Some of these might be controversial.

But if you run a business all by your lonesome you don’t have time for extraneous activity.

Everything you do matters and everything you make needs to contribute to the bottom line.

Over the years I’ve wasted thousands of hours pouring over tasks that seemed important, but actually had very little impact on how much money I made.

Here are the biggest time-sucks that didn’t make a lick of difference to my bank account:

1. Obsessing over how my website looks vs. how it functions

2. Coming up with the “perfect” business name

3. Creating an “iconic” logo

4. Trying to get the all the right URLs and matching account names on every program or social media

5. Nurturing leads that don’t fit my target audience

6. Spending more time consuming business advice than actually doing business

7. Scheduling meetings that don’t have anything to do with lead generation, sales, or directly fulfilling an offer

8. Spending more time on graphics than copywriting

8 priorities that HAVE made me money are:

1. Building a quick and dirty website as fast as possible - using no more than 2 fonts and 2 colors for visual uniformity and prioritizing getting my product out there.

2. Spending less than a day on a business name and getting the product out there. The name “Nike” only means something because of what the business represents, and what the business does. Names are empty words. Make a business that sells cool stuff - who cares what it’s called.

3. Ignoring logos altogether. Your logo only matters for wide-spread recognition - which no one has at first - so f*ck it and get the product out there.

4. Getting what URLs and names you can and not sweating the small stuff. If we’re interested in learning more we’ll click the link and/or scan the QR code you provide. What matters most is where the URL takes us. Create links that work, start advertising your product, and GET IT OUT THERE.

5. Targeting your client avatar ONLY. Your product/service is hopefully made with someone specific in mind. Don’t waste time trying to convince people of something that isn’t actually made for them - they will recognize this eventually, and when they do they aren’t going to buy what you’re selling. IF they do buy they are likely to either be a difficult client or ask for their money back. Why? Because it was never for them. Duh.

6. Tracking the hours you spend watching tutorials, videos each week and making sure you spend more time building your own thing. Create more than you consume. Always.

7. Being stingy with your time. Reserve your calendar for sales calls and/or delivering your service. Don’t take calls that don’t support your pipeline. The easiest way to lose time is meaningless calls with people that don’t do anything for you. Just because people ask for your time, doesn’t mean you have to give it to them.

8. Building copywriting proficiency. Self-made graphics are the biggest time-suck of all time-sucks. Outsource graphics or use a minimalist style that you can replicate in minutes (See Dan Koe). Invest in your copywriting instead. Copywriting is what sells.

This is the work that matters. Your time is invaluable. Make the most of it.

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