Don’t Just Sit on it - USE it
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The truth of the matter is, most people do absolutely nothing with the information they learn, so they don’t succeed with it. This is why things like Resell Rights products will never die. Say 3000 people purchase the same product, no number close to that will ever do anything with it.
This tip is not regarding rights products though, at least not directly.
It’s in reference to ANY & ALL information you collect…
DON’T be like the rest of them. When you read, hear, learn something, implement it!
Of course you don’t have to implement everything you read (unless you’re really that good), but you should at least make a habit of picking up the things you need to do or want to do and start a “To Do” list.
No, I do NOT mean something similar to the 17 to-do lists sitting in your to-do folder on your desktop, collecting virtual dust. (Been there, done that.) Believe me, I used to be just like the rest. I read everything, but I just never had time to do any of it - I was too busy reading and learning new stuff. (I’m getting much better!)
Here’s a little something you can do to give yourself that much needed kick in the hindquarters…
Grab yourself a whiteboard. It doesn’t need to be super big. Just big enough to write important details and maybe hang on the wall where you can see it each day.
Draw a table on the whiteboard with at least 3 columns and give them headings “Critical“, “Urgent” and “Important“. Or make up your own, you get the idea. You can add more columns if needed.
Insert items that are CRITICAL in the appropriate column. Items that are less critical are sorted in the other columns depending on their importance.
Then each morning write down new things that need to be done. As items are completed, remove them from your list. I actually prefer to cross them off with a line through it or an X. That way, I can see all I’ve done, instead of just seeing what is still there.
Each night before you go to sleep re-write your list of items not yet completed for the next day and re-evaluate which are more critical than others. This way you always have a running list of the most important and profitable activities you should be doing each day.
Tasks that make you money are ALWAYS critical.
Many times I’ve got up at odd hours of the night to add things to my lists, otherwise I forget about it in the morning. That’s of course on the nights that I do get to sleep 
This system WORKS. Try it. You will get more done and MAKE MORE MONEY! Isn’t that why we’re here?
To our mutual success!
Dennis
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Note: I try my very best to write as clear and concise as possible. Despite all efforts I may have missed something or not explained it in the best way possible. Please let me know if this article has helped your marketing efforts. If you have any questions regarding anything here, contact me anytime. Got a topic suggestion; something you’d like to see? Skribit and others will vote on it as well. Either way I would love to hear from you.
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Tags: Business mindset, information overload, procrastination
April 30th, 2008 at 6:42 pm
Sounds like a good idea.We are overwhelmed by all kinds of tasks, actually a lot of them are not that important. We really need to adapt an effective organizing system.
Eric’s last blog post..Save money and keep healthy
April 30th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
Very true Eric, do you have any “systems” in place to help?
I’m starting now to get a more organised as I am developing strategies for certain things I do on a regular basis…
Blogging on my own, commenting on others, forum marketing, etc.
April 30th, 2008 at 8:29 pm
I meant to say, that really IS a big ass fan! LOL
(For those of you scratching your head, read Eric’s blog)
May 1st, 2008 at 4:37 am
Hi Dennis,
funny to read your recommend a whiteboard, I just got one myself 2 days ago ROFL with the same thing in mind. I had a hard time focussing on 1 task. I would go from replying to comments on my blog to reading other blogs, commenting and just get lost in blogosphere while there were a lot of things to be done. So I have adapted the way I used to work after taking a break and step back for a week or so.
The break was really useful to break through certain habits (like constantly checking email, stats etc) so I could start with a clean to-do list.
Now I do use the whiteboard, but more importantly, to avoid getting sidetracked, I just set a timer and work 30 minutes on that task without allowing me to do other things meanwhile. Once the 30 minute slot is over, I either take a break or commit another 30 minutes to that same task or a new one, this way working focussed on the tasks that need to be done.
Playtime I leave for the end of the day and by playtime I mean commenting, reading blogs and navegating…
Mirjam’s last blog post..Google Pagerank Update!
May 1st, 2008 at 7:33 am
Good job Mirjam! Keep me updated on how the timer is workin’ out for ya
I’m starting to get more organised myself by building different strategies for things I do regularly…
Email, blog commenting, forum marketing, etc.,…all time suckers if out of control, but all necessary as well.
Commenting to me is not playtime but a huge promotional tool and link builder…just gotta be wise with it
May 1st, 2008 at 11:24 am
“Commenting to me is not playtime but a huge promotional tool and link builder…just gotta be wise with it
”
True… it can be a huge promotional tool and link builder, but I don´t feel very comfortable “using” somebody´s blog in order to get backlinks to my blog, which does make it a big time consumer when only commenting on posts I really feel like commenting on if you know what I mean… therefore it gets linked straight into “relaxing time” for me, while reading other blogs.
The timer is really a great tool, I have used it on different occasions in the past, specifically when I was facing “bigger projects” like for example putting everything in place after a move to another home and the task at hand seemed huge. It is so much easier to commit yourself to doing something with a lot of energy and focus during 30 minutes than a longer time and this way all tasks seem more managable
Mirjam’s last blog post..Google Pagerank Update!
May 1st, 2008 at 12:59 pm
Whoa, please don’t misunderstand. I don’t “use” blogs in that manner either. I never ever *force* comments which is what that would basically entail…..that would actually take much longer then letting, like you do.
The thing is, I never knew how much I actually had to say until I started doing it on a regular basis.
May 1st, 2008 at 10:15 pm
Hi Dennis. You are right. I sometimes can be very disorganized and take a lot of times to accomplish things.
When I get short on time, or am close to deadlines, somehow get some consciousness and do the things you are recommending (don’t have a whiteboard yet, but use notebooks and notepads).
I must aknowledge that every time I work on that way is when I achieve the most accomplishments.
Anthony’s last blog post..Site Upgrades and a Money-maker Plugin
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:29 am
Task prioritization is essential to overcoming procrastination. And the task prioritizing itself gives youthe feeling that you’re actually doing something to motivate yourself so it’s all good.
What people need to understand is that the things you want to do gives you the motivation within itself. For a blogger trying to earn money, making money gives motivation. That’s why newbie bloggers entering the MMO niche falls out so quickly.
And it’s the same reason why a blogger would prioritize a paid review more than a how-to guide., which by the way, benefits other people than himself/herself.
Just thought I’d share this.
Cheers!
Nadeesha Cabral’s last blog post..Monetize you blog with Clickbooth
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:17 am
Ok just for having your entrecard on my blog I stumbled you I faved all your blogs,I signed up for your readers.I bascially just slammed u and it took about 2 minutes-whats NEXT-
even tho marketing isnt my bag keep up the great work:)
John Sullivan’s last blog post..The Radical Blogger-
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:14 am
Good post. I have to work harder on my procrastination problems. I have good intentions but I have trouble making time for everything I need to do. Before I know it, it’s the end of the day and I haven’t gotten nearly as much accomplished as I would like. I think my procrastination is stemming from my difficulty with time management! Thanks for the tips — hopefully they’ll help! : ]
Jenna’s last blog post..In Search of the Truth
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:56 am
Anthony - we all do at times, but taking extra time to do things isn’t so bad as long as you are DOING.
Whiteboards, pen/paper, computer notepad, these are all good…it’s all personal preference. Whatever helps YOU is good.
Keep up the good work
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:03 am
Nadeesha - very well put! Prioritization is key, which is why so many people find it very useful to spend the first 30 minutes or so of each day, jotting down what needs to be done that day…or the last 30 minutes of each day, jotting down what needs to be done tomorrow.
I’ve never been able to use that exact method, as I always have things popping up here and there. I am getting much better though (slowly), by setting up particular strategies for things I do on a regular basis.
I love the paid review-how to guide analogy as it is 100% correct.
The review may bring in a few bucks immediately, but the guide can bring you visitors/subscribers/customers, for months or years onward!
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:08 am
LOL John - thank you thank you thank you!
What’s next IS the big question, and there is a HUGE answer coming in the very near future…y’all stay tuned now
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:21 am
Jenna - I know exactly how you feel.
As I began telling Nadeesha, see if what I’m starting to do may work for you…
Think about anything that you do or want to do on a REGULAR basis…..blog on your own blog, read/comment on others, do the social network thing, whatever it may be.
Set yourself specific days/times to do each one…as specific as possible and try your damnedest to STICK TO IT,
Really, sit and think on it. Write it down where you can see it at all times. Get yourself a timer if that will help…there are all kinds of downloads for this as well, lots of them free - ask around.
Do this for ONE MONTH and I’m certain that these things will just become second nature. You’ll soon realize that the *other stuff* (irregular but still necessary) will begin to automatically fall into there own places in time.
May 2nd, 2008 at 9:25 am
Remember all, your downtime is also of utmost importance to save sanity among other things…don’t work from 6am till midnight everyday (like me lol) and try as hard as you can to take at least ONE FULL DAY OFF per week.
Trust me on this. Your business is going nowhere…take a day or 2 or a week here and there, your business will be right where you left it, and you will be more refreshed and revitalised to kick back in
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
hey dennis,
I always write my list of items on a piece of paper. For me I’m reducing my frequency on reading blogs and checking email. This really takes up most of my time. Need some self-discipline to it done
Duncan’s last blog post..Are E-Books Worth My Time?
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:13 pm
Hey Duncan, great to see ya here!
Self-discipline is the thing there for sure. Since both are pretty conducive to my marketing I have neither reduced, nor increased either (much) but have set up time strategies instead.
It’s no longer a waste of my time if “that’s what I should be doing at the time”