Working Solo Minute: Maximize Each Day with a Solo Seven

Today I share with you one of my most valuable productivity tips. It's simple yet powerful. And over the course of more than two decades, it's kept me on track to get more done in my solo business than any other tactic, tool, or technique. Ready?

At the close of each work day, spend 15 minutes reviewing what you've accomplished and make a list of the 3-7 most important things to do the next day.

I call this list my Solo Seven -- for the maximum number of items on the list -- and I told you it was simple. However, if you commit to creating your own Solo Seven on a daily basis, I guarantee that you'll see remarkable progress in your business. Here's why...

1. Hit the ground running.
Many soloists lose the first hour or so when they sit down at their desk. They don't really mean to, but one thing leads to another (check email, pay a few bills, do other non-essential tasks). Before you know it, you've lost very valuable time -- and momentum -- on your day. The Solo Seven keeps you on track and on target, right from the start of your day.

2. Carve up big projects.
By limiting your list to a maximum of seven items that you can reasonably accomplish in a single day, you'll avoid the trap of massive To-Do list items that linger for days (weeks, months?) with no discernible forward motion. Instead of "Create marketing campaign" permanently perched on your To-Do list, consider "Make list of qualities of target customers." The aim is to craft do-able mini-goals that tie into your larger business vision. Think chunks.

3. Gain perspective, savor accomplishments.
Taking time to create a Solo Seven list at the close of each day gives perspective to the day and what lies ahead. Accumulating Solo Seven lists also enables you to look back and appreciate what you've accomplished over time -- and may keep you going through some tough stretches. My lists are charted in my Planner Pad, which gives me ready access to a hard copy of where my time has been spent.

I'm not rigid or fanatical about this process, but I do know that when I stick to it, a lot more gets done and my solo business flows more smoothly. Perhaps it will for you, too.

-- Terri Lonier
Founder, WorkingSolo.com