5 Timely Rules For Home Based Business Owners…
It’s called TIME MANAGEMENT, the surprisingly simple (and hidden) cause of breakthrough success most people totally ignore…
Until it’s too late…
Now, you’ll be able to master this TIMELY SECRET with a plan so simple you would hardly call it a plan at all. So here it is…
Here’s 5 Timely Rules For Home Based Business Owners:
Rule #1 – Focus Like A Laser On The Task At Hand…
This rule is firm, never work on more than one task at a time. Some people will argue with me about this rule – I will not argue back – it’s a waste of time.
Rule #2 – Practice Your “Grumpy” Face And Throw A Fit…
If you work from home your family and friends need to respect your work hours. Problem is, they won’t listen to reason. They will automatically assume that because you work out of a home office you’re available 24/7. So stand your ground.
Rule #3 – Make A List And Check It Thrice To See If You’ve Been Naughty Or Nice…
You should make a short list of 4-6 things you need to get out of the way. Remember to check your list in the morning, afternoon, and before you go to bed. This tip is so simple that not one in ten thousand people will take it seriously – too bad.
Rule #4 – Nail Your Door Shut And Glue Glass To The Doorknob…
Listen, sometimes you need to turn off your phone, unplug your internet and lock your door. Because life is NEVER going to give you a “perfect” workday. People are going to harass you 24/7 till they day you die – if you want time – make time.
Rule #5 – Rules Are For Fools – Get your “rear” in gear…
If you’re short on time then you really don’t need any more rules. What you need to do is work. Make your list, work your list, rinse and repeat – easy beasy.
The only way to get more done in less time is to hire an army of “Gremlins”
Well, that’s Chris Owen’s theory over at the Chris Owen Academy. He wrote an absolutely hilarious article exposing some of my “secrets” – which I will neither confirm nor deny – Because I already promised Mitchell Dillman over at Dillman Solutions the exclusive.
If you have too much time on your hands – check it out here.
To your success,
-Jason The “Better Networker”
-The Jason Better Blog
P.S. What’s your biggest pet peeve? Personally, I get downright grumpy when somebody interrupts my work time. You would never know it. How about you? Try to beat Josh Garcia to the comments today. 
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55 Comments
Tommy DiPietro on March 18th, 2010
Hey J,
Wow, this is a good one, especially since I still work a full-time J-O-B (for now at least )
I wake up at 4am, so I can get some quite time and check emails before I have to catch my bus.
If it wasn’t for my Blackberry and Netbook, I would still be a pure beginner. It does allow me access to my business while at work. Shhh…don’t tell my boss I am writing this during work hours.
I have to say a “list” really does work. You have it in front of you and when everything is checked on your list, you feel good about yourself. I give myself a pat on the back .
Biggest Pet Peeve: when I am in the middle of a webinar or writing something and the office is door is opened and someone starts a conversation. Either that is when you have your time all sorted out and a prospect misses their appointment.
From Chelsea Piers NYC
Tommy D.
“The Prospecting Hero”
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March 18th, 2010 at 10:51 am
Your secret is safe.
I live off my list. It’s the only way I get anything done at all.
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Dwayne Huggins on March 18th, 2010
Hey J
Chris’s post today is hilarious!!!
Good timely info.
I am damn good at time management, mainly due to not having that much time to play with so every minute / second has to count.
The list thing is a great idea.
I also set times to my task, this helps me to focus on only what I need to do.
Thanks Jessica or is it Jason???
Dwayne
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March 18th, 2010 at 10:53 am
Hah,
You should know I would have way more attitude if my name was Jessica Better!
Yeah, that post was the funniest thing I read all week… and trust me… I read more articles in a day then any sane person on planet earth.
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Wayne Vassell on March 18th, 2010
Hey J,
I know what you mean by “Practice Your “Grumpy” Face” I have had to use it a few times to get some real focus going on with the task at hand.
It is so true, everyone assumes because you work at home you must be on 24-7 holiday! Wrong, quite the opposite!
Great post J
Wayne Vassell, signing out…
P.s. Heading over to check out this cheeky post by Chris Owen (ha)
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Ilka Flood on March 18th, 2010
Awesome post, Jason!
I especially had problems with Rule #2. It’s getting better, but maybe I should take your advice and glue glass to the doorknob.
Hmmm, better stock up on bandaids
Have a fantastic day!
Ilka
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Rebecca on March 18th, 2010
Jason,
Thank you. This is a very timely post for me.
I need to work on Rule #1 and #3 more. With 2 young children I end up multi-tasking a lot.
At my old J-O-B I used to use #3 all the time, in fact I would write the list as I was leaving the night before so I wouldn’t get distracted with requests the next day.
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March 18th, 2010 at 11:52 am
I can imagine.
Gosh, I wouldn’t get anything done at all.
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Chris Owen on March 18th, 2010
Hey Jason,
I have no set ground rules at all. It is horrible, and wonderful, because my kids climb on me while I work.
I need to get on this rules thing.
I’m glad you got a kick out of the post. I saw something disturbing from someone I thought I admired on BN yesterday, and I thought I would lighten the mood a little. Sometimes people take controversy in their copy too far.
I really do think your great, and no one needs to hear it from me, because it is so evident.
Thanks Jason.
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March 18th, 2010 at 11:54 am
You definitely lightened things up Chris.
Remember that even Better Networkers are human. I think? Hmmm….
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Madiba Thompson on March 18th, 2010
Yep the golden rule #1 learned that one from Eben Pagan the attack of multitasking and getting nothing done. Oh hold on one second I need to check the mail, oh my favorite videos on give me a second Jason, okay I’m back I forgot what I was talking about with you. LOL
We must remember the most important thing when it comes to business, the key is we make no money if we don’t expose the right people to our product or business opportunity.
Work doesn’t consist of organizing your list or Facebook all day, I take that back it is work it just doesn’t pay.
To 7 figures and beyond
Madiba
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March 18th, 2010 at 11:56 am
I think I should add rule #6 – never answer all your comments..
But I think there’s enough bloggers out there already mastering that one.
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Devendra Patel on March 18th, 2010
Hi Jason
It’s really vvimp points you talked here, no need to read complex time management books, this are the core points you talked. thanks a lot.
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Colin on March 18th, 2010
Jason, thank you for your great articles especially this one. Being a home based business, those are crucial pieces of the puzzle to making a home based business workout.
I am also needing some EMERGENCY help with Wordpress. I need a guru to help us with a problem we are having and can’t figure it out. A recommendation of someone would be EXTREMELY APPRECIATED! THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT.
Thank you for any help you can forward our way.
YOU ROCK JASON!
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March 18th, 2010 at 2:31 pm
No prob Colin,
I don’t know any Wordpress gurus personally… but if somebody here knows one… they’ll pipe up for sure.
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Colin on March 18th, 2010
I have something that may be a great article for you or maybe you have already written about it.
Wordpress is supposed to be the it thing for websites. I see its great value, but have a real hard time with forums. I don’t like learning from forums and personally feel it takes way too long to get answers. Is there no guru manuals or educational mediums that can teach us mere mortal Wordpress users. I think if there was a great video tutorial guide or thorough book it would make a ton of money.
Am I crazy? Do these already exist? What do you think? How did you learn?
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March 18th, 2010 at 2:00 pm
Hey Colin,
I am not fond of the WP forums either. You have to be an Einstein to figure them out and committ a 40 hr. week to finding your solution.
When I have an issue with WP, I G**gle it. I found that 9 out 10 times, I can find a video tutorial that walks me right through it so I have the video open in one window and my back office in the other and I can fix it as I go along with the video.
Hope this helps,
Rhonda
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March 18th, 2010 at 2:32 pm
There must be a few out there.
Courses like Traffic Formula take you through everything you need to know for business purposes. They’ll get you up and running quick, but if you’re talking about the little details, I haven’t come across a course better than that.
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March 18th, 2010 at 4:11 pm
Hey Colin,
If your question is technical I can help. If it is graphics, I am color blind and a crappy artist. (play the guitar well though)
Shoot me an email at chris@chrisowenacademy.com and I will answer your question the best I can. I can also send a video with jing (thanks jason) if it takes that. From what I have seen with people who are new to website development, wordpress has the fastest learning curve of any platform this powerful.
And super cool people like JB use it. Though he just spam the home page at BN with the same article 4 times in a row. We forgive you.
By the way, Jason can recommend me for some inspiration or a good laugh, but I don’t think he has ever read an article from me on website development. So you’ll have to chance it. LOL
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March 18th, 2010 at 7:42 pm
Hey that was a mistake… hah
Technical problems. Apparently I can’t be “everywhere” in one place.
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Jamie Gaymon on March 18th, 2010
Jason-
It takes all of us to get together to make something simple complicated! Great post man, almost everyone knows to do this, but the difference between knowing and doing is the difference between wealth and poverty!
Jamie
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March 18th, 2010 at 2:33 pm
Now, all we need to do is make Network Marketing simple too.
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Jerome Ratliff on March 18th, 2010
Afternoon J -
You picked a great topic every home business owner is faced with.
Good Ole’ TIME MANAGEMENT!
I’ve been adopting Tim Ferriss’s 4 Hour Work Week mentality when it comes to TM.
I haven’t quite gotten it down to 4 hours a week, but I’m making improvements every week.
That’s a good book by the way if you haven’t read it.
Catch you later J,
Jerome Ratliff
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March 18th, 2010 at 2:34 pm
Love the book.
In practice, I would go insane with a 4 Hour Work Week.
Gosh, I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.
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Rhonda Miller on March 18th, 2010
Hey Jason,
You’re becoming a Pro at these posts. My particular pet peeve is #2. I don’t know how it is the minute you decide to work from home, everyone thinks you don’t “work” from home. Hmm???
I love this article. I wrote a similar article about 3 weeks ago entitled Leadership Action Plan and how to keep yourself on some type of track.
I, too, am definitely going to have to head over and read Chris’s article.
Have a great day,
Rhonda
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March 18th, 2010 at 2:37 pm
It’s just one of those things…
Then you’re a horrible person for taking things like time seriously. And not letting people take up every second of your life. 
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Eric McMillan on March 18th, 2010
Time Management Tip # 6
Don’t spend all day long commenting on blogs that are owned by Darth Vader, The Easter Bunny, and the Oogle Bot all in one. AKA Jason Better.
Every Sunday I do a daily schedule for myself, which helps to keep me on task and get a ton done. I also set monthly schedules for project completions. The only way I can keep this ADD mind on the important tasks and not be distracted by someone drinking unicorn tears or eating babies.
Time management is key in this business. You have to set a schedule and hole yourself accountable to start seeing results.
Good Stuff,
Eric McMillan AKA Gremlin Wrangler
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March 18th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Oh boy,
Tell me about it. It’s tough to stay focused. I tend to answer comments while I’m waiting on other things.
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Volker Schaefer on March 18th, 2010
I am working from home since two years. My biggest challenge is still selfmotivation.
One day is over so fast without anything done. It’s magic!
Best regards
Volker
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March 18th, 2010 at 2:38 pm
Hey Volker,
Nevermind days – weeks and month disappear in a blink too.
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Marcus Baker on March 18th, 2010
Hey Jason,
Always a lively topic this! In my experience as with many other areas in business it takes a plan and consistent action.
I use Gmail’s calendar function and I schedule every minute of my day, business and otherwise.
Some say this is extreme and perhaps it is but I also want extreme results!
It doesn’t mean I’m not flexible but I never waste any time wondering what it is I should be doing. I always know.
Then it’s simply a matter of managing ME so that I’m DOING whatever is on my schedule. Practice this consistently despite any resistance and before long resistance gives up and moves on.
Cheers,
Marcus
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March 18th, 2010 at 7:39 pm
I have a hard time with digital calendar… so I keep things simple… but I can see how it would help to organize everything and save time. I’m just so attached to my pen and paper.
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Gayle Buchanan on March 18th, 2010
Morning Jason
Fantastic post – yes yes yes
Now can you come over and get my mother-in-law out the house!! ha
Have a fab day
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Peter Grimes on March 18th, 2010
Jason,
So now we finally know the secret to being “A Ninja on Steriods!” Great job BTW
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March 19th, 2010 at 8:40 am
And yet I still run out of time.
We should lobby for 36 hour days.
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Derek Fobert on March 19th, 2010
Great display of rules, Jason. I am on the same page as you. I think that time management is an on going working progress. Though, there will always be distractions and interruptions. I shall take your tips into consideration.
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March 19th, 2010 at 8:43 am
Dan Kennedy calls them “Time Vampires”… you have to stake them fast.
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Kellie on March 20th, 2010
LOL Jason, the goal was to beat Josh Garcia to the comments, I think while he is consistently first, I am holding steady in last place but I’m getting the benefit of all the comments including his. I like that. I am learning so much from you & your group. I keep my task list in iGoogle and consult it frequently. I have worked from home for 10 years so my family is very accustomed to leaving me alone but my friends are a different story, I have mastered a look & sound of indifference, when they get that one, they know they have interrupted me and will cut things short.
I am really bad about focusing (shiny new things capture my attention easily) lol The list really comes in handy, I even have a specific amount allotted for visiting my favorite blogs and posting comments Thanks for a great post, gotta run over to the shiny new post written by Chris Owens that everyone keeps talking about 
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Derek Alvarez on March 25th, 2010
Great post Jason,
It’s been a busy week for me, but I’ve still managed to make my way over to the old Jason Better blog.
You’re a busy man, so this kind of advice is golden.
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Matt Cassity on March 31st, 2010
Hi Jason,
I have something similar. When I am working on my business I have a closed door policy where I can not be interrupted during that time.
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Separating Rejection Of Your Business Proposal From Personal Rejection | DEVENDRA PATEL personal blog on April 10th, 2010
[...] people in a hundred reject the idea, there will be ten who will show interest and this is what MLM progress really [...]
Hey Jason,
I’ll tell you that this is a topic that I’m always finding ways on how to master. I read books, attend seminars, listen to mp3.
The key is to be streamlines and be so productive in a 24 hour window.
Thanks for this info.
Josh
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March 18th, 2010 at 10:14 am
BTW…That article that Chris put out today. It’s hilarious! A must read!!!
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March 18th, 2010 at 10:20 am
You are the best! Thanks for the mentioned and for what the ‘Gremlins’ are doing over there.
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March 18th, 2010 at 10:21 am
Yeah, I almost broke my ribs laughing.
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March 18th, 2010 at 11:31 am
Hmmmm, another clue. You would have to be pretty old to worry about your ribs like that. Maybe some calcium deficiency?
March 18th, 2010 at 11:43 am
Hey Jason,
Tragena just sent me the update for your pic on my post. I think it suits the post much better. LOL
Thanks for being a good sport, though I am worried. I was just informed that when you roast somebody they are allowed a comeback.
Did I mention you are great
March 18th, 2010 at 11:54 am
No worries,
I saw that you were poking fun and I’m a good sport.
March 18th, 2010 at 10:20 am
You did it again.
It’s tough, but this is one of those principles that you can’t succeed without.
I like to keep things simple.
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