7
Productivity Secrets of the Fastest-Growing Companies in America
The most important rules for being productive, according to 7 busy
entrepreneurs.
From overcommitting yourself to
procrastinating and skimping on sleep, there are so many things that chisel
away at productivity. Running a successful, rapidly growing company requires a
high level of efficiency--which is why we asked busy entrepreneurs about their
daily habits. Try one of these CEO-tested methods to boost your own
productivity.
1. "I try to take all the
things I don't enjoy doing and figure out who's better at it and put them in
charge of it." --Sterling Wilson, Pop! Promos, No. 135 on the Inc. 5000
After creating
a multimillion-dollar company based on his love for sports, it makes sense that the Pop!
co-founder and president believes in pursuing your interests. As it's easier
and quicker to get through tasks you excel at, finding someone whose strengths
are your weaknesses has been a strategy Wilson employs.
He also advises checking email only a couple
of times a day. "If you sit in front of your email inbox all day, you'll
never do anything important," he says.
2. "Always listen to your
employees." --Bill Wade, Company.com, No. 5 on the Inc. 5000
Wade, founder
of the social network and resource
center for small businesses, believes it's
important to stay engaged with your management team. He likes to check in and
share what's going on in the business to keep his team excited and informed.
3. "I'll record most
conference calls and meetings using the recorder on my phone, and then go back
and take notes." --Branndon Stewart, OutboundEngine,
No. 95 on the Inc. 5000
The marketing automation service
founder and CEO says that knowing the minute
details of meetings is important for many tasks--particularly raising money.
"You may have 40 investor meetings, and
if you think you're going to remember the details of all those meetings, you're
crazy," he says.
By recording conversations, you'll be able to
stop and make detailed notes, which is vital when following up.
4. "I feel like I have to
move away from all the productivity tools, the Evernotes, and move into
meetings with just a pen and a notepad." --Daniel Hermann, Paint Nite, No. 2 on Inc. 5000
For some,
gadgets and other tools intended to make our lives easier can actually be
distracting. Hermann juggles a lot as the co-founder of a busy painting party business, and using a pen and paper keeps him focused during meetings. This
method minimizes distractions and enables him to think strategically.
Creativity is
important to this production company co-owner, who works with clients like Nike and Toyota. It's why he
says clearing his head is vital. Deboree says that taking two minutes to
meditate allows him to think better, which actually frees up more time throughout
the day.
Co-owner Epstein admits to loving sleep, but
he still prioritizes morning workouts. Research has shown that early workouts
improve sleep habits and reduce stress, making it the perfect start to the day.
7. "Say no more often--and
turn off your cell phone and all of the noise." --Paul Saunders, eLuxurySupply.com, No. 4 on the Inc. 5000
Sometimes, you
can't do it all, as home products e-commercefounder Saunders has come to realize. That's why it's key to prioritize
what you really need to accomplish each day and say no to the rest. He tells
every employee to write down the three most important things that need to be
done, and to focus on ensuring that they are--no matter what.
BY MELISSA MATTHEWS
http://www.inc.com/melissa-matthews/7-productivity-secrets-of-the-fastest-growing-companies-in-america.html?cid=nl029week42day21A
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