“Amanda, just tell me what to do. I don’t need options, I need to know what to do”.
Done!
In this episode I’m sharing my direct answers with you and basically bossing you around (in a fun and compassionate way, of course). It includes everything from marketing questions to overall entrepreneurship questions. From how many times to send emails per month to tips on working from home, I’m covering a lot.
But a quick note about this: Please remember that I don’t believe there is just one way to do marketing or run your business.
When I share information with students, I like to say this: I’ll tell you my thoughts on this, but please remember that you can do whatever you want to do. You are the only one that knows what you want and what feels right for you and your business.
But during the last several months of the year I kept hearing: “Amanda, just tell me what to do. Do give me options, just tell me what to do.” So this episode is my straight forward answer to that question..
Listen in, enjoy and get direction!
**This was also a podcast episode (episode #131). Use the player below if you'd prefer to listen to this message.
Okay friend, let’s do this! I’m going to rapid-fire my direction to you in a lot of different areas of your business. It’s my goal that this helps you take action with something today.
Email Marketing
Do you still recommend a weekly newsletter?
Yes, I love a weekly email to your list.
In my ideal world for you, you will send weekly emails that give, give, give value to your students. This allows you to send frequent emails and get your audience used to you sending them so when it’s time to sell, it’s not as jarring for them.
How do I balance following other business owners (so I stay in the know) with feeling like we are competing?
Stop following anyone you feel like you’re competing with.
Stop following anyone that you start to compare yourself with. If you notice that your'e starting to compare yourself, simply stop following them. There is no reason to follow someone that you're having that feeling about! I've run into this and I've had to stop following certain people. It's absolutely okay to do this.
Only follow people who inspire you! Follow your students and connect with them.
Immediately hit the unfollow button if you have any feelings of jealousy, competition or anything but inspiration or support. It's a waste of energy. It’s not worth it and you don’t have time for this!
Time Management
How do you hold yourself accountable for work tasks that you'd LIKE to get done, but don't really HAVE to get done?
Know what HAS to get done and do that first.
Reward yourself by allowing yourself to do the stuff you LIKE to do. For example, my main focus are my clients. If I owe them a training, if I need to check in with the community, whatever it may be, they are what has to get done. They are paying me to do the things I say I'm going to do.
Now, I like Instagram a lot. It is fun for me and I enjoy it. So each morning I look at my day and see what needs to get done. I am not allowed to engage on Instagram until I get those things done. I see it as my reward.
Eventually the scales will tip and what you LIKE to do will be the stuff that drives revenue in your business so it will be a HAVE to get done.
To summarize: I make a list of things that HAVE to get done and I get those done so that I can do the things that I like. If I don't get the things done that I HAVE to get done, then I can't do the things that I like to do. I use the reward system, and that is what I encourage you to do.
I struggle with ending the work day: I take breaks to take the kids places, make and eat dinner, walk the dog). But once everyone is taken care of, I tend to get back on the computer. Should I time the number of hours I work?
Yes, track your time. I'm a big fan of tracking time. However, tracking your time is not going to change your habits of getting back on the computer.
We really have to change a habit here. My suggestion: Know what you want your limit to be. For example: No work after 5pm 90% of the time. Then set a goal to do this for the next 90 days and track that. Each day give yourself a gold star if you stop working at 5pm and don’t open your computer again.
Other tips for ending your work day (I've learned these from experience!):
Put your computer somewhere that you will have to take more steps to get to.
Tell your partner, kids, etc. and tell them to call you out if you get your computer out after 5pm.
Understand WHY you want to have this goal. If you understand the why, you’re more likely to actually follow through!
Remember, you’re trying to break a habit so this will take time. Give yourself grace but hold a firm line. If you reach for the computer, ask yourself if you have a legitimate reason to work in that moment or if it can wait until tomorrow.
Also know what ENOUGH is. If you know your MIT (Most Important Task) for the day and you get that done, let yourself know enough is enough and do something fun after work. Read, go for walks, paint your nails, watch a movie, call a friend. Keep yourself busy until you break the habit.
Tips on working from home? (I so easily get distracted by the goings-on in the house)
Know your MIT (Most Important Task) and get it done before you do anything else.
Honestly, I do not suffer from this issue most of the time so it’s kind of not fair for me to share on this. But I can say this: If you know your goal, the why behind the goal, and what actions will help you make progress, you will be less distracted.
If you struggle with this, start to take an inventory of WHAT distracts you. Chances are it's your phone. Put it across the room. Put it in a different room. If it's not your phone, figure out what it is. Do you get distracted by pretty things outside? Shut the curtains for set periods of time. You get the point.
Use the things that distract you as rewards. For example: I can take a walk and see all the pretty things in 30 minutes after I get "X" done.
To sum it up: Understand what needs to get done and what distracts you.
What do you do to get motivated to work when you're having a blah day? As an entrepreneur, no one is screaming at me to get the work done!
Be okay with off days when they happen.
But if you find them happening often, something is not right. Whatever goal you’re working towards isn’t motivating you.
Personally, I love a good Spotify playlist on a blah day! I actually have a specific fun playlist just for this purpose. But for you, maybe you want to journal. Maybe you need to take a walk. Keep a list of those things ready for when these days come up.
Other ideas that might help motivate you:
Pretend your student is sitting in front of you and asking you for whatever it is you’re working on. You would do it if someone was waiting on it.
Understand that we won’t be motivated every day and we aren’t going to love everything we have to do to run a business. But if you want to run your own business and be your own boss, you have to figure out how to find motivation when you don’t have it.
Remember that we all have off days. We can prep for them but sometimes you can’t shake it. So shift things around and get to work tomorrow. No two blah days in a row.
How often should I check and respond to email? It would feel weird NOT to look at or respond to emails several times a day!
A few times a week is just fine.
The truth is: I struggle with this, too. I still look at email on a daily basis most of the time but when things are really busy, it’s a few times a week. And I'm okay with that.
What I do: I do a morning email sweep and an afternoon email sweep. I answer what I can in 20 minutes each time. I use the method of “touch an email once” and if I open it it needs to be Done, Deleted, or Delegated. Paying students get my attention first every day.
Another suggestion: Have an auto-responder set up that says when you check email and answers a few common questions. Here's mine for an example:
Hi there!
Thank you so much for reaching out. I wanted to let you know your email made it to my inbox and I look forward to reading it soon. My team and I do our best to respond to emails as quickly as possible during business hours (Monday - Friday 8am-5pm Central, except for holidays).
In the meantime, here are a few links with helpful information:
If you're curious about 1:1 coaching, there are limited spots in 2022 but I will respond to you as soon as possible about my availability.
If you have general questions, email support@amandamckinney.com
Thank you for your patience and understanding. I appreciate you! And I hope you have a wonderful day!
Thank you,
Amanda
Your next step
For today your next step is to take action.
If one of these things hit home for you today, take the action. Just pick one. Don’t just listen and think “oh I should do that." Do it today! Take action and move forward!
Thinking about taking action does no good. Taking action leads to clarity and progress.
Until next time, give yourself permission to take action and grace along the way.
"Thinking about taking action does no good. Taking action leads to clarity and progress." - Amanda McKinney