Take Daily Action To Succeed

Some people make internet marketing all sound so simple, and I guess it is when you’ve got a set of products and know what you’re offering to whom.

"Getting it" and applying it are two different things.

Most people are not trying to overcomplicate things. It just takes longer when you have to think through the steps each time. For instance, seemingly simple tasks take on new life when each step is plugged in…

1. Email list about one of my offers
   1a login to autoresponder service
   1b write email
   1c fill out the pages and schedule or send autoresponder

2. Dictate three articles.
   2a decide what to write about/angle
   2b dictate
   2c either transcribe myself or outsource
   2d login in to articles directories and post
   2e post to own websites

3. Clear out customer support.
   3a open emails
   3b respond
   3c fix issues

4. Create PowerPoint for upcoming presentation.
   4a open PPT
   4b prepare slides
   4c open camtasia
   4d record voiceover for slides

Dead easy if you’re a machine and know exactly what you are doing and that is all you are doing! Most budding IM’ers however are faced with the stop-start issue of working and trying to do IM on the side.

A lot of it also depends on the tools you use (some are quicker and easier) and how familiar you are with them. It’s much quicker if you’re using them regularly and don’t have to remind yourself what to do so consistency is key in building skills and your business.

So don’t feel inadequate when one of your guru’s tells you how easy it all is. It may be for them. But we’re all human and we each take different times and approaches.

The key is to making sure you are making plans, not excuses.

Just take action.

Daily.

Double Your Income : Double Your Time Off

If you could design your ideal life all over again, would it have more work days or more free time?

Dan Sullivan’s technique for substantially increasing your income is based on increasing your time off and working more intensely when you are at ‘work’. For entrepreneurs and executives the principle is to develop and train others to progressively require your input less and less.

To get more free days or time off, plug it in your diary and make it non-negotiable. Schedule in the days and weeks you want off ahead of time.

Sullivan allocates time according to three types:

Free Days – a period from midnight to to the next midnight when you are not accessible to work and do no work related activity. No ‘checking in’, no checking emails, no reading professional magazines or books, no mobile phone or cell phone. This is time you are literally “off limits”
Focus Day – do work that exhibits your unique talent and abilities for which you get paid. This needs to be at least 85% of your time spent on this direct income-earning activity. The trick is to make sure you get results from the time spent in this area.
Buffer Days – chores, planning, prep work, administrivia and other tasks or activities you don’t get paid for but which need to be done. Days in this category need to be maximised. Work with the efficiency and intensity you apply to the day just before taking off on holidays or vacations!

For workaholics, they take off little time and so doubling it is relatively easy! For others, it’s about being clear on what your day is structured around and dedicating your energy to that.

I have friends who have never heard of Dan Sullivan or this method. Yet if I analyse their application to their business and life, they apply similar principles. They have established a great reputation in their field so attracting business is not an issue. When they are ‘at work’ they are highly focussed and productive. Their incentive for doing so is that they schedule time out every week and in some cases (especially in summer when the surf is up), daily! They have a very balanced lifestyle.

Keep track of how many days you have now – free, focus and buffer. Then work at increasing Focus Days, Reducing Buffer Days and having more Free Days.

ACTION

Meet with those around you at work to discuss how to create and maximise more Focus Days where you can apply your expertise and talent to get the best results and revenue
Set up a time to meet with family and friends to plan more Free days in your life
Schedule at least 4 vacations over the next 12 months – long weekends, a weekend drive to the wine district, a week holiday on the Coast, whatever, just book them into your diary

To make the days even more effective:

List the 3 best results days you’ve had. Identify the common elements in those best days. Plan to include more of those elements in your future Focus Days and that will improve your results more
List the 3 best Free Days you’ve ever had and , look for the common elements then schedule more of these elements into your future Free days.

How To Use PLR Articles and Books

You would think in a world full of information that more data is the last thing we need.

Yet the Internet doesn’t use gas – it uses content to keep it running.

There is always a demand for fresh new content.

Here are a few ideas from Matt and Amanda, fellow Master-minders, on how you can utilise existing PLR and turn it into new and more products.

work off the table of contents when you re-write PLR. This enables you to get the skeleton for the book and then fill in the rest.
grab a bundle of PLR books and compare the Table of Contents in each. Take the most common topics for that niche – include them and of course, any others that stand out and may be a good fit.
read a couple of the commonly-found chapters
follow up with reading a couple of articles from the net
now, re-write those chapters from memory and add any extra points you think are relevant
if you have more information than you need, turn the extra information into bonuses

Other ideas

take videos, transcribe them and you have a completely new ebook.
turn PLR into audio and video courses – use slides, mind maps or screen capture

There is a mile of ways to use PLR.

My mate, Matt Roe has a no-bones short report (no signup needed) that explains the methods easily and simply.

I reckon you should grab it, read it and put it into action.

Then, grab some well-written PLR from Amanda and integrate that into your content plans. Bear in mind that the better quality the content, the less time you need to spend on rewites.

OK, I’m off to re-purpose some of those dusty PLR articles sitting on my hard drive…

How To Be More Productive, Part 4

Ok, so my notes from the Helen Raptoplous call have identified:

each day do four things you can complete towards your main current project
then do the regular things you need to do consistently – daily, weekly, monthly activities
then, if scheduled, do your block period of focused attention on a big project
finally, if scheduled, take the day to plan, flesh out ideas or build systems

That’s kind of the priority order of undertaking actions every day to progress.

A key plank in this methodology (in my view in any time management or productive endeavour) is to have accountability.

Robert Plank introduced us to this concept in one of his courses where he encouraged us to set up an accountability membership site. The idea was to buddy up with someone, declare your four things at the beginning of the idea then report back at the end of the day either saying DONE for each item or explaining why it’s not done.

Being held accountable removes excuses that we use for ourselves, it motivates us to do things because someone else now knows and we’re less likely to procrastinate when we’ve publicly declared our intentions.

Helen went beyond the member site idea and suggested whatever works for you – blog about it, tweet about it, update your Facebook status, do a YouTube video. However you do it, let others know what you’re going to work on and by when. Then, update them when it’s done or at the end of the day. The idea is that by checking in with others, you now have skin in the game and your reputation is on the line! It compels you to action.

This idea is one I agree with. Working solo enables one lots of opportunities to rationalise why you’re busy but not achieving what you need to. Having another person you work with in this regard is rewarding and I suspect Raptoplous incorporates this feature heavily within her 30 Day Productivity Challenge.

Overall, the message Raptopoulos conveyed was nothing new and even sounded a bit complicated. I doubt that bothers her. As she says, you need to close the gap between information and action and her program is geared to do just that. I agree with her when she states that you need to commit to implementing what you are learning and what you know ie take action.

This series has been about being more productive. I do believe the key Robert Plank ideas (4 Things a Day, Accountability) as well as Helen’s ideas about Consistent Actions, Big Plan Blocks and Systems/Ideas/Planning Days will lead you to being more productive.

My recommendation is start with:

Four Things a Day – complete one then the next
Consistent Actions – daily, weekly, monthly activities
Accountability – commit daily then report back

Implement those three habits and I guarantee you’ll be doing way more than you are now.

Oh, and use RTM to make it all happen!

How To Be More Productive, Part 3

Last time, I shared with you the steps beyond ‘the four things’ formula that Helen Raptoplous talked about on the call. They were, taking consistent action on your regular tasks, scheduling blocks of time to work on bigger projects, and dedicating a day or two to for planning, ideas and systems.

Personally, as we went through the call, I found Helen’s presentation of the information a little confusing and overwhelming. Robert Plank’s explanation of his system was way too simplified when I first heard it and so initially I didn’t get it; but when you do get it, it’s brilliant in it’s simple effectiveness. Helen’s method accommodates all those other things you need to do in business beyond the 4 Things.

What I did like about Helen’s call was that she stopped 3/4 of the way into the call to get people to brainstorm all the projects on your plate, all the things you’ve started or programs/systems you’ve bought. She then suggested you choose one thing to focus on. As Plank says often, it doesn’t matter where you start, just start. Thinking and researching and mulling things over or waiting until all the ducks are in a row just delays you further and ends up in loss of motivation and overwhelm as you add more things to your plate! All those other things will still be there later. And if you picked the wrong one, then you can always change, at least now you know.

After choosing one, Helen recommended we decide on four things to do tomorrow (one task has to be related to that project).

Then we needed to simply start that list of four things, doing one until it was complete before moving onto the next one.

Finally, we were asked to list the things we needed to do consistently.

This application session within the call was a great idea but it was too ambitious for the time allowed on the call to do it. The idea was good but it can only be a practice session to give people a feel for what they need to do and to motivate them to take action after the call on completing the practice outcomes.

It would have been better to have said something like “You probably have a ton of things on your plate or that you’ve started or intended to. For now, just jot down three that come to mind. [allow a minute]. I invite you to take time after the call to finish this list and review which one project to focus on. For now, choose one of the three you just wrote down that is the highest priority for you of those three. [Allow 15 seconds]. Now, what are four tasks you need to do to get that moving. [Allow 30-45 seconds]. Just look back over those four things and make sure they are tasks that can actually complete at one sitting.

Then I would have recapped for them the need to sit down and brainstorm all the things they have on their plate, to list all the daily/weekly/monthly things they need to do, to block out three periods to work on bigger projects and finally to schedule in the 1-2 days monthly to plan/idea/systems.

In the next session, I’ll complete this series on being more productive by explaining the key ingredient to make it work well.

How To Be More Productive, Part 2

Last time, we talked about the 4 Things Theory and how to apply that. It’s based on the premise that if you focus on doing 4 specific things a day that move you forward then you will progress more easily.

There are, however, times when you need to do more than the 4 things. There are regular tasks that need to be done, like your annual tax return, that won’t go away and must be completed. Today we continue my notes from a talk by Helen Raptoplous.

Take time to make a list of what you need to do consistently to move forward. Set up a schedule to make sure they get done.

Daily – what are the essentials you need to do daily?
Weekly – what tasks need to get done once a week?
Monthly – what needs to be done once a month?
These might be routine tasks to keep ahead of the game such as reconciling accounts or submitting expense reimbursement claims, or they may be actions which will propel you ahead by doing them consistently and regularly without fail by making them part of your routine

Plan ‘extreme focus sessions’ each week to work on bigger plans and projects. Block out a period from 45 minutes to 3 hours where you focus on bigger plans. Do up to 3 such blocks a week.
Set aside 1 to 2 days per month where you do not take calls, see clients or get distracted in any way. This is the time to work ON your business or career. Take this time to p-l-a-n, work on those ideas you’ve had, or build systems that will reduce effort over time. It’s best to schedule this at the end of the month or the beginning of the month. It’s a time to ask yourself “did I do my best last month?”, then put in place better plans and actions to make improvements

So, there’s the plan for being more productive.

Work on your 4 Things
When they’re done, do your consistent tasks
Do you planning/systems day/s
Each month, review the prior month and set up your next month to be even better!

Next, I’ll give you my view on the system presented and share with you one key ingredient that makes it work better.

How To Be More Productive, Part 1

I sat in on a call with Helen Raptoplous recently and she did a good job of extending Robert Plank’s productivity philosophy. Plank is a prodigious producer of content on the web so he has learned a thing or two about how to do more in as short a time as possible. Thought I’d share my notes from the call with you. This Part 1 on How To Be More Productive is Helen’s take on the Plank 4 Things Theory, with her own enhancements.

Be really clear on what you need to work on. Focus on only one priority project at a time
Start each day knowing what things need to be done. Have a list of four things that you can actually complete in one day. One of those things should relate to your highest priority project. The other three things are tasks that move you forward on your business (or job)
All actions and tasks need to be ‘bite-size’. Each one may take from 30-90 minutes to complete in order to move you forward. there may be smaller actions that only take 5-25 minutes – you can do these after you complete your 4 tasks
Don’t start a new project or entertain a new idea or get distracted while you’re doing one of your 4 tasks. Finish what you start – work on one thing to completion before starting the next thing. According to Jack Canfield, the average person has some 300 hours worth of projects in their head at any one time. We can’t achieve them all at once so advance one, then the next. Too many distractions are unproductive
if you feel you’re distracted by other things that need ot be done, take a short 5-10 minute break between your four tasks to catch up on things like checking email, making a phone call, grabbing a coffee etc.If an idea pops up while you’re doing one of your 4 things, just jot it down so it’s out of your head and you won’t forget it, then come back to it later.
Once you’ve finished your 4 tasks, you can call it a day and go play, or do some of the other things you want to get done.

In my next post, I’ll share the next plank in Helen’s productivity approach.

Productivity: Remember The Milk!

I am loving RTM.

I will admit it now. I am a list-maker. I am a BIG list-maker. I make mega lists and they get so big I get overwhelmed and get lost in the volume of what has to be done when.

Robert Plank has tried to get me to stick to the FOUR THINGS philosophy.

I’ve tried lots of to-do list systems, the egg-timer method, the pomadoro technique, Getting Things Done and all types of productivity systems like Franklin Covey, Priority Management and more.

Here’s what I know: ALL the systems work. It’s just that we (I) do not work the system! And hence we get out of control quickly, forget things, procrastinate, end up in a time crunch and don’t get enough done. You know the story.

Well, I rediscovered Remember The Milk after flirting with it years ago. And I think I am about to be a convert. Each time I use it I find a new little way it works and that makes it work so much better. Here’s what I love so far:

I can have different lists for different things. (I’m trying to keep these minimal so I don;t get crazy with 101 different lists)
I can move things between lists if I get it in the wrong one (select the task, select ‘more actions’ and select ‘move’, or get the Firefox add-in)
I can easily set times and dates things are due to be done
it automatically sorts my tasks into ‘today’ ‘tomorrow’ etc and I can sort it by a whole lot of other criteria such as priority
I can set up Firefox to automatically load my page on start by using LastPass to automatically log me in – that way I start the day with all my tasks for the day as the first thing I see.
I can view my tasks in offline mode so I don’t need to be online. I can also print them off if necessary
One of the best things is I loaded the iPhone app for RTM and now I have my tasks with me wherever I go and if I get an idea I can jot it into RTM and it will sync with my online task list
RTM emails me when a task is due so I won’t forget.

It’s like having a PA, really. So long as I set up the tasks and plug in the info I need I’m good to go! There are a whole lot of other cool things RTM can do as well. I’ve only scratched the surface. The trick is in making the system work for you without becoming a slave to the system. So far so good!

What I also like is that from memory, RTM was the brainchild of some savvy Aussie girl but don’t hold me to that memory chip – it goes back a while.

My Top 7 Productivity Tips

If you want to be more productive, you HAVE to find a system that makes sense to you and that you can work with.
Don’t quit on the system too soon.
Find a system that doesn’t rely on you to make it work (Once I enter the data, RTM takes over!)
When your system tells you to do something, do it, reschedule it, delegate it or delete it
When you schedule, don’t overfill your day or you’ll be forever deferring items
When setting up your tasks make them ‘complete-able’ tasks, ie things you can finish in one sitting – that may just be a chunk of a bigger task. Tip – thinking, planning and researching are not complete-able tasks! Draft outline of strategic plan is. Identify 5 topics for future blog posts is. Decide and purchase 2 new domain names is. Get the picture?
Schedule some time every day to review your tasks, add new ones and tick off the ‘done’ ones.

Be Productive, Not Busy

At times, we get caught up in the little things that we feel need to be done. Right now, for example, I am in clean up mode in my office. I can get so productive that I jump from one thing to the next and before I know it my space looks like a war zone, or a teenager’s bedroom!

In cleaning up I cam across this quote I plucked out of Tim Ferris’s 4-hour Work Week book:

“The size of your bank account doesn’t change by the number of hours you log in handling unimportant email or minutiae” Tim Ferris

Every now and then I think we all need to be reminded of the priorities.

It can be easy to focus on the easy things to do, like trolling through email and tidying up things so they are just so. In the end what matters is whether you are attending to the important things like client proposals, client reports, delivering value, publishing articles, building links, putting up sales letters, adding opt-ins, connecting the pieces together and maximising their utility.

So, every now and then stop and check in with yourself.

Is what I am working on right now building revenue now?
Is there something I am better spending my time on now?
Can I reschedule what I am doing so it fits better with my priorities?

Make sure you are productive, not just busy.

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