As we all plunge into the new year, we are once again inundated with articles, posts, and tweets about how to get focused, stay on track, and set our goals. These reminders and encouragements often contain nuggets of wisdom, valuable insight, and new ideas for us to ponder and use. However, as I see these bits of information fly by during the first work week of the new year, I am reminded of a Jay-Z lyric: “Is you still on that? If you still making money cause we still on that.”
It is interesting to see different people’s predictions for the coming year, and new data about markets, trends, and how to stay fresh in a shifting industry; but one thing hasn’t changed with the new year: people still want to make money. At a fundamental level all you really need to understand is that your business is there to make money. That is the sole purpose of any for-profit business.
Are you still on that? I thought so. Rather than looking at all the shiny new posts and charts about what new tools are out there, and how your industry is expected to change, why not look at specifically how you can make you more money? Sure, some of these things might relate to how you make money, but are they flat out going to put more money in your pocket? If not, then why waste time reading, watching, and commenting on them?
Here’s my motivational advice for 2010: when you sit down to work, wherever that may be, doing whatever it is you do, think about how each specific task you do is directly helping you make more money. If what you’re doing isn’t directly related to you making money, don’t do it anymore. Reading blogs, twitter, facebook, checking email — all things that for many people require immense amounts of time and don’t actually correlate to income.
Rather than reading the latest post on productivity tools, how about making a list of all of the things you do that actually distract you from working and making money? Start cutting these things out and your productivity will instantly shoot up.
There may be many changes, fluctuations, or paradigm shifts this year, but I guarantee by the end of the year you will still want to be making money. If you can develop the skill of refining your ability to make money and not waste time on things that don’t help you just that, by the end of this year you will be able to work less and earn more.
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Seriously needed this reminder. Now back to it. No time for leaving comments…peace.
I always felt that if you need to read something or see someone to get you motivated you aren’t meant for being in business. Self-motivation is the difference between those that are hyper successful and those that just get by.
good stuff kenny.
//g
It’s very easy to get caught up reading, checking, tweaking, doing all these little things that you think will ultimately make you money, but you can do those on your own time. When it’s time to work, you better get to work.
We spend too much time in this office re-doing the same work we already did because TPTB think it needs to be just right in order to be successful. They don’t realize that we’re wasting valuable time (=money) on less important things when we should be focusing on the priorities that will have a direct and profitable result.
Of course what you spend your time on is different depending on the business you’re in. Reading this blog post, for example, may be better justified by a manager than, say… me… back to work.
I was just thinking this. I start to think what I might be missing out on when not on Twitter or learning about the “next new tool” when what I am already doing is making money for me. I gotta cut out the fluff and get to work!!!
FOCUS!!
It really takes up a lot of time –> social networking/marketing but then if you don’t give back you aren’t going to get much. Thanks for sharing. Going to make some MORE money now.
Strategy behind monetizing an idea, brand or product sometime does not have anything to do with the real goal. Point well stated.
Maybe kissing up to the awesomeness of this blog post will make me money…
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