SORTING THE PAPER TRAIL IN YOUR HOME OFFICE

ORGANISING YOUR HOME OFFICE

Isn't it amazing how you accumulate masses of paper? It clutters your desk and surrounds making it difficult to find the information you’re looking for, wasting time and causing frustrations.

What is in that pile of paper?

• Often it contains important information that you need to use immediately.
• Sometimes the information maybe important at a later date, however you do need to know where it is.
• Then there are those messages that are so cryptic that you’ve forgotten what they were about.

So let us start getting organised TODAY!!

1. Make a place for everything
2. Keep your desk clear except for items you use every day such as pens, stapler, paper clips etc. and the files you will be using that day.
3. Just before you finish for the day return everything to its place, clear your desk ready for a fresh start in the morning.
4. The only piece of paper to be seen should be your work schedule for the next day, to give you a jump start for the day.

Now returning to those pesky pieces of paper all over your desk; there seems to be two simple methods of filing:-

a) The filing cabinet

b)The shoe box

THE FILING CABINET

A simple well organised filing cabinet that has a series of well labelled files each of which has a series of subfolders. These may be colour coded or more simply just topic coded.

THE SHOE BOX

Update this principle and have a lidded and labelled box for each area of interest. Then within that box a series of folders, again colour coded or just labelled so you know what is in each folder.

Choose whichever system you are most comfortable with and get started sorting papers today.

So that you know what folders you will need, sort the papers into their primary source of interest. The floor is a good place to begin your filing system. Once you have your piles of primary files, go back through each pile, one at a time and sort the information into sub areas to see just what folders you are going to need. Label your files and sub folders, place the papers in those files. It may also be a good idea to have a “miscellaneous file” for all those pieces of paper you are unsure about, at least then you will know where to look when something prompts your memory. “Oh! That’s what that means”.

Repeat this process until you no longer have papers anywhere but in the filing cabinet or in their own boxes. You have completed the job, well done.

Now resist the temptation to use stick-it notes, instead, use notepad on your computer or write the details on a dated piece of paper, deal with it, as in prioritise the action needed and then file the information.

You will have so much more time to be able to enjoy some extra activity because you are not worrying about where you put something, and wasting time trying to find it.

THE TIME CHALLENGE

ORGANISE YOUR TIME AROUND WORKING FROM HOME

In these uncertain times, many people are looking for a backup income wether it be a second or third income is immaterial, the major problem is finding the time to do this position justice.

Extra time can usually be found for a business based in the home. Maybe you will have to give up that drink after work, and be very selective about what you watch on TV (only the absolute favourite programmes). However if you put in the effort and your extra income making business succeeds, then you will have all the time to do whatever you wish.

The secret is in the list. Each evening before going to bed make a detailed list of the things you are going to do the next day, don't deviate from that list and try and stay within the time frames allocated. Organise trips to the store around doing other chores, like mail, appointments, hair cuts and the daily chores. Be conscious of the time spent talking aimlessly on the telephone, reduce the calls to essentials and cut back on hot air time.

Home maintenance, cleaning and cooking can all be alocated a time, stick to it, don't get sidetracked. Plan to do one extra thing a day for one hour, wether it be inside or in the yard, maybe tending to those vegetables in the vegepatch or fixing a leaking tap. If the job requires more than the allotted time, divide it over several days.

Take care of your mail as you receive it. Pay bills or file visably noting payment date due, or when you are able to pay them. Answer all correspondence immediately.

The better organised we become the happier and more productive we are and you will find that there will be ample time for your home based business. You will find that most successful people are very organised, so start getting those lists together, wake up each morning knowing what you have to do, don't get sidetracked or procrastinate about it, making excuses, just do what is on your list, be realistic about time frames and attend to each item immediately, marking it off as completed as you go.

To keep your life in balance be sure to set aside time for relaxation and spending time with you family and friends. Set aside time with loved ones, especially your spouce and children. There is not much point in having that extra income if you can't balace your work-life profile.

Start to take notice of the time you waste and how much time you spend just not starting something that will probably only take 10 minutes.As you start to utilise your non productive times, you will find that you have plenty of time to attend to working from home, and the extra income will remove the stress, you will feel great fulfillment and satisfaction, thus you and you family will find happiness.

Best Small Business Idea -- Get Focused and Get Going

I used to give a talk titled, “10 Ways to Overcome Overwhelm in Business and In Life”. It was an excellent resource for getting into action and taking charge of your business. If you’d like a copy, just email me and I’ll send it to you. After I’d given this talk for awhile, I realized that getting out of overwhelm was even simpler. You don’t need 10 ideas. That’s overwhelming in itself. You just need one essential key. If you can master this one key, you can pretty much get whatever you want out of your business and your life. Here it is. Don’t blink or you’ll miss it. Focus.
That’s right, focus. When you are entirely focused on what you are doing in the moment, you don’t have any attention left for being in overwhelm. Focus and overwhelm are opposites. Think about it. You are overwhelmed because you are thinking about all the things you’ve got to get done today, tomorrow, and the day after. You aren’t solidly focused in the present moment doing what’s in front of you. But when you are stuck in overwhelm, it’s really hard to get focused. So what can you do?

It’s actually very simple. Get back to basics. Go back to your core values, your mission statement, your vision. Stop right now and think about the vision you had for your business when you first started it. What did you want to accomplish? Why did you want to do it? Were you looking for freedom? Did you have a better way of helping people? Completely let yourself be absorbed in the dream you had. Feel how it was when you started. Now you are focused. Take this vision and write it down again. Go into detail about what you really want to do with your business.

Now from this focused state, get into action. It should be much more clear to you now what the most important tasks are. Focus your energy on those and get going. Any time you start feeling overwhelmed, stop and go back to your dream, your vision. Ask yourself why you are doing what you are doing. Really feel it and then start again. I guarantee you this will get you focused and get you out of overwhelm. Now you can get what you really wanted out of your business.

Start up business resource guide and consultant, Michael Clark has been crafting best small business ideas for over 20 years. Michael is a serial entrepreneur having opened multiple successful small businesses over the last 12 years. For more small business success stories and business resource groups, visit his web site at a href= http://biznbeyond.com Business & Beyond.com /a

Author: Michael Clark at Business and Beyond.

Setting Up Your Home Office

While it may seem like a good idea to start your own business and work from home, it is important that you take the right steps to help you become successful. Setting up and properly managing your home office is a vital component to getting your new business to work for you. By being properly prepared in the beginning you'll be ready to meet any challenges head on.

If you have a family start of by running your plans past them and get everyone excited and on board for your new venture. Your family should clearly understand and accept the limitations and boundaries you have set forth for your new workspace. It is important that you have an area where you can work quietly and undisturbed.

Necessary Equipment Before you start conducting business you want to make sure you have all the necessary tools, equipment, and supplies you need to make your business successful. These may include but are not limited to a computer, printer, fax machine, dedicated phone line, scanner, calculator, filing cabinet, and book shelf. You'll also need office supplies, a desk and a chair.Make sure your work space is comfortable and quiet.

Get Your Own Address Avoid using your home address as your business address. Although you~re working from home, it is important that you portray a professional image. Some places like MailBoxes Inc.,offer a mailbox with a street address and suite number. It can be a hassle going out to get your mail, but in the end, it is worth it.

Manage Your Time You may need to learn how to organize your time differently than when you worked outside of your home. Concentrating on work at home can seem difficult at first. You need to be able to organize and manage your time by balancing work obligations and family time. There are many different tools you can use to organize your time. Desk calendars, daily planners, or even e-mail programs such as Microsoft Outlook are perfect for planning your day.

Prioritize and plan what you need to accomplish each day so you can organize your time around it. Be sure to leave time for breaks and lunch. Handle business calls while the kids are at school, or your spouse is out. For those who have no family members to deal with, quiet time to conduct business shouldn't be hard to acquire.

Be Reasonable Invest in software programs. Several software programs can assist you in operating your office more effectively. Take advantage of programs that will forward email messages, track inventory, and balance your accounts accurately. Today's technology can work wonders if you allow it too. Make sure to not overload yourself by planning too many things in one day. Set priorities and goals that are reasonable. You don't want to spend all your time in the office. If you find yourself getting bogged down in clerical duties, ask family members for help. It will save you time and money and they will enjoy being needed. This will help your business become more efficient. Overcome obstacles with the right tools. If your home business isn't operating smoothly, you might want to re- evaluate your daily strategies. Take time to prepare your home office to handle the work load.

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