We asked twelve entrepreneurs to share how they use technology to improve business productivity and here's what they had to say: 1. Hold virtual meetings with Asana. "We meet virtually as much as possible via the online task tracker Asana. This allows all of our team members to instantaneously update progress on any given task or project, and we can access this information from anywhere. This saves immense amounts of time by minimizing and streamlining internal meetings. This allows us to easily and efficiently stay up to date." - Elle Kaplan, Co-Founder and CEO of Lexion Capital: @LexionCapital 2....


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Ask any writer and they'll tell you the one thing that is ever-so-dreadful -- writer's block. For the uninitiated, it is the equivalent of sitting in a room, banging your head against a wall for hours while you put pen to paper with little or no results. Think of it as a writer's version of brain freeze in that it typically occurs after taking on too much at once. When studying this phenomenon, I found parallels between writers and entrepreneurs who both felt this “block” and couldn’t get (or continue) going because of it. So, here are four simple ways to overcome productivity killers...


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Stuck in a productivity rut? No worries. We’ve curated a list of must-read productivity tips for small business owners that can help you work more effectively than ever: 1. Don’t Multitask Contrary to popular belief, multitasking is not beneficial to productivity. “Time management experts estimate that focusing on one thing at a time will double productivity, work output, and performance. And when you’re running a small business, that can mean the difference between success and failure. Force yourself to do one thing at a time by setting a clock or timer for a certain amount of time,...


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As an entrepreneur, developing the foresight to set precedence (e.g. establish policies, procedures and patterns) in business has saved me from potentially sticky situations. Not only can setting policies and procedures (in advance) help you streamline your business it also helps you build an audience of ideal clients. Here are four reasons why you should set precedence (with customers and/or clients) in your business: 1. To manage your time. It is easy fall into the trap of making yourself too available. Striving to go above and beyond to secure trust and credibility with customers...


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At one of my favorite local sandwich shops, they offer standard sandwich options, but you can customize any sub to your heart’s content. Customers can place an order by filling out a paper sandwich bag marking their customization preferences. Afterwards, the sub goes down the assembly line and five or 10 minutes later, your order is ready. Although the process is efficient, it can also be frustrating — I never knew where my sandwich was in the assembly line. I only saw 20 paper sandwich bags, pinned on a clothes line. So I decided to mark the back of my bag with my initials. Now, I know...


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In today's on-the-go business landscape it is not uncommon for your team, clients, or suppliers to be located in different zip codes -- or even multiple time zones. Therefore, when it is important to stay in touch, online videoconferencing tools for teams are the best way to facilitate collaboration with ease. Virtual meetings are essential for startups that want to meet face-to-face with anyone, anywhere and save thousands on business travel. While you are possibly already familiar with Skype, GoTo Meetings and WebEx, there are several newcomers that have carved out niche followings and growing...


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Behind every great goal is ... execution. Identifying opportunities and then completing a set of deliverables to support your business vision is a mastery like none other. However, practical application is the first step to checking off more than one project on your list. If you find yourself with great expectations and a lack of true achievement, here are four practical ways to accomplish more this year and get unstuck: 1. Find an accountability partner. Who keeps you accountable to the goals you set in your business. For many the answer is, "I do. I hold myself accountable." For others,...


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We set goals. We formulate plans. Now...what happens next? At this juncture many small business owners find themselves at the crossroads -- the whiteboard moment where the 'clarity of an idea' and the 'confusion of methods' meet. May I ask: "Once you have set your goals and determined plans, how do you actually make traction on a daily, weekly, and monthly basis?" After thoughtful consideration I realized the one thing that has turned many of my ideas into tangible realities. It is a skill that comes naturally to some and is quite foreign to others -- project management. What...


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Have you identified your company's weaknesses and strengths? Once you've identified what you're good at and areas that you lack specific skill sets, you are one step closer to deciding who you need to hire (in terms of talent) and what business activities you need to outsource. The crux of the matter is knowing where your company is "weak." It is also one of the largest deciding factors between outsourcing success or failure. What types of business tasks you outsource is just as important as to whom you outsource. For example, let's say that you are a small business owner who runs a software...


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Twenty-one million businesses in the U.S. have only one employee – themselves. For millions of these folks, it means being freelancers – doing a job themselves. For others, it means "going at it alone" and building a business without employees, but with resources. The differentiation was identified by Bruce Judson in his book Go It Alone: Do What You Do Best Let Others Do The Rest. Judson contends that it’s possible now, in the digital age, to stay small but reap big profits by outsourcing tasks, which then allow individuals the freedom to concentrate on their greatest skills. Michael...


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