Success Advice
4 Ways to Squeeze the Most Out of Every Minute of Your Day
“This day I will drink every minute to its full. I will savor its taste and give thanks. I will maketh every hour count and each minute I will trade only for something of value.” I say this quote to myself every morning. It’s from The Greatest Salesman in the World, a book written by Og Mandino containing ten scrolls, of which each scroll is meant to be read three times a day for thirty days.
After reading it for a month this one quote stuck with me because I believe that time is our greatest asset. Time is like a currency – the way we manage it will either lead us to failure or success in the long term. Therefore if we invest our time in the most profitable areas throughout the day, we are setting ourselves up for ultimate success.
But the thing is, it’s very easy to think we are spending our time wisely – on things like everyday maintenance of our businesses. Whereas in reality our time could be leveraged much more effectively.
Here’s my most effective methods of leveraging your time every day, so you start increasing the ROI on your daily 1440 minutes:
1. Time tracking
I believe that measuring, reviewing and refining is the surefire way to make consistent progress in any area of your life. By tracking how you spend each minute of your day it makes you become aware of precisely where you are wasting time. I recommend buying a journal and writing down how long each thing you do throughout your day takes.
For example: 7:03AM – 7:08AM – shower, 7:08AM – 7:15AM – shave, etc. You can also use an app such as Hours to save time on writing everything down. I know this sounds incredibly tedious but it will pay off hugely when you start to take action to eliminate those time wasting areas.
When I started time tracking I found that I was wasting at least an hour every day on preparing meals. To eliminate that wasted time I learn how to make a breakfast in 5 minutes – scrambled egg whites with spinach (3 minutes) and a protein shake with oats (2 minutes). I also started bulk preparing my lunches on a sunday so it would take 2 minutes every day to prepare lunch rather than 30 minutes. That adds up to valuable hours saved every week which I now spend working and exercising.
“It’s really clear that the most precious resource we all have is time.” – Steve Jobs
2. Interim time is learning time
We all have at least 30-60 minutes in our days where we physically can’t be working. Specifically, times such as showering/getting changed and walking/driving. In this time I always listen to podcasts and audiobooks. I ensure it relates to what I’m currently working on in my life.
For example, I may be working on a social media strategy for a new client, I’ll listen to audio specifically related to social media marketing in their industry. Or perhaps I’ll be focusing on a fitness regime to reduce body fat. I may even listen to a book on pitching when driving to a potential client to pitch to them.
This interval time doesn’t seem like much but it adds up over the week. Learning is important to make progress but taking action is where we really see results. So prioritise your work when you can and do your learning only when you physically can’t be working.
3. Is it worth your time?
In order to prioritize your time, only do tasks that are actually worth your time. To do this, you must first figure out how much your time is worth. Let’s say you earn $4000 per month – that’s $1000 per week. Divide that by how many hours you work in a week – let’s say it’s 60. That means an hour of your time is worth $16.67.
So is it really worth washing your car or cleaning your house when you can pay someone $10 per hour to do it for you? Or is it worth posting to a client’s social media when you can pay someone to do it for $5 per hour? You may think that you’ll earn more money by doing everything yourself, but in the long run you’re actually reducing your value by not outsourcing the menial stuff.
“Managing your time without setting priorities is like shooting randomly and calling whatever you hit the target.” – Peter Turla
4. Only work on your IGTs
IGTs (income generating tasks) is a term I came across in Rob Moore’s book, ‘Life Leverage’. In it, he explains that a golfer takes 40% of his shots with 7% of his golf clubs (the putter). Therefore he should be spending more time on practicing his putting than on the other clubs.
At least your top 3 items on your to-do list should be you IGTs in order of priority. Say you own a marketing agency – your top three IGTs for a particular day could be:
- Make 5 door-to-door cold pitches. (each successful pitch could mean $1000+ income every month so this is an obvious IGT)
- Write 1000 words of your social media marketing eBook (this will be given to potential clients as part of your sales funnel – also an IGT)
- Create a new Facebook ad campaign for a client (successful ad campaign = money from commissions. Another IGT)
Focusing on the tasks that will generate the highest amount of profit in the shortest amount of time is the top way of investing your time. By focusing the majority of your day on your IGTs you are squeezing all you can out of each minute invested.
So there you have it. By committing to at least one of these you will not only save valuable minutes but make more progress within each minute. I recommend starting by tracking your time for at least a month. Then figure out ways to get back wasted time. Then use that saved time on your income generating tasks. This way you’re literally making twice as much progress on time you didn’t even have to spare before.
How do you manage to squeeze every minute out of your day? Please leave your thoughts below!
Image courtesy of Twenty20.com
Success Advice
How to Choose the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Blog
If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers
Picking the right affiliate programs for your blog is really important. It can make a big difference in how much money you can make and how much your readers get out of your blog. With so many choices out there, deciding which ones to go with can be tricky.
This guide is here to make it easier for you. It will give you clear steps and helpful tips to choose affiliate programs that fit well with what your blog is about, what your readers like, and what you stand for.
For more articles on this theme, please head over to this blog https://blog.partners1xbet.com/.
Understanding Affiliate Marketing
Before you start picking affiliate programs, it’s important to really understand what affiliate marketing is and how it works.
Basically, affiliate marketing is when you promote a product or service on your blog, and then you get paid a little bit every time someone buys something or does something because you recommended it.
It’s great for both the person selling the product and the blogger, because the seller gets more sales with low risk, and the blogger can make money from their blog.
How to Choose the Right Affiliate Programs for Your Blog
1. Assess Your Niche and Audience
The key to doing well in affiliate marketing starts with really knowing what your blog is about and who reads it. Consider the following:
- Your blog’s content: What topics do you cover? Ensure the products or services you promote are relevant.
- Your audience’s interests and needs: What solutions are they seeking? Choose affiliate programs that offer products or services that solve their problems or enhance their lives.
2. Research Potential Affiliate Programs
Once you know what your blog is about and what your readers want, start looking for affiliate programs. Choose ones that are well-known for good products, great customer service, and helpful support for affiliates. Resources to find these programs include:
- Affiliate networks like ShareASale, Commission Junction, and ClickBank.
- Direct searches for “[Your Niche] affiliate programs” in search engines.
- Recommendations from other bloggers in your niche.
3. Evaluate the Commission Structure
The commission structure is a critical factor to consider. Look for programs that offer competitive rates that make your efforts worthwhile. Consider:
- The percentage of commission per sale.
- Whether the program offers a flat rate per action (e.g., per sign-up).
- The cookie duration, which affects how long after a click you can earn commissions on sales.
4. Consider the Program’s Reputation and Sureness
Join affiliate programs with a solid reputation for quality and sureness. This not only ensures that you’re promoting good products but also that you’ll be paid on time. You can:
- Read reviews from other affiliates.
- Check the program’s history and background.
- Look for any complaints or issues reported online.
5. Analyze the Support and Resources Offered
A good affiliate program gives you things like ads to use, training on their products, and helpful managers. Having access to these resources can really help you do a better job at promoting their products.
6. Understand the Terms and Conditions
Before signing up, thoroughly review the program’s terms and conditions. Pay close attention to:
- Payment thresholds and methods.
- Any restrictions on how you can promote their products.
- The program’s policy on affiliate marketing on social media platforms.
7. Test the Product or Service
If possible, test the product or service before promoting it. This firsthand experience allows you to offer genuine charge and build trust with your audience.
8. Look for Recurring Commission Opportunities
Some affiliate programs pay you again and again for subscriptions or services that charge fees regularly. These can provide a more stable income compared to one-time sales commissions.
Implementing Your Choice
After choosing the best affiliate programs, the next step is to smoothly include your affiliate marketing in your content plan. This includes:
- Creating valuable content that naturally incorporates affiliate links.
- Disclosing your affiliate affairs transparently to maintain trust with your audience.
- Tracking your results to understand what works best for your audience and adjusting your strategy accordingly.
Picking the best affiliate programs for your blog involves careful planning, research, and making sure they match what your audience likes and needs.
If you follow these steps, you can create an affiliate marketing plan that makes money, fits well with your content, and connects with your readers.
The real key to doing well with affiliate marketing isn’t just about the products you talk about, but also how much your audience trusts and values your advice.
With enough time, patience, and hard work, your blog can grow into a successful space that earns a good amount of affiliate money and helps your readers choose the right products.
Success Advice
The Power of Ethical Leadership: How Integrity Drives Success
By leading with integrity and ethics, leaders create an environment where employees feel excited to come to work
What differentiates a positive organizational culture that enjoys a clean reputation and long-term success from a toxic culture drowning in scandals, mistrust, and legal fines? (more…)
Success Advice
10 Landing Page Hacks Experts Are Using to Generate Leads
Crafting a landing page that converts is both an art and a science
If you are in the online marketing world, you know the importance of a high-quality landing page. It’s like a secret sauce that can turn a casual user into a solid lead. I will walk you through ten great tips that have worked wonders for me and could do the same for you in creating landing pages that generate leads. (more…)
Success Advice
An Easy to Follow 8 Step Strategy for Creative Problem Solving
A complete process of creative problem-solving encompasses finding problems, developing creative solutions, and implementing your solutions
No matter where you look around the world today, entrepreneurs face a common challenge: The need to stand out from their competitors and win over customers. (more…)
-
Life4 weeks ago
The Best Techniques to Boosting Your Memory in a Busy World
-
Success Advice3 weeks ago
An Easy to Follow 8 Step Strategy for Creative Problem Solving
-
Entrepreneurs4 weeks ago
Crisis-Proof Your Business Now: Essential Strategies for Every Entrepreneur
-
Success Advice3 weeks ago
10 Landing Page Hacks Experts Are Using to Generate Leads
-
Entrepreneurs2 weeks ago
The Mindset Shifts Required to Become a Successful Online Entrepreneur
-
Success Advice2 weeks ago
The Power of Ethical Leadership: How Integrity Drives Success
-
Entrepreneurs2 weeks ago
6 Hacks to Boost Your Productivity as a Business Owner
-
Success Advice1 week ago
How to Choose the Best Affiliate Programs for Your Blog
3 Comments