Portland Biznik Solopreneurs Share Productivity Tips

On Wednesday, <a href="../events/yes-pecan-business-productivity-ice-cream-happy-hour">March 25, 2009</a>, eight Biznik independent entrepreneurs got together to share their best productivity tips at <a href="http://www.benjerry.com/pearldistrict/">Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop</a> in Portland, Oregon's Pearl District. What? Couldn't make it? Well, we can't bring you any ice cream via this article, but you're still in luck! We've collected all of the brilliant ideas to increase productivity and wish to share them with you here. Pick one or two that sound good to you and let us know how it's going for you. Feel free to contact the originator of the tip for further guidance or clarification. Even better, ask your question (or comment or suggestion) here in the comments section below so that everyone can benefit from the answer. Additionally, if you have a productivity tip not already listed, feel free to add yours in the comments so that we can all benefit from your wisdom. <a href="../members/sonia-connolly">Sonia Connolly</a> When you find yourself procrastinating on a task, take a few minutes to listen inside for the answers to two questions: <ol> <li>What is stopping you from beginning?</li> <li>What would help you begin?</li> </ol> Compassionately receive the information. More than likely, you will find it easier to move forward. <a href="../members/linda-moore-kurth">Linda Moore Kurth</a> <ol> <li>As you end your workday, leave an easy task partially undone. This will make it mentally easier for you to swing into action the next morning.</li> <li>Often it pays to contract with a (vetted) professional, rather than a "cheaper" amateur. Among other factors, a good professional can probably complete the task in a timely manner, and as they say, "Time is Money." The pros will help you reach your goal that much faster. </li> </ol> <a href="../members/roberta-maclaren">Roberta MacLaren</a> <ol> <li>Create a Mind Map of all of your marketing projects</li> <li>At the beginning of each week, create your weekly schedule. Mark on your schedule specific blocks of time to include projects, email, lunch, walking the dog, meetings, etc.</li> </ol> <a href="../members/linda-moore-kurth">Linda Moore Kurth</a> I have a strange problem-solving ritual. Whenever I come across a challenge and can't think of a solution, I'll take out a piece of paper and write this: <ol> <li>Challenge - list out the issue as clearly as you can.</li> <li>Action 1 - leave blank</li> <li>Action 2 - leave blank</li> <li>Action 3 - leave blank</li> <li>Timeline - usually a week</li> </ol> Then I will tuck the paper away and trust my mind to give me some ideas by the dateline stipulated. Letting my unconscious mind (before sleeping) run with the problem usually gives me pretty good ideas and somehow, even though the paper is hidden, my mind remains totally alert to it, drawing people, circumstances, and events to provide solutions. You'll be surprised at what you can come up with. Sure beat th other alternative of banging your head repeatedly against the wall. <a href="../members/aubrie-abbott">Aubrie Abbott</a> Find a location where you can focus for certain activities, such as reading. I gather all my reading to do (newsletters, blogs, articles, training materials) and do it at the <a href="http://www.redwingcoffee.com/">Redwing Cafe</a>. <a href="../members/michelle-gurule">Michelle Gurule</a> <ol> <li>Know your limits. Stop when you find yourself becoming fatigued.</li> <li>Think small. Work in bite-sized pieces (not worrying about the whole thing).</li> <li>Begin with the end in mind. Use the concept of "backwards engineering" or "UDI" to know what you need to do and how you're going to get there.</li> <li>"Sharpen the saw." Take breaks, give yourself rewards, do something else.</li> </ol> <a href="../members/tshombe-brown">Tshombe Brown</a> (from Egan Pagan's <a href="http://www.wakeupproductiveblog.com/2008/09/time-mgmt.php">Wake Up Productive Blog</a>) <ol> <li>Avoid multitasking (which is said to actually <a href="http://discovermagazine.com/2005/nov/emerging-technology/">lower your IQ in the moment of multitasking 10 points</a>, the equivalent of not sleeping fof 36 hours, or more than twice the impact of smoking marijuana)</li> <li>Work in focused blocks of uninterrupted time. Make sure this is "clean focus," on one thing at a time</li> <li>Follow your body's natural rhythm, and allow it "to pulse." Every 90 - 120 minutes, we experience a loss of energy. Rather than resorting to caffiene or cigarettes, allow your body to rest. After each period of "clean focus," take a "clean break" (completely unplug) to allow body to pulse, to relax, to renew itself.</li> <li>Identify and eliminate frictions (or, tolerations). A friction is anything physical, emotional, environmental, or psychological that is not working well, that results in inefficiencies. For example, a family member does something to upset you and it adversely affects focus. Or, you don't have a comfortable work space. Be quick to identify and remove these tolderations one by one.</li> <li>Create routines, including a "on ramp" and "off ramp" to/from the routine. Do the important things at the same time each day. Everything we do is a routine anyway, so why not deliberately create ones that support positive results instead of those that keep us distracted and scattered?</li> <li>Renew Yourself. Schedule time for FUN. Completely unplug on a regular basis for at least a day or two.</li> </ol> 2009-03-29T06:29:32Z

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portland-biznik-solopreneurs-share-productivity-tips

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In a world of interruptions, distractions, and information-overload, knowledge workers have an especially challenging time with productivity. Eight solopreneurs got together to share their favorite productivity producing tips, and now they share them with you.

Portland Biznik Solopreneurs Share Productivity Tips

2009-03-30T03:30:59Z