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Almost everyone needs or wants more
money coming in, and with this
desire most would like to start some
sort of extra income-producing
project. The trouble is, not many of
these people seem able to fit "a
second job" into their time
schedules.
It's true that most people are busy,
but extra time for some sort of
home-based extra income-producing
project can almost always be found.
It may mean giving up or changing a
few of your favorite pastimes - such
as having a couple of beers with the
guys or watching TV - but if you
score big with your extra income
project, you will have all the time
you want for doing whatever you want
to do.
The first thing to do is to sit down
with pencil and paper and list your
daily schedule. What time do you
wake up? Then step-by-step, list
everything you do each day. Most
people will find that they have
about three hours each day that can
be utilized in a more constructive
or efficient manner. As we've noted
above, you may have to give up the
time you waste in your local pub or
a few television programs you watch,
but it will be worth it in the long
run.
Efficient time management boils down
to planning what you're going to do,
and then doing it without
backtracking. Start by making a list
of the things you want to do
tomorrow, each evening before you go
to bed. Schedule your trips to the
store or whereever to coincide with
the other things you have to do, and
with your trips to or from work.
Organize your trips to take care of
as many things as possible while
you're out of the house. Take stock
of the time you spend standing
around shooting the breeze -
especially the time you spend on the
telephone - and eliminate all that
isn't necessary.
Whatever chores you have to do at
home, set aside a specific time to
do them, and a specific amount of
time to devote to them. For
instance, just one hour a day
devoted to yard work would probably
make your property the envy of all
your neighbors. Don't try to do a
week's work in one big flurry.
Whether it's painting your house,
fixing leaky faucets, or mowing your
lawn and trimming your shrubs, do a
part of it, or one particular job
each day, and you'll be amazed at
your progress.
Take care of all your mail the day
you receive it. Don't let those
bills and letters pile up on you. If
you're unable to pay a bill
immediately, file it in a special
place that's visible, and note on
the envelope the date you intend to
pay it. Answer your letters the same
day you get them.
The important thing is to think of
time as your most valuable asset,
because it is. So organize! Decide
what you have to do, and what you
want to do. From there, it's just a
matter of arranging priorities.
Once you start listing and planning
what you want to do, and then carry
out your plans, you'll find plenty
of "extra time" for handling
virtually any kind of home-based
income-producing project. People in
general may not like routines or
schedules, but without some sort of
plan as to what is supposed to be
done, the world would be mired in
mass confusionLaws, ordinances and
regulations are for the purpose of
guiding people. We live according to
an accepted plan or way of life, and
the better we can organize
ourselves, the more productive and
happy we become.
The secret of all financially
successful people is simply that
they are organized and do not waste
time. Think about it. Review your
own activities, and then see if you
can't find a couple of extra hours
in each day for more constructive
accomplishments.
When you begin planning, and then
when you really become involved in
an extra in come-producing endeavor,
you should work it exactly as you
have organized your regular
day-to-day activities - on a
time-efficient basis. Do what has to
be done immediately. Don't try to
get done in an hour something that's
realistically going to take a week.
Plan out on paper what you have to
do - what you want to do - and when
you are going to do it. Then get
right on each project without
procrastination.
Finally, and above all else, when
you're organizing your time and your
business, be sure to set aside some
time for relaxation. Be sure to
schedule time when you and your
spouse can be together. You must not
involve yourself in anything to an
extent that you exclude other people
- particularly your loved ones -
from your life.
Taking stock of the time you waste
each day, and from there,
reorganizing your activities is what
it's all about. It's a matter of
becoming more efficient in the use
of your time. It's really easy to
do, and you will not only accomplish
a lot more, you will also find
greater fulfillment in your life.
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