Do You Have a “To Don’t” List?

 

As a business owner you may struggle with the question of how

you will be able to get everything done.  This is especially

true for independent service professionals and solopreneurs.

There are only so many hours in the day, this isn’t going to

change.  So something else has to.

 

And if you spend almost all of your time working in your

business, you don’t have time for the rest of your life.  Isn’t

it true that some of the reasons you started your own business

were so you would have more freedom and fun?  If you are

stressed out and not able to get the right things done, then

your business isn’t serving you in the way you intended.

 

The answer is to only focus on the main drivers of your

business.  The kind of things that are the most important to

the growth of your business.  I know, I can hear you saying

that your business is different and you have dozens of

important things you must do.  The truth is that not everything

is equally important.  It’s really a matter of choice and you

are the one who can decide how you choose to spend your time.

 

In many cases, in your heart you may know what the most

important things are, but somehow loads of other things seem to

get in the way.  This is where a “to don’t” list can come in

handy.  So instead of a long list of things to do, try turning

it around and focusing on what you don’t want to do.  This will

help you stay focused on the right things by default.

 

To get started, make a list of all of the things you are going

to stop doing, things that are not directly connected to the

core of your business. 

 

Here are some examples of things for a “to don’t” list:

 

* Don’t schedule meetings with everyone who asks me

 

* Don’t check e-mail every 10 minutes

 

* Don’t spend hours thinking about small things like the best

font type

 

* Don’t get lost surfing the internet

 

* Don’t keep doing things manually that I can automate

 

Once you have your list ready, keep it in a place where you can

see it.  As you begin each day, think about what you want to

accomplish and remind yourself of what you will NOT be doing.

 

As you take action throughout the day, be aware of your

activities and check to see if something you are doing is on

your “to don’t” list – if it is, stop doing it immediately!

You can always add new things to your list as you become more

aware of how you spend your time.

 

After awhile, you will automatically notice a “to don’t” and

you will choose not to do it before you get lost in the

activity and wonder where the last hour(s) went.

 

You can also use your “to don’t” list as a way to set stronger

boundaries for yourself, and your business.  Saying no to

certain things makes the things you do choose to say ‘yes’ to,

that much more clear and powerful.

 

It’s fun to make a list of all of the things you don’t have to

do.  So why not get started and see how many things you can

identify that are not supporting the creation of a profitable

business.  You will be surprised at how much more you can get

done in less time, still grow your business, and have a life. 

 

© Stephanie Ward, 2007

 

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