48 Day Challenge Update
I’m already behind on posting. Part of it is because my first week of an easier schedule (last week) I did some socializing and relaxing for the first time in a long time. I’m going to work to get caught up on that first. I will edit “post timestamp” so that I can sit down and write several posts and have them post throughout the week to have consistency. The other advantage is once I’m in the flow of writing I can keep going. For me, I think focusing on one site at a time will be a good idea.
I will go back and put links in to each of my projects that I’m working on on my original post regarding the 48 Day Challenge.
I did make comments on 3 blogs. Jan’s Group Home Support is my baby and I have focused on blogs that relate to that project.
I put some money in my PayPal account to hire a writer for the pages for Jan’s Group Home Support website that goes with Jan’s Group Home Support blog. I needed to get something up since it was on page one for a search with my main keywords. I think my time would be better spent writing for my blogs and just editing the work of a writer who takes the time to do the research needed for the pages.
I bought two new domains. One will allow me to do something with my Netpreneur forum sometime this year. So I now own NetpreneurSite.com!
Being so busy lately it’s easy to forget how nice it is to have a little more time available. Of course it’s nice to do my internet projects because I truly enjoy it, but to visit with friends and do something just because it is good to give time.
Yesterday I had some time for visiting with a friend and co-worker because I accompanied her downtown to drop off a grant request and she didn’t have time to park and get there in time. We got to visit on the way there and back and I realize how little her and I had done that lately.
Today I will be collecting hands for the “Let’s Join Hands” part of the Global Art Project, handing out brochures, and collecting last minute registrations for a couple hours with my girls.
Even having time to clean up the house seems like a luxury!
So often being successful on the internet is about money. A passive income is also about time. It means having time to be free to do the things that you choose to do and want to do. Wage earning it’s all about what you have to do. It may be a slow road to that freedom at times, but some movement is better than no movement and slow progress is better than no progress.
Usually as an entrepreneur there isn’t a lot of teamwork involved. Many projects are controlled by the entrepreneur. Those he or she works with are often hired and follow the descriptions of the job tasks.
There may come a time when you have a large project that needs several different people working together. It’s not enough to have talented, dependable, hardworking employees (temporary like writers and web designers or permanent like office workers and accountants). A skilled leader will know how to motivate employees to work together as a team with minimal supervision.
At Wal-Mart I notice things that are new to me, but probably common in large retail. There is a lot of complaining of from different shifts or different groups. As I listen and watch the associates, I see hard working and caring associates that have different strengths and focuses from the group they are complaining about. There is a lack of focused plan to reach a common goal.
Now that the holidays are over there seems to be a focus on store quality. They are changing procedures and supervising more. Of course some are comfortable in the ways things were done and are compliant yet resist.
I see the changes as good, but it does bring to light the lack of communication and unified plan.
My department head, assistant manager, and night manager will all have tasks for me, yet they don’t seem to have them coordinated. New procedure includes more freight coming out during the day. My retail experience is only what I’ve gained the past 6 months and I struggle to balance what each supervisors wants and still provide customer service for the people who come into the department.
My suggestions that can be used with anyone bringing several people together for a common purpose:
- Clearly Identify the goal with a time frame for completing it
- Break down individual tasks needed to accomplish goal
- Delegate/hire people who can do the tasks
- Communicate how each task fits together
- Brainstorm with team and use the experience of those who will participate
- Revise plan if needed with input
- Coordinate tasks so that tasks that are dependent on another task being completed is done first
- Schedule regular evaluations of progress of project to see if adjustments are needed
- Nip any complaining of coworkers in the bud, redirect to positive suggestions, and encourage communication with the person the complaints are about.
If you have several writers, allow them to communicate and coordinate content when possible. Allow others to communicate with each other and then make final decisions with the added information from their brainstorming.
The advantages of communication and teamwork:
- Projects will use less of your time
- The will be an increase in quality of end project
- Projects will be finished in a timely manner
- The team will work more efficiently together on future projects
You may find eventually that you will have more time to make more money and start new projects when you have a team that you’ve taught the art of teamwork.