Building a Better Business Routine

Running a business is a complicated dance of balancing the essentials with the innovation required to keep moving forward. For many entrepreneurs, the weekly hustle involves a variety of tasks, from client meetings to marketing efforts. Yet, amid this whirlwind, finding a way to manage your workload while still growing can seem daunting. That’s where the concept of a “bare-bones” business routine comes into play. These are the must-get-done tasks that guarantee your business stays afloat. Let me share how I structure my week around these critical tasks and sprinkle in just enough new projects to keep things fresh and progressive.

My Bare-Bones Essentials

In my business, bare-bones revolve around communications and marketing. These tasks form the backbone of my weekly routine, assuring that the essential operations run smoothly:

Weekly Planning: Setting aside time at the beginning of the week to outline what needs to be accomplished is vital. This planning session is my roadmap, guiding all other activities.

Weekly Email: Consistent communication with my audience through a weekly email helps maintain engagement and keeps my brand top of mind.

Blog or Research: Whether it’s writing a new blog post or conducting research for future content, this task is important for maintaining an active and informative online presence.

Social Posts Outline and Content Creation: Crafting and scheduling social media content makes sure my channels remain vibrant and engaging.

SEO on Blog and Website: Regularly updating and optimizing my website and blog for search engines keep my online presence strong and discoverable.

My business will remain steady if I accomplish these bare-bones weekly tasks. Of course, there’s always more to do, but these core activities form a reliable foundation.

Balancing Maintenance and New Projects

In addition to these maintenance tasks, I dedicate time to one new project or learning endeavor each week. This approach allows me to explore new opportunities without feeling overwhelmed. For example, one month I may focus on launching a Pinterest page. The next month, I may plan to develop a new social media posting schedule. By spacing out these projects, I can give each one the attention it deserves.

Here’s a simple structure for my weekly schedule:

1. Maintenance Tasks: These are the non-negotiables—the bare bones that keep the business running.

2. Coaching Calls/Meetings: Interacting with clients or team members through coaching calls and meetings.

3. New Learning/Project: Allocating time to one new initiative, whether it’s learning a new skill or starting a fresh project.

This balance between necessary tasks and new endeavors encourages a sense of progress and accomplishment without leading to burnout. 

Crafting Your Own Bare-Bones Routine

The key to this approach is identifying three main tasks that are both essential and manageable for you each week. These tasks should be outside your core business activities but critical for maintaining your operations. Here are some examples across various professions:

Entrepreneur:

– Weekly Maintenance: Blogging, weekly emails, consistent social media posts.

– Core Business Routine: Client work, product development, service delivery.

– One New Thing: Starting a new marketing channel, creating a new product/service.

Hairdresser/Salon Owners:

– Weekly Maintenance: 3 social posts, collecting one testimonial.

– Core Business Routine: Styling clients, consulting with clients, human resources.

– One New Thing: Writing a blog post, starting a Pinterest page, launching a loyalty program.

Real Estate Maven:

– Weekly Maintenance: Weekly email, social posts, number of calls.

– Core Business Routine: Showings, offer writing, coordinating with service providers.

– One New Thing: Starting a blog, creating a local collaboration, developing a new service offer.

Grant Writer:

– Weekly Maintenance: Weekly email, DMing a non-profit, adding a new foundation to your prospect list.

– Core Business Routine: Writing, research, client meetings.

– One New Thing: Taking a branding course, attending a networking event, scheduling a speaking event.

Retail Store Owner:

– Weekly Maintenance: Social posts, weekly email, website updates.

– Core Business Routine: Store schedule, purchasing, merchandising.

– One New Thing: Implementing open cart emails, auto follow-up texts, collaborating with local businesses.

Bookkeeper:

– Weekly Maintenance: Monthly newsletter & blog, social media posts.

– Core Business Routine: Client meetings, bookkeeping, consultations.

– One New Thing: Learning a new industry technology, creating service packages, networking at local events.

The Flexibility to Adapt

Setting a standard weekly schedule for these tasks, with the addition of a new project, helps maintain consistent progress. It also provides the flexibility to adapt if something isn’t working as expected. This method has kept my foundation strong and opened up space to explore new avenues, one step at a time.

I would love to hear what your ‘three’ might be and what new project you want to weave into your routine! Let’s make consistency our secret weapon and keep building our momentum with ease and impact.