Time management strategies for coaches, consultants, freelancers, and other independent service providers. Be more productive when you apply time saving tips and tools. http://tanyasmithonline.com.
2. Setting Your Business Goals
Where do you see yourself in 5-10
years?
Look at the ‘big picture’
Goals are the road map to success
Goals can be changed as you grow
in business
Think big!
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
3. Setting Your Business Goals
Long Term Goals – your biggest
dreams
Medium Term Goals – steps necessary
to reach your Long Term Goals
Short Term Goals – smaller steps
necessary to reach your Medium Term
Goals
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
4. Time Management for Solo Service Providers
Long
Term
Medium
Goals
Short Term
Goals
5. Setting Your Business Goals
Create multiple Medium & Short
Term Goals
There’s no straight path to success
Combine projects or strategies to
reach Long Term Goals quicker
Use a ‘mind map’ or other visual
representation as a reminder
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
6. Creating a Mind Map
Done on the computer
Start with a central Long Term Goal
Break that goal into medium &
short term goals
Serves as a visual reminder or road
map to your Long Term Goal
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
8. Mind Map Software
Free Mind & Mind Meister are
free
xMind & Mind Jet are paid
(I use Xmind)
Each program has different
features & capabilities
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
9. Making S.M.A.R.T. Goals
S = specific
Don’t be vague; write very specific
goals
M = measureable
Give yourself a deadline for meeting
goals or track how much your profits
increase
A = attainable
Do you have the tools to reach these
goals?
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
10. Making S.M.A.R.T. Goals
R = relevant or realistic
Do your goals relate to each other?
Are your timetables realistic without
working 24 hour days?
T = time sensitive
Always make a deadline for yourself;
open-ended goals give you too many
excuses to procrastinate
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
11. Make a Plan
Prioritize your Medium goals
Break those down into smaller,
short term goals
Use an outline to prioritize what
steps have to happen and when
Cross off each item as it’s
completed
Delegate tasks when you’re sick or
have an emergency
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
12. Organizing Apps for Your
Phone
Make lists on your smart phone with
Toodledo, Todoist, Remember the
Milk & Wunderlist
Create ‘to do’ lists & schedule
deadlines with Trello
Keep your research for each project
handy with Evernote
Be specific with your daily action tasks
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
13. Expect the Unexpected
Whatever CAN go wrong WILL go
wrong when working from home!
Have a backup plan – babysitters,
repair service phone numbers, work
at night
Learn to be more flexible & less
rigid in your routine
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
14. Eliminate Distractions
Avoid multitasking – focus on one
job or client at a time
Close your office door
Ignore housework during work hours
Turn off your telephone
Set a specific time of day to answer
emails & return phone calls
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
15. Eliminate Distractions
Limit social media usage
Make a social media plan to avoid
wasting time
Use Hoot Suite to automate & schedule
social media posts
Use Leech Block to block off
distracting websites during work hours
Work from library or coffee shop for
change of scenery
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
16. Know When You Do Your Best
Work
When are you most awake?
Do you have kids to get to school?
Do you need 12 cups of coffee to
get going?
Are you a night owl?
When do you go to bed?
When do you have the most energy?
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
17. Know When You Do Your Best
Work
Consider these questions when
recording podcasts or videos
The most energy when recording =
better quality & more interesting
Rearrange work hours to suit your
energy levels
Post business hours for clients &
customers
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
18. Stop Being Your Own Worst Critic
No one is perfect – don’t let that stop
you from moving toward your goals
Be gracious when accepting a
compliment – don’t diminish your skills
or talents
Take pride in your small
accomplishments – they all add up to
your main goals
Give yourself small rewards for reaching
certain milestones
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
19. Rebooting Your Brain
Learn to unplug a little each day
Start by turning off your cell phone
& computer by dinnertime
Unplug for the weekends
Unplug for a week-long vacation
Spend more time with family &
friends
Enjoy a favorite hobby
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
20. Rebooting Your Brain
Take multiple breaks during the day
Go for a walk
Play with your dog
Have lunch with a friend
Meditate or do yoga
Save your eyesight by taking many
breaks
You’ll have a fresh & new
perspective when you return from
your break
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
21. There’s An App For That!
Freedom – blocks you from the
internet during your predetermined
time frame
Anti Social – blocks you from social
media sites during your
predetermined time frame
Cold Turkey or Leech Block – block
favorite websites during work hours
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
22. Track Your Results
How much time do you spend
working?
How much other time do you spend
at the computer?
How much money do you make each
month?
Remember…time is money so don’t
waste a single minute!
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
23. Track Your Results
Use Slife to create timesheets for
clients & measure how you use your
time every day
RescueTime tracks computer
activity so you can spot
inefficiencies during your day
Cut out the tasks or websites that
aren’t making you money – or
delegate to a VA
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
24. Outsourcing: Increase
Productivity & Profits
Outsourcing – hiring an independent
contractor to handle certain tasks
Don’t have to pay their taxes or
give them office space
Simply send them the info they
need to get the job done
Independent contractors are
responsible for their own training
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
25. Increasing Productivity
Learning something new is a slow
process
More than 1 person working on the
job = quicker results
Hire an expert who has training
already
You can focus on another aspect of
the project
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
26. Increasing Profits
Save money on specialized
computer software or other tools
You’re not earning money during
the learning process
You may incur more charges to fix
the task than if you had hired an
expert in the first place
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
27. Where to Find Freelancers
Elance – experts bid on your job &
you pay when satisfied
Fiverr – experts post jobs online, all
for $5
99designs – design experts compete
for your job
Ask friends for referrals
Check out my class on Udemy for
help: http://udemy.com/outsource-
your-service-business
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
28. Revisit Your Plan Often
Nothing is set in stone
Focus & passions change over time
Revisit your plan quarterly or
monthly to confirm all your goals
are aligned properly
Keep your goals handy in your
office for quick reference
This is your road map to success
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
29. For More Great Resources to Get
More Influence & Get More Done
Online:
Time Management for Solo Service Providers
Want to know more about online business
strategies and get connected on social?
www.About.me/TanyaSmith