Tips for Learning Better Business Practices On the Go

Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop to look around every once in awhile, you could miss it. Those very words were spoken by Ferris Bueller, one of pop culture’s best-known slackers. Despite those lazy-driven tendencies, however, he’s got a point. Things move quickly. If you don’t take the initiative to take in what’s going on around you, there’s much that can be missed.

The professional world isn’t just about looking, however, it’s about making things happen while you look. Even when you’re busy. In order to be successful, you must find a way to get things done, without missing out on what’s around you. That is, after all, where the best opportunities take place.

Success is bridging interests and talents, and finding a way to meld the two together.

Everyone is busy. But everyone has the same 24 hours in a day. Some are just able to use their time more effectively. (For instance, by not telling others how busy they are.) If you are struggling with scheduling, consider looking at how others are best using their allotted time each day. Do they get up early? Outsource tasks? Do they use software that streamlines responsibilities? Have they shared tips on how to avoid wasting time? Take in these daily habits and see how you can adjust for yourself.

Next, learn new schedule hacks for yourself. Find ways to streamline your own hours and adjust as necessary. Just by trying something new and then changing what isn’t working and replacing it with what is, you can create more time per day. It’s an important step in checking everything off of your to-do list on a consistent basis.

Depending on your job (or personal life), you may or may not spend a large portion of your time away from home. While this might sound like a professional disadvantage, it can actually be a great way to make new contacts. Your current acquaintances will be waiting back home for you, whenever you return, and for as long as you’re able to stick around. In the meantime, use your location as an excuse to branch out. Check out networking groups in the area, like Facebook pages, email potential business contacts and see if they have time for coffee. There’s no better reason for being in a new location than already being there, besides, you never know what type of business agreement that could come from your efforts.

If you’re like the majority of the population, you get distracted fairly easily. If you’re not in your office with the daily norm, it’s hard to get things done. There are people to watch, sounds to pull you away from tasks, and a general excitement about being somewhere new. Yet deadlines still exist. You still have a pile of work to get done, and wasting work time will only make it harder to accomplish.

To overcome that setback, especially with frequent travel, you must find a way to look past distractions. Set goals, and stick to them. If you need headphones, a quiet space to work, or anything else, so be it – but it must be things that are accessible on the road, and they must be a positive force.

All-in-all, being busy – no matter where you’re located – should be a good thing. Not something that is overwhelming or that cripples your work. Find a way to streamline your daily tasks and to make the most of your professional environment, no matter where you might be at the time. It’s a skill that will continually help you grow as a professional.