Installing live chat on my website seemed like a really good thing to do – and fun, besides. So… I spent a few hours getting it installed, only to learn that while I had it running, other things would NOT run.

Even when it was turned off, just the fact of it being there caused all sorts of problems. Internet Explorer wouldn’t open at all (which isn’t terrible, because I use Firefox), but my tweets on Twitter wouldn’t load… and it may have played some part in not being able to use Constant Contact. Although I don’t think so, because I tried that from a different computer too.

Talking to Constant Contact today I learned that they’re having difficulties with some ISP’s – and Hughes Net is one of them.

The slow speed on Hughes Net is probably why I couldn’t use chat, too – and there’s some reason why every time I send an e-mail I get a “connection terminated” notice.

Anyway, I finally did get one ezine uploaded and sent out, and then I went back to my website and took away all the chat code. That was after uninstalling the software.

So… what is there to learn from this? If you don’t have high speed – don’t try to do anything fancy – like installing live chat.  You’ll just waste precious hours that you could be spending doing something productive – or even playing.

My last two days would give a time management expert fits, so don’t follow my lead.

By the way, February 28 is also “Sleep in public” day – and Ive been wondering about the best way to celebrate that. Once when I had the real estate office a customer came in and stretched out on our couch – maybe I could find a nice warm office with a soft couch?

No – guess not. I think I won’t celebrate that at all – since I already celebrated inconvenience yourself day.

Mine certainly is, and every time I turn around I think of something new to put on it. First come the projects for other people, of course. That’s how I make a living and I make it a priority not to miss deadlines.

But then I start thinking of things like adding some of my new testimonials to my web sites, converting some of my ezine articles into web pages and adding them to a website, sending a new message to the people who signed up for my free report on how to avoid choosing a bogus contractor, getting back in touch with people who sent inquiries but weren’t quite ready to commit to copy. I even think of new websites I’d like to build. So the list goes on and on…

This week I took my own advice and time blocked some time to finish a project. Well, to finish the first step at least. You may know that I offer a 6-month marketing and sales course for Realtors. It’s only been available one month at a time. This week I got it all edited and compiled so I can offer it all in one CD.

I still think it is better for all of us to get our lessons in small doses so we don’t get overwhelmed, but I’ve realized that some people are anxious and would like to have all the lessons at one time.

Next step: Build a page to offer it and see about labels for the CD’s. I’m going to block the time for that, too, so that it doesn’t get put on the back burner.

If you’re like me and sometimes act like a grasshopper jumping from one project to the next, give the time blocking a try. It just might let you say “I finished this!” faster than if you just keep looking at your to-do list every day and deciding which way to jump in the moment.

Yours for prosperity,

Marte
www.marte-cliff.com

My copy of Money & the Law of Attraction arrived today! I got started reading over lunch, and can hardly wait to keep on. In fact, I’m going to block some time just for this book.

OK, back to time management. I keep CD’s in my car and work on my education any time I have to drive somewhere. Early last week I gave a second listen to a Glazier/Kennedy CD and heard again about time blocking. So I tried it, and I really am accomplishing more. I’m also feeling better about it.

The idea is to block out a certain amount of time for each of the tasks you must accomplish – and of course to put first things first so you don’t miss deadlines or put off doing the things that will bring you the greatest rewards. We humans seem to be experts at “busy procrastination” that keeps us doing trivial things and putting off the important ones.

My trouble always has been thinking that I had to do it all “today” and then ending up accomplishing nothing because I couldn’t decide where to start.

With the time blocking method you know when you’ll get at each project, and it removes the pressure of thinking you have to do everything at once. The only real problem is deciding which things can wait until another day. My method is deadlines and promises first, business-building activities next, and routine bookwork after that.

The second important benefit to time blocking is that time once blocked cannot be interrupted. In other words, you don’t take phone calls or go throw a load of laundry in the washer. And you don’t let your mind wander off to the other tasks you think you should be doing. You simply focus on the task at hand.

From a psychological standpoint, you’re telling yourself that you will accomplish a certain thing within a set time frame – and the result is that you generally do so. The speakers on the CD didn’t mention the Law of Attraction by name, but that’s what they were talking about. You state an intention, you believe in it, you do it.

Yours for prosperity,

Marte

P.S. If you haven’t ordered your copy yet, I recommend that you do. This book is really something!

If you always have time for them – immediately, every time they call – they might think they are your only customer. And then they will wonder if they made the right choice.

On the other hand, if you act rushed and too busy to relax and talk with them, they will look for someone else. I well remember a loan officer who was doing a terrible job on a transaction for me. Every time I needed to talk to him I had to call multiple times and he failed to return calls. When I finally reached him the answer was always the same: He had 27 calls to return after lunch and just was too busy to call back.

He was probably trying to impress me with the number of clients he had. My true impression was that he was ignoring everyone and soon he would have NO customers. I sure would never use him again! Of course, the delays were never his fault. He always told me so.

Even if you are just starting out and have no customers yet, do not tell the world. Instead, make some appointments with yourself and write them in your day planner. Then keep them – because you need to spend some time on your marketing plan.

But the best part is, when someone wants to meet with you on Thursday morning at 10 you will be telling the truth when you say you already have an appointment, but may be able to juggle things around to accomodate them.

You need to let your customers know that you are busy – but that you will always make time to take care of them.

And now, for a bit of nonsense. I have no idea why, but tonight this program will not let me use an apostrophe in a word. I do not usually say “do not” and “I will” and “You will.” Funny creatures, these computers. They do as they please and do not care if we like it or not!

My writing tonight reminds me of “Green Eggs and Ham.” Remember the line: “I do not like them, Sam I am?”