How I did it: Juggling my time
To save my business -- and my sanity -- I needed a system to budget my time.
(Money Magazine) -- NAME: Michele Harris
AGE: 39
BUSINESS: SMARTI SOLUTIONS, a New York City firm that matches businesses with advertising and marketing agencies
STARTED: 2001
START-UP COSTS: $70,000, financed on credit cards
ANNUAL REVENUE: $325,000
HOW I GOT THE IDEA: I was climbing the corporate ladder at a big ad agency -- after a 10-year career, I had reached v.p. -- when I got laid off. Suddenly I had to think, "What could I do to support myself that wouldn't leave me at the whims of a company?" I had a Rolodex of industry contacts. So I started leveraging that, doing freelance business development. That grew into my helping mid-size companies find ad and marketing agencies that meet their criteria.
WHAT DIDN'T WORK: For the first few years I was going after any customer I could. Soon I was spread thin. I knew I needed to spend part of every day looking for new business. But I didn't have time to do that, manage the clients I had, send bills and buy supplies. I was a marketer with no time to market myself.
WHAT DID WORK: I figured out a way to prioritize my time. I use a calendar on Microsoft Outlook that I can color-code (any calendar will work): Blue is new business, orange is marketing, yellow is financial stuff. I use shades too: Light blue is a conference call, dark blue is a meeting. Sometimes it looks like a rainbow. I spend half an hour a day setting up the next day's calendar. Believe it or not, it's the entire key to my sanity.
MY ADVICE: Be prepared for all the juggling you have to do, and find a way to make sure you're not falling behind. All I need is a glance at my calendar to see how I'm doing.
Need help with your business? Submit your questions to the editors of Fortune Small Business, Money Magazine's sister publication, and to other small business owners at cnnmoney.com/askfsb. 
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