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Author: Katrina Sawa

Are you a Worker Bee?

In my business, I am constantly redefining myself, my services and my products in order to stay ahead of or at least keep up with the ever changing industry of marketing. If I don't bring fresh new ideas and material to my clients and contacts on an ongoing basis, then someone else will.

To stay at the forefront, I spend a significant amount of my time working "on" my business, not just "in" it. That means, instead of always consulting with clients, I lock myself up with my computer and write up my ideas, products, figure out how to market them, get them on my website or decide how to offer them to my clients.

I wanted to bring this to your attention this week because I see hundreds of small business owners and entrepreneurs each month who are struggling to "get it all done".

You know what I mean.

What I've found is that most entrepreneurs are not taking the time to work "on" their businesses, only struggle and stress out "in" it.

These same entrepreneurs are not open to learning new techniques about marketing, learning new industry standards, keeping their website and marketing materials current or even get out and meet new people to build relationships with to further their business. Or it may be that they're open to it but they don't see it as a necessary enough thing to fit into their schedule.

Hopefully this doesn't sound familiar to you. But if it does....

I'm here to tell you I've seen a large percentage of those businesses go OUT OF BUSINESS by not focusing on the BIG PICTURE.

We all know the stats on how many businesses go out of business these days but with all the great info out there now (including my own resources - some paid, some FR.EE), it boggles my mind why they don't do something about this.

Here are some action steps you can take to work more "ON" your business, easily and immediately:

1. Schedule 1 day each month as "Creative" Day
This day you will do nothing but sit and write down all the ideas that come to mind about how you can update or increase your business, who you know that you can work with on joint ventures, etc.

2. Schedule another day each month as "Implement" Day
This day you will do nothing but put those ideas into action - updating the text on your websites, writing and sending out a press release, planning your next workshop with flyer development, etc.

3. Contact 2-5 other professionals
These are people that you trust and ask them their perception of your business and ask them for ideas or feedback on what you could do to update it, freshen it up, revise it, change it or add to it

There is a pretty good article I recently read on Entrepreneur.com that might also help with your time management (this is my biggest challenge as well, you're not alone). It's "8 Ways to Keep Your Homebased Business Running Smoothly - If you're well on your way to homebased business success, these management tips will help you stay on top of your game." Read the article now. http://www.entrepreneur.com/homebasedbiz/worklifebalance/article76888.html

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