Recent Articles From EvanCarmichael.com http://www.evancarmichael.com/ http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Are-You-Making-the-Most-of-the-8020-Rule.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Are-You-Making-the-Most-of-the-8020-Rule.html 80/20 Principle: 20% of everything you do results in 80% of your outcomes. Ouch! That's a tricky concept, isn't it? Yet, understanding what it means to your business - and your life - is essential to earning what you're worth, and doing so in less time. If only you could understand what that 20% is, and what the heck you're doing with your time. The trick is knowing, without question, what your customers pay you for, and matching that up with engaging your best talents in your work. When you find the intersection it's magic. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Have-You-Had-it-With-Distractions.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Have-You-Had-it-With-Distractions.html What do "The Secret," "The Dip," "Think and Grow Rich," and "Good to Great" all have in common? Techniques to help you focus so you can have what you want. What's the enemy of focus? Distraction. What's makes us susceptible to distraction? Lack of confidence, questionable purpose, insufficient goals, low-grade filters, chemical disturbances, and so on. It's not email! If you suffer from the battle of distractions, you may take twice as long to reach your goals. This part is obvious. But what about the impact on your personal health, your energy and your level of confidence? What else can we learn from today's authors, and when we pay attention to our own bodies? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Boredom-The-Gateway-to-Creativity.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Boredom-The-Gateway-to-Creativity.html We say we want balance and the ability to have more free time, but when outward demands slow down a bit it seems to create a state of imbalance instead. Is it possible that the absence of drama or urgency causes confusion and anxiety? Are we so used to fixing problems that we don't know how to deal with their sudden absence? We say want to be more productive, but will we really be able to improve our ability to focus on what's important and reduce busy work if we're afraid of the silence? http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Productivity-Lessons-from-an-Accidental-Entrepreneur.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Productivity-Lessons-from-an-Accidental-Entrepreneur.html Susan is in business for herself, but did not set out to be an entrepreneur. She stumbled into entrepreneurship (or self-employment) upon returning to work after a major health challenge, and finding herself essentially out of a job. An important mind shift changed Susan's approach to work, from keeping time to focusing on results. Her willingness to examine her beliefs about work, which were formed in the 9-5 working world, gave her the opportunity to create her own rules for working. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Increased-Productivity-Starts-with-1-Day-Off-a-Week.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Increased-Productivity-Starts-with-1-Day-Off-a-Week.html Today's most dedicated business owners - and many employees too - readily admit they're doing something about their business every day of the week. When probed about their interest in time off, they say yes. However, they're also waiting for things to slow down before they do. It's not going to happen. Rather than waiting for things to slow down, commit to at least 1 full 24-hour period each week and watch what happens to your productivity. It's said that tasks take as long as the time given to them. Give them less time. Read the full article if you're not convinced. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Are-You-Prepared-for-Success.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Are-You-Prepared-for-Success.html Self-employed creative, professional people say that success means their docket is full and they're confident that the work will continue to come as long as they serve clients well and continue to spend some time on marketing. Unfortunately, most people look ahead to success without realizing the day will actually come. Consequently, they don't prepare and they get stalled by all the work required to move into the next phase of growth. Read more to find out what happened to "Ron" and Nancy, and about the 7 things you can do now to prepare for success. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/What-Does-it-Really-Mean-Work-on-Your-Business.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/What-Does-it-Really-Mean-Work-on-Your-Business.html How often have you heard people say "Work on your business, not just in your business?" Do you know what this means, why it's important, and are you doing it? If you're like most people, there's a good chance you are working on your business. But perhaps you are like I was, having only a general, but vague, understanding about what it means. I've heard people talk about it so much lately that I decided to pull out my copy of The E Myth Revisited by Michael E. Gerber and review the chapter on this topic. I'm glad I did. Reading it 2 years later I see things a lot differently. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Priorities-Are-Out.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Priorities-Are-Out.html By definition, entrepreneurs are creative people with a lot of energy and a never-ending stream of ideas. In addition many are in business for themselves with very little support. This means they have to juggle a wide range of tasks each and every week, including some they don't love. To make matters worse, some of the time management guidelines and standards developed twenty-something years ago have caused many people to pack far more in their day than truly possible. There's one truth that can set you free. Read the article to learn more. http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Email-Interruptions-May-Lower-IQ.html http://www.evancarmichael.com/Productivity/3227/Email-Interruptions-May-Lower-IQ.html Email creats as many challenges as it does solutions. Effectively monitoring and managing your time spent on email is critical if you want to stay productive and focused on what's most important in your busines. Learn what a 2005 study revealed about the impact on IQ, and about some simple things you can do to reduce its distracting influence.