3 Ways to Kickstart Your Productivity...

28 replies
As entrepreneurs, our biggest asset is our time. Surprisingly, it's easy
to squander it away. You have the best of intentions at the beginning
of the day but then find yourself browsing the forum, checking stats,
and reading your favorite blogs.

You look up and 3 hours have passed with ZERO actual work being accomplished.

one of the critical differences between those who struggle and those who
succeed online is that those who are successful have full control over
how they manage their time.

This is something I've spent years working on. And sure - I still get
lost on the interwebs some times

But my days are now focused on the high-leverage activities in our business.

So I thought I'd share a few simple tricks I use...


1. Set 3 BIG Rocks every day. Each day you need to decide on 3 activities that you're
going to complete that day. These are the 3 activities that are going to
have the BIGGEST impact on your business.

The one's that are going to move your business forward. These action items
should revolve around either growing your traffic, optimizing your funnel,
or working on a new product.

Traffic
Offer
Conversion

Every successful business is built around those 3 core activities.

Write down your BIG 3 the night before and that way you'll be ready
to start ROCKIN as soon as you get up.


2. Trick yourself into productivity.

This is something I use all the time. Commit to writing for just 3 minutes.
Set the timer for 3 minutes and start writing.

The hardest part is just getting started. Once you've finished the 3 minutes
you'll be in the flow and it's actually easier to keep going than it is to stop.

You put yourself into a flow of momentum by making 'small' commitments.


3. ALWAYS use a timer.

The timer is my MOST important productivity tool.

I have a digital timer that sets on my desk at all times.

I break up my day into 33-minute blitzes. I set the timer for 33-minutes
and then focus exclusively on ONE task until completion.

If you don't complete the task during that particular time slot. Simply
restart the clock and go again. Or take a quick stretch, grab some water,
and then keep rockin!

By setting the timer it helps to keep you laser focused on the task at hand.

If you use these 3 strategies EVERY day, you'll have your best year yet.

Success goes to those who get the most done each day AND are working on the
high-leverage tasks in their business.

For me, those high-leverage tasks include:

Managing our Facebook Ads
Creating New Products
Optimizing our Sales Funnel
Sending 3 emails per week to our subscribers.

And that's really about it.

Most people are actually doing too many things online with too many moving
parts.

You're much better off mastering a critical few.

Cheers,

Kim
#kickstart #productivity #ways
  • Profile picture of the author vschneider4
    These are great tips. Thanks!

    My trick to productivity may not work for everyone but it works for me. You must be an early riser, or be able to make yourself get up a bit earlier.

    I try to knock out or at least get started on my daily goals (My 3 BIG Rocks as you call them) while I'm drinking my morning coffee and then immediately after. They are the first thing I get started on every day. If I work, I try to get up an hour earlier than I need to so that I have time to get started.

    It's amazing how freeing it is to get my "chores" out of the way as soon as I wake up. Otherwise, even if I allow myself to goof off for most of the day, I always have these chores in the back of my mind that I need to accomplish. Not so if I get them done FIRST.

    It only works if you make it a RULE. If you have a significant other, make them hold you to it! You can't break the rule. It doesn't work if you just say "Oh I'll get up early as long as I go to bed early" or "I'll do this as long as there isn't something more important". NO. When you stay up late watching Netflix you must KNOW that the consequence is you will be more tired when you STILL get up early to accomplish your goals. They should always be the most important thing. Get up and get them done.
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    • Profile picture of the author ClickDale
      Wonderful Ideas Kim! I am going to give the timer and the 33 minute blitz technique a shot. It sounds like it could have potential. Thank you!
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  • Profile picture of the author frettcarla
    That is really nice tips to have productivity gain in the business as well as in the personal life. Thanks for the same.
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  • Profile picture of the author 6figure101
    Great tips Kim!

    I live by numbers 1 and 3 but #2 is new to me.
    And even though I outsource most of my content creation, I will give it a try next time I need to write something.

    Thanks for sharing!
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    • Profile picture of the author scottgzz
      Thanks for taking the time to post these excellent tips!
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  • Profile picture of the author Hermes Urbanus
    MY day often starts pretty early, and I try to knock out my 3 rocks around that time (but it doesn't always work out for me depending on the size of the rocks.) Which usually leaves the rest of my free time either clear or a frantic rush to address those rocks (which seem to become boulders as the day stretches on.) I've been telling my wife for months I was I going to tighten up my daily routine any day now - but I had no clue how until today. Thank you very much!
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  • Profile picture of the author DawnyaSasse
    When I use a timer is does really help me. Thanks for reminding me that I need to dust it off and USE IT in 2014. Also, I just finished reading the ebook," The Productive Person: A how-to guide book filled with productivity hacks & daily schedules for entrepreneurs, students or anyone struggling with work-life balance." by James Roper.

    I liked the fact that they breakdown different schedule options to help you manage your online business.
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  • Profile picture of the author jsla
    Very nice. I don't do the timer thing, once I get in the flow I try to work until that piece is done, but these are good tips.
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  • Profile picture of the author Woodsusa
    I seem to do okay until the weekends, then the kids are home and my routine is shot. I end up scrambling to play catch up on Monday when they go back to school. I think productivity is the only thing really holding me back...unless maybe if you count being a teensy bit disorganized and pulled in 57 directions by the family....
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  • Profile picture of the author dmarc
    Thanks for the very useful posts.

    I think time management is absolute key to being successful. It can be SO easy to waste vast amounts of time doing things that either don't grow your business or just aren't worth the time.

    Distractions are found around EVERY corner, especially in the IM world.

    Sticking to a simple, actionable plan like yours is what separates the "doers" from those constantly treading water.

    New team members of mine in an affiliate program often ask for advice on how to see results, and Time Management is one of the things I really try to help them understand.

    I'll definitely be pointing them to this post.

    Thanks again.
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  • Profile picture of the author nicelife
    Really good tips and I actually work similar to this.

    1 thing that I do is I rather not mix different activities because I work much faster when keeping 100% focus from start to finish on 1 thing and then move on to the next.
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  • Profile picture of the author Kelleyl
    Good tips, thanks for sharing them.
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  • Profile picture of the author ryanbiddulph
    Hi Kim,

    LOVE the 33 minute blitzes. I work off of 50 minute intervals, 10 minutes off, Pomodoro style.

    Work hard and intense, then take breaks. People wonder how I publish 5 posts daily. I work hard, and stay focused, and take breaks to relax, and keep my focus.

    We all stray off course from time to time. Working and breaking expands your awareness, helping you see when you are straying.

    Thanks for sharing Kim!
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    • Profile picture of the author HackTheApk
      Good tips tho. I'm using a time since I was a kid. And it helped me a lot like every time I do so.
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  • Profile picture of the author dndoseller
    The most important thing I have done to sky rocket my productivity is similar:

    When I sit down I enter my start time in a spreadsheet
    I work on a task that I know will bring me income
    I enter my end time in the spreadsheet.

    I set goals for exactly how many hours I will work per day, week, month.

    I treat it like a job and as if I had to report my hours and tasks to a boss.

    I basically do not even touch the computer unless I am logging my hours.
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    • Profile picture of the author heavysm
      I have to stay in the moment. If i think about the past or future i day dream to try to fix whatever thing needs to be corrected or finished. That's why meditation is so powerful for me because it helps me live "right now" rather than in the past or in the future.

      This is sort of random, but I've also found that doing push-ups helps reduce my brain clutter so i can get my mind off of the past or future. I am forced to focus on those last few reps so being in the "now" is forced on me.
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    • Profile picture of the author RichBeck
      Originally Posted by dndoseller View Post

      I basically do not even touch the computer unless I am logging my hours.
      dndoseller,

      That is an awesome tip!

      Thanks,

      Rich Beck BCIP, MCSD, MCIS
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  • Kim, this sounds like an air tight recipe for success. I like the assertive attitude and forward acceptance of what you are about to accomplish. Lovely.

    Thanks,

    LLS
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  • Profile picture of the author Ricardo33
    I agree with you.
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    • Profile picture of the author slingingshot15
      When it comes to setting a timer I think the Pomodoro technique is one of the best technique there is to use when it comes to writing.
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  • Profile picture of the author Old-Man-Of-Hoy
    Thanks for sharing. I call my productivity blocks mini days in a day. Amazing stuff. It all in the mind!!
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  • Profile picture of the author nenala
    coool tips, hope to use them!!
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  • Profile picture of the author workwithpatricia
    Thanks for sharing. I am trying to work my online business on top of a full time job and 2 small children. Time management is essential for me.
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    • Profile picture of the author Mary Greene
      Thanks for the great tips, Kim!

      To feel rewarded each day you beat or meet the timer, try charting your progress visually as well. Mobile phone apps like Stride offer appealing graphics to make better habits feel like winning a game.

      And that's powerful intrinsic motivation.

      Cheers,
      Mary Greene
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      Cheers,
      Mary Greene

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  • Profile picture of the author Aurelijus
    Great tips. I liked the part about setting up goals before going to bed. That really works, it sort of unconsciously makes your brain put things together while you're asleep.
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  • Profile picture of the author jburns
    Great tips Kim and I wouldn't expect anything less as your content is all high leverage. Good stuff. Your a rockstar
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  • Profile picture of the author awesummer
    Wow! I especially like the second one. It is really difficult to be motivated especially if you work from home. Tricking myself to productivity, always work. When I feel like I don't want to work on a task, I promised myself that I'll just start to work on it and maybe get some rest after. But then when I started to doing it, my tendency is not to stop until I get to finish it, so it's definitely effective for me.

    I also have a timer but it's more of a time tracking software (Time Doctor) and it also helps me a lot on my productivity.
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  • Profile picture of the author sagittarius
    I really agree with you on #2. The hardest part of starting to be productive is "starting" to be productive. There's a lot of mental battle happening inside the typical procrastinator's mind prior to starting to do what he has to do.
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