SiteHow to Boost Your Business in 7 Minutes
In January I wrote about my experiment using what I called “scheduled procrastination” to boost my efficiency. I’m a big proponent of “planting seeds” for future work by doing little things now, so I was excited to find the website for the book The Seven Minute Difference by Allyson Lewis. Lewis says that doing “micro-actions” that take seven minutes or less can take you a long way towards meeting your goals. For example (from the website):
- Want to lose weight? Grab a water instead of a soda.
- Want to get in better shape? Walk for 7 minutes during your lunch hour.
- Want to improve your mind and your career? Read 10 pages of a book a day.
- Want more clients, sales, and income? Write 2 handwritten thank you notes a day.
- Want better relationships? Spend 7 extra minutes listening to someone.
- Want to be more effective professionally? Create a plan for your top 7 priorities each day.
Even better, Lewis offers a free download called “100 Micro-Actions for Work” (scroll to the bottom of the page).
Some examples from the booklet that would work for writers are:
- Clip an article or forward an online article to a colleague.
- Go to the website of your local professional association and submit a speaker proposal form.
- Read 10 pages of a book.
- Schedule a regular computer backup.
- Place a number of business cards in your wallet/purse so they are always handy.
- Make a list of 10 books that can improve your career knowledge. (May I suggest The Renegade Writer and The Renegade Writer’s Query Letters That Rock?)
Some more micro-actions that I came up with for writers:
- Follow up on as many queries as you can in 7 minutes.
- Send a letter of introduction to an editor.
- Come up with a compelling new sig line.
- Dig up a query that never sold and send it to a new magazine.
- Visit Tradepub.com to search for trade magazines to send your letter of introduction to.
I’d love to hear more ideas for micro-actions that writers can do in under 7 minutes. Please post your ideas in the Comments section. [lf]
8 Responses to “How to Boost Your Business in 7 Minutes”
You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
Jenn Hollowell
Said this on October 1st, 2007 at 8:28am:It’s going to be a VERY busy month and this is *exactly* the kind of warm-up and motivation I needed to read on the first day in! THANK YOU!
Susan
Said this on October 2nd, 2007 at 10:56am:How about submitting an article for a reprint? That’s a quick and easy way to earn cash. In fact, I’d like to learn more about markets that accept reprints. Is there a section of the market wiki for that?
LindaFormichelli
Said this on October 2nd, 2007 at 3:09pm:Great, Jenn!
Susan, that’s a good idea for a micro-action. There’s no special space in the wiki for mags that take reprints, but members are welcome to add that information to any entry.
Amy T
Said this on October 3rd, 2007 at 3:28pm:What a great way to shift your brain out of overwhelm mode.
How about this researching 7 new markets and bookmarking their submission guidelines?
HisGirlFriday
Said this on October 5th, 2007 at 1:42pm:I love this!
How about spending 7 minutes every night organizing your work space so when you wake up the next AM you can jump right into work?
Dawn Allcot
Said this on October 8th, 2007 at 1:25am:Is a “letter of introduction” a predecessor to a query letter? I’ve never done this but it sounds like it could be a great timesaver. Where can I find more information? (Short of buying your book, which I absolutely HAVE to buy when I actually get some of the checks that are “in the mail.”) Could you post a sample letter of introduction, maybe?
By the way, great e-mail tips!!
LindaFormichelli
Said this on October 8th, 2007 at 7:18am:Amy and HisGirlFriday, great ideas. HisGirlFriday, I actually clear my desk, physical inbox, and e-mail inbox every night before turning in.
Dawn, a LOI takes the place of a query letter, and it works best with trades and smaller pubs, though I have heard of writers breaking into national magazines with LOIs. Mine says something like, “Dear X: I enjoyed Magazine Y’s website. Do you assign articles to freelance writers? I’m a writer in Concord, NH, with credits in such magazines as A, B, and C. May I send you some clips?”
Good luck!
Ciara
Said this on October 10th, 2007 at 7:23am:In 7 minutes, a writer could:
Go to thesaurus.com and learn some new and random words
Go to the library and pick up an unheard of previously book
Choose to have a herbal tea instead of a coffee!