Q&A With Nancy – Feeling Overwhelmed In Your Business?

Q: “Dear Nancy, I’m overwhelmed with everything there is to do in my business and end up frustrated and feeling further behind. Do you have any tips on how to prioritize the tasks that need to be done?” ~ Vicki Milberger, San Francisco, CA

A: Hi Vicki. Your question is a common problem among business owners. There is SO much to do, and not enough time for one person to do it all. Here is my short answer to get you started.

Start sorting out what is most important for you to focus on in the next 90 days. This will depend on your goals for your business right now. For example, if you need to generate some cash-flow immediately, you would put “ask customers for re-orders” higher up on your list than “design new newsletter”. Keep sorting and making new smaller lists if necessary until you have narrowed down what needs to be done ASAP.

You will probably find that the revenue-generating activities should always be at the top. (That is the point of business after all, isn’t it? Otherwise, you just have a hobby!) And yet, they are often the activities we get to last. In order to be successful in business, you have to keep activities that bring you business as your main priority.

Other activities that are important (inventory, bookkeeping, customer service emails, website maintenance, etc.) but not mission critical are the ones you want to start looking at delegating to an assistant as soon as possible.