Archive for the ‘productivity’ Category

No matter what business you’re in, time seems to never be on your side. If only there were 29 hours in a day, you might be able to cross more off of your to-do list! But there is a way to take a short cut to success using a technique that can help you minimize mistakes and maximize your schedule: mind mapping.

Mind mapping is a way to tap into your brainpower and put it to use rather than slowly pulling ideas from it. You have an opportunity to be more creative – instead of having thoughts pour out in all directions, mind mapping organizes them so that you can easily apply them in your business.

Many people have trouble communicating their thoughts and ideas to an audience, but some even have difficulty conveying their thoughts clearly to themselves when trying to put them on paper or just put them into action.

To map your mind, you need a good software tool like the one at www.mindmapperusa.com that can let you plug in your ideas and manipulate them as you get ready to implement them into your business. This tool has a free trial period for you to test the software and see for yourself how it can improve your business. The Standard Edition is $60 if you choose to purchase.

When you map out an idea, you’ll have a central topic with branches. Each time you branch out even more, it creates a new level, so you’ll have level 1 branches, level 2 branches, and so on.

Mind map software allows you to visualize your plan so that it’s not just a theory. Using tools like Fishbone, a feature of the above-listed software, you can create outlines that show you the cause and effect of certain actions. This can prevent many mistakes and eliminate bad business decisions.

You can choose the patterns you want to use, such as a spider web that grows outwardly, a fishbone style of mind map, and other options. It’s dependent on the project you’re creating and your personal preferences.

Traditionally, writers were using mind-mapping software to organize the lives of their characters and see which storylines would create a more believable situation. But now mind mapping has transcended into the business world, and owners and entrepreneurs alike are utilizing these tools to see the direction in which they should take their company.

Using a mind map software tool gives you the ability to make your ideas come to life. It’s a colorful world, with layers you can move and erase, broaden or prune.

Have you ever seen a picture of a family tree online? Mind mapping is similar to a family tree diagram. You can have ideas branch out with sub-topics and it harnesses your random thoughts into organized content. This means you don’t have to think in steps – step one, step two, etc. You can be all over the place and still come out with an organized plan of action. It organizes your chaos!

Mind maps are more popular in Europe than in the United States, but some companies, especially those dealing with engineering, are seeking out mind mapping tools to help them get from A to Z with less hassle and fewer mistakes.

It’s all about tree trunks and branch ideas, however. With some tools, you can include video and audio files within your organization structure. Some people prefer to place icons in their mind map to watch it unfold in images rather than text.

You can also create multiple mind maps – not just one for your overall business. You could have a mind map for product creation (or one for each product), one for advertising and promotion, and another for customer relations.

You can also hyperlink your mind map or various branches, so if you have an advertising mind map, you might have a branch for ezine advertising, one for Pay Per Click, one for article directories, and another for press releases.

Within each branch of those you could have sub-branches where you hyperlink the resources you intend to use, such as: www.EzineArticles.com or www.GoArticles.com under your article directories branch.

This makes it easier when you sit down to submit your articles because all you have to do is open up your mind map for advertising, choose the article directories branch, and link directly to your intended recipient.

You can also hyperlink to files on your computer, so instead of having to connect to a folder within folder, simply open your mind map and have instant access to every file you need to begin work on a new task.

When and if you need to, you can then export the mind map into other software tools, such as Microsoft Word or Excel. And you can share your mind map with others who may be working on a project with you, such as a Joint Venture partner.

It works as a great reminder and organizer for business owners. You can work on a task and, once complete, alter its color so that you know what stage of completion it’s in according to your customized color chart.

Some business owners like to use mind maps as a blueprint. They only have to create a single new mind map and then whenever a repeat project comes along, they choose their blueprint and apply it to the next task on their list.

Others use it to profile their customers or map out pesky problem areas within their business so they can find a shortcut to a solution. It’s good to have a visual indicator of what’s happening within your business so that you can put a microscope on certain areas and improve their functionality.

Mind mapping may not be necessary for everyone who wants to organize their thoughts on paper, but it is a good way to see the correlation between one aspect of your business and another. Sometimes, just “seeing things on paper” helps you to make a better decision.

Probably the most frustrating problem for an Internet marketer is to have put in hundreds of hours of research and preparation for a product – only to find out that after launch a large percentage of their profits were lost in stolen  downloads.

A savvy hacker can go through your backdoor and grab the link and, like a shoplifter on the candy aisle at Wal- Mart, it’s gone. You could just accept that all businesses have losses due to theft and yours is no different.

But there are measures even a brick and mortar business owner takes to discourage this leak in profits. They have “eyes” and take steps to make it less likely that someone could get away with stolen goods.

Now there are ways to take security precautions with your precious ,download links. DownLoad Guard is just such a measure. DLGuard effectively protects your links – making it virtually impossible for expensive thefts to happen.

>>>>>DLGuard v4.5 Now Released!<<<<<

Download thefts happen in one of several ways:

The thief shares his download link with friends. This happens all the time. Someone will buy a product and then proceed to give out the download link to his buddies (and strangers) either on a forum or by email.

DL Guard effectively prevents this by limiting download time and the amount of downloads possible. You can set the time to 48 hours or even 2 hours and then the link goes dead.

You can also allow a maximum number of downloads. This allows the original purchaser to have maybe three tries at downloading your product before the link goes dead rather than an unlimited number.

In the event the original purchaser just couldn’t figure out the process and needs another chance to download, you can reset the time and amount manually. You can see the advantage here.

A second way links are stolen is by hackers just surfing for insecure download pages. If you just stick an unprotected download link on a thank you page, then any persistent hacker can discover these unsecure pages and click the link and save the file.

This isn’t even a remote possibility with DLGuard. In the event that a hacker finds your thank you/download page, DLGuard checks for successful payment before sending the person on to the secure download page. There’s no way that a hacker can get around that one unless they have access to the payment information.

If that was all DLGuard did, that would still be worth the investment, but  creator Sam Stevens built in some other great features like a full service  shopping cart that can be linked to PayPal or 2Checkout. So you can sell a single item or a multiple items through the integrated secure shopping cart.

There’s a way to manage your membership site, too. And if that’s not enough, the software provides a way to grab those emails and names and incorporate them into your autoresponder automatically by virtue of the fact that the customer  purchased your product. No more double optins, ,which is a great help for list builders.

DLGuard and Sam Stephens overdeliver. Sam will help you install DL Guard, too. The customer support is the best in the business.

If you’re concerned with download page security, DLGuard is by far the best value for the money and if by some odd chance you don’t like DL Guard, ClickBank will cheerfully refund you up to 56 days.

You really have nothing to lose – except more pirated documents if you choose not to get this tool!

If you are looking for a way to provide some good quality customer service for your online business that will run smoothly, you will want to find a customer support software like the one provided by Kayako.

For less than $30 per month, this one software program gives you everything you need to provide your customers with quality care. It boasts a number of features to suit all of your needs.

The software enables you to provide support through email and webbased customer interaction. Tickets can be submitted 24/7 by anyone, including customers, prospects, etc., allowing you to provide necessary solutions by email or optional live chat, with a customer interface that is as intuitive as a live operator answering phones.

Their Ajax-based interface provides you with the best possible support with downloads and articles to help you when responding to the support tickets. Each ticket can easily be tracked and solutions provided in a quick and easy manner, keeping your customers satisfied with your service and loyal to your brand.

You will have a knowledge-base section that enables you to easily provide fixes and answers to even the most complicated problems and questions. Other features include screen sharing, real time spell-check, daily and weekly views, and even a section for entering notes.

Everything can be accessed from the main support page, helping you find what you need to solve support problems efficiently. The support suite also offers a template for multilingual situations where you can translate the support ticket so it can be handled efficiently. With an unlimited satellite helpdesk, you can reach customers all over the world.

This helpdesk software program gives you a hand in organization as well. You can organize everything from the support tickets that are still open to ones that have been resolved. You can get detailed reports to track how well the customer support program is going for you. These reports can help you determine where you need to improve to keep your customers satisfied.

Kayako is not just for email support. You can also get the benefit of live support as well (there are three software options; two include the live support feature). With this feature, you can monitor the visitor’s actions while on your site to help you in responding to their questions or problems in a timely manner.

The screen-sharing feature can be a lifesaver in the help desk field. When needed, this software can rise to the occasion by sharing what’s on your desktop to the consumer’s computer without the use of other more complicated and time-consuming software applications.

Show your customers that they matter by providing them with topnotch support. Give them a personal touch with the look and feel of a quality corporate help desk. This support suite will give you everything you need for less money than you spend on Internet access each month.

One thing most entrepreneurs never stop to think about is how their reading speed and comprehension affects their daily life. Think about how much you read each day. You may read technical manuals, trade publications, newspapers, résumés, performance reports, and of course for the online entrepreneur, websites, forums, and eBooks.

The average person has about a 60% comprehension rate, reading at approximately 200 words per minute. Top speed readers may reach 800-1000 words per minute with an 85% comprehension rate!

Why Learn Speed Reading?

If you could read four to five times faster and comprehend and retain more of what you read, how do you think that would help you? You could do research for your reports, articles and eBooks four times faster. You could absorb information from trade journals in record speed.

You could learn more in less time than ever before. So many entrepreneurs get bogged down in paperwork and research. They spend countless hours each week trying to figure out how to get through (or avoid!) the mountain of work on their desks while still accomplishing their goals for the week. It’s tough!

There are all sorts of books and DVDs available that can teach you speed reading skills, and you can also find classes on this subject at many schools around the world. Learning speed reading is generally best accomplished using computer software, because it allows you to be interactive. It’s a lot harder to judge your ability when you have to use a stopwatch to time your reading, and it can be even more difficult to gauge your accuracy and retention.

There are many skills an entrepreneur needs to reach peak productivity. Speed reading is just one more invaluable tool in an arsenal that can bring an average entrepreneur into a whole new world by maximizing productivity and efficiency.

Useful links:
Speed reading program

Speed reading software

It’s that time of year again, the time that strikes fear in the hearts of work-at-home parents. Summer vacation is almost upon us and the kids will be home. Your question of the day will no longer be:

“Do I tackle the sales letter today, find an expert to interview for my podcast, or create the new website content?”

The question of the day will be…“Mommmm/Daaaad, what’s there to do?”

OK. Maybe it’s not quite that bad. There’s even a good side of no homework hassles for three months. No morning rush. No school-driven schedules.

“But I’m losing my childcare, my quiet time for work,” you say.

This is true. And you have reason for concern, but take heart. As many a home-schooling work-at-home parent knows, giving your attention to both work and the children and keeping your sanity while doing this can be quite a challenge – but it is doable!

Whether you have one child or four, there’s sure to be a few tips here that will help you make this a great summer – for your family and your online business.

Alternatives to Day Care Centers

Let’s face it, too much togetherness even for non-working parents and kids can get stressful. Since you’re working on your business at home, it’s even more important to make use of some childcare alternatives.

For school age children, this might be some form of day camp. Check local publications, community online forums, the Yellow Pages, etc., for summer offerings such as these:

- YMCA Day Camp
- Church Day Camp
- Interest-Specific Day Camps (e.g. theatre, horseback
riding, baseball)
- Boys and Girls Club
- Parks & Recreation Summer Programs
- College Hosted Summer Youth Programs
- Community Pool Supervised Swims
- Kids’ Gyms
- 4-H
- Overnight Camps (Scouts, etc.)

Some of these may be free or charge only a nominal fee. If tuition is an issue, ask about scholarships or bartering deals.

Other alternatives may include help from a family member or friend, or a taking turns with a trusted neighbor a couple mornings or afternoons a  week.

Schedule work that requires the most uninterrupted quiet for when your children are out with others or asleep. If you don’t have a co-parent to help out, also schedule in some time for yourself, whether to have lunch with a friend or simply relax.

Most kids cherish the freedom of summer days, but they also thrive on routines. The living is easier in summer when everyone can count on routines. For example: activities for the kids while you work for two hours each morning, followed by lunch together, and then off to the day camp, while you go back to work, etc. You and your children’s mileage will vary!

Here are some tips other work-at-home parents have shared:

Schedule “just for fun” play time with child and parent into each day.

While there is the school’s summer reading list, also encourage reading for fun and personal interest. Librarians are wonderful at helping find just the right books to suit a child’s likes and dislikes. This can bring you quite a bit of interruption-free time, and you will be doing your kids a big favor.

Pack an activity box with favorite DVDs, arts and crafts, games and toys. Then bring the box out only as needed, such as during a tight deadline. From time to time, add new items. Keep it scarce so it will be a special treat that holds their interest.

No matter how eager you are to start your workday, spending some quality time with your kids first can ward off frequent interruptions later. For example, playing Candyland with a 5-year-old for ten minutes can satisfy the need for attention and the child is more likely to play alone for the next hour or two.

Give them part-time summer jobs in your business (it’s tax deductible) or around the house. While you focus on your work, they can be happily working towards earning money for a special toy or activity.

Children need down time when tired or cranky. Don’t feel bad about turning on the TV if it’s a quality program or DVD.

Signal work time by placing a sign on your office door. If you’re stationed in a family area, put it on your desk.

Often kids can get creative with coming up with things to do, but sometimes a short brainstorming session with you can help. Keep a list of activities on hand.

Plan for a special family day each week.

If you have or can get a second computer, let the children explore new computer skills through kid-friendly tutorials that teach everything from blogging to creating websites. These can be CDs or downloaded software that don’t require Internet access to run, minimizing supervision.

Plan ahead

Don’t wait till the kids have been home a week and you’re pulling out your hair, feeling frustrated and guilty. Start planning now.

You can also pave the way with your attitude. Respect yourself for the work you are doing, for the lifestyle you are creating for you and your family. Communicate this expectation of respect from the children, and remember to set an example in showing them respect.

Finally, remember to take some time to enjoy some of that summer vacation!

Released in October of 2008, Flock is a free download web browser that lets you access supported social services such as Twitter, Facebook and MySpace without having to log on to each. Flock can track photos, share links and videos,  check webmail, post directly into a blog, and much more. Best of all, Flock works on Windows, Mac, and Linux platforms.

Flock seems to have zeroed in on a faster and friendlier way of connecting people and frequently accessed topics. Social networkers no longer have to go from browser to browser to connect with friends and associates or to access the information needed on a daily basis. For those of us who make our living from communication, it’s easy to get “browser fatigue” – but Flock makes sure that we don’t miss out on anything by providing a Media Bar to notify us of new videos, photos, and more.

The Flock web browser uses Mozilla’s powerful Firefox architecture to provide an obstacle-free path to a myriad of sites, such as Digg, YouTube, Facebook, MySpace, Flickr, and Twitter – letting us share information and network with others who share our same interests, all in one browser window.

Those of us who find it difficult to juggle home, family and business will discover that Flock is another way we can simplify our lives and reduce the frantic online searches to gather information and keep in touch with others. The Internet has become so indispensable in our lives that most of us use it on a daily basis. However, so much information and ways to access it has been added to the Internet that it makes sense to have a browser like Flock to uncomplicate our online needs.

Some other features of Flock that online marketers might enjoy are its blogging platform support – it even has a builtin spell checker; built in search engines; supports all Firefox extensions and others – and its advanced technology fraud protection.

Of the users who have downloaded Flock, over 70% say that they use it as their primary browser. Many Flock users say that one of the best features is how the interface is designed. The buttons are placed very intuitively and there’s a “star” button that adds favorite sites with merely a point and click. Flock can also upload up to 1,000 photos at once  to Photobucket and Flickr. Those are pretty neat features for those of us with little time to spare!

Have you ever been in a spot where you were five minutes into a Skype call and it hits you:“I should have been recording this!” What a waste, too, because the calls you make with networking friends, trainers, or mentors are often very valuable.

It’s easy to record and save these conversations as MP3 recordings to be made available to share as a podcast or downloaded to your website for members of your business team. First, we’ll look at what software is available for recording and saving these valuable moments.

At the top of the list for recording Skype calls is Pamela,a software that’s designed for the purpose of recording VoIPconversations. It also saves your conversation in MP3 format, which makes it ready to turn into a podcast and broadcast it at a later date. Pamela also answers calls, forwards, faxes and other useful features.

Pamela offers free recording of any type of Skype call for up to 15 minutes  per call! If you want to remove this limitation all you need is an activation key which you can purchase here.

Callburner is another service that Skype callers have access to. It’s free to use if both callers are Callburner members. For those who will use Skype calls where one user is not a Callburner user, then there’s a nominal charge.

If you use Skype a lot and would like the convenience of Microsoft Outlook, then you might consider going with Skylook. With Skylook, you can keep track of your Skype userlist, conversations, an recordings similar to using Outlook with email right from the convenience within Outlook.Skylook comes in a basic free version and a pro version, which you can try for free before you buy.

And finally for you Mac users, there’s an option known as Call Recorder for Skype. Like its PC counterparts, it’s easy to download and use. As you would expect, there’s a trial version and when you want to buy it, it’s just $15.

It’s really very easy to record your Skype conversations, which you can then pass on through your organization or to your list. With the ease of use, convenience, and affordability factors, you don’t have any excuse not to!

If you want to improve your business and make more money, self motivation must become an integral part of your life every day, with every thought you have. This is especially true if you are an online marketer and your ultimate success depends upon new ideas and the ability to rejuvenate yourself on a daily basis.

Here are some tips and techniques that will keep you motivated even  during the bad days(we all have them):

1. Set Goals and Review them Often – You have to know where you are heading in both your personal and professional life before you can plan how to get there. Set short and longterm goals and make them attainable. If they are too far out of reach, you will become frustrated and the goals will never be accomplished.
2. Reward Your Successes – Think of ways to reward yourself when you reach a coveted goal. Look at the way corporate world rewards: bonuses, lunches, days off, and promotions. You can do the same for yourself. Make the rewards larger and more extravagant as you progress from realizing short and then long-term goals.
3. Ultimate Failure – Failures are a natural part of the progression of life, but the trick is to learn from them. Havelock Ellis, British physician and social reformer once said, “It is on our failures that we base a new and different and better success.” Take the time to analyze your failures, but don’t spend too much time on them. Move ahead!
4.  Don’t Procrastinate – Procrastination can be a deadly blow to motivation. To avoid procrastination, have a clear idea of what the task is, gather what you need to accomplish it, and then complete the task before you go on to the next. Perform the small tasks on days when you are not as energetic, and save the more daunting tasks for days that you feel clear-headed and energized.
5. Answer Only to Yourself – If you quit a 9 to 5 job to concentrate on your own business, it will be easy to turn off the alarm in the morning and sleep an extra hour or two. If you find yourself slacking off on your pre-determined schedule, tell yourself that you ae the boss now and you must act like it. Don’t adopt behaviors that would get you fired from a traditional job!
6. Seek Personal Growth Along With Business Success – As your business grows and you start making more money, you will want to evaluate and set goals for your personal life as well. Do you need to lose weight, give yourself a makeover or improve your surroundings? By reaching your personal goals, you will find that you have more positive thinking and an abundance of energy to achieve your goals.
7. Persevere – As you climb the ladder of selfmotivation, you will discover paths to success that you never knew existed. Your personal life will be happier and more content and your business will prosper. You will become more aware when negative thoughts enter your mind, and with the selfmotivation techniques you have learned you will be better able to turn them around.
8. Have Fun – Having fun doesn’t have to be limited to a reward for reaching a goal. You can learn to have fun in your work and day-today life. Live your life like it’s a big adventure and you will stay motivated.

Consider self motivation as an important asset to your business and personal success. You’ll want to practice it every day to avoid waning enthusiasm and sluggish or non-existent progress of your life’s goals.

As you build a solid customer base, the hope is that each customer is satisfied and happy with your product. You can also hope that each and every customer is equipped with the savvy and drive to go through the purchasing,  downloading (or receiving), and the using process with very little trouble.

In most cases, you’ll find that as long as you’ve provided a good product and good, easy-to-follow directions for buying, downloading or receiving (by whatever mode), and usage instructions, all will go smoothly. In fact, when this works really well, you’ll get repeat business and referrals.

Thankfully, most customers are a joy to work with at best, or non-problems at worst. But as the saying goes, “There are a few rotten apples in every bunch.” You’re going to find a few troubling customers who, at some point, you may have to cut ties with. If it hasn’t already happened to you, it will. These customers buy your product and very quickly become problems –not withsimple issues, but with repeated complaints coupled with rude communication.

This can occur in a few different ways:

They have no clue how to use your product, and are unable or unwilling to follow the instructions and explanations that are included with your product.

They become demanding of your time and energy by emailing andasking many, many, many questions.

They begin to use the product and blame you if they don’t immediately have excellent results or accuse you of misrepresenting your product.

They continuously contact and badger you for no apparent reason.

At some point, a customer like this becomes a liability, a drain on your time and energy, and costs you much more than they paid for the product. It’s up to you to determine when it’s time to let the customer go.

In an effort to avoid what’s probably inevitable (that you will get a bad customer), ask yourself these questions and make sure you can answer yes to each of them:

Am I marketing to the right target market(s)?

Is my product fully explained – what it does, how it will help the customer, what format the customer will receive it in, guarantees, how to complete the purchase and receive the product?

Does the product come with clear usage instructions?

Does the product come with any mention of “help desk” time, if the customer is having issues?

Is the product good?

If you’ve answered yes to the above questions, you can feel confident that you’re doing your part to ensure a good, smooth transaction. If you’ve answered no to any of the questions, take some time to revise your product and plan so that you’re sure all of the answers are yes.

Once this is done, at least when a difficult customer disrupts your day, you’ll know you’ve done what you can to start them off on the right foot. Next, you have to determine just what you’re willing to do to help confused, frustrated, or otherwise upset customers.

How much time and energy are you willing to spend? What are the advantages and disadvantages of trying to go above and beyond the call of duty to keep this customer happy?

Create your own set of guidelines so you know just how far you’ll go in certain situations.

For example: Your customer seems either unable or unwilling to follow clear instructions that are included with the product. You may want to give this customer a certain amount of your time to help them figure it out.If they still can’t or won’t, it may be time to issue a refund.

Your customer is making demands that seem unreasonable based on the fact that they only paid you $17 or $47 or whatever the price was for your product. At some point, you’ll have to decide if you’re going to issue a refund and cut them loose.

After the refund guarantee expires, your customer is unhappy with his or her individual results and wants you to make things better for them. Do you give a refund in this situation, or adhere to the guarantee period?

Before cutting any customer loose, ask yourself if you can gain by doing anything and everything to make this person happy. If not, find out where your cut-off point is.

In every case, you should always treat a customer with complete respect, but  that doesn’t mean you should disrespect yourself by accepting ongoing wrath from the customer.

Always be polite and never insult your customer. When you get to the point where you know there’s no hope of salvaging the situation and keeping your sanity, tell the customer that you believe your product is not right for them and that you would be happy to offer them a refund.

If they argue this with you, explain that you’ve done everything you can for them, and that you’ll issue a refund. Stay firm with them once you’ve decided to remove them from your customer base. Give the refund promptly and move on.

With your Internet business, just the same as any business, your mantra should be “The customer is always right.” But you must add a caveat to that, remembering that sometimes the wrong customer has hooked up with the wrong product.

Certain customers will never be fully satisfied with your product – or anyone else’s for that matter – it’s rarely an isolated incident with terminally rude or unsatisfied customers. And some people simply aren’t savvy enough or willing enough to learn how to do something new.

Don’t let those difficult customers who come along once in awhile slow down your momentum. Learn how to deal effectively with them, don’t take it personally, and keep the ball rolling.

Although there are many factors that contribute to your success or failure, one of the most powerful elements is your productivity. The direct opposite of being a producer in life is to be a procrastinator.

Most marketers would love to be a producer, but sadly many procrastinate and put off their success. There are only 24 hours in a day. How many of those do you actually get something done?

Do you find yourself checking email, watching videos on YouTube, posting non-productive messages in forums, or engaging in other timewasting activities? You may not even realize how much of a procrastinator you actually are — until you begin looking at your sales and wondering why you’re not making the kind of money you we’re expecting to make.

Procrastination is derived from many traits. Some people are actually intimidated by the thought of success. Others have not mapped out a good direction for their business. Some simply have a bad habit that they need to tend to.

Sometimes procrastination crops up on someone who is usually a producer in life. It could be due to an increase in extreme stress, a crisis that has arisen in their personal lives, or even a psychological or physiological issue that needs to be checked out by a doctor.

Those who have low self-esteem often suffer from procrastination more than those who are more confident in life. Many consider them dreamers, rather than doers. They often procrastinate in order to avoid completing something they consider less-than-perfect.

A procrastinator is not a lazy person. In fact, a procrastinator will often find other tasks to absorb their time, such as cleaning a messy workspace. They often make excuses for their procrastination such as, “I can’t get my work done until my desk area is clean.”

Procrastination is not a conscious choice. Once it becomes a habit, a way of life, the person simply feels overwhelmed with everything they cannot get done. Procrastinators often have little self-control over their actions when it comes to workplace tasks. They may prefer to complete a small task, and enjoy the satisfaction, rather than focus on a larger, more difficult task.

From a physiological standpoint, many procrastinators have a different brain function from producers. They are more distracted by outside stimuli than producers. Many procrastinators have been diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). A producer, on the other hand, begins each day with a schedule that guides him or her on their quest for success. They know exactly which tasks need to be completed, and in which order. This organization is a skill that can be learned.

A producer knows exactly which materials they need in order to complete a task. They know how to interact with people on every skill level — whether it’s outsourcing to a freelancer or securing joint venture partnerships with another person who is a producer.

Skills and knowledge are very  important to a producer. They are always trying to increase their expertise in their area of business. Their attitude is flexible, allowing them to adapt to change easily and tap into their resources to achieve their goals.

Do you need help learning to be a producer and get rid of your procrastination habit? Here are some helpful hints to turn your life around and achieve more success:

 1. Choose your tasks carefully. Do not create a to do list that includes anything other than what must be done today.

 2. Map out your goals, and work hard to reach them. You have to know exactly where you’re going in order to get there.

 3. Start with the task that you hate or dread the most. If you wait until it’s last on your list, chances are you’ll procrastinate until the next day (and the next, and the next, etc.).

 4. Figure out what time of day you’re most productive. If you tend to get more work done between the hours of 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., then set those as your  workday. Not everyone will have the same routine. Some people are more productive late at night.

 5. Have some smaller milestones in place so that you can feel proud of what you achieved. If you’re working on a 300-page ebook, make it so that you can mark off your smaller goals chapter by chapter.

 6. Buy an egg timer. If you have trouble focusing on the task for a certain amount of time, then get an egg timer and set it so that you can quit looking at the clock and work hard, while the timer counts for you.

 7. Give yourself a deadline. Procrastinators often find it hard to get work for themselves completed. You may have been working on a single e-book for nine months now, when a producer could have had it finished in just three.

 8. Delegate tasks to other people to help you get rid of your workload. You do not have to do it all yourself! In this day and age, there are freelancers and virtual assistants who can help you with almost everything having to do with your online business.

Being a procrastinator may seem easier, but it puts far more stress on you to hold off on tasks you know have to get done eventually than if you would just go ahead and become a producer instead.