Welcome back to the Small Business Summary…Let’s get one thing straight, this is a PRO PEEPS newsletter. Yes, Cadbury Eggs are nice and Reese’s Eggs and the bomb, but I won’t sit idly by and tolerate the PEEPS slander that is casually tossed around this time of year. PEEPS are an Easter staple and they’ve been leading the charge for sugared-up Easter Egg hunts and guilt-ridden candy binges longer than some of these newfangled treats have been alive. Feel free to take your PEEPS hate and stuff it in somebody else’s newsletter because I’m currently face down on a 3-day PEEPS bender. Chicks, Bunnies, Pink, Blue, it doesn’t matter. I’m the United Freaking Nations of Peeps over here. I love PEEPS so much that I’ll have a PEEP with my coffee, for dessert, after brushing my teeth (okay, no, that’s too gross.)

However you like your candy, enjoy it - let’s scarf down some goodies while we can.

In this week’s episode:

• It’s Tax Day - A shout out to our financial friends

• Delegation - Answers on where to find your next assistant

• Insomnia - The middle of the night might have your next breakthrough

• Networking - Your invitation to 3 Free SBOC networking in Milwaukee, Madison and Online

Reminder: The clock is ticking…2 weeks until our private meeting with 22-time bestselling author SETH GODIN at the SBOC Virtual Summit presented by Horicon Bank. 

There are four big takeaways from attending:

• Know exactly what to do with a clear strategy thanks to our talk with Seth

• Reach more potential customers after our audience growth talk with Mark

• Get more out of every workday with productivity fixes from Julie

• Make genuine connections with other entrepreneurs during networking

PLUS, you’ll get a copy of Seth’s latest book “This is Strategy,” included in your paid ticket! Our first shipment of book just went out and yours could be in your hands before the event if you act today. We’re on track for our biggest event EVER! (In fact, I had to buy the “big” zoom room and we’re 75% full of the MAX.) Get your ticket here.

OK, on with the show….

Pat

Quit Remembering Everything -
Organize with the Power to Forget

You’re not going to be successful remembering what must be done everyday. The only way to get the good stuff done is to build a system so you can forget everything.  

You’re running through your day with a cloud of task list STUFF hovering overhead. You need to remember to put out three different fires while not forgetting to do the important tasks like calling your biggest client or even stopping long enough to eat lunch. When you walk around in a head full of noise that’s how you are hit midweek with the “what day is it?” kind of mentality.

You’re doing it wrong.

The best way to get organized is to use technology so you can forget everything and focus on what needs to get done right now, TODAY.

Here’s exactly how to do it.

1. Grab a notebook and brain dump everything that must be done. Everything. From cleaning off your desk to invoicing clients to registering for the virtual summit. Dump it all on paper.

2. Get TODOIST. I don’t get anything for recommending it, it’s just the best software there is for this method. Heck, this isn’t even an affiliate link. Get TODOIST and load it on your computer and your phone.

3. Go back to your list and highlight anything that is a recurring task. Then, note how frequently it must be done. Weekly, Monthly, Quarterly, whatever. For example, you need to send client invoices on the second Friday of each month.

4. Input each task into Todoist adding the date of when you need to work on the item - NOT WHEN IT’S DUE!. For example, if you’re speaking on Tuesday, 4/22 and you must create a slide deck which takes you 3 days to create, write Thursday, 4/16 next to the task.

5. Priority - The last step is adding a priority “flag.” If something is time sensitive, only you can do it, and it’s mission-critical, it gets a RED flag. If it’s something you’ve delegated to someone, it’s a BLUE flag. If it’s something you’ve acted on but you must follow up, it’s a YELLOW flag. Lastly, if it’s not urgent and not important it gets no flag.

6. Live by the BIG promise - From this point forward, there is nothing in your life that you agree to do that doesn’t go on the list. From picking up the dry cleaning to walking the dog, it ALL goes on the list with a due date and priority.

THE OUTCOME - FORGET EVERYTHING: Once you’ve loaded these tasks into TODOIST, you’re free. You’re free from remembering all of the stuff that clogs your brain. You’re free to look at today’s to do list that only has 4 or 5 items, not 50 or 60. You’re free to dive deeply into important tasks without constantly wondering if you forgot something. This is a new way to think about your work because you don’t need to remember that slide deck at all. In fact, you get to quit worrying about completely because it won’t even bother you again until the day you need to get to work on it.

You now have the POWER TO FORGET. It’s freaking magic.

By using this system, you’re will push off all of that mental weight, worry, and SHOULDS to the day when they must be handled. In addition, you’ll never have to worry about your recurring tasks because they will pop up on the day you need to tackle them.

The biggest bonus is that it’s possible to complete the work for a day and rest. You can really rest knowing that everything you needed to do today is done. Complete freedom from your task list and the word cloud over your head is blank.

I’ve been using this system for almost 10 years and it’s been bulletproof for me on projects big and small. People have told me I should teach a course on this - If you’re interested in learning it, let me know. I could spin up a group meeting that will change your relationship with the work you do each day.

It’s Tax Day (4/15) - let’s check in on our tax preparers, bookkeepers, accountants, and CPAs:

Congratulations - YOU MADE IT…get some rest!!

Virtual & In-Person Networking Invitation

The Small Business Owners Community is hosting three (3!) free networking events in the next 10 days and you’re invited to join us. Experience how the SBOC does networking differently: real conversation and a collaborative “Idea Slam” brainstorming session - it’s the way networking SHOULD BE. No matter where you are, join us to meet authentic, engaged, and real entrepreneurs that will help you grow:

• Monday, 4/21 - 4pm - In-person Milwaukee, WI Meet up

• Tuesday, 4/22 - 10am - In-person Madison, WI Meet up

• Wednesday, 4/23 - 10am - Virtual online Meetup

And, just throwing this out there, if you’re interested in leading a Small Business Owners Community monthly meet up in your town reply to this email and let me know.

NEWSLETTER RALLY: Where Did You Find Your VA?

Last week, I asked where did you find your last great Assistant. I’d like to leave this up again this week and ask for YOUR feedback, too. While we wait for you to share, let’s celebrate the leaders that replied with their thoughts:

Jenny Kirby - Factorial Consulting, LLC
“My last VA was hired from the company I now consult with, Doerly Works doerlyworks.com

It's based in Chicagoland and has no upfront fees. You only pay for the hours the VA works which ranges from $13 - $16 per hour (depending on experience, education, and certificates). They only hire full-time VAs that are dedicated to your business so you can actually build a relationship with them and feel like they are part of your company. Doerly Works searches, vets, pre-interviews, hires, pays, coaches, offers VPNs and offboards so you don't have to deal with any of that stress.

All the VAs speak English, work US hours, provide their own equipment, and have worked for US companies before.

There's no long contract, fast onboarding and offboarding, and an experienced US-based team of people available to help with questions throughout the entire partnership.”

Megan Ferguson - Backcourt Marketing 

“Hey Pat, I found a great project manager through https://empowervirtually.com/”

A big thanks to Jenny and Megan for sharing - I’d love to hear from you, too.
Where did YOU find a great assistant? I’ll share the responses next week.

80’s Song of the Week:
Thompson Twins - Lay Your Hands On Me

WTM: There’s SOMETHING about this song that I absolutely love. The opening verses seem so real and conversational before it goes into the typical 80’s chorus and synth-goodness. On top of that we have some 80’s video staples: Funky instruments (XYLOPHONE!), a Mohawk and more. 10/10.

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