1. Pick one thing you want to clean up this month.
2. Post what you’re going to do – here or on your own blog.
3. Then check in at the end of April and share how you did.

Here are some of the people who took the challenge:

Alyson at Art Biz Coach had a decluttering goal…
Kristen of BizChicksRule had an affectionately-named Box of Doom
Barbara had 3 closets to do (after completing her kitchen)
April was actually going to get rid of her desk!
Ann started out with the intention of doing her sock drawer and then got courageous and aimed for the toiletries cabinets (wait til you see her photos!)

I took my own challenge, so here is my update:

My goal was to enter all of my receipts and get my finances back into order. Right now, the receipts are still on my desk, only slightly neater. This is hard to admit since I’m writing an organizing blog, but honesty and transparency are important to me.

I am so behind in entering receipts and income that I have checks to deposit that I’m not sure how to enter. Sounds crazy, but it’s true. If I were being my perfectionistic self, I’d give myself 30 lashes with my “get organized” noodle and a major guilt trip.

But even though there are no visual changes in my office and things are slightly worse than they were, I’ve gained a number of valuable insights about my internal process.

• I need a bookkeeper – someone to come in monthly and get this stuff arranged.
• I’ve been taking on too much lately, saying “yes” when a “no” is more appropriate.
• I’m taking steps to lighten my load so that I can attend to the maintenance operations of my business, not just the creative stuff.

I feel good about these discoveries and my next step is to solicit bookkeeper recommendations from my local business buddies. I’m also not going to beat myself up about still having the receipts (this is definitely progress). By the beginning of June, my goal is to have a new system in place and a firm grasp on my financial records.

How about you? Did you meet your spring cleaning goal? Exceed it? Let’s hear all about it!

Post from: My Organized Biz

Several readers agreed to the challenge and are blogging about it – including ArtBizCoach Alyson Stanfield and Kristen King of BizChicksRule.

It’s not to late to get going – even if they ARE predicting snow in your area. “Spring cleaning” is a state of mind – and your office will thank you for it.

Check out the thread here – and consider picking something to work on this month. I promise, you’ll be in good company!

Post from: My Organized Biz

Jen: Welcome, Alyson!

Alyson: Jennifer, thanks so much for inviting me to your blog! I just love what you do.

Jen: As we’ve been preparing to feature you on my blog, I’ve been consistently impressed with your follow-up – with even the smallest details. And I bring this up because, in the book, you talk about the importance of following up with contacts. You and your assistants are practicing what you preach!

Would you share your own internal systems for following that provide such outstanding communication? How do you stay on top of it all? Inquiring minds want to know!

Alyson: First, let me say how happy I am that you feel we have it all together. One of my secrets is given the nod in your question: I have good people working with me! My virtual assistant that was in touch with your for the blog tour is extremely organized. I trust her more than I trust myself! And after a few projects with her, I quickly realized that I could turn stuff over to her. This is key and was hard to do at first.

I am a do-it-yourselfer by nature, but as my business grows–as my home office and online business grow–it became more and more clear that it’s silly to try to do everything myself. I realize (thanks to the insight of my husband and many personal growth gurus) that I can make much more money doing what my genius is and turning over the rest of the business to those who can support it in a way that helps it grow even more.

Jen: Brilliant. I agree that turning things over can be hard for small business owners. How did you do it?

Alyson: I started with one VA, then got help with my weekly Art Marketing Action newsletter, then added another VA, and am about to hire a bookkeeper. I have so much I want to do and the details are better left to those more adept at handling them.

Having said that, I am still the boss. I am still responsible for making sure things get done.

Jen: Will you tell us how you do that?

Alyson: The single most important routine I have are my daily check-ins. Before leaving the office at night, I go over my task list. I go through my emails and make sure any new tasks are on the list. Then I prioritize against my calendar. What do I absolutely have to do the following day? I write these tasks (usually 3-5 of them) on a small piece of paper with the date at the top. I can’t leave the office until these items are taken care of. Having this list gives me peace of mind and helps me sleep better because I know I’ve got a handle on things.

Then, before checking email the next morning–before doing anything else except for dressing for the day and warming my tea–I go over the task list I wrote out the night before. I double check everything and make sure I’m clear on what needs to be done. Then I tackle the hardest one first. What a great way to start the day!

Jen: It sounds like it! I think the important thing is to create a balance – once you know what you need to do, it’s easier to schedule it all in.

Alyson: Things will always slip through the cracks or not be executed as well as I had intended, but I do the best I can. And I am at the point right now where my office needs a big cleaning. I’m one of those people who don’t function with a messy office, so I’m really excited to be working with you on the Office Spa Day. I think it’s a great idea!

Jen: I do, too! Thanks so much for taking the time to share your experiences and thoughts on staying organized and following through.

**********

Alyson’s running a contest during the blog tour where you can win a free copy of I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion (which is great for small businesses, too).

Visit this site, read the instructions, and enter. Odds are good as she’s giving away a free copy on most of the blog tour stops. You can increase your odds by visiting the other blog tour stops and entering on those sites as well.

I’d Rather Be in the Studio! The Artist’s No-Excuse Guide to Self-Promotion is for artists of all kinds. Painters, sculptors, ceramist, jewelers, photographers, and others will benefit from the easy-to-follow self-promotion practices in this book.

Author and art-marketing consultant Alyson B. Stanfield, of ArtBizCoach.com, focuses on sharing the artwork directly with potential buyers through electronic and traditional communication outlets—in a manner that is comfortable, not artificial. Artists match Internet marketing strategies with sincere personal skills to take charge of their art careers.

Post from: My Organized Biz

Alyson coaches people who want to make money from their art to start thinking like a business. Her book is full of go-get-’em ideas – and she’ll be responding to a question I have about following up with propsective clients. She has a great system you’ll want to check out.

She’ll also be giving away a free copy of her book, so find out how next Wednesday!

Post from: My Organized Biz