Thanks for the read, the only time I would ever consider becoming an entrepeneur would be after watchign dragons den. When you see an average person seal a deal from something they have been working on. Anyway was a great article again.

Thanks,
Richard.

The truth is that we ALL need to do that — but the problem is that we don’t really think about designing our own productivity systems. It’s a task that we ALL have to do as entrepreneurs simply because there is no off-the-shelf system that works for everyone.

It’s really a process of testing, practicing and refining until we invent something that works for us — and even then we need to know that it might change as the business grows, and for example, as the amount of email we get expands.

However, without any effort on my part, I discovered that for about a month now, I have watched less TV because of my passion to get my blog going in top shape. I work 7.30 to 5.30 and spend an average of 3hours on the road. So, I only have the evenings for reading books or watching TV (which is my favorite) Since I started my blog, I have been spending a lot of time reading e-books about blogging. I read till late in the night, so naturally, I had to sacrifice the time that I would have spend watching TV.

To be candid, my life has become better for it. The books that I have been reading have impacted my life as a whole, not just my online business.

Concerning sugar, I still have to work on that. I love anything sweet! I’ve got to break the habit.

I will give it a go and see if my productivity increases. – Adam

It sounds like a working title for a new self improvement product – TECS. (TV, email, cleaning, sugar).

Sugar: I have observed the rollercoaster effects of sugar in groups of teenagers at a local school. We have created a world of toxic foodstuffs and some of our generation are making a living by selling them to our children.

Television (derived from telovisina: telo – to pour out, visina – raw sewage). It boggles the mind how many $100,000,000 is spent annually on the networks, transmitters, production teams and allied industries in order to deliver what mostly amounts to raw sewage into our homes.

Cleaning: You must be a tidy nut with so much time between visits.

Email: I have just finished an extended break from work and I have developed a habit of sorting through emails real fast. The delete key sure is your friend.

- Geoff Robertson

PS. I made up the TV metaphor – it is not real, it just seems that way.

http://www.golfnorwich.com/

As we near the end of 2007, it’s time to start making those goals for yourself and your business for 2008. After studying all the entrepreneurs I have come into contact with over the past year, both at StartupNation and in my marketing/webdev bus…

I remember when the late, great silent film star Norma Desmond of “Sunset Blvd,” aka Gloria Swanson looking thinner and better in her ’70′s promoting that book on Merv Griffin and all the great talk shows of the ’60′s. Her last husband, William Duffy, wrote it.

In addition to the medical aspect, it details how sugar became so pervasive and how wars have been fought over it, like oil is today.

Secondly, I agree about coffee and let’s include black tea. Although white and green tea are being hyped these days, they can be ok if drunk minimally.

The one way to get around all the processed food with sugar, caffeine, salt, MSG, various flavor enhancers, etc is to eat as much raw foods as possible. I know that’s hard for many on the go, or in weather wherein not many fresh veggies and fruit available.

But it’s easy to grow your own organic sprouts, and most are surprised items like romaine lettuce has more protein than meat. Eating raw on the run just takes a little planning, like buying fruit and cutting up celery.

It’s amazing how much energy and emotional stability I’ve gained as I’ve eaten more raw foods and also lost a lot of weight over the last 6 years. The myth you have to eat hot food during winter just means drink lots of herbal teas to feel nice and warm!

There’s tons of books and online resources to help people transition to more raw foods, plus the science behind it, and great recipes, so just Google it! It’s fun and extremely empowering and liberating.

TV: I just watch great old films on Turner Classic Movies to inspire me and because they are my passion and my only relaxation besides walking. I too have Dish which offers satellite radio, Sirius. Although I am known for my punk rock photos, I listen to their “Best of Broadway” because it’s so uplifting and inspiring!

Most of the time I just listen to my own thoughts and focus on my work and the great tips Yaro shares with us, while munching on celery and drinking herbal teas.

I haven’t had TV reception in yours. I don’t have cable or satellite. I listen to Yahoo radio and watch Netflix movies. Yes, breaking the TV habit is a great idea.

Mark McGuinness finished his time management series for creatives on Friday, then released a free e-book compiled from the series.

I followed along on the series, posting at my personal blog (designers-who-blog.com). It was interesting going and I learned a great deal about myself.

Sugar. Mark doesn’t mention sugar, but that one I gave up years ago. Coffee, now, I believe that has the same problems, in that it makes me jittery. Jittery eventually wears me out.

Maids? I’ve sworn by them for years. Mine comes in once a week so I guess I’m messier than you are. Or it might just be that I’m female

Emails? Well, although I’ve improved a great deal since the beginning of the series, I still have a way to go. But, they no longer control the best part of my days.

Since the series I noticed I”m able to take more time to read books, walk, and generally spend quality time with friends, etc. Oh, and get more work done of course.

It was worth taking the time every week while the series was running, to journal what was happening as I put his ideas in motion.

Some things worked. Some didn’t. But what worked is now ingrained in the way I work.

Nice.

The house cleaner thing is a great idea. However, I find that folding laundry, dusting, etc. is a great time to listen to all those podcasts I need to listen to for work. I find that if I noodle around on the computer while listening to podcasts, I end up being distracted. Driving and listening to podcasts works well, too.

Pierre

Cleaning – I’d like to outsource that, but not so sure the wife would go for it. Definitely something to look into in the near future! We aren’t super messy, but we aren’t super neat either, and with her in law school I need to do most of the cleaning.

Processed Sugar – I don’t like sweet foods, so that cuts most of that crap out of my diet. I bake my own bread, make my own beef jerky and apple leathers, used to brew my own beer. My snacks generally involve sliced carrots or pretzels or fruit. Given that I run competitively, my diet is pretty important to keep me healthy.

Email – I know I need to batch process. Haven’t gotten to that yet, though. One of these days…

SUGAR: I dont do much of it. If anything coffee is my vice of choice.

CLEANING LADY: No one can do it better than me, so now outsourcing this one. I’m abit OCD.

DVD’s: The one thing i seriously need is more exercise. Walking, biking, tennis, etc. More of it.

It was nice to hear about your sensibilities and home life. Good read. Thx!

Great tips, I agree with all of them. Hiring a cleaning lady is interesting I must say but I would rather get some exercise and do it myself. I am starting to read more books and watch productive TV shows that will teach me something.

Also saves money too

I’m thinking if there’s speed reading, how about speed-emailing? Is there such skill?

But the $20 a housecleaning thing? Is that only in Australia? It is WAY more here in the states, but one of the number one reasons I’m motivated to blog. If I can write and pay someone else to clean, that’s the best reward I can imagine.

Thanks Yaro. I’ll take that advise seriously (whatever happened to Clark at Smalbille…hmmmm).

Cheers!

I want your house cleaner, that’s SO cheap!