You only have so much time in a day right?
So wouldn't it make sense to focus as much of your time as possible on the things that produce the highest payoff.
I don't know about you but most small business owners are do-it-yourself types and get sucked into doing the littlest silly work faster than you can say "Oh look, the copier is jammed again."
If you want to achieve any of your goals and finally start making what you are worth then you've got to stop doing $5/hr work. Period.
As you might have guessed by now, I believe that every business owner's highest payoff work, or best use of time, is any amount of time spent creating effective marketing.
Here's a little math quiz that I suggest you play with to help drive home this point. Figure out how much money you make annually or, better yet, how much you want or need to make annually to achieve your dreams and goals.
Now, divide that number by 2080. (That's the number you get if you work 40 hours a week for 52 weeks a year - I know, I know, you work 80 hours a week but just work with me here.)
The answer you get is what I call your "PAY" or Personal Average Yield. (I should probably trademark that it's so clever) The idea here is to pin down what you are worth an hour and realize that if you can hire someone to do any of the things you currently spend your time on for less than that number, you can't afford to do it yourself - did I mention that you could use the spare time to do some marketing.
So let's run some numbers. Let's say that you want to make $150,000 per year. Well, using our little formula, that means that you need to be doing work that is worth a little over $72/hr - 8 hours a day.
But guess what...we haven't even factored in any overhead or costs of doing business. That number might really get big if you've got those as well.
This is the point at which many people finally come to understand that they are undercharging for their services?but that's another issue all together.
So I ask you. Is fiddling with the copier, chatting with the mailman, running to the office supply store, making deliveries, or returning meaningless email paying you $72/hr? For that matter, doesn't mowing your own grass, washing your own car, picking up your dry cleaning, and getting your oil changed take you away from marketing your business? I know, now I'm asking you to consider giving up most of the fun things you like to do everyday but hey, if you can get the neighbor kid to mow your grass for anything less than $100/hr, therefore giving you 3 hours to write a killer sales letter - it's probably a steal
Figure out your PAY number, paint it on the wall in your office, and then go about setting up your business in a way that allows you to focus on the only things that can really pay that kind of money: marketing, innovation, and customer service ? cause everything else is just a cost.
Copyright 2004 John Jantsch
About The Author
John Jantsch is a marketing consultant based in Kansas City, Mo. He writes frequently on real world small business marketing tactics and is the creator of "Duct Tape Marketing" a turn-key small business marketing system. Check out his blog at http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/weblog.php - get these kinds of killer tips weekly by sending an email to http://www.ducttapemarketing.com/weblog.php
family-safe home cleaners Lincolnshire ..You've probably heard the statistic that 95% of small businesses... Read More
A corporate shell could be liken to a house that... Read More
Most folks in the pressure washing business are happier to... Read More
Many investors and business ethics professionals are calling for more... Read More
A common hazard faced by new entrepreneurs is a lack... Read More
If you run a mobile car wash, mobile fleet washing... Read More
It's the dream of every person who starts a business... Read More
As you may know, there are many ways to incorporate... Read More
It appears the mini-blimp indoor theme and concept is making... Read More
So you want to start a business but you don't... Read More
It is most fascinating to study how entrepreneurs spot opportunity... Read More
Franchising is the fastest way to build small businesses, provide... Read More
In my 18 years of consulting I have heard it... Read More
A tongue-in-cheek look at the skills required to operate a... Read More
The home-based business market, sometimes called the SOHO (small-office/home-office) market,... Read More
The temporary staffing industry continues to expand, with yearly double-digit... Read More
Ask anyone trapped in a cubical about their entrepreneurial dream... Read More
Over regulation of small business is so intense it is... Read More
How much is your time really worth? Is it worth... Read More
Approximately 200,000 new businesses are started each year. More people... Read More
Buying a franchise is not for everyone. This guide will... Read More
One of the hidden perks of raising six children is... Read More
Most of us remember going to at least one garage... Read More
Congratulations, you are starting a small business! You are taking... Read More
Expanding your business requires you to take a good hard... Read More
maide service in Buffalo Grove ..With the massive explosion of start-ups and home businesses developing,... Read More
It has been said that the only constant is change.... Read More
The day care industry is expanding. There are now more... Read More
How far can you go based on your relationship with... Read More
To have one of the popular in home daycare businesses.... Read More
The Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Businesses (SDVOSB) is a program that... Read More
How to do itPeople skim through newspapers and magazines and... Read More
Car Wash Crime in the Hood. Apparently not everyone is... Read More
The way you manage your money is one of the... Read More
It is an American dream to own a business. But... Read More
Whether it has been thrust upon you by external market... Read More
It's a commonly quoted statistic: 80% of all small businesses... Read More
Every business starts with an idea or a dream. To... Read More
If you are worried about how many different business cards... Read More
How do you find groups that are in need of... Read More
In your small business debt collection laws will eventually become... Read More
1. Leadership Is Learned ? While many people appear to... Read More
The Federal Trade Commission which governs the franchise industry thru... Read More
The following are six essential skills to business success. You... Read More
What types of companies do you want to align yourself... Read More
Running a business, whether large, small or in your home,... Read More
When deciding to host a fundraiser for your company or... Read More
Every employee would like to earn as high a salary... Read More
Aircraft Interiors of personal and corporate jets have hundreds of... Read More
A tongue-in-cheek look at the skills required to operate a... Read More
Small Business |