When I created my personal website back in 2014 like most new businesses, I thought to myself, ‘What should my logo be?’ I really didn’t give it too much thought at the time and that’s kind of the point of this story... Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 279 If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you could leave me a review. Intro/Outro Music: "Synthia" by Scott & Brendo...
If you’ve ever heard the story or seen the Tom Hanks movie about Apollo 13, you may remember that the crew almost didn’t make it. After a routine procedure led to the explosion of one of the ship's oxygen tanks, the crew had to shut down almost all systems on the ship in order to preserve power which they would need to reenter the earth's atmosphere and land safely. This meant turning off their guidance computer, waste management systems and even the ship's heating system. This story is a good a...
I often get asked about the different tools I use to run my business. Here are the main tools I’m currently using as of March 2023. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 277 If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you could leave me a review. Intro/Outro Music: "Synthia" by Scott & Brendo
One of the most important contributing factors to a successful client engagement is how you manage expectations. When you’re just getting started in the consulting or freelancing world, it’s tempting to tell the client what they want to hear in order to win a job. I’ve learned it’s better not to over-promise and instead be as realistic as possible with respect to the client's expectations. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 276 If yo...
Since 2015, the bulk of my company's revenue has come from consulting services and fees earned as a software partner. One of the great things about being a software partner is that you can earn an income from multiple revenue streams so you’re not reliant on just one source of income. In this post, I’d like to explain how a software partner like me makes money. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 275 If you enjoyed this episode, I'd l...
Are you a serial multitasker? Do you pride yourself on being able to juggle multiple projects at once? If so, it's time to rethink your approach. The truth is, multitasking is a productivity myth. In fact, trying to do too many things at once can actually be detrimental to your overall productivity. So why is multitasking a productivity myth, and what should you be doing instead? Let's take a closer look. Side-Note: As a bit of an experiment, this post was mostly written by ChatGPT and edited by...
I usually get approached by people who need help with one of three tools: Asana, Pipedrive or Zapier. And because I offer support for a project management tool like Asana, I often get asked if I can help with similar apps like ClickUp or Trello. People tell me all the time that I could grow my business if I offered more services. But I find it very beneficial to offer fewer services and to offer the best support we can for that particular tool. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your que...
I strongly believe that better communicators are more likely to get what they want. Whether that’s closing a sale, convincing someone to adopt your idea or sharing advice with someone. We’re communicating all the time; via email, instant messaging apps, phone calls, Zoom, social media posts and of course, in-person discussions. Everyone needs to communicate and should be trying to hone this skill. With this in mind, here are 5 tips that have helped me to communicate more effectively with clients...
It’s that time of year again when we set goals for the new year. And it’s important to have well-defined goals with specific outcomes you can measure (i.e. SMART goals: Specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, timely). I’ve set some goals for the year. But personally, I find it more useful to have a ‘focus’ for the year. Where a goal defines a specific outcome you’re trying to achieve. A focus is more general and higher-level. A focus defines the overarching theme or area you’d like to impro...
For the last few years ( 2019, 2020 , 2021 ) I've shared a breakdown of how I spent my time that year. It’s always an interesting exercise and it’s useful for me to analyse how I’m using my time differently year over year. Understanding how your time is being spent is one of the best things you can do to make better choices and plan more effectively for the future. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 270/ If you enjoyed this episode, ...
Every week, my Zapier expert, Warwick, and I do a ’weekly review’ where we run down the list of all clients we’re currently working with to determine where we’re at and what we need to do next. During last Friday’s review, we were exploring whether there’s a better way of managing our workload and I said something that has since stuck in my mind. I said: “We need to have a policy of zero-tolerance for inefficiency. We need to always be improving how we do things and not put up with inefficiency ...
We make thousands of decisions every single day from what to wear or what to eat for breakfast to how to respond to an email or what to work on next. And we should always be striving to make the best decision we can as efficiently as possible. I put a lot of my productivity down to not overthinking things. Generally, I make quick decisions and move on. Some decisions require more time. But in general, I like making quick decisions so my brain has less to remember and process. The more things I h...
As a student of stoic philosophy, I’ve read many times about the importance of focusing on what you can control and how this impacts your happiness and quality of life. The same idea applies to your productivity. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 267 If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you could leave me a review. Intro/Outro Music: "Synthia" by Scott & Brendo
When you come across a new tool or piece of software, it’s easy to sign up for a free trial only to waste a bunch of time after you later realise you don’t actually need the thing you signed up for. If you’re a business owner looking to adopt a new project management system, or a solo-operator interested in a new screen recording app, it’s important to ask yourself a few key questions before you sign up to a new tool: Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » http...
Like a lot of business owners, I’m concerned about the ongoing inflation that we’re experiencing and how it’s going to impact the economy. If I had to guess I feel there’s a high likelihood that things get worse, not better, over the next 12-18 months (maybe longer). As I look ahead, here are some of the things I’m going to be focussing on to ensure my business is in the best shape possible going into these uncertain times. I focus on each of these pursuits already but they are things I’ll be do...
You’ve probably heard the expression “Perfection is the enemy of progress”. Of course, there’s always a balance with everything and I’m not saying this is an excuse to accept low-quality results. But whatever it is you’re doing, whether you’re choosing what tools to use in your business or you’re setting up a new website, you want to aim for “good enough”. This is the point where you’ve achieved an acceptable result or level of quality based on your requirements but any further progress you make...
Meditation is a habit I’ve dabbled with on and off over the years. I first downloaded the Headspace app, which was my first exposure to meditation, in 2013. Over the years I’ve gone through periods of where I meditate regularly followed by long dry spells where I don’t meditate at all. As I’ve said on the blog before, I often use habits like meditation and journaling when I feel I need them. But my attitude towards meditation has changed recently. Rather than using meditation as a way to treat s...
I was recently reminded of a great quote by Steve Jobs where he said: “We try to focus and do very few things well. And focussing is hard because focussing doesn’t mean saying ‘yes’ it means saying ‘no’. So we decide not to do a lot of things so we can focus on a handful of things and do them very well” But this is one of those simple but very important lessons in productivity that often needs repeating. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors...
In this episode of Minor Updates, I share some of the things I've been focussing on in my business and personal life. 0:45 - Business improvements 3:51 - An unfortunate experience 11:48 - Baby Murphy has arrived! 14:00 - We're building a house 17:57 - Wim Hof breathing and cold therapy 20:20 - Wrapping up Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 261 If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you could leave me a review. Intro/Outro Music:...
I was recently chatting to a good friend of mine who’s also a business owner who wanted to know how I’m growing my business. We talked about how I package my consulting services, how I get leads, all the typical stuff. At one point in the conversation I said the “I haven’t had a sales target in years. I’m not actively trying to grow my business. My #1 goal is efficiency. I just want to make the business operate more efficiently and it just so happens that the bi-product of that is growth” This m...
When I was growing up, I never expected I’d be running a business where I help people with their productivity. In fact, there was a time when I wanted to be an architect. So where did this interest in productivity and the desire to start my own business come from? Today, I’d like to share a few personal memories that tell the story of how I ended up in the position I am today. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 259 If you enjoyed thi...
Isn’t it frustrating when you’ve planned your time have a clear agenda for what you’re going to work on, only to receive an email or to have a colleague derail your day by coming to you with an issue that requires urgent attention? These ‘fires’ often require us to stop what we’re doing and put everything else on hold so we can deal with this seemingly important and urgent issue. As someone who values productivity, dealing with “fires” is something I really try to avoid. Not that I ignore them. ...
I run my digital business from New Zealand (GMT+12) and service a lot of US-based clients who are on Pacific (GMT-8) and Eastern (GMT-5) times. That’s a pretty big gap in time but is less challenging than you would think to manage. In this episode, I’d like to share some of the tips and tricks I’ve learned to make it easier to work with other people across time zones. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 257 If you enjoyed this episode...
A surgeon is a master at using a scalpel. They don’t just have a basic understanding of the tool. They’ve spent thousands of hours perfecting their skill with it to make sure every cut they make is calculated and accurate. The point is, whatever your area of expertise, you need to become a master of your tools. Having a basic understanding isn’t good enough if you want to truly be great at what you do. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.c...
One of the keys to better productivity and general happiness is solving problems as quickly as possible. The quicker you can deal with a problem, the less time you have to worry about it and the lower the chance of it coming up again. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 255 If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you could leave me a review. Intro/Outro Music: "Synthia" by Scott & Brendo...
When it comes to productivity, we usually think about how to be more effective and efficient at work or in our business. But productivity isn’t just for getting more done in our professional lives. Productivity is a skill that helps you to be more effective and efficient with everything you do and being productive in your personal life is just as important. Most people sleep around 7-8 hours a night and work for 8-9 hours a day (including commute) leaving them with about 8 hours for recreation a...
Since day 1, I’ve been running my business 100% paperless; meaning I don’t keep any physical files or paperwork. Everything is captured and stored digitally. I could literally work from anywhere as I always have all the information I might need with me wherever I am. In this post, I’d like to list some of the tools and techniques I use to run my business 100% paperless. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 253/ If you enjoyed this epis...
Inflation is the hot topic everyone is talking about right now. COVID and even the Russia-Ukraine war have taken a back seat as people all around the world struggle to adjust to the rising cost of living. On this podcast, I’ve often discussed how I try to optimise both my time and income. Earning more is great but not if it’s disproportionate to the time required to earn the income. In this post, I want to unpack how inflation is stealing your time away from you and what you should be doing to t...
We are spoilt for choice when it comes to online experts and brands that share content. It’s now easier than ever to start a blog, record and host a podcast or create videos for YouTube. This makes it harder to stand out amongst all the noise on the internet. Since starting my blog back in 2013 I’ve produced 694 blog posts, over 200 Youtube videos and 251 podcast episodes. When it comes to standing out and how to produce good quality content, there are a few things that have helped me along the ...
Email management continues to take up a huge portion of the day for most knowledge workers. To help deal with this awful problem, I’d like to share some practical tips on how to deal with your email faster. Don’t want to read this post? Listen to the podcast instead. Show notes (please leave me a comment with your questions and feedback) » https://paulminors.com/ 250 If you enjoyed this episode, I'd love it if you could leave me a review. Intro/Outro Music: "Synthia" by Scott & Brendo...
