Jeremy Corner, owner of Blue Eyed Sun and Ivy Ellen, gave a presentation about how he doubled his income and halved his working week. He began by defining a clear goal of spending only 50% of his time on his business while maintaining the same income within 12 months. He then identified the main obstacles in achieving this goal, including systems, self-discipline, staff motivation, outside activities, sales, key customers, brand identity, new products, outsourcing jobs, and guilt about not working. He assessed each obstacle and rated his performance at overcoming them from best to worst using a scale, which helped identify the areas that needed most improvement to achieve his defined goal.

1. Looking Back from Perfect
Session number: TL-2013
Date/time: Wednesday, July 27, 11:00-12:00
Speaker: Jeremy Corner
Twitter: @JeremyCorner from @Blue_Eyed_Sun and @IvyEllen

2. 2
Looking back from perfect
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
How we doubled our income and halved our working week

3. 3
How things looked
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
vs How they Felt

4. 4
What’s the plan?
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

5. 5
The Goal
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
GOAL
Only 50% of our time committed to
OUR BUSINESS
reached in 12 months time
with at least the same income as now

6. 6
Defining the Goal
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
• Specific
• Measurable
• Achievable
• Realistic
• Timely

7. 7
Here we are celebrating
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

8. 8
What obstacles did you overcome?
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

9. 9
Our Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
• SYSTEMS: systems - Routines, job description and definitions
• SELF: self discipline - time management, delegation - follow the plan
• STAFF: motivated staff
• OUTSIDE: outside - created another activity outside B.E.S
• SALES: good sales agent team in place
• KEY: key customers
• MORE STAFF: more staff
• BRAND: maintaining brand identity
• NEW PRODUCTS: new products - less in-house activity
• ONE OFF: outsourcing some jobs - one off type jobs
• CAR: bought a car
• OUTSOURCED: outsourced - bookkeeping + credit control
• FUN: fun - we enjoyed our 20 hours at work
• GUILTY: Stopped feeling guilty - at B.E.S.

10. 10
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
Cross compare
how important
each obstacle
is vs the others
on the list

11. 11
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
|
SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
Cross compare
how important
each obstacle
is vs the others
on the list

12. 12
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
||
SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
Cross compare
how important
each obstacle
is vs the others
on the list

13. 13
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
|||
SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
Cross compare
how important
each obstacle
is vs the others
on the list

14. 14
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
|||
SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in place
|
KEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
Cross compare
how important
each obstacle
is vs the others
on the list

15. 15
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
|||
SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in place
|
KEY ACCS |
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
Cross compare
how important
each obstacle
is vs the others
on the list

16. 16
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
||||
SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in place
|
KEY ACCS |
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
Cross compare
how important
each obstacle
is vs the others
on the list

17. 17
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
|||| ||||
SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in place
|
KEY ACCS |
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - less
|
ONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
|
Cross compare
how important
each obstacle
is vs the others
on the list

18. 18
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
|||| ||||
SELF: self
discipline - time
|
STAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in place
|
KEY ACCS |
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - less
|
ONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
|
Cross compare
how important
each obstacle
is vs the others
on the list

19. 19
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

20. 20
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
|||| |||| ||||
SELF: self
discipline - time
|||| |||| ||| |
STAFF: motivated
staff
|||| |||
OUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.S
|||
SALES: good sales
agent team in place
|||| ||
KEY ACCS ||||
MORE STAFF:
more staff
|||| ||||
BRAND:
maintaining brand
||||
NEW PRODUCTS:
new products - less
|||| |
ONE OFF:
outsourcing some
|
CAR: bought a car ||
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -
||||
FUN: enjoy work |||
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
|||| ||
Cross compare
how how you
currently
perform at
each obstacle
vs the others
on the list

21. 21
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,SELF: self
discipline - timeSTAFF: motivated
staffOUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.SSALES: good sales
agent team in placeKEY ACCS
MORE STAFF:
more staffBRAND:
maintaining brandNEW PRODUCTS:
new products - lessONE OFF:
outsourcing someCAR: bought a car
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -FUN: enjoy work
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
|||| |||| |||| |||| |
SELF: self
discipline - time
|||| |||| ||| |||| |||
STAFF: motivated
staff
|||| ||| ||||
OUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.S
||| |||| |||
SALES: good sales
agent team in place
|||| || ||
KEY ACCS |||| ||||
MORE STAFF:
more staff
|||| |||| |||| |||
BRAND:
maintaining brand
|||| ||
NEW PRODUCTS:
new products - less
|||| | ||||
ONE OFF:
outsourcing some
| |||| ||||
CAR: bought a car || |||| |||| |
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -
|||| |||| |||| |
FUN: enjoy work ||| |||| |||
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
|||| || |||| |||
Work through
the entire list

22. 22
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
Original chart
showed best
performance
on the left
worst on right

23. 23
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
|||| |||| |||| |||| | 21
SELF: self
discipline - time
|||| |||| ||| |||| ||| 21
STAFF: motivated
staff
|||| ||| |||| 12
OUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.S
||| |||| ||| 11
SALES: good sales
agent team in place
|||| || || 9
KEY ACCS |||| |||| 9
MORE STAFF:
more staff
|||| |||| |||| ||| 17
BRAND:
maintaining brand
|||| || 6
NEW PRODUCTS:
new products - less
|||| | |||| 11
ONE OFF:
outsourcing some
| |||| |||| 10
CAR: bought a car || |||| |||| | 13
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -
|||| |||| |||| | 16
FUN: enjoy work ||| |||| ||| 11
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
|||| || |||| ||| 15
Scoring worst
performance
means the two
assessments
can easily be
added together
to score
priorities

24. 24
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What’s most important? What are we worst at? Priority
SYSTEMS:
systems - Routines,
|||| |||| |||| |||| | 21
SELF: self
discipline - time
|||| |||| ||| |||| ||| 21
MORE STAFF:
more staff
|||| |||| |||| ||| 17
OUTSOURCED:
outsourced -
|||| |||| |||| | 16
GUILTY: Stopped
feeling guilty - at
|||| || |||| ||| 15
CAR: bought a car || |||| |||| | 13
STAFF: motivated
staff
|||| ||| |||| 12
OUTSIDE: activity
outside B.E.S
||| |||| ||| 11
NEW PRODUCTS:
new products - less
|||| | |||| 11
ONE OFF:
outsourcing some
| |||| |||| 10
FUN: enjoy work ||| |||| ||| 11
SALES: good sales
agent team in place
|||| || || 9
KEY ACCS |||| |||| 9
BRAND:
maintaining brand
|||| || 6
Sort end
column in
descending
order to
prioritise what
to act on first

25. 25
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

26. 26
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

27. 27
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

28. 28
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

29. 29
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

30. 30
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

31. 31
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

32. 32
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

33. 33
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

34. 34
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

35. 35
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

36. 36
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

37. 37
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

38. 38
Assessing the Obstacles
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

39. 39
Making it Happen
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
ACTIONS
• SELF
– Jo takes off Fridays from 12 noon
– Jeremy takes off Thursdays from 12 noon
– Both with immediate effect
• SYSTEMS
– Wednesday afternoons Jeremy and Jo to meet 2-4pm (undisturbed) to
define job functions.
– Every two weeks after that to meet and finalise a job function
– Job functions to all be clearly defined and in place by end of June
• On-going
– Try to manage time better by getting more ‘undisturbed time’ regularly
during the day to complete important tasks

40. 40
We achieved our goal
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
50% of our time committed
to our business and we
doubled our income
in 12 months

41. 41
Reaching our goal and beyond
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen

42. 42
What about you?
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
What is your perfect Day/Week?
• On your terms - what is your perfect week?
• What is it that you want from your business?
• Set this as your goal - SMART
• Define what’s important on a sliding scale
• Define what needs improving on a scale
• Use these definitions to prioritise
• Make it a daily habit
• Stay focussed on the goal
• Celebrate success and have fun
• Review every year

43. 43
Getting more effective with your time
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
Click on any of the books above to order them on Amazon

44. 44
Read my blog at www.blueeyedsun.co.uk/blog
#SageSummit | @JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen
Good luck with your journey

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The information and opinions presented in this presentation may not represent the positions, strategies, or
opinions of Sage. Unless explicitly stated, Sage is not responsible for the content herein and no endorsements
are implied.
© 2016 The Sage Group plc or its licensors. All rights reserved. Sage, Sage logos, and Sage product
and service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of The Sage Group plc or its licensors. All other
trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
@JeremyCorner owner of @Blue_Eyed_Sun & @IvyEllen 45#SageSummit |