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Chapter Two: Focus, focus, focus

I am going through what is one of the busiest times of my life right now.

All a good busy... but something I have struggled with... as do many entrepreneurs I know.

How do you focus when new opportunities come rushing at you at break-neck speed?

Recently, I have started working with a very large land developer and estate home builder. A beautiful lake front community that my company will be running new marketing campaigns to help them sell out phases 2 through 6.

On top of that, 3 of our largest clients ever have now signed up and are ready to roll with new marketing initiatives.

So how do I, and anyone else who all of a sudden becomes swamped with new work, handle this?

Focus.

First thing is first... you need a plan.

1. Write down all of the projects you have to work on.

2. Estimate how much time per week each project will take

3. Add 50% to each of those numbers – reality shows that it almost always takes longer than we initially think

4. Now add up all the numbers – and divide by 5 or 6 days -you now have the number of hours a week you will have to work to keep on top of it all

...scared yet?

5. Next, start looking at what other distractions are on your plate – email, phone calls, distractions, newsletters -and start saying NO to things. You MUST stop doing the things that won't help you be productive on your big projects.

With 4 new companies needing 4 new marketing campaigns – I have a ton of work to do...

And reading 100 ezines a week won't help me get things done.

Answering silly emails is another time waster

Surfing the net – got to go

Answering the phone every time it rings is a serious distraction

Sleep – ah, who needs it? (Kidding)

Need to factor in family time – make quality time for it

Not an easy task for anyone – but we are all faced with it. The question is – how will you deal with it?

Create your plan, then stick to your guns. Get used to saying no, and get used to firing troublesome clients.

And get to work!