business + wealth articles

the power of less to get more done

I’m obsessed with the essential. “We don’t need it,” “Get rid of it,” and “No thank you,” are guiding mantras ‘round my household. But I’m suspect of time management gurus, especially ones who espouse simplicity as a way of life and who are successful. Success breeds complexity. {Do you really think Tim Ferris, author of the bestseller, The 4 Hour Work Week works only 4 hours a week?} Simplicity and traditional success are a tricky combo. The masters of it are exceptions. They are also chilled, prosperous and rarely in a rush.

Leo Babauta is in no rush. Why hurry when you know what’s most important?

His new book, The Power Of Less, is an easy breezy read on “the fine art of limiting yourself to the essential...in business and in life.”

MY 4 FAVOURITE REMINDERS FROM THE POWER OF LESS:

1. Let your life be ruled by the moment. {Huh, is this a productivity book I’m reading?} Don’t schedule most appointments. If someone requests an appointment, tell them to call you a little before they’d like to meet and if you’re available, then meet.

2. If you aren’t finding yourself passionate about a certain tasks, allow yourself to move on to something you’re more passionate about. The more passionate you are about a task or project, the more energy you’ll put into it, and the better you’ll do with it.

3. Create a simple projects list ... just three projects, not ten, that will have your entire focus until you see them through to completion. The other projects on your list go on the “On The Deck List.”

Leo is a big proponent of email checking restraints. His suggestion, like that of Tim Ferris’, is to set email times ... check it once in the morning, and check it once in the afternoon. Leo admits that this is not as easy as it sounds. His answer is deceptively simple:

4. Every time you find yourself habitually switching to e-mail, stop yourself. Breathe. And then focus on your work instead. Your reward: you get a lot more done.

Got the itch to Twitter or check in on your Facebook friends in the middle of a looming deadline? Breathe. The itch will pass and your fans will love you all the more when you tweet. I breathe a lot.

Many productivity books have a drill sergeant running between the lines. Panic! So much to do to organize all that I have to do. The Power of Less is a sweet exception to that. Babauta’s energy is gentle and kind. No whistles. No drills. Just a zen-like understanding of what it takes to honour what's essential.

RESOURCES + RELATED
: Leo is the the man behind the wildly popular ZenHabits.net
: Entrepreneurial Time Management: How I Rock It

 

entrepreneurial time management: how i rock it

There’s so much that I want to do this lifetime: take my boys to India and Morocco; write the next bestseller; hang with people who make me laugh my ass off and make me think. So naturally, I’m interested in being both uber productive and deeply fulfilled.

I’ve tried every day timer. I’ve trained with Covey himself. My Blackberry is synced with my universe. My get-stuff-done-system is a mix of systems. But, by far the greatest booster to my productivity has been the Entrepreneurial Time Management system, created by Dan Sullivan.

I stumbled across an article last year, and it was a Eureka! moment. And now I just do it, almost religiously, simply.

WORKING THE ENTREPRENEURIAL TIME MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

FREE DAYS: LET IT ROLL
Weekends are footloose...play, party, veg, nest. Sullivan suggests taking 100 free days a year, including your holidays and vacations. {How civilized!} I try to hold Sundays as extra sacred, which means no computer, some devotional reading, extra snuggles, phone calls to the oldies.

TWO BUFFER DAYS: NIGGLIES + PURE FUN
Monday is my “niggly buffer day.” (You can make your buffer days any day of the week.) Buffer days are for loose ends, and for preparing for “focus days.” This is when I return emails; deal with tech bugs and social media updating; I make appointments and pay bills. On my Monday buffer day, I do the stuff that feels like it’s getting in the way when I want to do the Important Stuff that makes me happy and makes me money. (more...)

 

creative quickies: the wonders of 15 minute time restraints

I’ve noticed a definite pattern in the countless jam sessions I’ve had with colleagues and clients ... the best idea gems often surface in the last few minutes.

A morning spent teasing out the best strategy... Two hours back ‘n forthing on what to name the campaign... And, just as you’re clearing away the coffee cups and packing up your sticky notes, someone says, “You know...what if we just called it Whazam and went direct to whozit?” Silence. Everyone looks at each other and someone exclaims, “That’s it!”

Those innermost feelings that needed to be spoken, the winning formula ... they often slip onto stage as the curtain is getting ready to drop, because we’ve stopped performing and relax into the creative high. It’s usually at the end of meeting when people start to joke and goof off. We save comfort and play for last.

CREATIVE QUICKIES ARE THE WAY TO GO: 15 MINUTE JAM SESSIONS
If the good stuff so often surfaces at the end, then the trick is to end it sooner. Quit while you're ahead. Short idea intervals work wonders. “Let’s jam on the story line for 15 minutes.” And stick to it. Then you can brainstorm on fund raising for 15 minutes. The pressure gets the energy rising. The bursts of creative focus will start to feed each other. It’ll all weave into a big picture. (more...)

 

3 things I ask every entrepreneur

I've got a guest post on Crave Business. Here's a peek.

How do you make your money?
I’m always amazed when I talk to an entrepreneur about what they’re doing. “I’m blogging....I leading a book club....I just went to this conference...” And then at the end of their list they mention the activity that’s actually making them money. It can sometimes be a read flag. If I get a long list of non-revenue making updates, I ask, “So...how’s money?” And whaddya know, the cash isn’t flowing as bountifully as they want it it to be. Your bottom line should be directly linked to your passion. Let me put it another way: if you’re spending most of your time on what you’re passionate about but it’s not making you money - find a way to monetize it. It’s not necessarily easy, but it’s the formula for true success....

CLICK HERE AND READ THE FULL ARTICLE.

 

reality check: kawasaki helps entrepreneurs get real

Guy Kawasaki's new book, Reality Check: The Irreverent Guide to Outsmarting, Outmanaging, and Outmarketing Your Competition, is essential reading for entrepreneurs. Essential. If you're starting up, raising money, trying to make your living on-line, or stretching your marketing muscles, just get this book.

My 5 Favorite bits from REALITY CHECK, {with which I couldn't agree more:}

1. Innovation is a hard, messy process with no shortcuts. It starts with making something that you'd like to use that makes meaning, and it gets both easier and harder from there.
2. Ultimately, the underlying assumptions in your marketing model are the key to the fundability and viability of your start up. (more...)

 

kiva: be a microlender

I love Kiva. My $50 bucks is currently helping two groups of women, one in Uganda and one in Cambodia to build their businesses. When the money is re-paid, I'll re-loan it to new entrepreneurs.

(more...)

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