Last post we talked about “time management”.  An important rule of thumb in time management  - Never let what matters most ever come after what matters least.

1. Know your priorities. This may be quite a challenge at first, especially if you have limited manpower. Don’t get too anxious to finish all things at the same time. You cannot possibly do that. If you feel that work is already piling up on you and you don’t know what to do, just take some time to write down what needs to be finished first, and what can be saved for later. I’m pretty sure that things will go smoothly when you work that way. Also, you will be saved from forgetting a task that needs to be done. And it would do you good if you do the listing first before starting with any work.

2. Time is gold. Time is very important to everyone. It doesn’t matter whether we are young or old, rich or poor, we are still given the same amount of time each hour, each day. So, we need to spend our time wisely. Actually, you can avoid wasting precious time during work. You can do so by being organized. If you know what you need to do, and you already have what you need for work, then you would not waste your time trying to remember things. You don’t need to spend time looking for materials. You must keep in mind that you can’t possibly turn back time.

3. You cannot do everything by yourself. I’ve always believed in the saying “No man is an island.” I think it applies to any situation that we find ourselves in. Can you imagine yourself living alone? You would not have friends, you won’t have work, and you won’t even have anyone to talk to. I think the saying still holds true in putting up a business. Just think about it. What if you received a large order and there is no one to help you in producing, packing, and shipping the goods? Do you think you would make the delivery in time? And if you failed to deliver, do you think clients would come back to do more business with you? If you want your business to grow, you should remember that you need other people to help you in your journey to success. Because the only time when you will fully trust and care about other people is when you realize their worth to you.

4. Success is not instant. The road to success is not always straight. Sometimes, you might come across roadblocks and hindrances, and sometimes the path becomes smooth. In business, you cannot always expect good days. There may be days when you don’t earn profit at all. What’s worse is when you experience a time when no one wants to do business with you. In times like these, you only have two options - fight or flight. To fight means to do all you can just to save the business. Then, the flight means to just let go and give up all you have invested. Yes, the second option might be easier to do, but do you really want to give up without a fight? Success is not instant. It takes patience, and a lot of hard work to achieve it.

5. Give all you can. I guess this is a given for anyone in business yet the biggest challenge is in working smarter not harder.  How can you do that for yourself? Find people who are good at what they do and provide the resources for them to shine.  For example, Silkfair is great at getting a webstore set up and successful. Be smarter – do what you’re good at and hire others to do what they’re good at.