1. Working ON your business, is as important as working IN your business.
As a small business owner, I'm constantly bombarded by the Technician's slanders and the Manager's insults, and the Entrepreneur quickly gets forgotten.
I constantly have to remind myself that time spent working ON my business is every bit as essential as working IN my business. I have to shun the guilt that I feel that I'm not "on the clock." Meeting with potential clients or contacts, taking some time to make adjustments to my systems, updating my website, etc. are vital to your long-term goal of sustaining a working environment.
Don't have time because you're too busy working? What a great problem to have! Do it after hours.
2. Stick with your systems... even when no one is looking.
I was with my Dad the other day, sitting in his single engine Cessna. We were only moving the plane a few hundred yards. Before he started the engine he yells "Clear." Now, there was no one anywhere near the plane... not for a hundred yards at best, but he said it anyway. He said it because he was supposed to, and more importantly that over many years of flying, it had become a habit.
In short, the lesson I learned was this: No matter if you think it makes sense at the time or not; No matter if no one is going to know that you didn't follow your own rules.... Always Always follow your own systems. You set them up because (when you weren't being lazy) you viewed them as ways to be the most productive. If you follow them when you don't want to you will eventually create a habit.
Finally, listen to yourself. If you see that you are repeatedly dodging your own systems, breaking your own rules, etc., ask yourself "Am I just being lazy?" or "Am I avoiding this because my system doesn't work?" If it's not working. Adjust it.
