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By Sharon Bray-McPherson
Every day thousands of people join the ranks of home-based business owners without
first pondering whether they actually have the time to operate a business
successfully.
That's not to say that operating a home business on a part-time basis can't be done
successfully. It can... with managed use of your time. But it may mean giving up a
few of your favorite pastimes - such as having a couple of beers with the guys on
Saturdays or gluing yourself to the TV on Sunday nights to watch Desperate
Housewives. If the thought of doing either of those things makes you cringe, you may
want to ask yourself how serious you really are about building a successful home
business.
If you decide that you are willing to make the sacrifices, the first thing to do is
to sit down with pencil and paper and list everything you do each day step-by-step.
Take stock of the time you spend doing wasteful, time-consuming things and eliminate
all that isn't necessary. After doing so, most people find that they have two to
three hours each day that can be utilized in a more constructive or efficient manner.
Efficient time management boils down to planning what you're going to do, and then
doing it without backtracking. Start by making a list of the things you want to do
tomorrow each evening before you go to bed. Organize your daily errands to take care
of as many things as possible in one trip. Not only will you save time you'll also
save money on gas. The important thing is to think of time as your most valuable
asset, because it is. So organize it accordingly. Decide what has to be done each day
and from there it's just a matter of arranging priorities.
Set aside a specific time to do household chores that need to be done and a specific
amount of time to devote to them. For instance, just one hour per day devoted to yard
work would probably make your lawn the envy of all your neighbors. Whether it's
painting your house, fixing leaky faucets or mowing your lawn and trimming shrubs, do
one particular job each day and you'll be amazed at your progress.
Once you start listing and planning what you want to do, and then carry out your
plans, you'll find that you have more time than you thought you would to devote to
your home business.
Finally, and above all else, when organizing your time, don't forget to set aside
some time for relaxation. Be sure to schedule time when you and your family can be
together. Although it is easy to do when first starting out, do not become so
pre-occupied with your business that you exclude other people - particularly your
family and friends.
Taking stock of the time you waste each day, and from there, reorganizing your
activities is the key. It may not always be easy to do, but you will find that once
you get into the habit of setting priorities and following a set pattern to
accomplish your daily goals that you will realize greater fulfillment in your
business and your personal life.
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