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The following is a guest blog post by Terry Monaghan of Organizing For Your Life. Terry will presenting “Planning to Succeed” on Tuesday, November 9th.
Why is this so important? Well, let’s look at what life is like if we don’t have effective strategies for planning and managing our time…
Following are several areas that manage to suck up a lot of time (and create a lot of overwhelm and frustration), if left to their own devices:
No strategy – If you haven’t taken the time to really create a strategy for what you are doing, then what you are doing is nothing more than a lot of tasks that may or may not relate to the outcome you actually want to produce. Lots of activity does not equal a strategy.
No plan – Real planning includes several steps. Many times we think that if we know where we want to go (that is, we have set the goal), then that’s all that’s needed for the plan. No – that is not a plan. That is a goal. The plan gives you the map to get you from where you are now to where you want to go. The plan will also examine possible ways to get there, as well as inevitable roadblocks and detours.
No schedule – Have you ever noticed that you really won’t ‘get around to it?’ Or if you do, it is haphazard and you forget some part and end up making more work for yourself? Yes, you have decided you are going to DO something. But you haven’t determined WHEN you are going to get it done. No when usually means not now, later, maybe someday.
Dealing with Email – Email alone can take up half of your day (or more). This is an area where one simple strategic approach can make a huge difference.
No space to work – You have a home office – congratulations. But, if there are piles of work in the living room, dining room, kitchen, den, bedroom and car – that space isn’t really set up to work for you. Carving out a space to work takes a little thought, and some planning and time to implement.
Not delegating – How is that working out for you? I know – you can do it faster, better, more thoroughly than anyone else. But, if you wouldn’t pay someone else your salary to do that task, why are you paying yourself?
No team – This goes along with doing it all yourself. As far as I can tell, there are very few things you do totally in isolation. Building your business and living your life are not designed to be that way!
Now I figure I have really depressed you! If you are interested in some of the solutions – join The Enterprising Moms on November 9, 2010. Get details and register!
(c) 2010, Terry Monaghan
Monthly observances provide a wonderful opportunity for you to share your expertise and insights, offer tips, tools and resources, and attract potential customers and referral partners. The following is a list observances for the month of September. Get creative and explore what you can create using special observances and holidays as a springboard.
A quick Google search on any of these will get you started!
Carolyn
Chief Enterprising Mom
@EnterprisingMom | @ApplyWithin
Myth #1:
CSR stands for Customer Service Representative
It may, but it also stands for Corporate Social Responsibility — which was defined in the part one of this series. Simply put, it’s integrating your values into business practices.
Myth #2:
CSR takes too much time; I can’t squeeze in one more thing!
We’re all time-starved, but we’re Enterprising Moms and I KNOW if there’s one thing we universally love, it’s EFFICIENCY. Crafting a common-sense approach to sustainability and strategic community partnerships can accomplish many things at once:
Myth #3:
We’re in a recession; people don’t really care if I’m integrating CSR into my business practices.
Oh, really? According to a Working Mother article, “2010 Best Green Companies for America’s Children,” Clorox scarfed up Burt’s Bees & created a new Greenworks green cleaning products line — the result: a 23% increase in sales, in a recession.
A recent Forbes article, “Mandatory Social Responsibility” discusses how social responsibility has become almost mandatory for companies, and that some companies such as Patagonia and The Body Shop actually have an appeal based on their “ethical” appeal to consumers.
Think it’s only for the big guys?
What about some local entrepreneurs: Seth Goldman & Honest Tea, and a couple of folks new on the scene with sustainable products: Lunch Skins, and Cattiwampus (proof that you can make money while investing in sustainability).
Myth #4:
I have to make money, right, before I can give it away?
True, part of businesses contribution to society is to make money, which gives them the resources to then give it away.
This myth perpetuates the belief that the only component of CSR is writing a check. Utilizing CSR can actually make or save you money by:
You don’t have to expend financial resources to have some component of CSR, and by integrating it wisely into your business; you can actually help to make or save money!
So, now that you know why CSR is good for business, what should you do about it?
Register today for “Doing Well While Doing Good: Demystifying Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)” on Tuesday, May 11, where you’ll leave with concrete guidance on how to do well in your business while doing good in our community.
Jane Meier is marketing consultant who loves helping businesses integrate marketing with Corporate Social Responsibility. Whether seeking to build partnerships with non-profits, developing marketing strategy, or planning or implementing special events, clients hire Jane for her skills in partnership building, her attention to detail and passionate commitment to corporate social responsibility.
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