Clarify what you’ll do when you’re “on the clock”

"Time-blocking" is one of the strategies we teach in the Amplify framework. In fact, we've talked about it in this series.

Let's take it farther...

Let’s talk about how to develop your own routine. Basically, you need to decide the following 4 things.

First, time. 

Determine in advance when you will work on your project. Whether you’re writing a book, creating a course, outlining your framework, or scheduling social media… wherever you are anywhere in the process, you need a specific time you’ll work. 

A few years ago, a friend named James told me, “If you treat this like a hobby, you’ll get paid like a hobby. If you treat it like a job, you’ll get paid like a job.”

Think about his admonition…

Hobbies are fun. And, no doubt, you enjoy creating content or you wouldn’t find yourself this far into the book. Shoot, you probably wouldn’t have even grabbed this book in the first place. My guess is that you already have a message to share that you sincerely enjoy sharing. Though you work hard at it, it probably doesn’t feel laborious.

But hobbies— like running and cycling and pets and movies and  so many of the fun things in life— don’t create income streams. Rather, they cost!

In order to monetize your message, you need to treat it like a career. That begins by protecting the time required to work on it— just like you do with your day job.

Second, place.

Finding your space to work— wherever it is— will create a mental trigger which will help the ideas flow. When you get there, whether it’s a table in your house, a desk in your office, a specific corner of the coffee shop, your mind will just know…

“Alright, we’re doing this!”

You’ll actually feel it.

There are places I go to write that I don’t use for any other purpose. I don’t want them, in my mind, associated with different  mental processes. 

Third, which days.

I almost included this with the first point (time), but your days might be unique. For instance, I create current blog-posts, emails, and social media on Mondays. I work ahead on video posts and podcasts on Fridays.

You’ll likely find a rhythm that works best for you, too, such that you’re not doing the “same thing” every day. In fact, the hours you work might not even be the same each day. It doesn’t matter when you do the work so much as it matters that you set a specific time, place, and day to do it.

Fourth, metric for completion. 

Finally, determine (before you begin!) what constitutes completion. When I’m working on emails, blog posts, and social media schedules— like I referenced earlier in the chapter— I have a set number I’m going finish. It’s objective. I clearly complete the task or I don’t. 

When I’m writing a book, on the other hand, the metric might vary. Sometimes, the finish line for the day is to complete a chapter. Or to hit a certain word-count. Most of the time, however, it’s time in the chair. I determine to write for a specific length of time, regardless of how far I get. 

Here’s why the metrics matter…

💥 There are days you won’t feel like doing the work.

However, by deciding in advance to work anyway you’ll continue making forward progress. (Experience has taught me to push through especially on the days, as they generally become my most productive times.)

💥 There are also ongoing projects you must keep moving forward— or they’ll fall behind. 

 For instance, if you’re running a membership program, you need to communicate with your subscribers regularly— on a weekly basis. You must keep that program moving forward even when you’re tired. If you have a handful of clients like I do,  you must maintain forward progress on those fronts, too.

💥There are also things you want to launch in the future— even months from now.

Your capacity to promote those new books and courses and coaching programs then depends on communicating in a non-salesy way with your subscriber list today.

Suggested training

"How to grow your online audience" is a free, on-demand webinar that outlines how to begin broadcasting your message, effectively multiplying it.

Access the free training here.