Like most entrepreneurs, there are times you’re aware of  low client action, probably because you’ve become too invisible  in the comfort of your home office and day-to-day busyness, and you need to reintroduce more networking into your business strategy.  You feel you’ve been there done that; those large chicken luncheon network meetings weren’t for you.  Well here’s some ways I’ve found networking to be enjoyable and effective:

1.  Talk to the masters.  If you’re beating your head against a wall and forcing your hand at what isn’t fun or bringing results,  find someone in your industry who does it better to help you improve at it.  Take them for coffee and pick their brain for how they make it work.  Why reinvent the wheel.

2.  Stop networking in ways you don’t want to anymore.  For example, if  formal network business meetings aren’t for you, join a group that is doing something you like that gets you out of your home office, like a hiking group.

3.  Try saying yes to invitations when your automatic is to say no.  I was recently invited to join a female friend with her group of friends.  It meant traveling across town and staying out later than usual on a work night.  Heh – big stuff.  But it was at the Hollywood Bowl for goodness sake, and it included fireworks.  How stuck on invisible must I be to pass this up, right?!  I had no sound reason to say no, so I said yes, and am looking forward to the evening.

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Most successful entrepreneurs and women in management can’t afford to waste time during their work hours.  But they often don’t know what causes them to lose time in their day.  As both an Entrepreneur and one who manages my business, plus the service consultants and vendors who work for me, I know what you’re up against.  Here are some tips I’ve learned:

Bad Taste buy Flannel Pajamas release 1.  Loyalty to the task.  If you’re loyal to the work you’re doing you’re more likely to maintain your focus and get the job done.  Ever had something to do that you had 0 interest in.  Chances are you put it off, dragged it out or got by with minimum input.  All time wasters.  Not all projects are stimulating.  Find the kernel of interest and regain your commitment to the project and voila—you’ll get into it and get to work!

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download Rollin with the Nines movie 2.  Be well rested.  You can be unaware you’re distracted and causing delays in your work product because you simply need your rest and have unclear thinking.  Give up the late night movies (a habit I’m trying to break) and get those 8 hours of replenishing sleep.  Otherwise, you’re likely to waste time fixing mistakes or just lose time from slowing down.

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3.  Thinking you know. I’ve had times I’ve received partial info on a project and headed down the path, only to have to retrace my steps to pick up what I missed.  Don’t waste time backtracking.  Whenever you think you have all the info stop and ask yourself before proceeding, “What else?”  “What else?”  “What else?”   Don’t be stuck out in the field with a map to nowhere.

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You may not know what drains your energy, and hence your time.  See Ann McGee-Cooper’s book, You Don’t Have to Go Home Exhausted and take the Brain Dominance and Energy assessment.  Then work on reviving in your weaker areas or delegating those tasks where you lose energy.  You can also let coaching help you focus and manage your time effectively.  Call us for our Time Saver’s program, 2-45 min. sessions at our special rate for blog readers.  Act today!  310.645.2874.  CreatingAtWill.com

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