7 Strategies to Optimize Productivity and Revenue

Today I welcome Carrie Greene as my guest blog post. I have had the opportunity to interview Carrie on my radio show (see below for link to listen), and both her interview and her guest blog post are full of rich content!  She is having a FREE webinar on Sept 11- hope you can tune in for that.  Without profits you don’t have a business. Without productivity you don’t have profits. FREE Webinar http://carriethru.com/index.php/rev-up-your-profits

Carrie Greene- guest blog author

7 Strategies to Optimize Productivity and Revenue
Carrie Greene


The weather here in NJ has been pretty stormy lately. A couple of hours ago, it was dark outside. Thunder was rumbling. Everything seemed to be in place for a terrific downpour but the storm didn’t come, at least not then. All we got were a couple of raindrops that quickly disappeared. Hours later it happened again. The dark sky, the thunder and then, yes, the rain. Lots and lots of rain.

The first “storm” was all talk and no action. I was sure it was going to pour. It looked like everything was in place for a huge and productive storm but nothing. All talk and no action, reminds me of a lot of the people that I speak with. To be perfectly honest, it reminds me of myself sometimes.

There are times when you set aside a block of time to work on a project. You clear your desk; you’re ready to go. You think the conditions are perfect and then…nothing. No inspiration, no drama.

Other times, you set exactly the same stage. You clear your desk, set aside a block of time and like magic you’re going full out and knocking out the work like nobody’s business.

I wish I could tell you I have the secret to setting the perfect stage so that when you set aside time to work on a project you are always focused and productive. I can’t. What I can tell you is that there are strategies that can help. These are some of the strategies that my clients and I use when it seems that no matter what we do we seem to be all talk and no action. I encourage you to give them a try.



1. Clear the distractions and set up an environment conducive to the type of work you need to do. Shut off your email. Clear your desk. Send the kids and dog outside. Go the library. Go to Starbucks, wherever you work best. Pour yourself a nice cup of tea or coffee, maybe even a glass of wine. You know what you need. Treat yourself well and set yourself up for success.

2. Make sure you have what you need, that includes materials and information. Take a close look at your plan. Are there questions you need answered before you can get started? Today a client of mine shared that she had a project that she couldn’t seem to start. I asked her a few questions about it, but she didn’t know the answers. There were open issues that needed to be resolved before she could do anything. The first thing on her to-do list became “ask questions to clarify the project.”

3. Get real. What do you really need to do? This happened to me earlier today. I was having trouble wrapping my head around slides that I needed to create for a presentation. The job was looming huge over me. I was speaking with a colleague of mine and she said…you know you only need 10-12 slides for the hour. The slides still had to be done but now at least the project was defined and became much more reasonable.

4. Make yourself accountable. Set up a time to meet with someone to discuss your progress on the project. Promise it to someone by a certain date. Give yourself permission to be okay with doing the work during the one hour before it’s due.

5. Estimate how long the project will take. First, go back to number 3 and get real. What is the project? What do you really need to do? Who do you need to ask for help? Can you do it yourself? How many steps are involved? Oftentimes we don’t start things because we assume they are big jobs when in reality they take very little time.

6. For big projects, break them up into mini-jobs. Don’t expect to tackle the entire project in a day. Little projects are much easier to do.

7. Ask for help. Sit down with someone and brainstorm and talk it out. Maybe you can delegate some of the work, maybe not. At least by talking it out you will get clear on exactly what you need to do and use the other person to help you do a reality check.

I can’t promise you the perfect storm but what I can promise you is more clarity and certainly a better chance at getting it done. And when your projects are done, your business runs smoother, you’re more profitable and most importantly, you feel good about yourself and what you accomplished.


Listen to Carrie Greene, on Corporate Conversations with Charmaine radio:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/charmainehammond/2012/05/09/guests-april-morris-and-carrie-greene

Carrie Greene's book Chaos to Cash

Turn on the money switch.  Work ON your business for big profits FREE Webinar with @carriethru http://carriethru.com/index.php/rev-up-your-profits

Wow! Where did the day go?

How many times have you said that…. “where did the day go/”

Carrie Greene joined me on the Conversation with Charmaine show to talk about how leaders, business owners, team members and entrepreneurs can get a handle on the systems and structures to get focused, and step into action.

Systems are not just for filing or scheduling time, a system, explained Carrie is for any action or function that you do regularly, and each system or process actually begins with a decision. Once you have made the decision (e.g. something is a priority) then you can create the actions needed or the rules to follow. Systems help you accomplish your goals. Carrie wrote a phenomenal book called Chaos to Cash, and in this practical easy to read book, you will find many tips, strategies and questions to help you cut through the confusion and procrastination that gets in the way of success.

Carrie talked about the importance of getting back to ready- always being prepared for whatever might come up, and, always complete what you have started, otherwise things become extremely overwhelming.

You can hear Carrie talk about this in more detail on the recording of our discussion:

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/charmainehammond/2012/05/09/guests-april-morris-and-carrie-greene


To minimize disorganization, chaos and procrastination, ask a few questions….

If I do this, what won’t I be able to do?

If I do this, what can I do instead?

What REALLY needs to be done here?


Carrie Greene Bio:

Carrie Greene is a speaker, trainer, coach and author of the book Chaos to Cash: An Entrepreneur's Guide to Eliminating Chaos, Overwhelm and Procrastination So you Create Ultimate Profit. Carrie is a master at cutting through the confusion and chaos that surrounds business owners so that they can stop procrastinating, take action, get more clients and make more money. Carrie can help you create the systems and structures you need to help you get focused, make decisions, set your priorities and most importantly carry through so that you can get your message to the world and have a successful and profitable business. http://chaostocashbook.com/ and http://carriethru.com/