Tools and Tips for Focused, Impactful Work from a Solopreneur

I’ve written before about the Coaching Corner group I’m a part of—a community of startup leaders and professionals turned coaches. As a solopreneur, it’s provided me with a forum to exchange best practices, resources, and referrals, while attending learning circles, workshops, and coaching exchanges. It’s truly satisfying my learning itch and helping me become a better coach.

Recently, I started joining their weekly coworking Zoom sessions. The structure of the call is:

• First 5 minutes: State your intention for what you’ll work on solo during the session.
• 45 minutes: Solo work time (camera off, on mute), or create a breakout room if people want to collaborate on the same topic.
• Last 10 minutes: Come back on camera to share how you spent your time and any reflections you have.

Some of the reflections have included:

💡 Tasks like business positioning and writing take TIME. You can always sleep on it and come back later.
💡 Sometimes, all you need is a bit of accountability to get pesky tasks done.
💡 If you can’t carve out an hour for a task, start with just 10 minutes.

These sessions have inspired me to try two other productivity methods:

Pomodoro Technique

• Intervals: Work intervals are typically 25 minutes long, called "pomodoros".
• Breaks: After each pomodoro, take a short 5-minute break. After four pomodoros, take a longer break (15–30 minutes).
• Repeat: Continue the sequence of work and breaks.

Tips for making the most of this technique:

• Adjust the length of your pomodoros; for instance, try 15-minute or 60-minute intervals.
• Don’t feel obligated to complete four pomodoros in a row.
• Track your progress and limit distractions.
• Tackle difficult tasks early in the day.

Eat the Frog

The “Eat the Frog” method involves identifying your most important task—the one you’re most likely to procrastinate on—and completing it first. This method:

• Beats procrastination
• Prioritizes high-impact tasks
• Boosts your sense of accomplishment
• Sets a positive tone for the day
• Builds momentum for other tasks

Tips for using this method:

• Decide on your “frog” each day.
• Choose a task you can complete within 1–4 hours; break it into smaller steps if needed.
• Avoid planning all your frogs for the week in advance.
• Prepare your frog the night before, and tackle it first thing.

Have you tried a productivity method you like? What other tips do you have for accomplishing your goals? I’m all ears!

Warmly,
Jenny

In partnership with Peak Selling, I'll be launching a series of three sales training workshops in early Q1 2025. Each session will be two hours long and held virtually.

The workshop topics are:
📋 Handling Objections
📝 Negotiating Win/Win Agreements
📈 Growing Your Business

If you'd like to receive information, please email me at: jenny@jennybv.com.