Pyjamanating

How do you focus your energy in this new work environment? I’m really veering wildly between thinking that I’ve nothing to do and being overwhelmed by the enormity of the task ahead.

I was delighted by this post on Escape from Cubicle Nation this morning. She’s talking about entrepreneurs who feel they have to do everything but I think it’s interesting advice for micro-entrepreneurs too.

1. Define selection criteria. Depending on the nature of your “too much” dilemma, you could use some of the following metrics:
   1. For narrowing down business ideas: Ease of implementation, fastest buck in your pocket, greatest market opportunity, juiciest joint venture opportunity, shortest time to get up in running, smallest up-front investment, ability to execute effectively given your experience and skills, greatest learning opportunity.
   2. For deciding which niche to work with: People that would be the most fun to hang out with, most under-served by competitors, greatest opportunity for free PR opportunities, most interesting market, greatest learning opportunity, most lucrative.
   3. For selecting marketing activities: Quickest way to get started, best way to reach your audience, quickest way to grow your mailing list, most likely to “re-purpose” in other ways (such as writing an ezine article that you turn into a podcast)
   4. For weeding out non-ideal clients or projects: Least likely to benefit from your personal attention, (for client) most easily transitioned to external resource (such as a fellow colleague), (for project) easiest to outsource to trusted provider
   5. Define in specific terms the cost to your financial, emotional or physical health if you continue to light all fires at once. While the concept of doing everything at one time may be glamorous and send visions of big checks dancing in your head, the reality can feel downright exhausting. When you take into account the “total cost” of being everything to everyone, you may find the willpower to make tough decisions.
   6. Create a long-term calendar where you plan for multiple projects. Here you have a place to write down your future plans for new and different projects, which you will get to once you finish your current priority. Just knowing when you will get to the next “great thing” will make it easier to let go of thinking about it all the time.