So much to do, so little time.  Some days there are just so many different things that need to get done that it’s hard to even know where to start.  Here at JumpLearn the website always needs updating, emails always need answering, and everything always needs better marketing.  And all of this has to be scheduled in between countless meetings.  By the end of the day, I always wonder where the time went and how I managed to get so little done.

Although I’m a fan of “Get Things Done”, I haven’t had the self-discipline to actually implement all of David Allen’s suggestions.  But my favorite is his suggestion to simply write down all of the to-dos that keep popping into your head when you should be doing something else.  That way the to-do item is recorded for later and your brain can get back to focusing on what you’re doing right now.  I like to keep a small notebook with me where I can jot down my ideas, then when I have time later that day I can review them and decide whether it’s truly worth the time or not.   Of course, everything seems important so my to-do lists tend to get a little out of control.

Fortunately, David Joud, owner of Dynamic Strategic Alignment, is here to help.  He will be offering his popular Time Management class on Friday, February 18, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM and again on Wednesday, February 23, from 9:00AM – 11:00AM.  Plus, JumpLearn is offering its special rates of $50/class through the end of February so take advantage of the deal.

If you need to manage your time more effectively, carve out a couple hours and come learn how to optimize your time.  Click here for more information or to register for the class.

Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are great tools for marketing your business.  But keeping up with social media marketing while trying to actually run a business can be overwhelming.

Fortunately, Social Media Specialist Phyllis Garland is here to help.  She’ll share tips on creating and driving traffic to your business’s Facebook page.  She’ll also talk about Twitter and introduce the tools you’ll need to find the right followers and track your competitors.  She’ll even demo how easy it is to record your own videos and upload them to YouTube.  And she’ll even share a few tips for getting your website to that much-coveted 1st page of Google search.

Interested? Sign up at http://www.jumplearn.com/socialmedia.html

In establishing JumpLearn, I’ve learned quite a few things. I know that I have a lot more to learn, but here are a couple things that I thought might be helpful to other entrepreneurs.

1. A business email address = credibility.  No one will take you seriously if you’re sending emails from your Gmail or Yahoo account.  Getting a domain name is relatively inexpensive (~$10/year) and adding on email capabilities adds on about $10/year.  But the credibility you get from sending out emails with a professional-sounding domain name is worth a lot more than 20 bucks.

I used DomainsInSeconds.com, but there are many other sites out there that do the same things.  The most popular is probably GoDaddy.com.

2. If you don’t have a website, you don’t have a business.  Well, at least that's as far as many potential customers and partners are concerned.  If you bought a domain name in order to get an email address for your company, then you’re all set. Now you just have to build a webpage.   Even if you have absolutely no background in HTML or web design, there are free services that will let you start with a template that already looks pretty good.  Then you can just drag and drop content to create your site.  WordPress.com is quite popular, especially for bloggers, but I found that it was difficult to create a professional-looking business website by myself.  I really liked Weebly.com.  It was simple to use and I had the first version of the site up in a couple hours.  I did get some input from a friend who’s a graphic designer and I spent several more hours making it look a little less like the generic templates.  But being able to just get a preliminary version up is a significant step in starting a business.   Down the road, you will probably want to invest in hiring a web designer, but when you’re just starting it’s nice to have some sort of web presence.

What suggestions do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs?

   JumpLearn is an educational company that offers fast, functional classes to help you start a business or help your existing business grow.  Our classes are taught in-person so you get a chance to meet other entrepreneurs and ask your teacher the specific questions you have.  Our teachers are experts in their fields and they offer a wealth of knowledge they’re eager to share. 

   Our class list is constantly expanding, but you can see some of the upcoming classes here. If you’re wondering what the use of a business plan is and if it’s even necessary, you may be interested in the 2-hour “Introduction to a Business Plan.”  Once you’re ready to really dig into the business plan, Carolina Miranda’s series of 4 classes called “Developing a Business Plan” will coach you through writing your business plan.  If you’re overwhelmed by the tax implications and keeping track of your business’s finances, then “Tax & Record Keeping for Sole Proprietors” may ease your mind and help you get organized.  And if you’re wondering how you can be an entrepreneur and not wreck you personal finances along the way, check out “Risk Management for Entrepreneurs”.

   We know you have a busy schedule and can’t waste time in traffic, so classes are offered throughout the Bay Area.  Plus classes are scheduled throughout the day in order to accommodate your needs.  If you have kids in day care, you might like our morning classes.  Or if you are working full time and starting a business on the side, you might enjoy the evening classes.  And for those of you who are weekend warriors, we’ll soon be extending our classes to Saturdays and Sundays too.

   So sign up for a class.  We can’t wait to meet you! 

JumpLearn & Get Going!
Kate & the JumpLearn team