There are 168 hours each week and there is absolutely nothing you can do to change that number. Though it would be nice, you unfortunately can't run down to Staples to "buy" more hours. So, why do some business owners seemly accomplish so much more than other business owner? It's because they have their "IZE" on the "PRIZE." 

With countless demands on your time as a business owner (on top of any personal obligation, such as family), you have no choice but to become a master of allocating your time appropriately. The trick to effective time allocation comes down to making the right choices and keeping focused.

It means you’re guilty of poor time management, and you’re wasting time doing things that prevent you from building an incredibly successful business. Check out the below exercise.  Do you answer “yes” to any of these questions?

1. I lack direction. Guilty of having no goals or plan of action.
2. I procrastinate. Guilty of indecision, fear of dealing with complex tasks, perfectionism, fear of failure, and/or loss of interest in a project.
3. I’m disorganized. Guilty of having important business opportunities slip through your fingers because you lack systems for recording, filing, and tracking your progress.
4. I’m easily distracted by e-mail and phone messages. Guilty of responding to e-mail messages and answering the phone immediately, which prevents you from staying focused on the task at hand.
5. I surf the Internet. Guilty of getting lost in cyberspace. OK, you need information, so you use the Internet, which can save time. But when you get sucked in by headlines and advertisements and spend more time “surfing” than you intended—you’re guilty as charged.
6. I engage in too much small talk. Guilty of getting caught up in gossip, as well as letting colleagues, clients, and prospects ramble on about issues not related to business.
7. I handle personal responsibilities when I should be focusing on my business responsibilities. Guilty of scheduling too many personal tasks during business hours.

Now, I’m not suggesting that you never go to your daughter’s softball game, schedule a doctor’s appointment, or take a personal phone call during your normal business hours. What I am suggesting is that you might be spending more time than you realize trying to squeeze in the personal stuff.  

Well, to help you stay focused, end the frustration cycle, and pave the way for success, I’ve discovered three keys that make a difference. 

I’ve grouped them together and call it keeping your “IZE” on the “prIZE.” It’s also an easy way to remember the three keys.  

When you organize, prioritize, and systemize—you get results.  

1. Organize. Do you miss appointments? Are you late for meetings? Do you lack an agenda when meeting with a prospect or a client? Are you easily distracted? Do you end your day without planning for the next? How much time do you spend looking for things? How well organized is your workspace? Is your desk a mess?  

Disorganization is a major reason small business owners are overwhelmed and stuck in neutral.  

The cure? 

Use a planner to stay focused and have a place to keep records and information. 

When you write down appointments and keep notes in a planner, you don’t forget; you can easily follow up; you can review what you’ve accomplished; and you can plan the next steps you need to take. Whether it’s paper or electronic, use a planner.  

Of course, you need a place to store your records and information. Otherwise, you’ll waste time trying to find what you need. Besides killing time, you’ll kill your enthusiasm for the task or project.  

Store information on your computer or in baskets on top of your desk and create a system so you can find the information quickly. When you know what you have to do and where to find what you need, you’ll feel the momentum pushing you forward—moving you closer toward success.  

2. Prioritize. Ever feel like you’re so busy putting out the little fires that you never get to the very thing you know you should be doing? Guess what? It’s a form of procrastination. Handling the little missiles that come your way makes you look busy. You feel busy and productive, but at the end of the day you’re not getting the important things done. 

The cure? 

Consciously choose which tasks take priority.  

“How do I know which tasks take priority?” you ask. 

As a business owner, I believe you instinctively know what your top priorities are. For instance, to grow your business, you know that you need to market it. You might not know the best way to market it or all of your options, so you bring in an expert—but you know that marketing is a top priority.  

Still not sure how to prioritize?  

The simplest way to make sure you're setting a priority is to follow the MONEY. (Remember, you're in business to make money.) When you've got to choose between two activities that seem to have similar importance, take a look at which one is closer to the money and do that first.  

For example, if your choice is between scheduling employee training and closing an order with a hot prospect-work with the prospect first. Employee training is important, but the top priority is to follow up with the hot prospect. When opportunity presents itself, grab it. In this situation, when you put off the follow-up, you give the hot prospect time to cool off.  

3. Systemize. Your day is filled with routine tasks. You fill out the same reports, do the same paperwork, handle customer orders again and again, train employees, pay bills, and so on. How much time do you spend on routine tasks that gobble up precious hours?  

The cure?  

Run your business with systems.  

Efficiency calls for systems-and systems keep you organized. Systems not only save time, but they will definitely boost your bottom line. Develop standard operating procedures that everyone can follow. When systems are in place, employees need less hand-holding and the day runs more efficiently.  

Do you have systems for handling...daily operations, employees, customers and clients, marketing, sales, accounting?  

If you don't have any, create them or hire an expert to help you. You can create systems for almost every aspect of your business. Automation and computer software programs make it possible.  

As an example, do you answer the same questions about your business over and over again? Create a Q and A (Questions and Answer) button on your Web site that answers the most often asked questions about your company.  

Instead of writing the same letters again and again, create templates. Use an auto-responder for an instant e-mail reply when a prospect requests more information about your company.  

When you have systems in place, instead of spending valuable time putting out fires, you can focus on building your business.  

Winners keep their eyes on the prize. But more important