I’m Too Busy for Bullshit – The Things I’m Doing to Stay Productive!
by Chris C. Ducker
16. Apr, 2010 
30 Comments
Location: Home Office – Reading Time: 4-5mins
2010 is shaping up to be an incredible year for me, business wise so far. As you’ll know by reading my Monthly Reports, by the end of the year I sincerely believe I will be a Full Time Virtual CEO, working from wherever I like, whenever I like, doing whatever I like – but, still growing my businesses. For the time-being (and realistically for the very long foreseeable future, because I just love doing it so much!) my focus will remain on my parent company – the Live2Sell Group – however, there is a hell of a lot of other opportunities coming my way, too.
Amongst other projects, I am launching a business eBook (by the middle of the year), a brand new blog and resource on the subject of Outsourcing (around the end of May) with another well-known blogger, and just today had an amazingly constructive conversation with James Richmond (who some of you might remember I interviewed in the post Britian’s Answer to Gary Vaynerchuk), which is going to result in an awesome collaboration in the very near future. Note to James: There you go, mate – it’s “out there” now, so we HAVE to make it happen!!!
The whole thing here is that as I begin to warm-up the furnace that will be ‘2010′, it’s hitting me very hard – I am getting convincingly more and more busy. In itself, this isn’t an issue, as long as I maximize my time every day. Because, lets face it – wasting time is bullshit, plain and simple! But, as with all entrepreneurs, if you dont keep a check on things you can end up burning out and not getting anything done! So, what I’ve done is started to create a little schedule for myself, some of it I will share with you now, some of it is still in development… And, actually, I want to ask YOU, my loyal readers, to help me by posting any further ideas in the comments section below, for me to check out and possibility use.
I’ve broken this done into 7 working hours a day. This is generally the number I feel is most productive for me. However, I would be lying through my teeth if I didn’t admit that there are several days throughout the week where I go home and spend a couple more hours reading, researching, strategizing and learning – mostly all online. So, here goes:
- Hour #1 – Reply to Essential, Business related Email
- Hour #2 – Work on Client Management and Development
- Hour #3 – Spend time on Upcoming Online Projects
- Hour #4 – Meet with my Management Team for daily updates (doesn’t occur Friday, as I don’t go into the office)
- Hour #5 – My ‘Blog Hour’ – I don’t always publish, but always either write or film something that will hit the blog in the near future, or work on Guest Posts for other bloggers.
- Hour #6 - Reply to Non-Essential Email (includes Blog, Personal and Business), and get involved in a little Social Networking, such as Twitter and Facebook.
- Hour #7 – Finish up the day by working closely with my PA and VA’s (yes, I have two at the moment – that’s a whole separate post coming soon!) on anything that require my attention.
You’ll notice that there is no mention of food! I eat at my desk when I am in the office most days – if you’re an entrepreneur and can’t handle munching and working all at once, you’re not gonna make it too far, that’s for sure! This ’schedule’ is in Beta Mode right now… Hence the request for more ideas and concepts from you guys.
What I am really trying to achieve here, above and beyond everything else, is to maximize my time and lock-out as much of the daily ‘bullshit’ that we all go through when it comes to working hard and wanting to make things happen. Let me know what you all think below. Thanks!
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By the end of 2010, I want to be a Full-Time Virtual CEO. Take the journey with me, month-by-month to find out how I'm going to do it! I’m a 19-year sales, marketing and PR professional originally from the UK and an entrepreneur at heart. I’m also the CEO of the Live2Sell Group of Companies, a thriving total business outsourcing provider based in Cebu City, Philippines.
Ha ha yeah brother we on record now!
Was excellent talking to you today and the idea for our venture is genius, hopefully have something more solid early next week if not before, like you I don’t want to wait!
Awesome stuff brother, real inspiration
Hi Bud!
Yep, likewise. I thoroughly enjoyed our chat. It’s amazing what can come out of a 43 minute conversation when two extremely handsome and intelligent Brit’s get together!!!
Word to my U.S visitors – you’re all equally intelligent, obviously!
Chat soon, James.
No You’re The Best, No I’m The Best lol !
You’re right though the Brit’s are coming guys, handsome and extremely modest…. kind of
Kind of……….????????
What the bloody hell are you talking about, you mad man!
Slowly, but surely, we’ll win the race, my man!
I love how you say Chris that you “sincerely believe you will become a Virtual CEO by the end of the year.”
That’s a true success fundamental right there. Not thinking you’ll do it. Not liking to do it. Not wishing to do it. But believe in your heart of hearts that their is no other outcome but reaching your destination.
I need to kick my productivity into gear at the moment so I can work on my projects so I’ll be really interested to see how you get on with this.
Hi Ben
Thanks for dropping by, bud.
Yep – I’m serious. If I can continue to work on the Virtual CEO Goal the way I have, I believe I might even beat the year by a couple of months, too. All depends on a few ‘internal’ points for the company.
Thanks for the inspiration, mate – much appreciated.
Chat soon!
Chris
this post was very usefull thx!
Glad you liked it Justin.
Thanks for dropping by and commenting!
Chris
Hey Chris,
Great schedule and fantastic that you have put your goal out there.
One of things I would suggest you consider around the schedule is to think about chunking up some of your blocks of time across the week ie. so that can spend 2-3 hours focused work on some of your projects. Once, you get into the flow you can get alot done.
Adrian
Excellent idea, Adrian. Thank you.
I anticipate putting up another, more structured schedule in the near future by way of an update.
Appreciate your feedback, Adrian – very much so.
Thanks! Chris
Chris, new here but already like it. Wonder what you and James are upto… whatever it is, let us know soon. It’s fun to watch other peoples’ progress.
G’luck!
Moon – Thank you for dropping by, I’ve seen you comment a few times at Maren’s blog. Hope you become a regular here, too!
The project with James is being fast-tracked, I assure you. The really good thing is that its subject matter and format is allowing us to get it ‘out there’ quickly. So, the wait will be over soon, I assure you!
Thanks again!
Chris
Sounds like you are well on the way to becoming that Virtual CEO. Good luck and good luck with James, I will be waiting anxiously for your collaboration.
Hi Justin
A stay at home Dad – awesome…!!! One of the reasons for that goal in the first place, bud!
Thanks for commenting, and for standing by on mine and James’ JV – it’s gonna be fun, thats for sure.
Best, Chris
“if you’re an entrepreneur and can’t handle munching and working all at once, you’re not gonna make it too far, that’s for sure!”
Sorry for the two comments. Pulled the trigger too quick.
Regarding the quote: You ain’t kidding! I eat at my desk most days.
Hey Kiley!
No problems… Nice to meet another ‘Desk Muncher’…!
Incidentally, on a personal note… Love your profile pic – As a massive BBall fan, one the best movies on the game, of all time. I watched it with my eldest Son for the first time (because of the language – he’s just turned 15!), and he totally loved it, too! Although I guess I’ve watched it perhaps 10 times by myself…!
Thanks for commenting, and glad you found your way here – no matter where you cam from!
Regards,
Chris
After seeing your post here I guess I really should come up with some type of schedule. I write down what needs to be done everyday but am still finding that I am not as productive as I would like to be. Maybe going to a flexible schedule will be better instead of completely winging-it. Good luck on your endeavours!
Hi Tiffany
Thanks for visiting and commenting for the first time – its great to have you here…
Schedules are what they are – structure to-do lists, so to speak. Times were you FOCUS on certain aspects of your day-to-day work. Try a few things out, and see what happens. And then come on back and let us know how it all goes for you!
Cheers,
Chris
Focus is really important. I’m looking forward to seeing how you use your VA.
Hi Jade
Thanks for dropping by…
Yep – I’ll be putting together a post on that soon, I promise! We’ve just started together, so a little more work to be done first for me to be able to write about it!
Chris
Hi Chris, Great Blog. I love learning how to be productive. I’m not only a blogger, but a mortgage banker; so I do spend many days working from home. Thanks for the great tips. P.S. Nice meeting you on A-1 Blogging Club.
Hi Angela
Awesome to meet you, too – what a GREAT community we have building over there!
Thanks for the comment – highly appreciate it. No comment from Leo yet, but hey – there’s always tomorrow!
Have an awesome week!
Chris
I really like how you broke this down into hours- I’ve been scheduling blocks of time on my calendar for social media, blog writing, etc and it’s been working great.
Hi Kelsey
Good job on getting organized – a lot of people dont even bother trying, believe it or not!!!
If you would like to reply to this comment, with your schedule, then that would be awesome… Maybe a few of us can learn a few things from each other. Go on – let us in on your secret!!
Thanks for the comment.
Chris
Hi Chris
Love the post and I am in awe of the schedule! How’s that going any changes to it yet?
Hey I have a question. To keep going with the schedule, what’s your main motivation, ie what do you tell yourself when you begin to drift or get sidetracked by ’shiny objects’?
Hi Mel
In awe..? Why? You can also do it – trust me. Its just a process, thats all – something to be followed. No major changes to it as of yet, but probably soon, as I am working on another project, which will go live in July.
In terms of motivation, its simply success. And chasing success is the biggest motivator I know for entrepreneurs. Some fail, some achieve it. The harder you work (and the smarter you work, too, obviously!), the more likely you are to achieve your goals.
Thanks for the comment here, I believe its your first one, so I look forward to many more around the blog.
All the best!
Chris