There are many competing priorities in running a business. Everything looks important. The problem is you cannot do everything and do it all at once.
Your business suffers because you cannot give the proper attention to what moves your business forward. You spend your resources on activities that reduce your efficiencies and reduce your profits.
When you clarify your priorities, your team and you can make wise choices about how to spend your time, creativity and money. For example, scrambling to meet externally imposed deadlines such as paying taxes diverts your attention from other activities that could be increasing your revenues.
For instance, if you made it a priority to devise a process for compiling the data required for filing tax documents, you could eliminate the last minute scramble to meet your tax deadline. You would be free to focus on revenue generating work.
To keep your attention on what moves your business forward, prioritize your work. You may discover that small, consistent action in the right direction pays large dividends in the long term.
Here is a method to solve the prioritizing problem:
Besides confusion and lack of clarity, what do you have to lose by defining your top 5 priorities for the next 30 days? With clarity about your priorities for 30 days, you can drill down to your priorities for the week and for the day to be sure these are in alignment with your 5 priorities for 30 days.
What are your top 5 priorities for the next 30 days?
© 2015 Ann Elliott All Rights Reserved
Ann,
I found this prioritizing article extremely helpful. Who knew I could cull my list down to five items and in the process feel significant weight being lifted from my shoulders? Thanks for continuing to be an inspiration.
Lorie
Thanks, Lorie. It is amazing how much more efficient we can be by eliminating things from our list. I am glad to know you found this helpful and fun, too.
Ms. Ann,
Right on! I have one of those big paper calendars on my desk and on the right side I write down my "you better get this done before the month is up list" / new ideas to pursue.
I also use sticky notes and colored paper for random thoughts which I cannot pursue at the moment BUT shall not be forgotten.
So in moments when I think or don't think, I look on my calendar and my walls and "get moving" 🙂
Thanks for your comment, Gisela. There are as many systems as there are people. The main thing is to DO something.