- How To Turn Your Ideas Into Reality
- By M.J. Ryan
Are you brimming with exciting
new ideas for your business, but short on implementation? Are
you frustrated by projects you'd like to get off the ground but
they still seem stuck? Ideas that stay in your head won't ever
generate income - it's IMPLEMENTATION that counts. So how do
you make sure that you follow through and act on your ideas?
Here are my top 6 tips for getting things done.
Keep a list.
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Henriette Anne Klauser author
of 'Write it down, make it happen' says that by articulating
your desires, you set in motion the wheels that will take you
to your goals. I'm regularly amazed at how things on my 'to do'
list get handled - even before I've had a chance to get started
on them. (Doesn't happen as often as I would like, but it DOES
happen!)
Determine the Next Action.
There's a good chance that your
list is a mixture of specific actions e.g. 'reconcile bank statement'
and projects that are actually dependent upon a series of actions
e.g. 'sort out the website'. Until you determine the next action
for each project, they will stay on your list as a guilt-inducing
immovable block. You'll get a yucky feeling every time you think
of it and 4 weeks from now you'll be no further forward. Determine
what the next action is for each project, then do it! |
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Don't try to do it all at once.
Different actions on your list
may require different levels of energy or mental concentration.
You'll get more done if you plan activities around YOUR best
hours. For example, I like to schedule calls with my team early
in the day when my concentration is higher. In the late afternoon
my creativity dips, so I try to schedule routine tasks and activities
that require little creative energy for that time of the day.
Experiment to discover your best hours and plan accordingly.
Delegate.
You DON'T have to do it all yourself.
Somewhere in the world there is someone who loves the jobs you
hate! Thanks to the power of the internet and sites like Elance.com
and Guru.com, there's never been a better time to hook up with
the perfect help - at great prices.
Determine which tasks you can't
do or don't want to do, then find someone to do them.
Hire a coach or mentor.
There's nothing like reporting
to a third party for keeping you accountable. The first time
I worked with a coach I was amazed at how my productivity soared.
Can't afford a coach? Why not 'buddy up' with a friend for weekly
accountability meetings?
Just make sure your friend is
someone who inspires you so your weekly meetings are motivating
- the last thing you want is some energy drainer who thinks your
accountability meetings are an excuse for a pity party! (Accountability
and networking are just two of the many features included in
my highly affordable Marketing Mastermind Group.)
Keep track.
What gets measured gets done.
Check in on your list regularly to track your progress and determine
next action items. Despite the best laid plans, sometimes life
can get in the way. Illness, family problems, unexpected set
backs can throw you off course for good, or merely be a temporary
blip, as long as you keep going!
(c) Bernadette Doyle, 2008. |
