Most of us know the tales of “The Tortoise and the Hare” and “The Ant and The Grasshopper”. We may have even told them to our children, grandchildren or god children. But do we realize that the lessons on focus, priorities, planning, diligence and goals in these stories are the same principles we need to succeed in our home based businesses? Both the Tortoise and the Ant had Daily Methods of Operation (DMO). Whether you’re in direct sales or network marketing you need the same: a solid DMO.You may be wondering how many direct sales people or network marketers have even heard of DMO and if they have, how many use it. Who can be sure, but top earners in direct sales and MLM say that a Daily Method of Operation can be the difference between success and failure for home based businesses. It can prevent information overload, anxiety, guilt and even shut down. This article defines DMO, tells why it’s important and provides a simple framework for crafting one.DMO DEFINEDA Daily Method of Operation(DMO) is a time management tool that has you focus on regularly completing small, simple tasks or components of complex tasks that directly contribute to your mastery of skills and your attainment of overall direct sales or MLM goals. It is a checklist you complete on a schedule you create. You chip away at the tasks you must do and skills you must master to succeed in your business.DMO IMPORTANCEA Daily Method of Operation is meant to be habit-forming. We are creatures of habit: the better our habits, the easier and better our success in what we do. There is a lot to do to have a successful home based business. And the more there is to do, the more you need a plan of action that not only manages the chaos, but moves you closer to your goals. That is what a DMO does.DMO FRAMEWORKYou’ve joined the network marketing business of your choice and have visions of being a home based entrepreneur. Better yet, you imagine being a SUCCESSFUL home business tycoon. This is the time to craft your DMO. Consider the following when you do:* Set the goals for your business, reflect on them and get feedback. You can amend them as time goes on
* Decide what tasks will reach those goals
* Decide how many days or nights per week, and how many hours per day or night you will work on those tasks. Take your business seriously, but build in days off. You can burn out if you go 24/7 month after month
* Be realistic. If you have other obligations, allow time for them. But be ruthless and focused during the time you set aside for your business. Turn off the phone and email, close your door, etc.
* Once you decide your time commitment, divide it between learn, execute and follow-up tasks. You don’t have to do all three every work day, but devote half your time to execution tasks like generating leads, writing articles, doing presentations, etc. Sharpening pencils, organizing papers doesn’t count
* Prioritize your time. Eliminate some activities so you can add business tasks.
* WRITE EVERYTHING DOWN AND KEEP IT HANDYYour DMO is personal so the framework here is basic. However, emphasize process oriented tasks over outcome based ones. For example, your task may be to follow-up on ten leads daily. If you decide you must get seven recruits or customers out of the ten, you are focused on outcome. You can set yourself up for failure that way since your best efforts may not yield those results. If you decide to do follow-up day after day until you have seven new people, are you deviating from your DMO if you should be doing other tasks on those days that would move you forward? Consistency of your effort and process over time is what pays off…along with the right mental attitude.A simple spread sheet works fine for a monthly DMO. You can create it by hand, but a computer does it easier and faster. Plus you can create blank forms for later use. The chart should be large enough to post in a conspicuous place in your office or work area. Why posted? It’s helpful to pass or look at it regularly.List the tasks you plan to do that month across the top of the sheet. Some examples are: write five articles, do regular blog and forum posts, attend trainings, update your website and social media sites, follow-up leads daily, prospect, etc. Down one side, list the days of that month by weeks. This will give you a grid. Mark off tasks as you do them each work day. Give yourself gold stars on particularly productive days.That’s it. Your spread sheet visually represents what you accomplish. Use it to gauge progress and correct omissions. Keep it simple. You’ll be doing it for some time.Finally, realize there will be distractions and slow days. Forgive yourself and start fresh the next work day. Be the tortoise or the ant. And remember, you can work your business part-time with success but you can’t work it sometime and succeed. Following a DMO can stop the sometime.