That is the question I am most often asked by people who want to do what I do or who are currently doing what I do but just aren’t able to take it to that next level. How do you make six-figures a year and still have time for family, a life and all other fun things?

The answer is actually quite simple - time management and doing ONLY what I need to do to push my business forward.

Time Management

Have you ever wondered where your days go? Do you find that you look back on your day and think, “Gosh, I didn’t get done anything I set out to get done today!” I used to be like that. Once I realized how little I was actually getting done, I made it my mission to change that. Now, I follow the following guidelines:

1. Make Lists

Lists are important in many ways. They act as your guiding path to getting things done. If you write out a list of what you need to accomplish every night before bed, you’ll have a perfect starting point for your morning. You’ll be less distracted by blogging, checking others blog feeds, answering pointless e-mail, etc. You’ll know what you need to do and as you sleep, your subconscious will already be working out solutions to your problems.

2. Get Up Early

Sometimes it’s tempting to sleep in after working a really late night but don’t! Get up early and do what I do. Each morning I get up around 7:30 AM and before I even venture into my office to my computer I clean my house. I put laundry on, I do dishes, etc. Whatever needs to get done is done before I go to work. Therefore, I don’t have that guilt clouding up my head while I work!

3. Set Your E-mail Up the Right Way

Don’t let it send/receive every two minutes. That’s just way too often and you’ll spend more time checking e-mail than you will doing work! I have mine set to every ten minutes and I’m slowly pushing that back. I want to move it to once an hour. I use Basecamp to manage projects so if there is a real emergency that can not wait the hour, my client will post it in Basecamp.

Original article posted here: http://thevacoach.com/blog/2007/08/2...o-six-figures/

I love the tips you've been giving us Erin. Making a list before you go to bed is a great idea and something I do all the time, it actually also helps me get to sleep knowing I already have a plan for the next day...instead of lying awake thinking of everything that needs to be done and wondering if I'm forgetting something

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Deb Frawley
Gem's Virtual Office

Good tips. Your advice on lists reminds me of the goals program at my current job. I work as a Technical Writer for a large rental company in Las Vegas, and our goals program is mandatory.

I make my list...of goals at the end of each day, so I know exactly where to start when I come in the next day. This works well because I write it from the perspective of where I am leaving things today. It instills a continuum and consistency to my work.

Not to mention that outlining daily professional and personal goals organizes life in general. Very good tips. Thanks.

This is excellent advice and I haven't even started my business up yet. I am taking notes on everything here and printing off some of the advice and making a binder for it.

Wonderful information. I've also began a binder sometime ago. Because the information is so great, I had to start making sections just to keep with everything..

Thanks everyone for the tremendous help.

Be Well!

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Be Well,
Carla
www.bwellbusinessservices.com
virtually meeting your needs

Your home-made binders may be the next generation of do-it-yourself virtual assistant handbooks! Do it right and you've got a serious market....just a thought

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Binders, what a great idea.

I have a list for everything! It helps me stay focussed. And on the weekend, I prepare for the week I have my meal's already planned, so I know what to fix, etc.. That helps also, because at 5:00, my business day ends, and my being a Mom/wife, starts again. So knowing ahead of time, takes out the stress for me..

Then I also use my Yahoo Calendar for reminders in business. This helps me to stay focused on whatever is at hand.. It's especially in these times, that my little calendar comes in extra handy!!

Love all the times! A binder is a great idea too..

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Winslow Girl Virtual Assistant
www.winslowgirlva.com
Taking Virtual Assistance to the Next Level

This is great information. Thanks for sharing.

Jaime Lee Mann

I am loving the tips you have given. I also love the binder information. I think this will help keep you organized. Maybe section your binder off for quick reference and location of information. I am loving this all the way.