Clearly though, not all of these tasks are created equally. Some might pay much more, while others might take more time or effort. That holds true for any line of work, and all of the various responsibilities that you'll be coming across.
Therefore, you need to start tracking your performance across the different fields you work within and the different types of jobs that you complete. It's extremely easy to do, and at the end of a week or two, you'll have a much clearer picture of not only how you spend your time, but also for how your time is spent the most effectively.
All you need to do is make a basic chart with all of the different tasks or jobs you complete or come across, and add in an extra category for miscellaneous chores and activities. Then take note of the time as you begin any specific task, and also when you finish up that particular task, and add up how much time you spent. If you were completing a specific job for a client, then note how much money you earned for that time.
At the end of the week, tally up how many hours you spent working on different aspects of your job, and how much money you earned in each. It's a super easy way to see a rough hourly wage for everything that you do. It might provide you with a "Wow" moment, as you realize how profitable certain activities are, how much time you waste with others, or how little time you spend dedicated to others.
This basic information will provide you with some much needed perspective about the way that you spend your time, and the direction that you should be moving in. You can start to focus on more profitable and productive areas, while eliminating ones that eat up too much time, don't pay enough, or aren't producing in other ways. In this way you will be more profitable and productive, and you'll always have information on hand to help guide your future decisions about which jobs to take, how much to charge, or where to focus the bulk of your efforts.
More from this contributor
Running a Profitable Small Business from Home
Published by Jake Emen
Based out of Washington D.C., Jake is a full-time freelance writer, and is the Editor of ProBoxing-Fans.com. He has been published on a variety of outlets, has served as both a Featured Contributor and Categ... View profile
- Small Business Info: Why You Should Find Your Niche MarketWhenever you start a small business, you must discover your niche market. Read this article to learn how and why you should find your niche market.
- Review of Small Business Management Tool, OfficeInteractive.comIf you are a small business owner who is looking for a CRM tool, you'll want to demo Office Interactive.
- Free Money for Small Business Start-Up and Growth?Finding the right grant opportunity for your business is not simple and may take you a significant amount of time. However, the grant you receive may go a long way toward the success of your small business.
- 10 Habits of Highly Successful Small Business Owners10 Habits of Highly Successful Small Business Owners
- How to Survive Becoming Self EmployedHave you ever wanted to go out on your own and be self employed? Wonder what it takes before and beyond that decision. This article gives those steps to help avoid major stumbling blocks.
- Small Business Insurance
- 6 Items I Noticed While Doing My Own Small Business Plan
- Small Business: The Backbone of America
- Locating Capital for Your Small Business
- Business Podcasts - Top Small Business Podcasts
- Phone Business Solutions for Small Business
- How to Get a Small Business Grant



