7 Winning Ways to Work Productively From Home
By lorraine | June 23, 2009
One of my clients used to run his own successful accounting practice from home. With pre-school children and trying to grow his business, he and his wife used to get very frustrated with the fact that they could never remove themselves from the workplace. They felt their business totally overwhelmed them and caused many challenges which affected their personal relationships.
We were able to identify exactly where their time was being spent and found that there were simple ways they could do more in their growing business and still have a life. Three years later with the growth of their practice they have had to move their business to new premises.
Here are seven ways you can successfully work from home and enjoy the benefits...
ESTABLISH A ROUTINE
Structure your day so that it is both purposeful and productive. Decide on a starting and finishing time for your day; allow for breaks so that you work smarter, not harder. Doing this will also allow you to better differentiate between work and home, and will encourage you to be more professional.
FOCUS ON YOUR STRENGTHS, OUTSOURCE YOUR WEAKNESSES
Spend the maximum amount of time working on the parts of your business that you are best at. If your billable time is worth $200 an hour, then make sure you spend most of your time on the activities that will produce that for you.
If you don’t want to employ an administrative assistant, invest in a virtual assistant who works off-site (see www.asecretary.com.au). Avoid filling up your day with non-productive activities. Invest your time and money into the right areas of your business; don’t just keep yourself busy.
ORGANISE YOUR ENVIRONMENT
Have the right tools and systems to work with - an appropriate chair, desk, computer, filing system. This will make you look, feel and act more professionally. In addition, if a client comes to your home, your professionalism will inspire confidence in you.
DECLUTTER THE CLUTTER
A messy working environment which forces you to be continuously spending valuable time searching for things, whether files and emails on the computer or documents in filing cabinets and cupboards, cumulatively wastes hours a day. In fact The Wall Street Journal found that the average white collar worker spends 6 weeks a year looking for things around the office! Clutter is distracting and causes stress, and it is the primary enemy of productivity.
LEARN TO SAY ‘NO’
Inform your family and friends of your working hours and that because you’re working from home doesn’t mean you’re ‘available’. If you were in a corporate office, you would not allow your friends to drop by. Enforce these same rules at your office at home.
NETWORK TO EXPAND YOUR BUSINESS AND YOUR MIND
Join local networking groups to meet other like-minded business people. Share knowledge and discover new ways of doing things. Check out your local council and chamber of commerce. Enquire about active small business networks. Join your own trade association and share ideas.
An organised business referral group like BNI can also be of enormous benefit to the home based business owner.
And without leaving home you can become part of The Productivity Coaching Club to stimulate your brain and keep you up-to-date in how to run your business more effectively and improve your lifestyle.
TAKE TIME OUT FOR YOU
It can be easy to lose yourself in your work. Take time to ’smell the roses’ and to make human contact. When I’m spending the day working from home, I always go out for a walk at lunch-time. Plan time to have coffee or lunch with a friend or colleague once a week. Go for a walk every day. Have a weekly or fortnightly massage. Visit the gym more often.
The Final Word
These ideas are simple… and guess what? It’s generally the simple ideas when acted upon consistently that will make a dramatic impact overall in your business and your life. You’ll feel happier and more fulfilled. You’ll also discover extra time in the day that you never had before.
Topics: Getting Organized, Home Based Business, Life/Work Balance, Personal Effectiveness, Small Business Management, Success Strategies, Time Management | No Comments »
Time Speeds By
By lorraine | June 21, 2009
Hi, 
You know when you’re getting old when your youngest child attends their Year 11 formal!
The time finally arrived this week…and here is my ‘baby’.
I told him to ’smile’ for the photo and this was the result.
This is one of those milestones in life that I’ll always remember.
Have a great week!
Lorraine Pirihi
‘The Productivity Queen’
Topics: Life/Work Balance, Personal Development, Personal Effectiveness, Uncategorized | No Comments »
How to Stop Doing It All Yourself
By lorraine | June 16, 2009
Before coming to me for coaching, a client of mine was so sick and tired of the long hours he had been working for years that he wanted to get out of his business.
We found he was spending 20 hours a week on general paperwork that could easily be done by an administrative assistant. Since this has happened he is enjoying his business and focusing on business growth.
If you want to grow your business and also have free time, you need help. When you first start out in business, you will no doubt do most things yourself, yet to continue trying to keep control of every task that needs doing by handling everything yourself, you’ll never be able to grow your business successfully. You’ll run out of time, burn yourself out and put a lid on your profits. You cannot be an expert in all areas.
There are many ways you can get help but first you need to be clear as to what you need done otherwise you can waste more time and money.
Take stock of where you are now and see which areas outlined below you can outsource so that you can spend your time on what you are good at, allowing you to free up your time to focus on the growth of your business:
1. Bookkeeping
2. Website maintenance
3. Design
4. Marketing
5. Childcare
6. Printing
7. Cleaning
8. Secretarial
9. Telemarketing
The Final Word
Did you know you can find assistance from as little as $50 a day?
Just click here.
Of course you can always say ‘I can’t afford it’, but you can’t afford not to.
Not sure of EXACTLY how to get the help you need and crank up your income? Then make sure you get yourself a copy of ‘The Productivity and Profit Homestudy System’ which includes everything you need to know to free up your time, organise your systems, master your marketing so you make much more money and have a life!
Topics: Delegating, People Management, Personal Development, Personal Effectiveness, Productivity Club, Small Business Management, Time Management | No Comments »
Benefits of Networking
By lorraine | June 15, 2009
Hi,
Received an invite to attend the ‘Women in League’ pre ‘State of Origin’ event this week. And of course, I had plenty of business cards with me.
Also attended the game against Queensland and New South Wales.
Got to network with the C.E.O.of the Australian Rugby League, Geoff Carr. He looks more like a basketballer or runner, than a Rugby League player.
Also spent some time with Matt Cross and Geoff Lima, players from The Melbourne Storm. Tia (my daughter) attended as well and we took some great photos…check them out here.
Topics: Meetings, marketing | No Comments »
How to Crank up Your Income by Restructuring Your Day
By lorraine | June 9, 2009
Do you find it frustrating knowing that there must be a better way to manage your time, yet you can’t seem to pinpoint exactly what you need to do? Well here’s a simple secret that could easily save you a couple of hours a day.
I’ve been coaching Greg for only a couple of months and in that time he has made big changes in his business and his life by actioning what he has learned.Now that he is planning his working day he’s found he has easily saved 2 hours a day. That’s 10 hours in a basic working week or, in other words, he has gained an additional day a week!
Considering his time is worth $120 an hour, he now has the opportunity to increase his income by $1200 a week if you look at it in a time for money scenario. Alternatively he can use that spare day to enjoy more personal time with his family and/or working on his business.
So what has Greg done differently? Instead of asking clients and prospects when is it convenient to see them, he informs people he is only available at certain times of the day. For him it’s in the afternoon. That way he avoids peak hour traffic and has the mornings free to work on his business.
Prior to coaching he wouldn’t plan his time and just ‘went with the flow’. Unfortunately if you run your business and your life by ‘going with the flow’, the flow could end up anywhere and before you know it your whole day, week, month, year or life can pass you by.
The Final Word
Small changes can make a massive impact overall in your business and your life. Look at how you can restructure your day so you too can free up more time to spend on what’s really important to you, instead of saying ‘I’m too busy” or “I don’t have much time”. You can always make the time for what’s most important to you.
Not sure of EXACTLY how to restructure your day and crank up your income? Then make sure you get yourself a copy of ‘The Productivity and Profit Homestudy System’ which includes everything you need to know to free up your time, organise your systems, master your marketing so you make much more money and have a life!
Topics: Getting Organized, Home Based Business, Personal Effectiveness, Small Business Management, Time Management | No Comments »
A Note from Lorraine
By lorraine | June 9, 2009
Hi, 
Now that I’m the Team Co-ordinator for my son’s football team, Moorabbin Rams Junior Rugby League Club, I felt it was necessary to upgrade my first aid skills last weekend… and I’m so glad I did.
I’ll definitely be putting these skills to practical use at the next game.
That’s me with Len Mason, National Development Officer for Melbourne Storm Development who ran the course. I had to grab hold of him before he ran off. He’s like an energiser bunny.
My daughter Tia set up the Club’s Facebook Page. She’s a very clever girl and I can proudly say she takes after her mother. You can see some of her creations at http://misstiaproductions.blogspot.com/
Have a great week!
‘The Productivity Queen’
Topics: Coaching, Getting Organized, Personal Effectiveness | No Comments »
How to Have a Highly Productive and Profitable Team
By lorraine | June 2, 2009
Before you start complaining that your team are causing you headaches and not performing the way you want, take a look at yourself first.
Gary who runs a plumbing business has 5 staff. He was always complaining that they were lazy, didn’t use their initiative and would take advantage of him.
We had Gary fill in our ‘Productivity and Leadership Profile’. This process allows each team member to anonymously answer questions about how they see Gary in many areas including his leadership abilities, communication, organisation, etc. The process also allows Gary to answer the same questions on how he sees himself.
It turned out that Gary thought he was a good boss because he was easy to get along with. However the feedback from his team showed that he wasn’t a good leader. The guys needed clear direction… someone to follow. They required a system, guidelines to work within and regular follow-up. They never had a team meeting to discuss what was working well and how to improve things. The only time a meeting was called was when there was a customer complaint.
Before I share these tips with you, be aware that it is extremely important to hire the right type of people for your business in the first place. Many employers have the ‘hire and hope’ mentality. Because of their lack of time and poor planning, they often hire someone when they are desperate. After the person has been hired the employer hopes they work out.
1. Regular Performance and Incentive Reviews
Measure your team’s achievements on a regular basis. Formally appraise the performance of each individual twice a year. Salary increases, bonuses and incentives should be based on these performance reviews.
2. Weekly Team Meetings
Learn how to run an effective meeting and have these weekly with your team. Have a set time each week. Ensure the agenda allows for their input.
3. Invest Time and Money Into Your Team
Invest regularly in their development, both technical and non-technical skills. The new-found knowledge can be extremely valuable to your business. By developing your people, they will also be more motivated.
4. Develop Your Own Leadership Skills
Turn yourself into a Masterful Manager. There are many skills required to be an effective manager… delegation, organisation and communication, etc. Participating in specific programs such as our Masterful Manager’s Intensive Coaching Program will turn you into a powerful leader that gets results and maintains a happy, productive and high performing team.
5. Free Up Your Time
Stop with the ‘busyness’. Get organised so you can invest the time and energy to attract and retain a high performing team. If you don’t know how, then make sure you get a copy of our ‘Productivity and Profit Homestudy System’.don’t worry… most people haven’t got a clue!
The Final Word
Looking after the people in your business is vital to ensure its ongoing success… whatever ’success’ means to you. A happy, skilled and motivated team (if managed effectively), will have a huge impact on your productivity and profits, not to mention your stress levels.
Not sure of EXACTLY how to manage and retain a high performing team? Then make sure you get yourself a copy of ‘The Productivity and Profit Homestudy System’ which includes everything you need to know to free up your time, organise your systems, master your marketing so you make much more money and have a life! It also includes a special bonus interview and transcript ‘The Secrets to Managing and Retaining Employees’.
Topics: Getting Organized, Home Based Business, Meetings, People Management, Small Business Management | No Comments »
How to Get Your Rear Into Gear For the End of the Financial Year
By lorraine | June 2, 2009
With the end of the tax year fast approaching, it’s With the end of of the financial year fast approaching, now is an ideal time to focus on your personal affairs. I’m always amazed that so many business owners and entrepreneurs spend most of their time consumed by their business and totally neglect their personal affairs.
Many of my clients want to get their business organised yet often admit that their personal affairs are in chaos. They have no systems for handling this most important area. The household paperwork is disorganised… piled up in a corner of the house… somewhere. They have no idea where they spend their money and often have no plan for their financial future.
Sure they are busy in their business yet they can lose focus as to why they are doing what they do in the first place… and generally that is to make more money so they can have more choices in life. Whether that be to have more time with their family, make a difference in the world or to have a better lifestyle. Of course, you do want to enjoy what you do otherwise you won’t be happy in the process.
If you do not organise your personal life, you may not have much of a future to look forward to.Avoid the excuses that you are too tired, don’t have the time, and don’t know how.
Here are several tips to get you started:
#1 Set up a filing system to store your paperwork.
#2 File your papers in categories: Bank, Car, Children, Home, Medical, Insurance, Investment, Tax, Utilities etc.
#3 Organise direct debits for regular bills.
#4 Read, sort and action your snail and e-mail daily. This will avoid a big build-up.
#5 Make a note in your diary when you need to remember to do things.
#6 Check your bank accounts daily or weekly via phone or the Internet to keep tabs on your money.
#7 Allocate a particular day and time each week to review your personal affairs.
#8 Get educated - attend seminars, read books and listen to information on wealth creation. Having knowledge will make it easier to make better decisions and provide you with the confidence to take action.
#9 Be pro-active and take responsibiity. Don’t rely on other people to advise you what to do. Do not wait for your accountant financial advisor or anyone else for that matter to come up with the solutions. You need to have the knowledge to ask the right questions so you can make the best decisions for you and your family.
THE FINAL WORD
If you take control of your personal affairs you will have peace of mind and know that you are making things happen. It’s nearly six months since you probably made those New Year’s Resolutions. Let me ask you; was one of those goals related to money in some way? Have you moved forward, stagnated or gone backwards?
You must learn how to manage your time effectively and get organised enabling you to focus on the highest priorities in your life, otherwise a year from now you could still be no further ahead. Some people make things happen, others watch things happen and others wonder what happened. What do you choose to do?
If you’re not sure how to get your business organised so you free up your time, make more money and have a life, then I urge you to take action and invest in a proven step-by-step system that will get you big results.Get a copy of “The Productivity and Profit Home Study System TM“.
You can read the success stories and get your own copy at www.productivityqueen.com/profit.html (why be time poor and struggle in your business, when you can easily get much more done, make more money and have time off?)
Got a comment about this article? Share your story with us at our Small Business Blog.
Topics: Financials, Getting Organized | No Comments »
Networking Pays Off
By lorraine | May 24, 2009
Hi,
I’ve been out and about this week.
I attended 2 events, one was to learn how to make the most of my database and the other was on personal development and investing.
Both events were very beneficial and it really does pay off to make the effort and get out there.
That’s me with Jenny Leather who’ll be attending my event this week “Ramp Up Your Revenue Without Working Any Harder” which is nearly sold out!
Jenny has studied with Bob Proctor and Robert Kiyosaki and will be presenting her own workshop in June“Reclaim Your Power”.
Have a great week!
‘The Productivity Queen’
Topics: Coaching, Getting Organized, Personal Development, Personal Effectiveness, Small Business Management, Success Strategies | No Comments »
How to Waste Time and Lose Money Networking
By lorraine | May 19, 2009
Networking is a very important marketing component for most businesses, yet so many people just don’t seem to understand that to make it work there is a crucial step that must be done right…the follow-up.
At a recent event I attended I went up to the presenter afterwards and said that I was very interested in what they were offering and could they call me the following day.The presenter replied ” Absolutely. We’ll be in touch tomorrow”. Three weeks later and nothing has happened! What a waste of an opportunity. I won’t be investing any money with this company.
Most events, business meetings, seminars etc. where I’ve met some great people…guess what? 99% of them never follow up afterwards. Not even a ‘Great to meet you’ email or phone call.
If you’re in business and you want to maximise your time and money, learn how to network effectively and follow up! It’s so simple yet most people don’t do it. If you want to fast-track your results I’d recommend “How to Profit From Networking”
Also make sure you follow these networking basics:
1. Always have your business cards with you.
2. Block time in your diary to follow up from every event within 24-48 hours.
3. Add all business cards to your database and keep detailed records of all conversations and communications
4. Have a way to stay in touch with people ie. an ezine, newsletter, cards etc.
5. Keep doing the basics… they work.
The Final Word
You cannot afford to miss these golden opportunities unless you don’t need to make any more money and have plenty of time on your hands! There’s huge opportunity in networking. but you need to know how to do it properly to get long-term results.
If you’re not sure what how to get your systems right to maximise your networking opportunities and avoid letting money slip through your fingers, then I urge you to take action and invest in a proven step-by-step system that will get you big results. Get a copy of “The Productivity and Profit Home Study System TM“. It includes everything you need to know to free up your time so you can take better care of yourself, organise your systems and master your marketing so you make much more money and get a life!
Topics: Meetings, Small Business Management, Success Strategies, marketing | No Comments »