Breaking Through the To-Do List Overwhelm for Solopreneurs
A Simple Prioritization Strategy for eCommerce Entrepreneurs
As an eCommerce consultant, I've noticed a recurring theme among my clients lately. Many are finding themselves buried under a never-ending to-do list and the overwhelm starts before they start a single task. The result is they are unsure where to begin the day with work tasks.
The endless to-do list has become a source of paralysis rather than productivity. If this sounds familiar, don't worry – you're not alone, and there's a way out.
— In This Article —
Start with Revenue-Generating Activities
Taking into account the second thing I usually hear from clients is that don’t have enough sales or growth in the business. So, it becomes clear we need to start with revenue-generating activities when we have energy and motivation, meaning those need to move to the top of the list.
I recommend you always kick off your day with activities that directly impact your bottom line. These are your revenue-generating marketing tasks, and they should be your top priority. Here are a few examples:
Send an email to your list
Reach out to wholesale leads
Work on your Facebook ads
Start a Google Ad campaign
By tackling these high-impact tasks first, you're setting yourself up for success and ensuring that your most crucial work gets done.
Move on to Time-Sensitive Marketing Tasks
Once you've completed one revenue-generating activity for the day, shift your focus to marketing tasks with upcoming deadlines. These might include:
Listing holiday products
Updating your homepage banner
Planning for Q4 shipping deadline
Re-ordering inventory
Meetings with staff or freelancers
Education, courses
These tasks are important for keeping your business current and capitalizing on seasonal opportunities.
Wrap Up with Admin and Operations Tasks
Finally, attend to the day-to-day operations that keep your business running smoothly:
Shipping orders
Ordering supplies
Bookkeeping, paying bills
Making website updates
Scheduling social media posts
While these tasks are necessary, they shouldn't come at the expense of activities that grow your business.
The Pitfall of Misplaced Priorities
Here's what I've observed: many entrepreneurs start their day with routine tasks – the ones I've listed last and they spend way to much time and energy on them so they are worn out and exhausted, leaving little time for the work that matters. A common place this appears is in social media content creation, watching competitors, or free webinars and other sales programs.
This approach often leaves no time for those all-important revenue-generating activities. By flipping the script, you ensure that your most impactful work gets done first.
Remember, the key to breaking through the to-do list overwhelm is prioritization. Make it your non-negotiable rule to start each day with one solid marketing activity. This simple shift in approach can make a world of difference in your productivity and, ultimately, your business growth.
By following this strategy, you'll find yourself not just busy, but effectively moving your business forward each, and every day.
Most importantly always Be Kind To Yourself!
Being a solo business owner is hard and some days are just not going to according to plan.
Rest, slow down and start again the next day with a fresh perspective and new renewed focus.