These are certain things you always think you should be doing, but just never quite find the time for.

Examples might include:

• Making time in your schedule for exercise
• Tidying up or sorting filing
• Not pushing yourself to build relationships with certain clients, believing they don’t want to work with you.
• Organising the outsourcing of parts of your business to others, but telling yourself it is too difficult or time consuming

But tackling these tasks can be as simple as changing your mindset – and making them priorities.

On the Flying Solo website, Madeleine Shaw, a personal and executive coach, argues that when your priorities shift you become resourceful and the action you’ve been delaying just happens.

Citing the ‘finding time to exercise’ example, Ms Shaw acknowledges that someone working nine to five in a day job, commuting two hours on top of that, taking care of a family and starting up a business at night, can find time to fit in a workout near impossible.

“But if I said I would give you $10 million in eight weeks’ time on just one condition – that you spend an hour of each day between now and then sitting in a small room doing nothing but staring at the wall – would you do it? My guess is you would find the time. You would move other things around and do whatever you needed to do to get that hour. The stakes would be high enough for you to get really, really creative about finding ways to succeed,” she said.

So it comes down to motivation.

And there are simple steps you can take to overcome your delaying tactics and tackle these obstacles head-on.

1. Acknowledge beliefs, other than the one that creates the obstacle, are possible
2. Consider how a shift in priorities would lessen the power of the obstacle
3. Write down all the benefits you would gain by overcoming the obstacle
4. Make a decision to act
5. Consider your best course of action – and then take it.

Whatever it is that’s been holding you back, you have the ability to change it. And once you make the change, you’ll free yourself to take on even greater challenges.

But when the time comes to sell, pass on or throw out your computer, it is vital to ensure your business information is securely erased.

Computers play a vital role in storing our personal, private, valuable and compromising data. So we need to ensure that information doesn’t end up in the wrong hands.
The technology that allows you to retrieve a desperately need file when your computer crashes can also be used to recover your files when your computer changes hands – unless you take appropriate steps to prevent this.

In an article on the FlyingSolo website, David Moore, Data Backup Manager at Don’t Lose It, advises that the best way to securely erase your computer is to do it while it is still functioning and under your control.

Mr Moore said “secure erasing” software such as Eraser and CCleaner is readily available freeware for Windows, while Apple users will find Mac OS has secure erasing built in to many versions.

“These tools work by overwriting ‘empty space’ and selected files with useless random information. This means that when someone tries to recover the files all they get is rubbish,” Mr Moore said.

“The tools will work on pretty much any drive, USB thumb drive, or external hard disk you can plug into your computer.”

Be warned that anything you want from the computer or drive should be backed up, that securely erasing a drive can be a time-consuming process and that if you make a mistake you could kill the whole system as well as erasing data.

Note also that nothing is foolproof. There are various degrees of secure erasing and it is not unheard of for people to get past single and even multiple overwrites. Also be aware that some devices, such as Solid State Drives (SSDs), have built-in electronics that can confuse secure erasers and cause bits of information to be left on the computer or drive.

But that doesn’t mean that smashing your old computer with a hammer is the safest way to destroy old files. In fact, belting your computer into a non-working state may not necessarily destroy the hard drive. And, even if it does, it might still be possible in some circumstances for information to be recovered.

During his stewardship Man U was among the world’s most successful and financially viable sporting clubs – winning 13 league titles and more than two dozen other domestic and international trophies.

Ferguson is well placed to know what it takes for a business to succeed – and told the Harvard Business Review that there were eight key steps for any organisation – from a globally renowned football club to a small business.

Lay strong foundations – Ferguson believes in building – or rebuilding – a business from the bottom up. When he started, he didn’t aim to win just the next match. He wanted to implement junior development and build a stronger club. For your small business, that translates to thinking beyond the next sale, with a view towards the future.

Dare to rebuild – Ferguson believed in changing existing structures for long term success. Know what needs changing or refreshing in your business and be prepared to implement the necessary change.

Set high standards – Ferguson believed in every member of his organisation adhering to his high work ethic and motivating them to be as driven as he was.

Be the boss – You have to be in control and respond with authority to problematic situations. You don’t have to be a dictator but if you are the head of your organisation – as Ferguson was to a club employing 30 millionaires – you have to clearly establish who is in charge. “Your personality has to be bigger than theirs,” he said.

Match the message to the moment – Although demanding of his players, Ferguson believed that they (like any employees) responded better to encouragement. “For any human being, there is nothing better than hearing ‘Well done’. Those are the two best words ever invented. You don”t need to use superlatives,” he said. When a reprimand was required, Ferguson believed in doing it immediately post-match. “I’d do it, and it was finished. It was on to the next match.”

Aim to win – Ferguson was known for putting an extra man into attack when his team was behind. That’s because he believed in taking risks and persevering in order to win. And his record shows that perseverance often paid off.

Delegate – and observe – Know when to take a step back and delegate. Ferguson believed in allowing others to directly supervise and in trusting them to do their jobs. This provided him an opportunity to observe – and to better evaluate his players.

Never Stop Adapting – Even when enjoying success, think about what your next move will be and how you can improve. “I believe that you control change by accepting it,” he said. “Most people with my kind of track record don’t look to change. But I always felt I couldn’t afford not to change. We had to be successful -there was no other option for me – and I would explore any means of improving.”

Marrying together two of the most important aspects of your life – your closest relationship and your business – offers enormous potential benefits. But you could be putting both at risk if you can’t meld both together successfully.

There are many successful examples – but no doubt all have experienced their ups and downs. If you choose to follow the path of combining work and your relationship, there are things you can do to improve your chances of also being a success story.

Expect rough patches – Know what you are getting yourself into. Almost every business experiences a few bumpy patches, as do most relationships. Be prepared for the fact that it won’t always be “smooth sailing”.

Know your role – both of you should assign yourselves to the roles that you are good at and work on those, without micro-managing the other”s tasks.

Courtesy – treat your spouse with the same courtesy you would treat another business partner. Consider whether you would speak or act in the same manner to a colleague or business partner that wasn’t your husband or wife.

Put your relationship first – Invest time into your relationship, like you would with your business. And remember that no business should cost you your marriage. If it’s not working, one of you needs to remove yourself from the day to day running of the business. Perhaps find other work and keep your involvement at “arm’s length”.

Clear boundaries – Having clearly defined boundaries between work and home life can be difficult for any business operator, but is even more difficult when you and your partner share the common challenge of running your business. Try to set times in the evening where business is not discussed, or if you have a home office, where you shut the door on it for the evening.

Outside interests – It’s important to have individual interests that you can enjoy, so that both of you can take your heads out of the work space. And these interests also provide something other than work that you can discuss at home.

Separate yourselves – Try to work in separate areas for at least some parts of your day. Spending countless hours in the same room gives you more chance of becoming a bother to the other person; and nothing to discuss about your day when work is done.

Seek help – If your work arrangement is impacting on your relationship, seek help sooner rather than later. Working with your partner can be extremely difficult at times and there is no shame in seeking assistance to help you through the toughest patches.

Like most things in life, there is no proven formula for success. But being aware of the obvious hurdles and having a few plans in place to overcome them will improve your chances of success.

This is despite knowing that the impact of stress can linger well beyond the moment – even being a key factor in a range of serious health complications.

But there are some simple things we can do to help combat stress and lessen its impact on our health.

Positive outlook – simply taking a more positive outlook can help reduce stress levels. Take a moment to think about the things you are thankful for in life. And when under pressure, don’t keep reminding yourself how stressed you are. This will only add to the feeling that you’re being overwhelmed by the tasks at hand.

Know what’s important – Understand what is important to you and how you define success. Plan for that success, but also take time for the things that matter to you the most.

Relaxation time – People who are feeling stress need to be able to switch off. Set aside some “do nothing” time to allow you to recharge your batteries. Many people find relaxation techniques such as yoga, tai chi or meditation have revitalising benefits.

Breathe – Long, slow, deep breaths can have an immediately calming effect on the body. When you’re feeling the strain, take a few moments for a long inhale. Hold your breath for a moment before exhaling. Repeat this several times, making each breath longer than the previous one. Those few moments can lessen your anxiety levels, clearing your mind to help you deal with the stress you may be feeling.

Stay healthy – exercise is a known stress beater. Combined with a healthy diet it can provide you with added energy and help clear your mind ready to deal with the stressful situations you may face.

Outside interests – If you work in a high pressure situation, you need a release. A hobby, sport or musical interest can help take your mind off the things you find stressful. Maintaining contact with friends can be similarly valuable – and also allow you to have someone who you can talk to about the stress you may feel.

Laugh – Laughter is a known stress beater. Engage in things that make you laugh – whether it’s a comedy show, playing around or just some light-hearted banter with friends. Remember, life needn’t always be serious – so lighten up and enjoy the good things.

For those with a home or mobile office, the ability to respond to emails as they arrive on smart phones or other devices until late in the night can be convenient and add to the flexibility of your role.

However, you may find this is counter-balanced by the difficulty of keeping work from encroaching on leisure and family time. Not only does it become difficult to switch off and enjoy some true “down time”, but it can be a struggle to find the necessary balance between work and home life.

But there are strategies that can help:

Set rules for yourself: Make some rules for yourself about what time your working day will finish – whether it’s leaving the office or rounding out your day in the home office.

Also set rules about how much work-related contact is acceptable outside of that time.
Once the rules are in place, stick with them.

If there are occasions where the rules have to be bent, make sure those times are few.

You should even try switching off your phone for at least a period of your leisure time. After all, quality relaxation time will ensure you’re more productive during business hours.

Establish priorities: Take time at the start of each day to work out your priorities.

Just five minutes spent writing a simple “to do” list can not only set you on a less complicated path for the day, but have you working pro-actively, rather than in a reactive manner.

There can also be an immense satisfaction in crossing off tasks as you finish them.

Know your limits: Sometimes its best for both you and your business to say no to an extra project – especially when you’re already working at or near capacity. If it’s a project you really want to be involved in then you may have to shuffle your schedule, pass off some of your other work or bring in extra help.

Learn to switch off: Nobody expects you to be switched on for work all the time. Let your voicemail take calls outside of normal hours and you can deal with issues that arise at the appropriate time.

Finding a hobby or other interest outside of work can also help you take your mind off the job, give you the chance to achieve other goals and refresh you outlook.

Lynda Bayada, a coach, consultant and facilitator, asks small to medium business owners to ponder what would happen if they paid at least one compliment to any number of suppliers, contractors or vendors they dealt with in business.

“How would your relationship with them change? How would the energy between you shift?” she ponders on the Flying Solo website.

Ms Bayada cites the example of introductory classes at the university where she teaches. There new students are asked to compliment their fellow new arrivals who they’ve just met.

While they are uncomfortable at first, within a short time the students become effusive in their praise of each other and the energy within the room lifts markedly.

Using this example, which she has seen repeated on numerous occasions, Ms Bayada, argues that:

• Offering praise becomes easier the more we do it
• That it is possible to find something to appreciate in everybody we meet; and
• Offering compliments also makes us feel good.

But showing appreciation to clients can do more than just improve business relationships.

The positive lift in your own feelings that comes with being complimentary to clients will also to lift your own energy levels.

“And when your energy is lifted and spirits are high, that translates into more action, more productivity and more efficiency,” Ms Bayada said.

These are qualities that every small business owner or manager wants to bring to their organisation. And you can bring to yours with just a few positive words to your clients.