Business Productivity Tip of the Day: The Universe Was Sending Me a Message
So, the other morning (7:45), I was laying in bed snuggling the puppies and going through emails on my phone when two emails came in right in a row – basically saying “Get off your duff Dean and go make some money!”
I copied them over here as they are pretty kick butt and I'm friend with both of these guys, so I know they wouldn't mind me giving them a little promo.
If you want to be more productive, I highly suggest you read the tips from these two very very smart marketers.
Terry Dean is first, followed by Tony Shepherd. 🙂
Sbj: Start your Day with Operation Moneysuck
What is the FIRST thing you do online each day?
Is it checking your email?
Or reading a popular forum?
Or perhaps it's even logging into Facebook?
If you're doing any of the above, STOP it!
Your first action sets the tone for the rest of your day.
You have to focus on bringing in the cash.
That's priority #1.
If your business doesn't bring in money, you soon won't be in business anymore.
There are a LOT of so-called internet businesses that aren't businesses at all.
They're just little hobbies.
If you want to just have another hobby, that's fine…as long as you understand that's what you're doing.
What is it that brings in the cash in your business?
What is the highest and best use of your time?
Here's how my day begins.
Get out of bed. Take a shower. Grab a water bottle on the way through the kitchen.
Turn on my computer. Take a glance to the left where I have notes about the day ahead.
Yes, I'm old fashioned. There is a physical desk calendar on the left side of my desk that lists all clients I'm going to speak to, any interviews I'm doing, and my product creation schedule for the day.
It also lists what I'm going to write about this morning.
Then I pop open Word and get down to business.
Writing brings in my cash.
It may be an email. It could be sales copy for a new website. It could be a new ebook.
Or it could be my next hot off the presses Monthly Mentor Club issue.
Invest one measly hour in bringing in the cash first.
Then respond to emails, check your stats, or look at today's news.
Sometimes the writing keeps right on going. And throughout the day I may have several more writing sessions. But that first hour starts the day.
I deal with distractions. And yes, I'm guilty of checking my email first at times. But it costs me money just like it does you.
Our incomes are determined by how much time we invest in bringing in the cash.
I remember Gary Halbert and John Carlton always used to call this “Operation MoneySuck.”
John was hired by Gary to help him write ads for his clients. They'd have a scheduled day to knock out the copy. But as soon as the day started, Gary's two secretaries and his girlfriend would each bust in with all kinds of bad news and emergencies.
Gary's response was to get everyone out of the room…and lock the door.
He'd then say it was time to get busy, “Screw all that irrelevant stuff. We're gonna bring in the bucks.”
What brings in your bucks?
Are you putting it first in your priorities or is it getting pushed to the side as you ‘react' to daily emergencies?
If you're not sure what brings in the bucks, you're in desperate need of membership in the Monthly Mentor Club.
This month's issue will be put in the mail tomorrow on May 1st.
It's all about how one of my friends did over $40,000 in business through Linkedin in just 2 months without spending a penny on advertising.
He shares his complete system including how he finds bullseye prospects, contacts them, what to say, and how to follow-up.
Click to check out My Mentor Club
Your Marketing Coach,
Terry Dean
“The Internet Lifestyle Mentor”
Earn More. Work Less. Enjoy Life!
Sbj: The One Success Rule I've Used for YEARS
I was chatting to a marketing mate on Skype last night and I mentioned one of my ‘rules' to him.
Now this bloke isn't a newbie by ANY stretch of the imagination but he thought what I'd shared was quite interesting and said I should email you lot about it.
Two things I should mention:
1. I'm not sure if I've shared this before so apologies if I HAVE…
2. You might think it's a really obvious thing (I'll be honest – I do) so if it bores the crap out of you, I apologise.
So here we go…
This is something – a ‘rule' of mine that I've applied to my IM business (all my businesses actually) pretty much since day one
And it's this…
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Before you do ANYTHING else in your day – do at least ONE thing that brings money into your business.
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For example it's my unshakeable habit to write a promo email and cue it up before I check my email or do anything else each day (if I'm sending a promo that day of course)……because that's where the money comes from.
Another example would be buying 500 clicks from a solo ad seller in the morning BEFORE I continue writing a salespage or working on my latest newsletter…
…because sending traffic to my funnel is where the money comes from.
And another example would be getting in touch with a JV partner and getting him to agree a date to promote my product…
…because that's where the money comes from
When I sit down at my desk in the morning I ALWAYS attend to the money FIRST. I always do the thing that brings it in.
My ‘to do' lists have ONE thing written at the very top, then a line, then rest of it underneath.
Guess what the one thing at the top is?
Yep – the thing that will bring the money in.
I've been doing this for so long it's second nature to me, but my mate was intrigued when I explained it to him yesterday.
(The bugger will probably launch a WSO based around it – he's a clever sod 🙂
But that's it:
Attend to the money FIRST by doing at least ONE thing that brings it in every single day.
It won't arrive my osmosis y'know.
Hope you got something out of this.
Have a wonderful Tuesday
Tony Shepherd
You checked out my ‘How To Legally Make Money Out Of Thin Air' WSO yet?
Get more details at the link below:
If you want a proven point-by-point system for taking your business from where it is RIGHT NOW up to $100k a year or more…
…and you've realised that the only difference between you and most successful marketers out there is having a PLAN to follow…
Then get full details by clicking the link below:
Find out how successful marketers do things differently…
Well, there you have it. 🙂
Talk to me.
What's the first thing you do every morning to get your day off to an awesome start?
I look forward to hearing what you have to say.
Warmly,
Nicole
PS. Be sure to check out how you can learn more from both Terry and Tony.
Celene Harrelson
May 9, 2013 at 12:56 pmLoved that you shared this! Both emails were great. I used to only glance at my email first thing to see if there was anything urgent, then went back to in mid day, but am back to reading email first thing. I needed this kick in butt to remind me to STOP IT! And so now I will.
Kim Phoenix
May 9, 2013 at 11:59 amBoth are very good messages and reminders! I have found that turning the sound off every time a new email comes in, has increased my productivity a lot. I am getting better at doing the money-making activities first.
Nicole
May 9, 2013 at 7:54 pmGood for you, Kim.
Definitely turn off notifications, especially if you’re trying to focus on writing or creating. One badly timed “beep” can throw off a really good span of productivity in a second.
Thanks!
Kater
May 9, 2013 at 1:07 pmHi Nicole,
The first thing that hit me on this post was that you were getting up at 7:45! I’m doing it all wrong getting up at 5! Obviously you have the Money Suck-thing going.
I’ve been trying to add a money-suck step at the start of the day as a regular habit.. In fact, today I did it and earned $27! TaDA! It works. ;> I think one of the most difficult things for people who were formerly in an employee role is to take on this type of mindset. That fear of offending the list and other baloney excuses.
I haven’t jumped on Terry’s list yet, but I follow Hippy Tony’s and read his emails. He is good about reminding the reader that we are in charge of our destiny and fortunes all with a bit of humor. Now I have to work through some “thin air” ideas.
Nicole
May 9, 2013 at 7:57 pmlol, Kater. I had gotten up at 6:00 to get the kids up and off to school. I should have said “back in bed”. 🙂
Congrats on your money-suck win today!
Lynette Chandler
May 9, 2013 at 12:08 pmOuch that hurt! But is a *much* needed smack upside the head. Thanks Nik!
Nicole
May 9, 2013 at 7:55 pmAnytime, Lynette! 🙂
Connie
May 9, 2013 at 12:13 pmThanks for the reminder! I am guilty of this too. I guess I just need to be more disciplined in making myself do something productive before checking in on the “news.” Maybe we are all afraid we will miss out on something – human nature:)
Kristin
May 9, 2013 at 12:26 pmVery good advice to start the morning that way, but….sooo hard to implement. It’s so easy to grab the iPad and start opening emails and fb messages.
Tony
May 9, 2013 at 12:55 pmGreat tips and reminders…doesn’t matter how successful we become, these “obvious” kicks in the behind are always welcome. Thanks Nicole for calling us to task!
Felicia Slattery
May 9, 2013 at 12:59 pmI say to my clients all the time – focus on money-making activities FIRST. I think many people make the mistake of not realizing where their money comes from. Some will say, “I make my money from Facebook,” or “Potential or current clients email me all the time, so I need to be available to them…” but the fact is for ALL of us who do any work of any kind online, the only way we make money is by writing SOMETHING. Like Terry Dean’s message said, it could be an email to subscribers, a blog post, a chapter in a book, a membership newsletter article, or it could even be a sales page — we have to write in order to thrive.
Great reminder!
Felicia
Christina Lemmey
May 9, 2013 at 1:03 pmWow…so common sense and yet I’m also guilty of this! Will have to remember this golden nugget.
Lisa
May 9, 2013 at 1:09 pmThanks for this post, I can relate! I call this doing my money tasks. Sometimes it feels tedious, but if I don’t contact that client, follow up with this project or get that invoice out, the money won’t come in. Plain and simple. Doing the money tasks first helps me feel like I’ve accomplished something good. Then it’s onto more “fun stuff” like social media etc.
Priscilla
May 9, 2013 at 3:14 pmI’m definitely guilty of checking my email first thing in the morning. And that’s really the worst thing you can do if you’re in IM, because chances are you’re subscribed to tons of newsletters. I am, and so each morning I get a ton of pitches for the latest products, and if I get sucked into reading the sales pages then next thing I know it’s lunch time and I haven’t done anything productive! -_-
Tomorrow, I will resist checking my email until after lunch, and instead I will continue writing the next part of my review – I’m sure the difference in productivity will be huge! 😀
Melanie Kissell
May 9, 2013 at 4:00 pmSimple yet sensational message, Nicole!
The Universe stopped by to give me a big slap as soon as He left you and the puppies. 😉
Nicole
May 9, 2013 at 7:57 pmSend the Universe back to me in the morning. The puppies are snuggly… lol!
Thanks, Melanie, for stopping by!
N
Savvy Subcontracting
May 9, 2013 at 4:26 pmThis is a great point for someone like just getting started with affiliate marketing. I always wondered what to prioritize first.
The mentor club is a great way. Having to pay will make it more real for people.
Richard De Pass
May 9, 2013 at 7:02 pmIt is such a good idea to start the day in such a positive way. I have to admit that my mind is all over the place in the mornings, or rather, whatever time it is when I wake up.
I have made it my habit to watch subliminal videos each day, when I wake up and before I go to bed. That helps me stave off anxiety, as my mind tends to work overtime on worrying if it doesn’t have something else to do…
Having said that I think that the next habit I will get is doing some ‘moneysucking’ straight after getting focused with my videos, thanks Nicole, what a great ass kick reminder…
Des
May 9, 2013 at 9:35 pmMany of us regress into bad habits, and I’m as guilty as anyone. Opening emails to start the day is a BAD HABIT.
Thanks for the jolt.
Terry’s habits of little notes and a physical calendar are good, and fortunately these are good habits I have. I also use a small whiteboard. It’s amazing how much of a reminder that thing is.
Now back to reordering the day. Money-makers first!
Amanda
May 10, 2013 at 3:48 amFabulous timing on the post as I’ve become guilty of not focusing on the money making first lately.
Today I did genuinely have to check emails to see if the manuscript I’m working on for a client and been returned. There was no email so no further work to be done on that project right now. However, did I stop after checking for that particular email and go back to another money earning project?
I wish! By now I could have completed an entire project for another client and sent off the invoice. Money!
Instead I’ve had email conversations that weren’t urgent or work related, checked emails and not only wasted time but cost myself money.
By Monday I will have put myself back on track to ensure the new week starts with more productive habits.
Thanks Nicole for sharing those emails. Have a great weekend.
Amanda
Kathy
May 10, 2013 at 8:51 amGreat advice, it’s so easy to get pulled off task. I’m not sure how I can utilize this, though, since I’m just starting out with Internet marketing and working on my biz after a full day at my job. Maybe I’ll have to set a time that I consider the second “start of the day.” I’ll have two mornings a day!
Jeremy Ginn
May 11, 2013 at 9:12 amNicole,
Very timely feedback and oddly something very similar I heard from my mentor yesterday at lunch.
My butt is not in bed right now but I am going to work on my money making activity as soon as I hit send.
love ya girl!
Ruth Clark
May 11, 2013 at 11:17 amHi Nicole,
I’m letting you know that you have been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award. You are under no obligation to accept but we hope you do. Go to my blog and read the things that you need to do (it’s a lot of work and lots of fun.) Again, no obligation. Just a way for us to get to know you better. Thanks.
Holly Ralston Oyler
May 11, 2013 at 6:44 pmHi Nicole,
Thank you for sharing this information. It is an extremely simple concept, we ALL know it is true, but we somehow seem to over look it more often than not.
Holly
Debora Humphries
May 11, 2013 at 7:35 pmHi Nicole,
I was so guilty of doing the non productive tasks first. I had to take a long look at where I was at and where I wanted to be and decided to get coaching.
I can tell you for a fact, checking my email is the last thing I have time for now.
I love your post, because it is a firm reminder for everyone to continue to check themselves daily for the purpose of staying on track with the profit producing priorities first.
Crystal Green
May 11, 2013 at 10:32 pmThat is definitely sound advice. One I’ll have to implement.
Peter Egan
May 13, 2013 at 3:27 amGetting down to business – the money making part – is indeed the key to experiencing success as an online entrepreneur. That said, my experiences the past eight months or so have led me to believe that a direct correlation exists between the number of likes and shares the links I post to my Facebook timeline as well as my company page’s timeline (ditto retweets on Twitter, re-pins and likes on Pinterest, +1’s, etc.) and sales.
Maybe it’s coincidence, but I wouldn’t be so quick to write off Facebook as a waste of time — even if the sales don’t come as a direct result of people clicking links on Facebook, arriving at your site and buying something. I am becoming increasingly convinced that these “social signals” play an increasingly significant role in determining which sites and pages receive traffic via visitors from organic search.
Anyway, that’s my two cents. I enjoyed the post, and am glad I came upon this blog.
Pat Moon
May 19, 2013 at 1:12 pmOk, you have convinced me of what I need to do first thing in the morning. By the time I have checked emails, FB, etc. half of the day can be gone so write it is going to be from now on. Thank you for pointing out such an obvious thing that I have been doing wrong.
Patricia Haag
May 21, 2013 at 12:32 pmThanks for sharing these two posts. I read a lot on the internet, and I don’t think if seen this better put than in the post by Terry Dean. I will have to check out his site.
Mandy O
August 17, 2013 at 1:22 pmThis is some really valuable information. as a small business owner working from home with a business that markets online, I need to really push my business from the moment I get up, even before facebook.