0816_TOEFL-Test-and-Score-Manual-1997

228 ● 201 Great Ideas for Your Small Business
via an overnight service. So when did people start expecting a response
within seconds?
I believe we make really bad decisions because we don’t think before
responding to e-mail.
If you really want to improve personal productivity, set daily priorities.
Focus on the tasks that only you can perform. We all can fill up a day with
nonessential tasks, but why?
In the past, every boss had a secretary or an assistant. With cost cutting
and the advent personal computers and e-mail, business owners started
doing everything themselves. No wonder productivity plummeted and
blood pressure spiked.
If it’s possible to hire an assistant, even for a few hours a week, do it. My
incredible research assistant is virtual. Mavis lives in Virginia and I live in
Vermont, but through the magic of e-mail and phone, we communicate well.
She managed my interview schedule and conducted much of the
research for this book. I couldn’t have done it without her help.
If your assistant works in your office, empower him or her to keep the
space around you clear. You need to be protected from interruptions so you
can concentrate on your work.
Delegating is tough. Business owners tend to be control freaks and have
a tough time letting go. I admit, it took me years to stop micromanaging
projects I assigned to freelance consultants or employees. I wasted everyone’s
time by peering over shoulders and second-guessing their work. I
finally learned that asking for periodic progress reports builds trust as long
as you set reasonable deadlines and hold people accountable.
In addition to practical time management strategies, this chapter features
some great ideas for managing your life and time. We have to deal
with issues affecting both work and home because when you own a company,
you are the business.
GREAT
Get Organized—Right Now
The best way to maximize every minute is to be wellorganized.
If you are one of those people who insist
IDEA
you work better surrounded by chaos, stop fooling yourself.