how to attack that pile of tasks
A few months ago, I was speaking to a friend who runs his own consultancy business.
He said something that I've been ruminating on lately.
“You’re either working for your biz or on the biz,” he said.
If you focus on one, you'll have
1. the best business model, offer, and brand but no clients
OR
2. paying clients without strategic direction for your biz.
Business = clients + brand
To be successful, you need both.
It's all about balance.
It’s knowing the difference between consumption and creation.
When to write and when to read.
When to eat and when to run.
What's best for your biz?
Do you have a plan?
For me, I like to stick to a daily schedule of brand and client work:
Engage with my social community
Publish quality posts and tweets
Respond to client messages
Prepare article content
Schedule phone calls
Write client projects
Go for a run
Read
Some days I devote solely to client work and deadlines.
And other days I mix it up with some of both.
The key is striking the right balance.
Here are 5 principles I've found helpful to find a good balance:
Be clear
Strategy is only as good as execution.
Dream big. Step small.
(Key: step small)
2. Be curious
Experiment. Read books in your industry.
Get inspiration outside of work.
3. Be flexible
Make and stick to a plan. Track progress.
Assess analytics every 3-6 months and adjust as necessary.
4. Be protective
Work when you work. Rest when you rest.
Time is elusive, your schedule is not.
5. Be coachable
Most days you’re own your own.
If you want to grow, you have to stay humble and hungry to learn.
Deadlines and distraction are going to happen.
Finding the right balance is critical for your health as an individual and a business.
RECAP
List your priorities.
Know the difference between consumption vs creation.
Working on and for the biz is a balancing act.
5 principles to find a balance:
be clear
be curious
be flexible
be protective
be coachable
What principle can you start with today?
