If you operate a small business then you are most likely wearing a ton of different hats, juggling dozens of tasks daily, and trying to keep your head above water as you do it. As a locally owned company based out of Fort Collins, Colorado, we truly understand what it is like as you are launching a new business. Our own company started in a basement and required a lot of hard work to get off the ground.
The good news is that while you can’t skip the hard work part of running a small business, there are ways you can make your life easier and less stressful. Take a look at these tips and tricks we have compiled, aimed at helping you save time while you run your business.
#1: Keep a Central Place for Organization
While your array of sticky notes strewn throughout your workspace and your ten thousand tiny scraps of paper might make the perfect backdrop for a movie scene about the frenzied business owner, they don’t make for a great system of organization. The problem is that not only is being disorganized risky — you might lose that important order number — it is also a time waste. When you have to rifle through stacks of paperwork to find the one invoice you needed, you eat up valuable time.
Save time by creating a central place for organization for each component of your business. Invest in a quality filing system for any paperwork you might have on hand. Upgrade your computer with the right software to ensure every file is easy to find and that all your tasks are laid out in a clear format. Buy a planner and use it for note-taking, with clearly marked sections for different notes. If you have products strewn around your space, organize them into a clearly marked system. Not only will organization help you save time, it will prepare you for your future. As you grow, more and more people will be part of your team and while you might be able to decipher your quirky note pile, a new hire might waste time trying to locate important information.
#2: Learn How to Delegate (And Let Go)
The reality is that as your company grows, you will need to start hiring the right team members to fill in important gaps. Whether you are hiring your first employee or you already have a small team assembled, learn how to delegate tasks to your fellow team members. This will allow you to free up your time for more important matters and the big picture tasks you need to handle.
Not only should you learn how to delegate tasks to others, you should also learn how to let go of those tasks once they are delegated. If you hired someone to handle your marketing and client communication, let them do their job and stay out of the way. Micromanaging is frustrating for employees and a giant time zap for you. Hire smart and then walk away to let your talented team shine. The more you can learn to let others help you with your business, the less time you will spend running around without focus.
#3: Create Time for Self-Care
While your job as a business owner will require a lot of your time and energy, you also need to take the time to step back and care for your own well-being. Whether that means taking a weekend to unwind in the woods or scheduling a day at the spa, it is important to ensure you are providing yourself with the care you need to be healthy and energized. Even though self-care might not seem like an investment in your company, it truly is. The better you feel and the healthier you are, the more capable you will be of running your business.
When you don’t take time for self-care, you can wind up burning yourself out, falling ill, or becoming too exhausted to handle your workload. Make sure that you continue to invest in the other important areas of your life, such as family, friends, and time alone. This will allow you to lead your company better.
#4: Utilize the Power of Online Ordering
The great news is that with the advent of online ordering, you can streamline a lot of your processes. When it comes to custom product labels, ordering online will save you both time and hassle. Whether you are submitting your own design or working with a team of designers, ordering labels online makes your life simpler and cuts down on the time you spend focused on this project.
Here at Leapin’ Lizard Labels, we take pride in helping small business owners save time through our seamless custom product label ordering process. We will work with you to ensure that you have the labels you need in the timeframe you need them, without any stress on your part. If you are looking to cut down on the amount of time you spend ordering product labels, talk to our team about online label ordering today.
#5: Drop Some Tasks
Finally, when it comes to saving time, one of the best things you can do is start learning how to drop some of the balls you are juggling. While we don’t mean you should simply give up on important aspects of your business, the reality is that attempting to multi-task too many jobs at once can actually cost you more time than help. Learn when it is time to simply set something down to solely focus on another important task. Often, when we dedicate our time to one thing, rather than spread ourselves thin, we are more efficient and effective.
If you are looking to run your business more efficiently, we invite you to reach out to our team to learn more about our simple custom label printing process. We hope to speak with you soon.
