My Organized Biz » Holidays

How Are You Organizing for Christmas?

Mary Emma Allen — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 04:20:17 +0000

Christmas image: sxc.hu

As the hours wind down toward Christmas Day, are you stressed out trying to meet business commitments, finish orders and get deliveries made, along with family holiday plans? Or are you well organized so that everything is running smoothly?

If you still have much to do:

Prioritize and decide what really needs to be done and in what order.
Is there anything you don’t need to do until after Christmas Day…or even the holiday season?
Can you get someone to help you with these commitments?
Is there something else you can put off that you thought you needed to accomplish?
Take a few minutes, here and there, to relax over a cup of tea.
Even a 15 minute power nap may help revive your energy and help you see possibilities.

How do you get everything organized and accomplished?

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Pearl Harbor Day – December 7

Mary Emma Allen — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 06:00:16 +0000

Take time out from organizing to remember Pearl Harbor Day or learn about it and significance to our United States heritage.

Veteran's flag image: sxc.hu

I don’t remember the day Pearl Harbor happened, but I recall when the war was over. Our teacher, at the one-room school, learned of the occasion and let us out from school immediately, so we didn’t have a full day.The siren at the local firehouse was sounding, people in cars blew their horns as a friend and I walked along the road toward our homes. My mom was excited because it meant Uncle Al would be coming home. By then her brother was serving in Guam as an Army Air Corps plane mechanic. We only heard from him periodically, when letters with words cut out (there was censorship of soldiers’ mail in that war).Uncle Al was proud to have served for his country’s freedom and kept his dress uniform to be buried in many years later. He also wanted his medals pinned on his jacket. The flag over his casket was folded and handed to my mom, his only surviving family by that time. She later gave it to me, “Take care of Uncle Al’s flag.” Unspoken were the words, but the thought was there…”and remember the men like Al who fought for our country’s freedom.” Which we do on Pearl Harbor Day.

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Organizing Business & Holiday Preparations

Mary Emma Allen — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 20:13:49 +0000

When you have a business, sometimes it’s difficult to organize your own holiday preparations so that one or the other (business or family) aren’t neglected. You must keep your business going to bring in the income.

Image: sxc.hu

Yet family expect holiday preparations, festivities and attendance at various activities throughout December.

Make a list of what you need to do, businesswise and holiday wise.
Some of these might overlap as you make business holiday preparations, too.
Can you involve your family in some of your business festivities?
If you have employees, have them give you a list beforehand of times they need off. Thus you’re less likely to have last minute requests from them.
Try to plan ahead as much as possible, so that you complete holiday business orders in plenty of time.
Have a cut-off deadline for special orders.
Try to figure how much time your orders will take so that you’re not working at the last moment on them or infringing on family holiday time.
Emergencies do occur, so you can’t always stick to a strict schedule. So you do need some flexibility.

What tips do you have for organizing your holiday business and family schedules?

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Happy Thanksgiving from My Organized Biz

Mary Emma Allen — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 06:00:20 +0000

Happy Thanksgiving to My Organized Biz readers…from my home to yours.

Thanksgiving & harvest image: sxc.hu

May you have a wonderful day wherever you are. Even if you celebrate at another time, if you live in another country. May you count your blessings and enjoy.

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Honoring Our Veterans

Mary Emma Allen — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 03:41:45 +0000

Today is Veterans Day in the U.S. Without their service to our country, from the Revolutionary War forward, we might not be able to have the freedom to conduct our businesses and have choices in our lives.

Many thanks to all those, including my husband, who have served and are serving so that we might have our freedom and that others around the world might experience some of what we have.

Some business owners may be participating in parades today (a lovely warm sunny one in NH), may be watching parades with their families, may have flags flying in the breeze, and may be sharing with families their military heritage. I’ve traced veterans in my heritage back to the Revolutionary War serving their country so that I can enjoy my life today.

American flag image: sxc.hu

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How Do You Organize a Holiday Business Open House?

Mary Emma Allen — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:27:02 +0000

Numerous businesses conduct Open House promotions before the holidays to introduce gift products, update customers on products and services, enjoy refreshments and have fun.

Image: sxc.hu

These might consist of simply a gathering at one’s home (if you operate an online or home business) or a time for greeting customers at your walk-in shop.

How do you organize?

Set a date and time.
Determine whether you’ll have scheduled hours or simply be open for customers and prospective customers stopping by.
Will you demonstrate products?
Will you serve refreshments? If so, determine what they’ll be. If you sell food items in your business, serve samples of these.
Prepare invitations to send by mail, unless you plan on a large gathering. Then you might put up a sign at your business as well as invitations.
Are e-mail invitations appropriate for your Open House?
If others in your town are joining together for a special Open House day or evening, see about planning yours at this time. You might participate in some cooperative promotion.

If you’ve participated in Open House events, what tips do you have for organizing them?

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