CPA... pop over to the CPA forum and look for someone who's talking about making their first $100 or something... then just send them a PM.

You're a friendly bloke so they'll be happy to talk. See if you can mimic their success... and have a cup of tea mate

I've been out of the CPA game for a couple of months working on the other projects and, goddamn as much as I hate to say it, I wouldn't make a good mentor to you right now as things are going to be picking up again pretty soon.

In a couple of months however, in the next lull, I'll be all over it

Point well made.

When I'm working, I'm working hard... there's no break, no 'busy work' it's just hardcore production, and I've worked hard for a while so I guess now is just 'the quiet time', getting ready to amp up the next phase

clearly never been to wales then!

beach? rofl

My money is tied up in assets at the moment man... I can't enjoy any of it!

And Rick's right... the beaches have turned into mudpits this past week :p

GREAT for surfing though, but my buddy has the car and he's doing up his girl's flat.

Damn.

Thats very true, though I wonder how much more work is involved. I know your peace of mind is much more disturbed, wondering "what are they messing up now".

Lots of time with no money is a problem..one that doesn't come up very often. Why not brainstorm more product ideas you can add on to your funnel for your backend and work on creating those products. Even if you won't be using them for some time.

Toniy,

seems to me that if your system is running on auto-pilot and you are starting to reap the benefits, then surely it is time to start another stream!

I don`t think that now is the time to rest on your laurels.

Whatever you decide on, I wish you all the best.

Sam.

Hey Toniy,

Well I see you are still fairing after quitting your job. That is good. I know you are asking how many hours people are working and to be honest I think it has more to do with personal preference. I mean in the beginning the more we work and the hard and faster the quicker chance we have to making money.

Now I am not sure what your project is or why you have to wait till the money starts to come in. That is a little confusing and hard to clear up without getting down the nitty gritty of what you are doing and I know some marketers just do not like to share.

My question is, have you done anything to create a quick cash product? You know one that is somewhere between 39.95 and say 197.00. I guess that would be pounds for you.

You say also that you are list building, but I am curious how you are doing that each day and not having anything to do? I work on my list and my leads and that takes up a good portions of my day. I make it a point to add value and help those that I am connecting with. I am not saying you are not doing this, just wondering how you are doing it, if you are not working more than a few hours. I know I spend more time on this part of my business than anything else. I work on relationships. The other stuff, content and product creation takes up only about and hour or two of my day, but right now the other 3 to 6 depending on what other things need to get done for my family, are spent relationship building. Now this may just be my thing, my husband was making fun of me, but helping others is something I would do and have done even if I do not get paid.

The only other thing I saw that sort of seemed to be missing in your mentions was your content creations to do your marketing. I am sure you know there are other ways besides article writing (I did see how you hated that). Are you doing this for your business now? If not I would tell ya, you might want to consider putting out some sort of information or helpful tidbit just to keep your business active and in people's minds.

Okay this is only my two cents at it. I am not in the least bit and expert or a guru. The best of luck to you and hope you get to your car or at least out to the park. =D

PS And you really should enjoy the breaks when you get them. Engage in them and be in the moment of whatever you are doing. It will enhance your work and your play.

I can totally imagine.

Still it's early days yet... however that 'new project' I've come up with may well take off enough to warrant outsourcing and ultimately a manager too... wow, that's a hell of a thing to realise

Always assumed I'd be going it alone... huh

See this is what I'm talking about with that office thing... when I was in the office, working for Hewlett-Packard actually, towards the end of the month where it got busy, I'd be in the office until 2 am (most people finished at 5 pm) and I'd arrive at the office at 9 am.

What did I do in those 17 hour days?

... I have literally no idea. I just, can't remember... I remember writing about a dozen emails, making a few phone calls... entering a little bit of data and that was it.

Maybe 3 hours work tops?

Jesus... no wonder I was on review all the time... HA!

OH WAIT, now I remember... I used to **** around constantly and write hilarious stories over email to the other interns...

Alright there might be something massive I'm missing here... so correct me if I'm wrong.

But you should raise your prices.

You run a massage business...

You work 12 hour days...

I'd imagine that's maybe... 20 clients? I don't know how long a session is.

I also don't know how much you charge.

But let's say 12 clients and I know you want to make an extra $100 a day (£60)... that's an extra £5 per client.

I don't know what kind of price bump that represents... might by 20%, might be 100%, I don't know... and it doesn't NEED to be £5, it's just an example based on my guesses of your business.

But if you raise your prices, some folks might leave, but it will leave you more time, you'd be earning more per hour and you could concentrate on marketing for that, finding new clients... whatever.

Obviously you don't have to take my advice, but subtle price increases I think are the way forward, if you're filled to capacity.

Just my thoughts.

To answer your question. i work about 20 hrs a day. ( that is being literal, i don't sleep very much and i don't really have a life other then work ) i just don't know how to work less. When i had retired. i went stir crazy. wound up working on other peoples stuff. I hear the words "workaholic" at least 2 or 3 times a wk.

I will refrain from any income claims tho, unlike many here, i truly believe those should be private.