How do you spend your first hour of business?

Many experts say that the first hour of your business day is the most important. What is the first thing you do in your business day?

I’m a huge fan of Brian Tracy and in his book, he recommends Eating the biggest, ugliest frog first (or something like that).  Basically, what he’s saying is do the biggest, most important job first.

I’ve also read numerous articles on how to be successful where you’ll find people talk about the power hour.  The way you spend the first hour of your day matters!!!!

Well yes, I absolutely agree, the way we spend the first hour of our business day does matter.  But, as a work at home mum, I find it really difficult to switch off from mum, dog walking mode to my being a full-time business blogger.  Before I can start work, I usually have to drive my son to the train station, walk the dog and do at least a couple of house jobs.

I would never describe myself as a morning person.  I get up at 6.30am on school days because that’s what time my alarm goes off and it’s how long we need as a family to have a fairly calm morning.  That first hour is mostly on autopilot.

By about 8.15am I’m usually sat down with my cup of tea at the computer ready to start my business day.  But here’s the thing.  I’m still in mum, home, dog, get the washing out… mode.  So this isn’t this the most productive time for me personally to go straight into my project work for the day?  No, definitely not.

I need that breathing space.  I need my cup of tea (okay I don’t actually need it but I like it) and transition time to ease into my business world.

My first hour of business

Of course, not every morning is the same, but mostly this is how I start my business day.  As much as possible I stick to this routine.  It works for me and my subconscious mind knows that plan of action and supports me.

Once I’ve got my cup of tea, I get sat down to the computer.  I have my diaries (1 for appointments and 1 for achievements), I have my to-do list which is usually an ongoing list with today’s tasks highlighted.  I have my yearly, monthly, weekly and that day’s Goals clearly written down.  I spend a few minutes reviewing theses. My tasks such as blog post, send email to list, make YouTube video… are written on my whiteboard planner. I have a pretty good routine so I know most days what my project work is without even looking, but it’s good to do a quick check anyway.

A couple of posts you might like to read are:

Using a to-do list effectively

Plan your day ahead of time

By this time my mind is focused on my business, what I want to achieve and what I want to get done that day.

I do a quick check of my emails.  I’ve set my emails up so that newsletter type emails go into a separate folder automatically so that I’m not distracted.  I do a quick scan.  Anything that looks interesting but is not client related or to deal with now I move straight to my read later file without opening.  Then I try to have a one-touch rule for the rest of the emails.  I reply, file or delete.

Good reading if you feel like you spend too much time on emails WARNING, Are emails taking over your life?

Then it’s onto social media.  I post on my Facebook group, page and twitter.  I BRIEFLY interact with others.

Time Tip

Don’t let social media take longer than 10 mins, you can always go back to it later in the day.

I aim to be completely finished with these tasks by 9am.  Then I move onto project work or client work.  I class 9am as my official start time for my business day.

So that’s how I spend my first hour of business.  It’s a routine that works well for me.  My most focused time is not that first hour, it’s my second hour of the business day, so I work with that.

One thing I’ve learned is that SUCCESS is different for us all and the road to success if different for us all.

Here’s an example of what I mean.  Earlier this week I read an article where the author was most insistent that unless we charge high prices, we do not value ourselves or our service/products.

Hmm, I wonder what Steve Smith founder of Poundland would think about that idea?

The thing is we’re all different.  Work to your strengths.  Know who your ideal client is and work on providing what they want or need.

KEY POINTS FOR THE FIRST HOUR OF YOUR BUSINESS DAY

1. I totally believe that it’s most important to do what works for you personally. Don’t follow someone else’s rules for success. What works for them may be totally wrong for you.
2. Write down your business goals so that you’re super clear about what you want to achieve during a set time. And be sure to create your action plan too. Review this at the start of your business day and ideally at the end of the business day.
3. Do your most important jobs, the ones that will move your business forward, bring in clients, bring in the money… as early on in the day as possible ( not necessarily the very first thing. Remember, for me, I need to have a bit of time transitioning from mum to my work.

Update – From Coach to Blogger

Since writing this post, I have now made the move to stop coaching and I am now a full-time blogger ( I sooo love saying that).  Here’s what my average day looks like.

The first 15 minutes of my blogging day is still with a mug of tea, checking social media and emails.  My son is 17 now and at college, so I need to drive him to the local train station.  I definitely still need that transition time where I switch off from being mum to blogger.

Next, I spend at least 30 minutes on my key task for the day – That may be writing a blog, writing an email to send out to my email list or working on a new download. I say at least 30 minutes but it is normally most of the morning.

By working on my key, priority tasks very early on in my business day, I am always moving closer to achieving my blogging goals.

The afternoons are generally spent scheduling social media and Pinterest, creating images, updating old posts.

If you’re interested you can read more about what a day in the life of a blogger looks like.

I’d love you to let me know in the comments below how you spend the first hour of your business day.

DOWNLOADS

Before you go, here are a few things you might be interested in. Some of the downloads are paid (usually less than £10) and others are PAY WHAT YOU WANT and you’re absolutely fine to put £0 in the payment box.

• Ideal Business Workbook – Clarity (really important to create the success you really want
• Business Booster Workbook – Give your business a boost with this law of attraction workbook
• Monthly Goal Setting Planner and Guide Getting clear about your goals is, in my opinion, an essential step in business success
• Simplicity Goal Setting Pack – If you’re really struggling to know what to focus on in business and all other areas of your life, I highly recommend this download
• Law of Attraction Business Planning Pack – My best-selling download to date, helping you to really use the law of attraction in your business

I hope you’ve found this post helpful – Please support this blog and share this post anywhere you can. Thanks so much – WENDY – MORNING BUSINESS CHAT