How to use a checklist to focus your entrepreneurial efforts

Success is a few simple disciplines practiced every day, according to Jim Rohn, THE business philosopher.

Let me explain by giving you my definitions of failure and success. Here it is: Failure is a few Errors in judgment repeated everyday. … Now, here is my definition of success: A few simple Disciplines practiced every day. Do you see the distinction? A few disciplines…

You can see how this relates to an entrepreneur. Practice improving customer service daily, or let it slide, day after day. Practice keeping your books daily, or let it slide, day after day.

The number one tool to help you practice those disciplines? The humble checklist. David explains this well in Checklists for a Successful Life, at Money Under 30. He tells the story of how pilot checklists were created, and then explains the importance of each item on a checklist.

More importantly, it is a glaring reminder not to willfully neglect it.

How often do you neglect things you should do? Going to the gym, getting the car tuned-up, or taking steps to improve your finances? Every week? Every day? I know I do.

We don’t want to repeat those errors in judgment everyday. We want to succeed. Here’s the action for you to take.

Develop your checklist

Peter has a personal success checklist with 24 daily habits, at I Will Change Your Life.

Doing something everyday is such a powerful way to form a habit that I thought I would make a list of 24 habits that are worth doing on a daily basis (one for each hour of the day). Note: I have divided these into morning, day and night although some could obviously be under different headings.

Your checklist doesn’t need to be this long, especially not at first. Start with a few. In your small business, the first items might include:

Create a daily to-do list.
Call an existing client.
Write in your business blog.
Produce a billable product.

Think of five high-value things you could do daily in your business, that would have great benefits, but that you currently tend to let slide. Does this remind you of Stephen Covey and The Seven Habits of Highly Effectively People? These are Quadrant II, important but not urgent, actions. Using a daily checklist will help focus your attention on those key actions.

So create your daily checklist, starting with just five items. Post it where you work most often, or where you sit down to plan or review your day. If you like checking things off, make copies, and check off each item, each day. Imagine the satisfaction! You can use a related tool, the Printable CEO ™, which I mentioned before (Focus on Your IPA’s: Income Producing Activities).

Finally, share your commitment. Let us know what is on your checklist!

New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.

About the Author
Latest Posts

About Becky McCray

Becky started Small Biz Survival in 2006 to share rural business and community building stories and ideas with other small town business people. She and her husband have a small cattle ranch and are lifelong entrepreneurs. Becky is an international speaker on small business and rural topics.