Brief Overview of the Day
It was quite a day. Taking care of Duke in the morning can be a handful – he needs a few walks and his breakfast. I absolutely adore him, but it’s something that really shapes my morning routine. On top of that, I dedicate about 45 minutes to my Morning Pages, which pushes back my work start time to around 11 am. I’m thinking it might be wise to start my days a bit earlier.
Yesterday was packed – I went to mass, spent some quality time in meditation, and caught up with a friend in the afternoon. Despite the busy schedule, I managed to squeeze in my four hours of work, though I wrapped up way past midnight. There’s a bit of pride in knowing I powered through those last two hours of work at 10 pm, but I’m realizing this pace isn’t going to work in the long run.
I’ve also been keeping a closer eye on how I spend my time and, wow, emails and coordination are eating up a huge chunk of it! I’m seriously thinking about bringing a virtual assistant on board to help with that. It would definitely give me more room for the real meat of my work and for growing the business.
Even though there’s a lot on my plate and some days feel overwhelming, these daily reflections are a game changer. They’ve helped me stay organized and maintain a clear vision of the bigger picture. Plus, getting back into using Monday has been a great move for keeping track of everything I need to do. There’s a real buzz of excitement about the prospect of scaling up my agency. Getting ten SEO clients on retainer doesn’t just feel like a dream anymore – it’s a goal that’s within reach.
Goals for the Week
- Finish app website (in progress – pretty much done)
- Send merch order for Asian restaurant #1 (done)
- Send merch order for Asian restaurant #2 (in progress)
- Send merch order for Greek restaurant (in progress)
- Publish Instagram posts for Cafe (in progress)
- Publish Instagram posts for Greek restaurant (in progress)
- Update Asian restaurant website
- Send ski store audit
- Finish “Girlfriend Shirt” category page for ShirtSlingers
- 2 Freeletics workouts
- 2 yoga workouts
- Send treasurer’s report
Long-Term Goals (added new goal)
List each goal in detail (e.g., “Increase monthly SEO client base by 20%”, “Develop a new passive income stream through affiliate marketing”).
For each goal, explain why it’s meaningful to you. How does it contribute to your larger vision or personal satisfaction?
1. Make $15,000 a month
Right now, my financial situation isn’t great, and I really need to boost my income. I’ve been looking into Jacky Chou, who’s pulling in an impressive 8-9K a day. Plus, I’ve seen several case studies on Niche Pursuits about people earning 10-20K a month.
This has shown me it’s definitely achievable. I’ve got the skills, or at least I’m willing to learn them. But to improve my mental and overall well-being, I know I need to drastically improve my financial situation.
2. Make $10,000 a month in SEO MRR
I’ve likely been earning more this year through web design, but my true specialty and passion is SEO. I need to be more driven and work hard to secure 10 clients on a monthly SEO retainer. I’m considering hiring a VA to handle mundane tasks, which would free up time for more business development.
3. Weigh 185 lbs
My main goal is to be in the best shape of my life, rather than hitting a specific weight target. However, reaching 185 lb would be symbolic since it means I would have lost 100 lbs in total. But for now, the real, immediate goal is to get back under 200 lbs.
I just want to feel good in my own skin and have real confidence. I find that I get this feeling when I’m making progress with fitness. This is important not just for my physical health, but again, for my mental and overall well-being.
Progress Towards Goals
Outline the actions taken for each goal. For example, “Contacted five potential clients for SEO services” or “Researched affiliate marketing platforms.”
Were there any unplanned opportunities or obstacles that impacted these goals today?
Make $15,000 a month: Hit 4 hour target of client work. Haven’t worked on passive income projects.
Make $10,000 a month in SEO MRR: New goal. No progress.
Weigh 185 lbs: Haven’t weighed myself again. Still not eating great and haven’t exercised.
Latest Weight: 221.3
SEO and Web Design Progress
Detail client interactions: What specific communications occurred? Any feedback or new requests?
Describe project milestones achieved or particular challenges in your work.
I’m currently doing the minimum for my client work, which means it’s time to extend my workdays. By increasing my hours, I aim to improve my output and better meet my clients’ needs, while maintaining a manageable workload.
Passive Income and Business Ideas
Summarize progress in current ventures, like content creation or marketing strategies.
Elaborate on new business ideas: What sparked these ideas? How do they align with your skills and interests? What initial research or planning did you do?
Consider potential next steps for these business ideas: What information do you need? Who could you reach out to for advice or collaboration?
I didn’t make any progress this week.
My projects are somewhat stuck at the moment. I believe that focusing on growing Nextbop offers the best chance for a significant payday, so that’s where I’ve been channeling my energy over the past week.
I’m just in the initial brainstorming phase, but right now, I’m keen on exploring a couple of areas. First, I want to learn Bubble, and second, I’m interested in figuring out how to connect ChatGPT to other APIs. The ultimate goal is to combine both these skills into creating a SAAS product. I’m a bit concerned that I might need to learn Python to effectively achieve my goals, especially with the technical aspects I’m looking into.
I also have a Semrush Affiliate account, which presents a great opportunity for me to start creating content. Additionally, I’ve just applied to Monday. Exploring these platforms could be an effective way to generate more passive income.
I also have the option to dropship products from Leff Amsterdam and Grove Campus. It would be beneficial to consider adding these to my Caviar Drip offerings. This could expand my product range and potentially increase revenue.
Client Project Updates
List each client and the specific project you’re working on for them.
For each client, detail where you are in the project. What milestones have been reached? What significant progress was made today?
Outline what is left to be done for each project. Are there any pending tasks or upcoming deadlines?
Plan the immediate next actions for each project. What will you tackle next? Are there any client meetings or feedback sessions scheduled?
Shoe Store: (same as before) I didn’t work on this. There is still data entry to complete and a month’s worth of SEO tasks ahead.
- Next actionable step: Finish data entry ASAP
Wellness Centre: (same as before) I didn’t work on this.
- Next actionable step: Draft homepage structure
App Website: Pretty much done.
- Next actionable step: Finish final edits.
Cafe: Drafted two Instagram posts. Waiting for feedback.
- Next actionable step: On Hold
Asian Restaurant Merch: Order approved. Need to finalize mockups and submit to supplier.
- Next actionable step: Finalize mockups.
Greek Cafe: Content is ready. Published one post.
- Next actionable step: Publish Instagram post and obtain merch quote.
Neighborhood Restaurant: Published one post
- Next actionable step: Publish second post for the week.
Asian Restaurant Website (same as before): I need to update the website with holiday hours and also work on fixing the site speed.
- Next actionable step: Update holiday hours
Electrician (same as before): I need to write new copy for the website.
- Next actionable step: Write copy first draft
Kids’ Store (same as before): I need to fix technical errors on the website and write one month’s worth of content.
- Next actionable step: Fix technical errors
Tea Shop (same as before): Business emails on hold. Need to start writing content for the website.
- Next actionable step: Write first draft of content for the homepage.
Carpenter: Got client edits.
- Next actionable step: Finish desktop site
Ski Store (Business Development) (same as before): I need to conduct an SEO audit.
- Next actionable step: Write up audit
Vegan Restaurant (Business Development) (same as before): I need to write a proposal for a website project.
- Next actionable step: Conduct keyword research
Personal Passive Income Project Updates
List each project and for each , detail where you are in the project. What milestones have been reached? What significant progress was made today?
Outline what is left to be done for each project. Are there any pending tasks or upcoming deadlines?
Plan the immediate next actions for each project. What will you tackle next? Are there any client meetings or feedback sessions scheduled?
Nextbop (same as before): I didn’t work on this today.
- Next actionable step: Build next category page
Best Songs Period (same as before): This website was created for an SEO competition. However, the current strategy doesn’t seem to be yielding the desired results. I am considering abandoning this project to concentrate on other ventures. Additionally, I’m contemplating switching my focus to Shirt Slingers for the competition, as I believe it has the potential to generate more income in the long term.
- Next actionable step: Decide whether to pursue further
Shirt Slingers (same as before): I see considerable potential in this website, which essentially revolves around drop shipping graphic t-shirts. My immediate task is to complete the setup of the “I Love My Girlfriend” category. Additionally, I need to persist in creating and adding new designs to enhance the website’s offerings.
- Next actionable step: Finish “I Love My Girlfriend” category page
Caviar Drip (same as before): This project is somewhat on hold due to a lack of funds to purchase inventory. However, I can still focus on writing content and expanding the Leff Amsterdam section, which I can manage through dropshipping.
- Next actionable step: Add Grove Campus and Leff Amsterdam products
Procrastination Check
Identify the tasks you put off. Were they complex, time-consuming, or outside your comfort zone?
Analyze the reasons behind the procrastination: Lack of motivation, fear of failure, feeling overwhelmed?
Devise a specific plan for these tasks. Could breaking them into smaller steps help? Would setting a dedicated time block or deadline be beneficial?
I’ve noticed that I tend to delay certain tasks, but with my new focus on working four hours and the recent setup with Monday, I’ve been forced to tackle these tasks head-on. Surprisingly, I’ve found that they often don’t take as long as I anticipated and aren’t as burdensome as I expected. This approach is proving to be beneficial, and I’m confident it will pay off in the long run.
What Could I Have Done Better?
Reflect on your productivity and focus. Were there periods of distraction or inefficiency?
Assess your interactions: Could communication with clients or colleagues have been improved?
Think about decision-making: Were there any hasty or delayed decisions today?
I’ve been noticing that my days tend to start later than I’d like. Although I’m getting my work done, I feel like there’s more I could be doing to balance my life better. On top of that, I haven’t really moved forward with my passive income projects. I know I need to focus more on eating well, staying active, and keeping up with my reading and learning. It’s all about finding that sweet spot where work and personal well-being harmoniously coexist.
Challenges Faced
Work-Related: Detail any project hurdles, client misunderstandings, or technical issues. How did you approach solving them? What solutions worked or didn’t work?
Health and Fitness: Discuss specific challenges in sticking to your diet or exercise regimen. Did you encounter temptations, lack of time, or motivation issues? Reflect on your yoga practice: Were there poses or sequences that were particularly challenging?
Work-Related: I’ve been starting work later than I intend to, which is a bit overwhelming with all the loose ends I need to tie up. For now, my focus is on completing the client projects at hand as efficiently as possible. This approach should help in managing the workload and reducing the feeling of being overwhelmed.
Health and Fitness: (same as before) Can’t seem to commit to eating better once again.
Financial Overview
Today’s Cash Inflows: 0
This Month’s Cash Inflows: 3,676.25
This Month’s Target: 6,500
Still to go: 2,823.75
November 2023 Cash Inflows: 2,491.63
October 2023 Cash Inflows: 5,210.59
Lessons Learned
Consider the key learnings from today. How have they contributed to your personal or professional growth?
Were there any moments of insight or clarity that reshaped your perspective on a project, goal, or personal habit?
Having a robust system in place to oversee the bigger picture and the full scope of my workload is incredibly valuable. It prevents me from merely dealing with immediate priorities and extinguishing fires.
Equally important is tracking time spent on each task. This practice offers a clear view of how efficiently I’m using my time, and it helps identify tasks that are non-essential, which could potentially be outsourced. Such strategies are crucial for effective time management and maintaining a balanced workload.
Goals for Tomorrow
Work and Learning Goals: Specify the top priority tasks and learning objectives for tomorrow. Include any preparatory steps needed.
Health and Fitness Goals: Detail your planned diet and exercise for tomorrow. Are there specific targets, like calorie intake or workout intensity?
Work and Learning Goals: Do 5 hours of client work.
Health and Fitness Goals: Eat clean.
Closing Thoughts
Conclude with an overall reflection. What are you grateful for today? What gives you hope or motivation for tomorrow?
I’m in a really good place mentally right now. It’s hard to explain, but even though I have a ton of things going on simultaneously, for the first time ever, I feel like I’m on top of everything. I also believe that I could seriously scale this agency if that’s what I truly want and if I work hard at it.