Do you operate your business as a series of projects, using project management tools and skills to advance your projects from conception to completion? Or perhaps you're new to project management tools and skills and haven't considered applying them to your own business? Most of us fall somewhere in between.
Running a productive and efficient business, whether for one person or for 500, is a series of projects of various sizes and complexity.
For example, here are some projects a typical solopreneur may have:
-- Creating/upgrading your business identity (logo, stationery, biz cards, etc)
-- Creating/upgrading your web site
-- Setting up or upgrading your computer equipment
-- Setting up or reorganizing your filing system(s) ? whether computer-based or paper-based
-- Doing your tax reports
-- Creating your marketing referral engine
-- Creating passive-income revenue streams (teleclasses, ebooks, e-classes, white papers, reports, etc)
If you aren't using project management tools and skills to run your business, your productivity is suffering.
Now, if you don't have a full client/work load, then perhaps you don't think this is an issue you need to be concerned with right now. May I offer to you the suggestion that the time to increase your efficiency and productivity with new tools and skills is precisely when you don't have all the clients or work you want or need?
Learning something new like this helps keep your enthusiasim charged, which spills over into your marketing activities, which helps engage your prospects in your business. It's all good.
So where do you start?
I recommend that my clients start by using TraxTime, a little PC computer program available inexpensively at www.spudcity.com.
TraxTime allows you to setup projects or clients and then track the amount of time you are spending on that project or for that client. You can run reports (which are great for attaching to your invoices) of how much time you've spent by day or by week.
TraxTime functions like a little time clock ? you just punch in and punch out of the various projects and clients as you move from project to project throughout your day. When you get in the habit of using TraxTime, you'll find you can then analyze how/where you are spending your time ? quite the eye-opener for many solopreneurs. (Where you actually are spending your time can be quite different from where you think you are spending your time. And in the soloprenuering business, time is our most critical resource.)
Then what?
Once you get the hang of tracking your time, you next use this history of how much time it takes for you to perform certain tasks and projects to begin forcasting the time you will spend on upcoming projects and tasks.
For forcasting, task dependency identification, and scheduling, I use an Excel spreadsheet in its most basic text-only format. I identify all the tasks in a project and enter them into the spreadsheet in column 1 in the order (from top to bottom) of how they must be completed. Then I use the cells across each row to specify the due dates (via time allocated). I reserve the last column of the spreadsheet for recording notes of special circumstances or decisions that have or will affect that task. And I use color to highlight those cells where tasks are critical (yellow) or off-schedule (red). Works great for most solopreneuring projects.
I've used this method for projects as complex as requiring me to track the work of 12 subcontractors, so I know it works. (Yes, I've used Microsoft Project. I find it too cumbersome to setup and manage for most projects performed by solopreneurs. But if you already know/use it, please continue.)
No matter which project management tools you use in your business, do start thinking like a project manager and setting up, tracking, and running your business as the series of projects it really is.
Copyright 2004, Rose Hill, Inc
____________________________________________
Rose Hill, Founder and Owner,of Biz Whiz Expert (http://www.solobizville.com) and Team Member of Solo-E.Com (http://www.solobizville.com) has been self-employed since 1990 - first as a technical writer and publications project manager, and now as a business coach for solopreneurs.
Knowing how to run corporate departments and how to market corporate entities, products, and services did nothing to prepare her for successfully running and marketing a one-person business. That is why Rose created the SoloBizVille and SoloBizU community - to specifically to help solo entrepreneurs jumpstart their business success without all the trial-and-error learning.
____________________________________________
*********** Find more articles like this at http://www.solobizville.com ? Keeping Solo Entrepreneurs Juiced in Business and in Life. Our team of Solo Entrepreneurs are comprised of small business experts who support others in finding business success with the flexibility and freedom to have a life, too. Network with other freelancers, self-employed and Solo Entrepreneurs in our forums, enjoy our articles and newsletter, and find other online training opportunities. ***********
quick home cleaning Glenview ..So it's time to invest some finances into advertising your... Read More
The bad things starts with the letter 'O'?.like Obstacles, Obstruction,... Read More
"If at first you don't succeed, then skydiving definitely isn't... Read More
That's right ? are you making enough mistakes in your... Read More
Your business is only as good as the number of... Read More
What kinds of things effect mobile service businesses P and... Read More
For really tough boat hull cleaning you will need to... Read More
A successful joint venture marketing effort is the goal of... Read More
Now that you have invested your time, energy and money... Read More
Have you ever wondered what the difference is between a... Read More
If you ask most small business owners what priority CRM... Read More
What is the best time to expand a mobile car... Read More
A thing worth doing is worth doing badly. Yes I... Read More
Many of us have noticed how some nearby communities seem... Read More
When the recent Games of the XXVIII Olympiad came to... Read More
When do annoyances in a relationship become too much to... Read More
Work smarter, not harderWhat is one of the best ways... Read More
As an entrepreneur you can learn a lot by following... Read More
If you're serious about wanting to start a business, the... Read More
Many small businesses do quite well due to the blood,... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission which governs the franchise industry thru... Read More
When you awoke this morning, you found yourself buzzing with... Read More
Business consulting opportunities might be just what your are looking... Read More
How do you know when an alliance needs to be... Read More
While I was hard at work last week, an everyday... Read More
scheduled maid service Winnetka ..Here are seven ways for owners of small businesses to... Read More
What was your aim when you went into business for... Read More
Expanding your business requires you to take a good hard... Read More
Ask anyone trapped in a cubical about their entrepreneurial dream... Read More
As an entrepreneur you can learn a lot by following... Read More
As the owner or an employee of a small-to medium-sized... Read More
Did you know that satisfaction is the number one emotion... Read More
The Customer Analysis section of the business plan assesses the... Read More
Washing manufactured homes, mobile homes, can be a lucrative and... Read More
North County San Diego has had some significant growth, and... Read More
Passion. Passion alone can make your business successful. As an... Read More
No matter how small your small business is, it is... Read More
A cluttered world of marketing communications diminishes the ordinary. The... Read More
Does your company have a community relation strategy? Have you... Read More
Here is an interesting case study of a company, which... Read More
What kinds of things effect mobile service businesses P and... Read More
Increase your profit potential by identifying ? and avoiding ?... Read More
It appears the mini-blimp indoor theme and concept is making... Read More
Are you a small business owner who wants to expand... Read More
For many small businesses, the "S" corporation is the business... Read More
Habit: A consistent behavior you perform so frequently that it... Read More
One of the critical success factors for service-related businesses is... Read More
Under the Securities Act of 1933, any offer to sell... Read More
Many smaller businesses choose niche markets for various reasons and... Read More
The Franchise Group at the Federal Trade Commission in all... Read More
Small Business |