Surprisingly enough working less hours has gotten me the best results. Now, wait – don’t throw anything at me..
I know I talk a lot about not getting any sleep and working on business til the sun comes up – but as far as my blog is concerned, I only spend a few hours everyday keeping it fresh and the traffic flowing.
(..it’s those other upcoming projects that take up most of my time, but I’ll save that for a later post..)
Today I wanna share with you 3 simple ways to avoid wasting time and getting what you want DONE. This is also gonna help you get focused as to what it is you want to accomplish with your blog.
Which, in my case, is to create a community of like-minded people who learn & share ideas.
Here Are The 4 Anti-Time Wasting Tips :0)
#1. Don’t Multitask – This is a BIG problem when working on building my online business. I sometimes find myself doing 3 or 4 things at once. Designing a lead capture page, blog commenting, replying to comments, and eating at the same time.
Just take a step back – choose one task, and go for it!
#2. Eliminate Any & All Distractions – Distractions can mean anything – Your cell phone, your email, your relatives, the kids, the neighbors, the dog, and food. (..I like food..).
I just lock the door, and tell everyone to leave me alone (..in a nice way of course..) As far as email – many tasks don’t require me to be online so I just disconnect and get to work.
#3. Have ‘POWER SESSIONS’ – This is one topic that I cover in great detail on day 6 of the Blogging Blueprint course. Essentially, it’s getting extremely focused on 3 aspects of your blog for 60 minute sessions.
I based the majority of the success I’ve had with this blog on those 3 power sessions. If you wanna check it out, click here.
What Are Your BIG Time Wasters?
Any tips that you can share with the community here would be great.. everyone is so cool around here – I’m sure we’ll get some great nuggets of wisdom.
As always, if you enjoyed it, please share it, digg it, stumble it and retweet it…
Til next time
Hector “The Alexa Director”
32
Hey Hector,
I would say my biggest challenge is #1 which is multitasking… trying to do TOO MANY things at once.
What I’ve learned, when I get little nuggets of success and growth in my business, is when I FOCUS FOCUS FOCUS on one thing and just go after it like there’s no tomorrow.
Good post Hector,
- John Garcia
.-= John Garcia´s last blog ..Work Hard, Play Hard =-.
John,
Definitely a big issue for more people in this day and age. FOCUS is one thing we NEED to have in order to get things done.
Thanks for sharing you thoughts
talk soon
Hector
@John
Totally can relate to the multitasking problem. I used to spend hours on the computer and by the end of the week have little to show for it. It was only after reviewing what I did that I found I was multitasking.
No matter what some people may believe, straight forward focussing on one thing at a time definitely pays off big time!
@Hector
Thanks for the post, really helped me to get back on track as I had been going through a patch of wasting too much time.
Totally agree with you about removing distractions.
I’d also recommend using a kitchen countdown timer for each task you have to do as this helps you have a time limit and sense of urgency for the task you’re doing. I’ve been using it with a lot of success
Looking forward to more of your tips Hector.
Bailey
.-= Bailey Ing´s last blog ..Anyone Else Feeling Overwhelmed? Three Simple Strategies To Get You Back On Track =-.
Hi Hector!
Great thoughts here, love the list! Time management is one of the biggest challenges once one gets seriously into social media, blogging and attraction marketing, and that’s not to mention working your primary business opportunity!
I find that making a list of my primary activities is key, and making sure to focus on that list in priority over the course of a week. For example allow blocks of time for making follow up calls, and making notes about those calls (including when to follow up NEXT!)
And don’t forget to allow time for yourself. A day (or at least most of a day) devoted just to you and getting things accomplished outside of your business (like spending time with your family and friends) is important too!
So prioritize and list your tasks, take the allotted time and divide it accordingly, and be flexible when you have to!
.-= Vicki Berry´s last blog ..Top Three Reasons to Use Attraction Marketing for MLM =-.
Hey Vicki,
Thanks for the added tips, I’m sure they’ll help everyone who visits & reads this post.
talk soon…
Hey Hector,
You put together a great list! I’m guilty of this myself. I work on like 3 things all at once. When I should just focus on one thing!
Thanks for sharing this and pointing out what we need to refocus back on.
Chat with you later…
Josh
.-= Josh Garcia´s last blog ..Here’s a Quick Way to Ensure a Successful Blog =-.
Josh..
You’re welcome bro.. Multi Tasking is a problem for a lot of people, hope fully this will help most of my readers
talk soon…
Hi Hector:
Number #2 with eliminating distraction is something of a challenge for me. Getting distracted with the cell phone ringing, home phone ringing and spending time with family. Just setting up a time when no distractions are allowed is key. I’ll be posting a sing on the door. Do Not Disturb having a Blogging Session.
.-= Jane´s last blog ..3 Benefits of Attending Conferences/Social Networking Events, Day 1 =-.
Jane,
Great idea.. I’m gonna make a sign for my door, too :0)
talk soon…
Hey there Hector,
Time wasters or what I call time suckers, take the life out of our business. So if you follow what you have here in this list, it eradicates those little buggers.
We all need to take this more seriously if we are really after results.
Talk to you soon,
Jerome Ratliff
.-= Jerome Ratliff´s last blog ..Excuses Why Network Marketing Doesn’t Work =-.
Jerome,
You’re so right.. Extreme focus is key if you want to make it BIG.. and that’s where we’re going
talk soon…
hey hector,
you hit on alot of very valid points.
i think the easiest thing to do is to focus on specific tasks. make a list of 3 to 5 things that you need to do everyday and cancel them off as you go. multitasking like you said can be the death of an online marketer.
thanks for sharing.
aaron
.-= Aaron´s last blog ..How NOT To Market… =-.
Aaron,
Your tips are great.. create a checklist and get to work.
thanks for sharing
talk soon…
Time Wasters (excellent question?)
I would have to say I am one of those people who just can’t handle not being on time.
Time management is very important. I agree with the above statement to avoid distractions. Not always possible for me as I am a fulltime single Dad living 800 kilometres away from my family.
Being a single father has, I must say, improved my time skills even further. Now I know why they say employ women in the time management positions.
My advice if anyone wants to learn this skill is ask a mother how she does does it.
My skill is to pre-plan way in advance and set a time when it should be done.
I now follow routine, which children love and my day usually goes with no dramas.
My recommendations are.
Plan ahead
Write it down
Create small task and tick them off as you go. This helps you feel achievements.
Then teach what you learn and write that down to in a time frame of what you will teach and when it will be finished.
Don’t over do it and find time to relax. This is when your best ideas come when you are just chilling out.
Happy Surfing
Marty Ware
Online Management & Seo Systems Consultant
.-= Marty Ware´s last blog ..Red Hot Backlink Tips =-.
Marty
Your tips are great bro.. Planning is definitely a BIG one. I also like creating smaller tasks to accomplish, so you dont get overwhelmed
thanks for sharing
talk soon…
Hey Hector,
All thes 3 points are so important.
Everyone should read your post, because resutls will dramaticaly change if persona apply your advices.
Great post.
Talk soon
Jiri Majkus
Internet Marketing Coach and Author
.-= Jiri Majkus´s last blog ..Proven Marketing Strategies For Content Distribution =-.
Jiri,
Thanks for sharing your thoughts bro.. these tips will definitely help you be more prodcutive
talk soon…
Hector,
Great tips.
I have to admit, multitasking has always been
a problem. I have adapted several ways to save
time and really have more productive days.
There are just some days when you just can’t help
it. We all have those once in a while.
Thanks for sharing…
Have a great day!
Tommy D.
.-= Tommy DiPietro´s last blog ..Calling All Network Marketers: Do You Accept My Challenge? =-.
Tommy,
You’re right.. we all have those days when all those distractions get the best of you..
thanks for sharing
talk soon…
Hey Hector,
Solid advice as always, and like most everyone else multi-tasking has always a big issue for me, but i am finding with sufficient planning and scheduling i can get a lot more accomplished.
Having a family including 4 daughters doesn’t leave a lot of spare time, you learn to make the most of it when you get it!
Thanks
John
John,
Planning & Scheduling is key to effective time management..
thanks for sharing
talk soon…
Hey Hector,
Luv you list. I tell all my coaching clients that multitasking “ALWAYS” waist time. And about making a to do list, you must prioritize it or you will never get to the most important.
As always Hector great post.
Coach Freddie
.-= Coach Freddie´s last blog ..A Little About Coach Freddie =-.
Freddie,
Totally agree.. we tend to put off the most important because it’s often the hardest to do.. so doing it first will always give you the best results as far as getting things done.
thanks for sharing
talk soon…
Ah time, the Entrepreneurs worst enemy…
.-= Steve´s last blog ..How To Deal With Google PPC Issues – Forget Google! =-.
Hector,
I know when i am in the zone, i turn off skype, facebook chat , etc.. I then dedicate time, big fan of dry erase boards/schedules and set free times to chat with partners, friends, and clients while answering emails, etc…so it is multi tasking but its multi tasking that is smart, there is good multi tasking and bad multi tasking.
.-= Chris Bernardo´s last blog ..Love is Energy..Pass it forward!..Going Viral =-.
Hey Chris,
Everyone will have their own way of doing things.. for me, any type of multitasking leads to nowhere fast.. lol
thanks for sharing your thoughts
talk soon
Hector
Good advice here Hector. I like to plan my day out using google calendar that way I know during what time block what I will be focusing on. That helps me tremendously.
Steve Shoemaker
.-= Steve Shoemaker´s last blog ..MLM Review: Keep the Social in Social Media =-.
Steve,
Great way to stay organized.. good stuff
thanks
Hector
I hate to say this but at some point we really need to
take internet marketing as serious as someones JOB.
At your Job would you let those little distractions
such as phone calls, checking emails, and children
derail your focus.I think not or else you would not
have that job very long.
Same should apply to you business.The power of focus
will allow you to zoom in and laser focus on what
you want and ultimately achieve it.Without Focus
it’s very hard to build a successful business.
Cheers
Ernie(ethicalernie)
Thank you for sharing Hector
.-= Ernie Pinard´s last blog ..COME AND SEE WHAT’S COOKING AT THE GVO XTREME TEAM!! =-.
Ernie,
You’re so right.. But it’s hard for most people because they’re used to the “BIG MAN” always on your back, pressuring you to get the job done.
For others – focusing, taking action and gaining momentum is easy, I think you just need to want it bad enough
talk soon
Hector
Hi Hector,
The key is just to get stuck into one thing and get it done. There are so many attraction at home and as you rightly say you have to block them out. £ great points.
Have a great day.
Tristram Lodge
.-= Tristram Lodge´s last blog ..This Is A Reason Why You Must Own A Piece Of Internet Real Estate. =-.
Tristram,
I’m gonna build a wall.. A BIG WALL.. I think that’ll work.. right?
thanks to stopping by bro..
talk soon
Hector
Great job Hector on the post. It is said that most blogger s and internet marketers have extreme A.D.D. and I believe it is true for, I find myself caught up in those type of situations at times when I am trying to multi task. There is even times when I have doing work on my blog, but then I get distracted by Facebook and of course food too lol.
-Reggie Barnett
.-= Reggie Barnett´s last blog ..How to get 400 visitors with 15 minutes of marketing =-.
Reggie,
Food is a problem for many of us I see ..lol
thanks for sharing bro
Hector
Hey Hector,
I loved your food comment! haha! I forget to eat so food isn’t a distraction for me. I make a list of what I need to do everyday, I call it my “meat and potatoes” in my course that I wrote.
I don’t do anything else until those tasks are ALL done. It works pretty well 
Erin
.-= Erin Smith´s last blog ..The Best Lead Generation Company… It’s Not What You Think =-.
Erin,
Oh OK.. I get it – so you name your techniques different FOODS to make up for not eating.. smart :0)
But seriously though, extreme focusing works really well for me too.
thanks for stopping by, talk soon
Hector
Hector, I think that I multitask way too much! I love this article…it really has given me some food for thought! Great advice! Keep on writing my friend!
Believe in Yourself!
Ange;-)
Twitter Diva
http://www.eternalleads.info
Hey Angela,
Glad you stopped by for some food for thought :0)
Have a great week
Hector
Hello Hector,
You’ve put together some really important stuff here! Being organized is something some people are talented for and others aren’t.. But anyway, we all have to make daily plan of work and apply your tips if we want business done..
Personally I am a multitask person, I love doing many things at the same time, but I have my way of organizing of course.. I can do many things at the same time, but when it comes to learning ( reading or watching informative video) and when I write a blog post, then I exclude everything around me and focus with maximum concentration..
Thanks for great tips, stay great!
Milena
Milena,
Agreed.. certain things need your focused, undivided attention, while other things can be done at the same time
thanks for your insight
Have a great week
Hector
Those are all great points, Hector! My main time waster is multi-tasking. It is very distracting and I certainly can’t put my all into what I am doing when I’m multi-tasking. Email is very distracting when I am doing something online because I hear the little “ding” letting me know that I have new mail and I usually stop in the middle of what I am doing to check it out. I am going to make the effort to make certain that I focus completely on what I am doing!
Stacy.
Thanks for commenting – Multi Tasking is a BIG time waster, maybe you can disable that darn ‘DING’ sound. lol – just a thought
:0) Have a great week
Hector
My biggest time waster is the need to know right now. What I mean is I could be writing a post about exercise and then I start thinking about martial arts which leads to Bruce Lee then the thing I NEED to know right then is clarification on the death of Brandon Lee, so the whole engine stops while I do 15 minutes of Google searching and article reading. This is just an example, but you get the idea. I’ve started setting my timer for 50 minute intervals and refusing to allow distractions for that period.
Jesse
.-= Jesse Walker´s last blog ..5 Ways Top Home Business Entrepreneurs Fight Procrastination =-.
Jesse,
Good stuff man.. it’s great to see you’re taking action with that timer. The internet can be VERY distracting
thanks for sharing
Have a great week
Hector
Hi Hector,
My major time wasters are multi tasking and distractions. Internet is filled with all sorts of distractions & it can be a challenge to keep up.
Thanks for bringing this up, I needed this reminder.
Damayanthi
.-= Damayanthi´s last blog ..Limiting Beliefs – Do You Come Across Them? =-.
Damayanthi,
Oh yes… the internet is the mother of distractions, especially youtube. I hope this helped you out
Have a great week
Hector
Hey Hector,
I have to say my number 1 time waster is distractions (ie. emails and the internet) There is always something new to learn
and then number 2 is multitasking… trying to get it all done at once. If I can stay away from those time wasters I am usually ok… I try to organise my day the night before so I get to ‘sleep on it’.
Many thanks for sharing!
Tina
Tina,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting,.
The internet is a BIG distraction for a lot of people, planning your to do list for the next day is a great way to stay on task
thanks for sharing
Have a great week
Hector
Hector I can be very easily distracted… hmmm what was I saying..? ha ha no honestly I would start five projects within half an hour if I allowed it.
Herein lies the secret…. understand what challenges you and manage it.
I do not allow myself to multi-task at any time in my business or life as a whole. It just isn’t an option.
~Marcus
.-= Marcus Baker´s last blog ..14 More Blog Post Ideas | MLM Blogging Tips =-.
Marcus,
Haha.. hilarious Bro
Taking control is a BIG part of getting things done..
thanks for sharing
Have a great week
Hector
Hi Hector,
Thanks for sharing the excellent tips in efficiency.
I too tend to multi-task but I’ve learned that concentration builds power. Focus is like a laser beam while multi-tasking is like a scatter gun. We know which one is going to be on target.
Living by the clock has been the top time saver for me. Every 60 minutes I take a break with no exceptions. Unless I’m on the phone I drop everything and take a short walk and review my goals for 5 – 10 minutes. It reminds me what I’m working towards so I’m less likely to waste time.
Thanks again!
Ryan
.-= Ryan´s last blog ..3 Easy As Pie Tricks To Become A More Successful Network Marketer =-.
Ryan,
“Concentration Builds Power” I like that man..
That’s a really good breakdown of your strategy, thanks for sharing that with us
Have a great week
Hector
Hector. Brilliant post. I think email is the biggest destraction. I have made myself check emails three times a day otherwise you just get rapped up in them and suddenly your day is gone. I definitely think multi-tasking can lead to you not focussing properly and as a result getting nothing done.
.-= Kerry Painter´s last blog ..My Top Motivational Tunes =-.
Kerry,
Ahh email.. 3 times a day is really good.. I’m gonna try to go down to 3 from 5..
thanks for sharing
Have a great week
Hector
Hector,
A very short comment, but I appreciate the emphasis on “simple.” I find myself attempting to head in the direction a lot in terms of my thinking and what I must try to do. Of course, if was a theme that came up in my classes that I used to teach at the seminary over and over again but that was usually in the context of communicating with others. Which, by the way, your posts would exemplify: i.e. keeping it simple and easy to digest.
Enjoy the day,
Lee
Lee.
Always enjoy your comments, thanks for stopping by and sharing.
Have a great week
Hector
Hector time management is an important part of building a successful business. Thank you for these simple ways to avoid wasting time. Another way I manage my time is by writing down important things I need to do. It takes discipline because if something comes up I make myself put it off until I complete what I’ve written down.
- Loreal
.-= Loreal Hartwell´s last blog ..Destined For Greatness =-.
Loreal,
Writing it down helps me a lot too. Thanks for sharing your thoughts
Have a great week
Hector
Hey Hector!
Thank you for this great post! As a mother I always find myself multi-tasking; unfortunately not all are finished. I’ve learned to ask for assistance and providing myself with a to do list is imperative to keep my mind focused!
Again, thank you!
Corina Beckby
Your LatinaPreneur
.-= Corina Beckby´s last blog ..By: escourts =-.
Corina,
I have note pads all over the place with to do lists – they really DO help
thanks for your comment
Have a great week
Hector
Hector;
Thanks for sharing these great tips. As a WAHM, I find myself doing too many things at the same time. Even though I’m a multitasker like all moms, I really like to take my time to focus in the things I want to get done. What I been doing lately is writing 3-5 things I need to do on that certain day and I don’t go to sleep until I finish. That’s how I am, but writing things down has really helped me to stay focus.
Katherine
.-= Katherine Droguett´s last undefined ..If you register your site for free at =-.
Katherine,
Great advice.. I literally have a ton of to-do lists lying around of things to get done.. organization is not my strong suit either..lol
thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
Hector,
Multi-tasking is definitely one of my problems… I am a chef… I’ve been multi-tasking for 7 years like crazy… deep breath works great for that.
Skype really distracts me a lot sometimes. However, it’s also allowed me to make a lot of international sales, and I like doing that. so, it’s a tough spot to be in.
Jordan Schultz
~Social-Media Specialist~
.-= Jordan Schultz´s last blog ..The Worst Capture Page Video Ever That Still Generated 185 Free Network Marketing Leads =-.
Jordan,
I’m sure you can find a healthy medium – something like “Make The Sale – Then Sign Off” :0)
But I totally feel you on the taking deep breaths thing.. it’s great to just take a step back and recoup..
Thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
Great Post Hector. I definitely get stuck in multi tasking, sometimes I feel like a kid with ADD..LoL My mind starts racing, and than I wind up not getting one thing complete, because I started trying to get too many projects at once.
Maja,
I can relate.. I hope these power sessions will help you out like they do me..
Thanks for stopping by and commenting
talk soon
Hector
Hector, Great Post! I have to say that “boredom” can be my biggest time waster. When I find myself bored I check my email, Facebook and Twitter FAR to many times.
.-= Kyle Clouse´s last blog ..If You Get Bucked Off; Get Back On =-.
Kyle,
I can sorta see what you’re saying – but for me it would probably lean more towards “putting things off” so I pretend I have nothing to do for my business and then go on facebook, and youtube..
weird.. but it happens..
thanks for sharing bro
talk soon
Hector
I think one of the things that isn’t a time waster is taking some time just for yourself, to meditate or have quiet time. Often we get stressed, stuck and frustrated attempting to accomplish tasks. Taking 10 minutes to simply close your eyes and relax will help you focus and be creative.
Unfortunately, when things get stressful, we forget to make this a priority. True success is when all the areas of your life make you happy.
.-= Rebecca Olkowski´s last blog ..How to be a Business Networking Nincompoop in 5 Easy Steps =-.
Rebecca,
I totally agree with you – taking that step back to recoup is very much needed sometimes..
thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
Hi Hector,
The best take away for me is focusing on one task at a time. I too often try to multi-task. Of course I’m a woman and women are better multi-taskers. Not sure if that is a word.
Great content and love the style of your blog. I will check out your post on Power Sessions.
I am going to be re-tooling one of my blogs and starting a new blog in about 4 weeks. Your Power Sessions will come in very handy.
Thank you for all the great content and your great sense of humor too.
Faith
.-= Faith Barnard´s last blog ..Net Neutrality Means Keeping the Internet Free for Everyone =-.
Faith,
Aaaahh women and multitasking – how do you do it?
Thanks for the comment and good luck with your new blog..
I appreciate you stopping by and sharing
talk soon
Hector
I’ve noticed that multi-tasking is a detriment to a lot of business areas, not just network marketers.
At my J.O.B. I find that if I ask people to email me a request or question instead of interrupting me during deadlines, I will be able to get more done and focus more on each task.
It’s a win-win for all. Everyone gets helped and the quality of work is high!
.-= Cara and Jennifer Oberfoell´s last blog ..Millionaire Mindset Tools: A Review of “The Journey to Believable” =-.
Cara,
Yup.. great point – thanks for relating it to the J.O.B arena..
Focused work is High Quality work – NO question
talk soon
Hector
Hector, #1, multitasking was a killer for me until I (somewhat) got it under control. It is so easy to divide your time so much that you don’t get much done on any task.
Great content Hector!
-James
.-= James Hampton´s last blog ..Network Marketing Phone Fear – Get Rid Of It! =-.
James,
You’re right.. divided time is unfocused time which leads to low quality results..
thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
Hi Hector,
great post. Multitasking is really one of the biggest challenge most people face nowadays, myslef included. So staying focused becomes one of the key factors to success. Thank you for sharing that.
Take care
Oliver
.-= Oliver Tausend´s last blog ..Stop it ! =-.
Oliver,
Thanks for stopping by and commenting..
It’s a challenge we all have to overcome sooner or later
talk soon
Hector
HI Hector,
Time-wasters!!! What an enormous topic. One of my biggest time-wasters is running into techie problems….they not only waste tons of my time almost every time I try to do anything new or remotely tech-oriented, but then, I also often end up derailed psychologically. One of these days, I’m going to out-source EVERYTHING that is more complicated than writing a post!
Happy weekend,
Buff Elting
.-= buff´s last blog ..On Landmarks & Congruency =-.
Buff,
Great idea.. the good thing about these techie issues – at least with me – is that they add so much to your skill sets as an online marketer..
..plus, it feels so good knowing that you tackled another obstacle – no matter how small
thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
Hi,
A new book entitled Master Your Workday Now by Michael Linberger can help in relationship to the overall time management.
Lee
.-= Lee Wise´s last blog ..Taking Control Of Our Minds =-.
Thanks for the recommendation Lee..
talk soon
Hector
My biggest distraction is reading and responding to e-mails. One tip that I would say is important is be intentional and schedule your tasks. If you say you are only going to comment on blogs for 1 hour, then spend one hour doing that. Now, I have to remind myself to schedule my e-mail time
Althea,
Thanks for stopping by my blog.. and for commenting
Yes, I agree, we need to follow through with what we say to ourselves..
thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
“Don’t multi-task”.. No truer words were ever spoken. I’m guilt of multi-tasking and I can testify to the fact that it’s a waste of time as nothing really gets accomplished. You can either do more things “good” or one thing “great” and according to the most successful music producer Mr David Foster himself, “good is the enemy of great”
Great Post.
Anthony
.-= anthony kibe´s last blog ..Comment on What’s Your Personal Crusade? Why You Should Develop A Unique Marketing Angle. by Kevin Nowak =-.
Anthony,
“good is the enemy of great” I like that.. if something needs to get done, might as well do it the best you can
thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
These are fantastic tips! I often try to spend an entire day working on my computer and then find that I get burned out and start to wander away from what I’m supposed to be focused on! Having power sessions is a great tip!
Thanks Hector!
Amanda´s last post ..5 Tips To Help You Fire Your Boss (I Just Did)
Hey Amanda,
Yea.. they help me A LOT with staying focused on the task at hand – go for it and let me know how it goes
thanks for sharing
talk soon
Hector
yes, that’s great, i like it….