| We're all guilty of doing it, procrastinating when we | | | | tools they need and the big budget. Forget about being |
| should really be doing something else more important. | | | | the perfect business or having ideal conditions and |
| Procrastination kills progress for people who fall into a | | | | work with what you have now and use your strengths |
| cycle of spending days, weeks and even months | | | | to leverage growth. When you starting out you are |
| staying "busy" without actually doing any real business | | | | entitled to not be perfect. Just don't take imperfections |
| or work.This time is spent usually doing activities that | | | | too far otherwise your customers will flee in mass. |
| don't further the growth of your business, browsing | | | | Just because you're the one-man show in you're |
| forums and checking email fall into this category. It's | | | | bedroom doesn't mean you have to appear that way |
| easier to stay in your mental comfort zone or "busy" | | | | to the public.5. Believe in Yourself and Your Business |
| rather than networking, applying those SEO techniques | | | | This may sound cheesy, but if you don't believe in |
| you learned yesterday or actually paying for your first | | | | your business how do your expect customers or |
| advertisement.To get yourself out of spinning around in | | | | anyone else to either? You need to give a good |
| circles here are a few things you can do to move | | | | impression about your business. It all starts with |
| forward to get some real work done:1. Make a To Do | | | | changing the way you talk about it.Talk about your |
| List | | | | company like it already is a business, not like it will be a |
| Make a list of all the things you need to get done | | | | company some day, it seems you're not really |
| today, tomorrow this week, next week and within the | | | | committed to what you're doing to people you relate |
| month. As you go through the list getting things done | | | | this information too. What you're also doing to yourself |
| you'll find yourself adding more things to the list of | | | | subconsciously is you are mentally conditioning yourself |
| things to do and this will get you moving forward | | | | to treat it as a part time hobby. A Business is a |
| towards your end of the month goal. Keep this list | | | | business not a hobby.Instead of saying "I'm kinda |
| around your work area so it is ready at hand and | | | | starting my own business" to family or friends say "I |
| visible to remind you of the important tasks to be done. | | | | own my own business," this shows them you're really |
| Be sure to jot down ideas when they occur to you | | | | serious about what you're doing and it also comes in |
| also.2. Keep Your Steps Small | | | | handy to stop the naysayer's and skeptics from telling |
| It can be overwhelming when you look at your | | | | you to "get a real job."6. Look Ahead to the Future |
| month's goal and don't know how you're going to | | | | A good way to see if what you're doing right now is |
| reach them . You need a plan of action to bridge the | | | | going to get you to your end of the month goal is to |
| connection. It is important to keep your steps small in | | | | look at what you're doing right now. Will reading email |
| the beginning so you can reach your goals. For | | | | get you there? Probably not. Stop reading email, don't |
| example if you want to get up a flight of stairs you | | | | go to fourms and chat; do some serious work which |
| need to walk up the staircase one step at a time. If | | | | won't waste valuable time and more importantly get |
| you try to jump up them all at once to get to the | | | | you moving forward toward your goals.7. Remember |
| landing you're going to hurt yourself. Keep these tasks | | | | Your Purpose |
| small and manageable so you'll be able to get them | | | | When you look at the larger tasks you still have to do |
| done and move on to the next one. Eventually you will | | | | and would rather eat glass than do them, remind |
| reach your goal, maybe even surpass it.3. Get That | | | | yourself of your initial dreams you had on the very first |
| First Customer | | | | day you started out on the long road. What purpose is |
| No matter what business you're in or whether you do | | | | this work serving you? What dreams did you have for |
| business online or offline, without customers you don't | | | | yourself? What do you want? Do you want to be |
| have a business. Finding those first few customers is | | | | financially free? Travel the world? Just have more |
| very challenging. A first customer doesn't have to be a | | | | time to spend with the kids? The purpose of your |
| stranger it can be a friend or family member. Give that | | | | work is to turn those dreams into reality.8. Finally, buddy |
| friend or family member who needs what you have to | | | | up with a friend to help you get the work done or get |
| offer a discount. If they like your business that friend or | | | | someone who will motivate you when you need it. |
| family member will eventually recommend your | | | | You can even form a joint venture to work with |
| business to someone they know who needs what you | | | | someone. If you don't have someone who wants to |
| have to offer. Friends and family also make great | | | | team up with you, online forums are a good alternative. |
| advertisers for your business.But don't wait for that | | | | Find a fourm, which deals with other like minded people |
| friend or family member to spread the word about | | | | and you will learn a lot. Seek out a member or two to |
| how great your business is, use part of their payment | | | | partner up with, as they say two minds are better than |
| to advertise online or offline (preferably both). Cheap | | | | one.By putting these 8 methods to action you will be |
| methods do exist so don't spend a small fortune | | | | far beyond the busy work stage.Elliot Hanson is an |
| advertising.4. Forget about Being Perfect | | | | entrepreneur and educator whose perspectives are |
| For new small business it's hard to move past the | | | | changing the way people think about money and life. |
| fact that they aren't the perfect business with all the | | | | |