World Wide Web Image: sxc.hu

 At first, only one of the three computers wouldn’t connect, so I could switch to a different one for my writing business.  Now nothing will connect, and my hubby has spent more than 24 hours troubleshooting.

But I must post on my blogs for my blogging commitments nearly everyday.  What are the solutions?

• Use neighbor’s computer
• See if our laptop will connect at her house
• See if it will connect at the local library’s network
• Or use a library computer where I know I can get access.
• Use an Internet cafe, but our small town doesn’t have one.

So…I must prepare my posts so that I can, within an hour’s time, post everything, check and answer e-mail, and check Facebook, where a number of writing colleagues connect with resource material.

My solution today has been to use the library’s computer.  That’s where I am writing this now!

What have been your solutions for organizing your business when the Internet is down?

Post from: My Organized Biz

Some people say they take time Sunday afternoon or evening to plan their week.  You’ll know, if you have an outside the home job, when you’re working, unless it’s an “on call” type of position such as the substitute teaching I do.  However, I make my plans, leaving the flexibility for getting called.

What goals do you have for your job or your business?  Are there special events happening?  Do you have project deadlines?  (I just e-mailed a newspaper column that’s due every Monday.)

I have some fixed business appointments and plans on my weekly schedule.  I have to allow flexibility for stubstitute teaching.  I have a fixed schedule for a second outside the home job.  I have deadlines for my blog and column writing.  I have certain activities I need to do for a business with my husband.  Then there are family commitments.  It’s a juggling act, but is easier if I have some planning done Sunday night or early Monday morning.

How do you organize your week?

(Image: sxc.hu)

Post from: My Organized Biz

What about making a list of 100 post ideas for your blog (today!), an idea discussed by Oscar Del Ben, guest poster at Daily Blog Tips.  Oscar said it took him about three hours to do this.  However, if you don’t have three uninterrupted hours, keep a notebook beside you and jot down the ideas as you think of them.  On subsequent pages, make notes of more detailed information to be contained in the posts.

I often write down future ideas but usually have no more than five.  I thought I was doing well, but this makes me consider having an ongoing list.  Then I’m never at a loss, when I sit down at the keyboard, about what to write.

What suggestions do you have about organizing your blog writing so you don’t get a block or are at a loss for ideas?

Post from: My Organized Biz

If you’re involved in a sewing and/or quilting business

Often something may seem a challenge for your budget, but in the long run save you time and increase productivity so that it pays for itself.  However, once you purchase it, you must USE it so that your money doesn’t go to waste.

What are some gadgets that have been worthwhile for you, whether in a sewing business or some other type?

(Image: sxc.hu)

Post from: My Organized Biz

• Become aware that some businesses are seasonal or are better at specific times during the year.
• Arrange promotions for these times. Some businesses organize sales during “off” seasons.
• Plan to adjust your home and business budgets accordingly.
• Look for new lines to add that don’t greatly increase your expense but will increase interest in your business and sales.
• Find an parttime job that will help bring in income to tide you over. This doesn’t mean your business is failing, just that you need extra capital.
• Find another business with which you can coordinate promotions and sales.

How do you organize for coping with “down” times, such as you might be experiencing now?

Post from: My Organized Biz

Do you keep track of trends when organizing your business goals?

Sometimes focus and persistence along a planned path are good.  However, you might want to allow enough deviation to take into consideration trends in markets, the economy, and customers’ preferences.

For instance, I’ve discussed deviations to take into account for current trends (Considering the Market Trend for Your Home Business Products) at Home Biz Notes.  You may have a particular business with product or service, but need to keep current with trends to be profitable.

You need to be flexible in your business organization because of changing technology, changing economy, changing preferences of customers.  You cannot operate in a vacuum and say, “Because I’ve always done it this way…because I’ve always made this product…because I’ve always performed this service…I’m going to continue doing it just this way.”

Because times and people change so we must be adaptable and organize accordingly.

How have you had to change in your business organizing to stay in business…particularly in these stressful economic times?

(Image: sxc.hu)

Post from: My Organized Biz

However, have you begun to be distracted by trying to read all of these items?  Do you spend far too much time even just browsing through them when you should concentrate on being more productive in your business?

“But I’m just doing research, learning more about my business or my product.  I’m not wasting time,” you justify.

Nevertheless, you find yourself spending time reading newsletters that you should be using more productively in your busiiness.  So…

• Set aside a specific time, daily or weekly, to check out your newsletters, then delete them.
• Unsubscribe from newsletters you find you aren’t reading.
• Delete newsletters that don’t seem of use that issue.
• Put newsletters you want to read later in a computer folder.  If you find you aren’t getting to them, simply delete or unsubscribe.
• Refrain from subscribing to newsletters.  The “free” aspect of many newsletters is enticing.

What are your tactics for controlling or organizing your newsletters?

Further reading:

Are Small Business Newsletters on the Decline?

Post from: My Organized Biz

I prefer having everything organized, but life hasn’t always given me that option, especially in a multigenertional home. So I’ve learned to organize whenever I can, but not wait until everything was at the desired state of perfection. 

I’d  appreciate tips from those who have found solutions that work in a busy life.  My main advice is to get to work NOW whether your space is organized or you’re sitting midst clutter.  You can be productive wherever you make up your mind to work.

(Image: sxc.hu)

Post from: My Organized Biz

However, you may find yourself organizing crafts and activities to keep them occupied while you catch up on your business, make deadlines, meet with customers and attempt to stay on schedule.

Here are a few activities I’ve posted at b5media’s Blisstree, where I write for the Parenting and Arts/Crafts section.  This round-up of arts and crafts may help you organize your day so you can get more done.

Check out, Crafts for Kids – Mary Emma’s Round-up.

What ideas do you have for keeping your youngsters busy during the summer while you continue with your business?

(Image: sxc.hu)

Post from: My Organized Biz

In our multi-generational household, we have a large, regular monthly calendar on the wall.  There we all write down appointments, church and work schedules, meetings and recreational days.  We coordinate our schedules accordingly.

For my writing work (I currently write several blogs and a newspaper column with deadlines), I keep a small notebook for each blog and my column.  There I write down posts, pre-posts and planned posts.  Then I can know immediately what I’ve accomplished, am working on, and what I have to do for the future.

In the back of each notebook, I write down research and interviews in progress or planned.

This system works for me.  Someone else might prefer a computer planner, but I’m always concerned about what would happen if my computer was down or the information was lost. 

When I operated a dressmaking and quilting business, I kept a calendar with deadlines for the items I was working on.  I also might note where I must be in the midst of the project to get it finished on time.

What system works well for you in organizing your work and life?

Post from: My Organized Biz