Managing Your Business God’s Way - Part 6

This is the final post in the Christian Business Principles series.  Hope you have enjoyed it.  Next week I will be starting a new Bible study on Nahum - stay tuned.  I  could not say this better than Crown Financial so here it is in their words.  Go to the site to see the entire article.

Managing Home Based Business

“The Lord your God will prosper you abundantly in all the work of your hand, in the offspring of your body…for the Lord will again rejoice over you for good” (Deuteronomy 30:9-10).

The following are 10 tips that will help any home business from Crown Financial Ministries:

1. Start each day by dedicating it to the Lord. Our time each day is given to us by God: “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” (Ecclesiastes 3:1). Before the workday begins, dedicate it to the Lord. Ask Him for guidance and for help in using the time He has given, as He wants and as He sees fit.
2. Schedule time for business paperwork and accounting. Set aside a certain time each day or week (depending on the size of the home-based business) to do paperwork. This would include filing receipts, invoicing clients, balancing accounts, and paying bills.
3. Plan time—don’t fragment it. Divide the day into similar things by category. Group all phone calls (mornings are best for phone calls), projects, and errands (plan errands around no-rush-hour times) to be done at the same time. Finish one category before shifting to another.
4. Be productive—don't procrastinate. Procrastination is probably one of the primary reasons why goals are not accomplished. By determining when the most productive time is, people can limit procrastination. Strive to work during peak performance periods, if it doesn't conflict with family time or the family routine. Home-based businesses must conform to the family routine, not the reverse.
5. Establish a routine that is acceptable. Although home-based businesses do not have to be limited to a 9-to-5 routine, some type of routine should be established—one that can maximize production without sacrificing family. Business owners might commit a certain number of hours per day to the business or certain full days to the business and take full days off—perhaps working with the business every other day.
6. Know when to say No! If business owners commit to friends, projects, or jobs, they must honor those commitments.  Therefore, before any commitment is made, be sure to determine how that commitment will affect the family, business, deadlines, or other commitments. If accepting the obligation will negatively affect any of these, the answer to the request should be, “No!” Or at the very least, “Not at this time.”
7. Organize commitments. List all things that need to be accomplished or commitments that have been made. Then list the time that it will take to accomplish or finish each task. Divide the steps necessary to meet each goal or accomplish each task into daily assignments. Maintain these assignments until the project is complete.
8. Schedule extra time. When making schedules, make sure that there is enough flextime. Pad all appointments and activities with a few extra minutes in anticipation of unforeseen delays or unexpected circumstances.
9. Evaluate the importance of all meetings and appointments. Many meetings and appointments waste time that can be used for other, more productive things. Some business can be conducted quickly by phone, fax, mail, or e-mail, rather than scheduling a meeting to do it. Don't hesitate to set a length to meetings and end meetings that become non-productive.
10. Have family cooperation. Although business schedules and routines should not interfere with quality family time, the family should understand and support an agreed upon business and work schedule. Although family time is of priority importance, the family needs to understand the value of being a good steward and maintaining good work ethics.