1. Do an 80-20 analysis:

You likely have heard of the 80-20 rule. It posits that 80% of your best outcomes come from just 20% of your efforts. That may mean, for instance:

• That 80% of your website clicks come from 20% of your pages
• That 80% of your sales come from 20% of your products
• That 80% of your income comes from 20% of your customers

Do you see how valuable that analysis is? Figure out which 20% of your efforts give you 80% of your best results and dial in on those.

Tim Ferriss, author of The 4-Hour Workweek, says he did just that and went from working 80 weeks and making $100K a year to working far less (though probably more than four hours a week) and making about $500K a year.

2. Hire an assistant:

Like the friend I mentioned above, many small business owners, especially freelancers and solopreneurs, wear a lot of hats. Too many, it is safe to say. But things still need to get done. So, when you’re ready to give up being your own shipping and receiving clerk, you will need to have someone else do the more menial tasks. That’s where an assistant—real or virtual—comes in.

As someone once told me: If you don’t have an assistant, you are the assistant.

So, get someone to help you. You will be free to concentrate on those things that you do best. You know, the things that get your juices flowing and bring in the money—whether that is inventing, selling, schmoozing, or whatever. One thing we know for certain: Your gift is not in sending out invoices, balancing the checkbook, or answering the phone. These are jobs for your assistant.

3. Find the right tools:

There are great products and tools specifically designed for small businesses like yours. The problem is that most small businesses are so busy and so ingrained in their ways that they never learn of, or use, these great tools. And that’s too bad because technology and software really can make your life easier—and your business more successful.

And, don’t forget, finding the right tools means finding the right apps: Needless to say, business is mobile now. Indeed, many of us run our businesses from our phones. Given that, the right move, the efficient move, indeed the smart move, is to find and start using a few apps that can make your business easier and better.

If I may, that is where my pals at Pinger come in. For instance, their new Index app gives you the text-based tools you need to manage business conversations with your customers, schedule appointments, send invoices, collect payments, and get reviews for your small business.

And that’s just for starters. As I said, Pinger and I have a lot up our sleeves over the next few months—all intended to help you. Just be patient. (Difficult, I know, fellow entrepreneur!)