As a business owner, have you ever gotten to the end of your day, been so busy, running around like a chicken with your head cut off, but for the life of you did not know what you accomplished?
For the longest time, I thought being busy meant I was doing something right. If I was constantly working, checking things off my list, and running around with no time to spare, that had to mean I was making progress… right?
But then I’d get to the end of the day and realize—I got nothing important done. Just a lot of small, random tasks that made me feel productive but didn’t actually move my business forward.
That’s when it hit me: being busy isn’t the same as being productive.
Which sounds obvious but when you are in the thick of doing the work, sometimes the obvious isn’t so obvious.
I realized I was answering emails all day, jumping between 10 tasks at once, tweaking minor things, but none of these were productive.
To be productive, I had to focus on the tasks that were not urgent but important, and lessen distractions as much as possible.
Not sure how to move from “busy” to “productive?” Here are some things to consider:
Identify Your Top 3 Priorities: At the start of each day, determine the three most important tasks that will move your business forward. Or do it at the end of the day. Just do it. This will help you think critically about the next tasks to complete.
Time-Block Your Schedule: Allocate specific time slots for high-priority tasks, and stick to them.
Implement the Two-Minute Rule: If a task takes less than two minutes, do it immediately. If not, schedule it for later.
Audit Your Tasks: Regularly review your to-do list and eliminate or delegate tasks that don’t align with your goals.
Minimize Distractions: Turn off notifications and create a dedicated workspace to enhance focus.
Learn to Say No: Politely decline commitments that don’t contribute to your primary objectives. When you say yes to one thing, you are saying no to everything else in that moment.
So next time you catch yourself saying, “I’m so busy!”—pause and ask yourself:
Busy doing what?
Because if it’s not getting you closer to your goals, it’s just noise.
Ways to Work Together
If you are feeling stressed out by your business and not experiencing the freedom you want, here are the two ways we can work together.
One-on-One: Ready to create a business that allows you the freedom you want? We are passionate about our custom solutions and systems for your business. Our approach takes your industry, your unique disposition as a business owner, and your emerging definition of success, and we develop a unique to you plan to move you towards loving your business again. Click the link above to set up a call identify your goals, discuss your current roadblocks, and to ask any questions about working together.
Business Roadmap: This is for the business owner who needs help on what the next thing is to do, and the next 5 steps after that. You don’t need another social media course, email funnel, or sales strategy, but a plan specific to you and your business. You’ll gain clarity on where your business is at, create a plan, you’ll know what to do and what to ignore, along with the resources you need. In the end, you will take that plan and implement, saving you thousands of dollars and years of headache.
A third way, and I know I only said two, but sometimes I can’t help myself. If you are feeling stuck and are in need of resources, reach out. I am happy to point you in the right direction and even provide an asset of my own to help you move forward.
Stephanie German is a business strategist, adjunct professor, and speaker. She holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership and loves giving back to her community in a variety of ways. When she’s not coaching clients or writing about leadership, Stephanie is usually headed to the mountains or the beach with her family, drinking savory wine, or working on the latest project with her husband. Stephanie’s greatest desires are to raise up the next generation of leaders while raising her own children to be strong, independent, and brave. She lives in Fresno, California with her husband Blake and her three spunky daughters, Cara, Kinsey, and Peyton. She is the best-selling author of So Your Boss Can’t Lead?