Of late I have been quickly getting rid of all the things that delay my working or make me work slow. For instance I have changed lots of software tools recently, for example I have changed my word processor and I have also changed my spreadsheet application. Oh yes, I use spreadsheets to keep track of my income and also the current projects I am handling. Most of the bulkier Microsoft Office applications are out except for the windows live writer that I use to post blog posts. The moment I downloaded and installed Google Chrome it just took me a few minutes to decide that this was going to be my primary browser due to its minimalistic presentation.
I think undue distractions are one of the biggest hurdles in the way of achieving your business and personal goals so these days I have become extremely intolerant towards big and small distractions (but of course my daughter can distract me whenever she feels like).
Other than that I also changed my room because the previous room was quite noisy and full of activity (I was bang in front of the entrance so everybody was greeted by my cheerful or silly looking smile). I shifted my working paraphernalia (just a plastic chair, a wooden table and my humble HP laptop) to my music room because it is the most isolated and peaceful place in the house. I practice singing in the music room every morning before doing anything else.
This blog post at Zen Habits rightly says that too many goals are a sure shot way of achieving none. There is no use going for bigger goals if the groundwork is not done. The groundwork constitutes of smaller goals. If I want to increase my business first of all I have to figure out what are the things that stop me from giving my best. Recognizing hurdles and obstructive habits is a smaller goal and is easily achievable. Another goal could be taking quick decisions especially when those decisions are for the better.
You should also take smaller steps consistently without losing track of them. Consistency is also something that I have been trying to achieve for a few months. Consistency in performance, consistency in health related matters (because health eventually affects your performance and hence, business), and consistently in skills development.
There is an arena I have been ignoring so far: networking. For a freelancer, the ability to network is of the same importance as the ability to successfully complete projects. Very few people know me and I too know very few people. I am not implying that one should only network for the purpose of expanding business but greater business opportunities are just byproducts of a greater social circle.
Another small goal could be developing the habit of setting smaller goals and then achieving them. I think this is the biggest challenge on the way of being successful no matter what you do.