The Entrepreneur’s Blueprint for a Super Productive Week

In the fast-paced world of entrepreneurship, productivity isn’t just a buzzword—it’s a necessity. Whether you’re launching a startup or scaling an established business, the ability to manage your time and tasks effectively can make the difference between success and failure.

 According to a study by The Alternative Board (TAB) – an organisation that serves a global community of business owners and executives, providing localised support and resources through its network of franchisees and offices worldwide, 82% of entrepreneurs work over 40 hours a week, yet many still feel they lack productivity. How can you break this cycle and achieve your most productive week yet?

This article is designed to spark a discussion, offering support, advice, and understanding as we share practical tips and real-life experiences. Let’s explore together how to balance work, personal life, and self-care to maximise your productivity and well-being. Join the conversation and let’s discover how to make every week your best one yet!

Izabella Niewiadomska

Linkedin:  http://www.linkedin.com/in/izabellaniewiadomska

“Can you share a strategy or tool that has significantly improved your productivity as an entrepreneur? How has it impacted your daily workflow?”

I’m intrigued by the results of a study by The Alternative Board (TAB) and find myself asking: Why is it that 82% of entrepreneurs, despite working over 40 hours a week, still feel they lack productivity? And I’m thinking, there could be many reasons and many solutions; there is no one-size-fits-all answer. Surface details rarely provide enough data to come up with an effective solution. I remember my mentor, Jim Rohn, saying ‘the real problem is usually 3 to 4 questions deep’ and suggesting that getting good at asking questions can help us get to the heart of the problem faster, saving both time and energy.

So, my key strategy in any situation is to first engage my innate curiosity and ask more questions. Otherwise, we may waste time and energy on strategies and tools that may not directly address the heart of the problem. Asking questions leads to self-awareness and getting to know yourself and your body better. How is my energy right now? How can I be more productive? What can I do differently to produce results that bring me closer to my goal?

Now, back to the question. I think that as leaders and entrepreneurs, we often prioritise action and doing, frequently overlooking how our emotional and mental states influence the quality of our productivity and ability to handle pressure. Maintaining a peak Physical, Mental, and Emotional (P.M.E.) state is essential, as it directly impacts our efficiency and decision-making capabilities, particularly in high-stress situations. Therefore, priming my brain and body in the morning for an optimal P.M.E. state has become a foundational practice for me. My Morning Rituals aim to reduce stress and boost my P.M.E. energy. Energy matters. No matter who you are, how skilled and experienced you are, or how great your plan is, when you are tired, it is really hard to give your best. Your brain is ‘energy hungry,’ which is why I have a variety of tools in my ‘Wellness Toolbox’ that allow me to have energy when I need it most.

Often, it’s the little things that make a big difference. I’ve noticed a massive shift in my energy levels and productivity since 22 years ago when I started following a simple exercise of stopping and taking 10 deep breaths three times a day to oxygenate my brain and body and generate more energy on a cellular level. Throughout my journey, I’ve built upon this practice and created proper ‘Brain Breaks’ throughout the day. Creating harmony at work and in personal life and embracing self-care daily is a fascinating topic I have been actively studying and practising since 1987. At the age of 23, relentless stress and pressure from excessive responsibilities led me to experience panic attacks, often accompanied by body paralysis and loss of speech.

Over the last 30 years, I’ve developed many impactful strategies and tools that have significantly improved my productivity, overall health, and well-being, with a recent focus on longevity and extending my healthspan. However, they largely revolve around priming my Physical, Mental, and Emotional (P.M.E.) state, fuelling my P.M.E. energy right from the start of the day and throughout it, supporting my mental clarity, fostering a sense of focus and inner calm, stimulating my thinking and creativity, and keeping me emotionally resilient and grounded while also bringing joy, happiness, and fulfilment.

When my P.M.E. state is primed, I can tackle tasks with greater energy and focus. This approach helps prevent burnout by regularly replenishing my energy reserves. Overall, this balanced strategy enhances my productivity and makes me a more resilient and effective entrepreneur

“What challenges have you faced in trying to maintain a productive week, and what steps have you taken to overcome them?”

Just like many other entrepreneurs, I have had my share of challenges, including procrastination, overcommitment, ineffective use of my time, and personal issues impacting my productivity. The good thing about challenges is that they help us grow, evolve, and expand the horizon of our mind. You may be familiar with Jim Rohn’s famous quote:

“Don’t wish for less problems; wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenges; wish for more wisdom.”

Challenges will never stop showing up. The minute we understand and embrace that challenges are an integral part of our journey in life—whether in business or our personal endeavours—we can learn to be grateful for them and the lessons they offer. They help shape our character and work for us, not against us. This mindset is crucial for entrepreneurs and with time, we just get better at handling challenges.

One significant challenge for me has been, and occasionally still is, managing my distractions effectively, such as notifications, emails, and unrelated phone calls. Constant interruptions led to losing momentum, wasting time, and draining the valuable energy my brain needed to maintain focus and a peak state. It was frustrating, but I knew that being frustrated wouldn’t change anything—that would be yet another waste of time and energy.

When I learned about studies showing that it takes anywhere from 9.5 to 30 minutes for the brain to regain focus after a distraction, I decided to take control of my distractions. I embarked on a journey to find what worked best for me, aiming to preserve my energy and manage distractions effectively. I even signed up for a six-month programme with Eckhart Tolle to become more mindful and teach presence.

First, I switched off notifications and sound alerts on my phone. Many entrepreneurs do this, and while it was effective to a certain extent, it wasn’t enough to completely eliminate distractions.

To take it a step further, during periods of focused work, I placed my phone in another room. This way, I wasn’t distracted by the sound or vibration of incoming calls and messages. This simple yet powerful step worked brilliantly and protected my energy and helped me use laser focus on my tasks.

Lastly, I deliberately choose not to look at my phone or emails immediately after waking up. This habit is based on a conscious decision to be in charge of my morning mindset, to set a positive tone for the day, and to reduce the likelihood of getting overwhelmed by notifications first thing in the morning. Additionally, by not checking my phone or emails immediately, I train my brain not to be in a reactive mode. This way, I’m better prepared to respond to any situation more effectively and maintain my P.M.E. balance.

“Can you describe a particularly productive week you’ve had? What habits or routines did you implement that made it successful?”

A few years ago, I woke up with an idea to organise a Contribution Conference, an event that would bring together amputees, legendary Heroes and Entrepreneurs who would deliver a blend of business and inspirational topics. This initiative aimed to benefit many, from injured veterans and amputees to business owners and individuals looking to start a business or contribute to a great cause. The proceeds from the tickets would be donated to BLESMA, The Limbless Veterans Charity.

Normally, it takes at least six months to organise such an event. However, I managed to do it in three months—a testament to one of the most productive periods of my business. During those twelve weeks, I found speakers, volunteers, and sponsors, secured a venue and negotiated its prices, developed marketing strategies, set up a website, and even recorded a promotional video with a professional film director. Every speaker and member of the Conference Advisory Board provided their services for free.

Reflecting on what contributed to such productivity, I would say it was several factors. I was deeply inspired by the idea and had a strong emotional reason why I wanted to organise the Contribution Conference. My enthusiasm and passion were infectious, creating a magnetic pull that made people eager to help and be a part of the event. Any challenges, such as a sponsor pulling out at the last minute, were resolved with a “No Problem” attitude, often turning into blessings in disguise that worked in our favour. I was in a state of constant appreciation, gratitude and awe for the help I was receiving from so many different people and organisations. I followed my intuition and gut feeling, ensuring that I nourished my body and brain effectively to maintain high performance and replenish myself while working.

To ensure my days were well-structured, I planned each night before bed with a clear vision of the desired outcome in mind and ended my days with gratitude and peace in my heart. This nightly preparation allowed me to set clear intentions for how I wanted my day to flow, helping me focus my energy on what truly mattered. I was focusing on starting each day at my pace, priming my Physical, Mental, and Emotional state (P.M.E.) with my Morning Rituals.

As I moved through my day, I incorporated intentional “Brain Breaks” to keep my P.M.E. energy replenished.  They were crucial for maintaining my productivity and ensuring that i stay sharp, focused and didn’t burn out. I also deliberately took my mind for a walk with nature.  This refreshes my mind, fuels my creativity, and enhances mental clarity.

Implementing these habits and rituals made each day structured yet flexible enough to handle any unexpected tasks that came my way. They helped maintain flow and ease throughout the day.  If I worked on weekends,  I made sure the following day was dedicated to rest and recovery, allowing me to recharge fully.

Chad Norgard

Website:  www.norgardinsurancegroup.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NorgardInsGrp/

“Can you share a strategy or tool that has significantly improved your productivity as an entrepreneur? How has it impacted your daily workflow?”

I have two that have paid dividends for me over the years.

1) Know Your Value.  There are so many tasks involved with starting or even growing a business.  You have to know what your value is, or what your worth is; if not, you’ll leave yourself open to being taken advantage of and that is not fair to yourself or your family.  This also means you have to know when to turn over certain tasks to someone else, so that you can continue to grow your business.  We can all go to work and get caught up in non-productive activity instead of income producing activity.

There will come a time, that it’s more beneficial to you and your time, to get an assistant or outsource some tasks.  For example, if you can make $200 an hour, but it takes you an hour to maintain your lawn.  Why not outsource that to the local lawn company who charges $40 / week or $160 / month and use that hour in a more productive way, like with your family or on a hobby / sport you like.  There is a lot more to unpack in this one, but this should be enough to give you the idea.

2) Time Blocking.  If you’re like me, you can be easily distracted by all of the tasks that need your attention throughout the course of a day or week to keep the business running.  I’ve learned that time blocking allows me to stay on task and keep focused on things that are essential and keeps me on track.  Whether it’s a weekly staff meeting, or family time on a Sunday afternoon, this is uninterrupted time that I have dedicated to the priorities of my business and personal life.

Once I implemented this, my business no longer seemed to control my life and my time away from the office was much more enjoyable.  I was no longer worrying about missing an email, whether I got XYZ done or not, or feeling guilty for allowing myself to get caught up on a phone call and now I am running late to a child’s event  or family get together.

“What challenges have you faced in trying to maintain a productive week, and what steps have you taken to overcome them?”

I took back control of my calendar through time blocking.  My clients still have the ability to schedule a meeting or call with me, but they know if it’s not available on the calendar then I’m otherwise occupied.  It took a bit for them to get used to, but I also built a deeper relationship with my clients when I mentioned why I was doing this; since I had lost sight of my priorities and often put clients before my family, thinking I was doing the right thing and providing for them, when really, I missed a lot of the little moments and chances to make lifelong memories with them.

“Can you describe a particularly productive week you’ve had? What habits or routines did you implement that made it successful?”

The 4th quarter of every year is always tough one for us, where we do 85% of our annual revenue. Over the years I’ve worked on efficiency and this past year I was able to leverage technology to the point that I was able to automate a few things, without losing the 1on1 contact and personal touch my clients have come to expect. By embracing technology, I was able to grow our business by 127% over the past two years. Also, once I took back control of my calendar and got Time Blocking under control I was able to give my clients my direct calendar link again. This allows me to save time in going back and forth on a meeting time with them, and let them schedule it directly. These two things have actually allowed my weeks to get better and better each week. Not only does our income increase, but the amount of time I spend working on the businesses has gone down; which has allowed me several hours a week to work on non-profits and mentoring instead.

Sian Young

Website: https://www.sustainableaction.net/

Linkedin:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/sianyoung/

“Can you share a strategy or tool that has significantly improved your productivity as an entrepreneur? How has it impacted your daily workflow?”

“What challenges have you faced in trying to maintain a productive week, and what steps have you taken to overcome them?” 

My main challenge is childcare.. as a female business owner I am at the mercy of childcare, child sickness and dare I say it… school holidays! Travelling the world with my business is an art form as a mother. Being a mumpreneur is not your normal life, if you’re bootstrapping you have to get so creative with childcare as a child’s safety is the utmost priority. I have, throughout my life, honoured relationships with people who have been there for me and believed in me, this means I have people in my corner who I trust with my child… so I support them and they support me. 

Then also a productivity hack is I get up at 4 am before my child wakes up and I have done 3 hours of work before she is up. Then I fill her cup with joy, play and food then I can manage to balance another 2 hours. 

So I have to plan a week in advance for tasks, that take most uninterrupted focus, to happen in the early morning, with my sunlamp on, and flexi tasks that can happen when she is awake. I also use child free time to strategically plan the moves I will make the following week. And also, I surrender a lot, as sometimes it just does not happen and that’s ok, drink the love up in my life as tomorrow (if we are blessed enough) will always be there.

“Can you describe a particularly productive week you’ve had? What habits or routines did you implement that made it successful?”

Elizabeth Bachman

Website: www.elizabethbachman.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elizabethbachman/

“Can you share a strategy or tool that has significantly improved your productivity as an entrepreneur? How has it impacted your daily workflow?”

“What challenges have you faced in trying to maintain a productive week, and what steps have you taken to overcome them?”

My To-Do list stretches to the moon!  I focus on just 3 crucial things each day.  If I get 80% of them done, it is a good day.

“Can you describe a particularly productive week you’ve had? What habits or routines did you implement that made it successful?”

Terry Chase

Website:  https://drterrychase.com/

“Can you share a strategy or tool that has significantly improved your productivity as an entrepreneur? How has it impacted your daily workflow?”

“What challenges have you faced in trying to maintain a productive week, and what steps have you taken to overcome them?”

Distraction. Keep my focus on the items in front of me. Taking regular breaks and getting exercise to begin the day helps.

“Can you describe a particularly productive week you’ve had? What habits or routines did you implement that made it successful?”

Final Thoughts

It seems distractions, and maintaining focus on tasks in hand, are key challenges to being productive. The range of solutions given here are truly inspiring, so if one speaks to you, give it a go, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

At the end of the day you need to find a way that works for you. The important thing is that you focus on what you want to achieve, have a go at a variety of suggestions, until you find one that suits you for helping you be your most productive. Don’t be afraid to review it and have a go with something else, you can always revert back if it doesn’t work.

Maybe you have found other ideas that work for you, please do let us know what they are so they can be added to a repertoire to choose from, should a new one be necessary to be implemented.