Calendars:

Using Outlook or Google Calendar has helped keep track of the many events, calls, and time based "to do" items.

Contact Management:

Facebook, LinkedIn, Outlook and our mobile phone contact lists allow us to quick find and connect with our personal and business contacts.

Event Management:

Facebook and Evite allow us to quickly find, calendar and plan our events.

Even with all these powerful tools, our "to do" lists continue to stay full. It has been 6 months or so since I first read "4 Hour Workweek" by Tim Ferriss, and I recommend this book for anyone who wants to get things done more effectively. I have been surprised at how effective Ferriss' techniques have been. Here are a few things that I have been working on:

1) NOT checking email first thing in the morning and multiple times through the day.

Email is such a distracting force, that it drives your day, rather than allowing you to manager your time. Set aside some time in the afternoon to deal with your email and you will find that you are getting way more done due to this "batching" process.

2) Do Nothing!

There is the item that is perpetually on your "to do" list, yet it never is important enough to take priority over the more important tasks or the emergencies cropping up throughout the day. TAKE IT OFF YOUR LIST! Most likely nothing will have changed, except you have one less thing to stress about.

3) Get your Important, yet Challenging Tasks done first.

The item that you need to get done that won't go away (i.e. filing taxes) is looming. Get it done. Not only will it free your mind making you more effective, but it will make you feel better.

Changing your work habits are not easy, but once you get accustomed to suggestions (1) and (2), it gets easier and easier to stick to these best practices. The hardest change to implement is suggestion (3). If you are able to use Ferriss' game plan, you will see major results in a short period of time, and your stress level will decrease significantly.

The question. "Why work live a slave for 15-20 years?" Ferriss suggests that this work now for rewards later proposition is flawed. He recommends taking frequent mini-retirements and smelling the roses throughout the journey called life.

There is a saying, "work smarter, not harder." This books gives practical tips for delivering results with less effort and time. Through automation, outsourcing, batching, and intelligent delegation, Ferris has turned his nutritional supplements business into a cash machine while he pursues new advenures around the world. Ferriss has been a world-record holder in tango, a national champion in Chinese kickbooking, and speaks six languages. He uses unconventional methods to produce unparalleled results. Ferriss is one of a kind. He has the ability to have laser-focus for short periods of time, which he recommends as a better way to work.

The challenge. First you must know what work is high impact, and what work is busy work. Ferriss provides some ways to evaluate your work routine to analyze this. Once you do figure out what work is high impact, you must be disciplined to concentrate on these high impact tasks without getting drawn into the distractions of busy works and interruptions. Eliminate the busy work, outsource the non-essential, and automate repetitive tasks.

Working at a startup requires long hours, passion and intensity. However, even or especially an early stage company should be looking for ways to streamline and scale. Talk with any Sand Hill VC, and one of their key questions is "how are you going to scale this business." "The 4-Hour Workweek" provides answers to these questions.