Take some time to think about how you use your computer. What items do you save on it? How often do you need to refer back to it? How easy is it to find things?

A little time spent forming an electronic file system will help you feel on top of things. There’s nothing like being on a phone call with a client and realizing you can’t find a file without a long, drawn out search. It’s embarrassing to ask them to let you call back once you find it, since it can make you appear unprofessional. You don’t want your client wondering what else you have lost, do you?

You can file items by project, by client, or whatever reference point makes sense to you. Make sure, though, that it will still make sense to you several months down the road. And keep things fairly simple. If you have too many subfolders, you’ll still have trouble putting your finger on your file quickly and easily. The idea is to get your mouse pointing to your files as quickly as possible.

Spend time getting more clients, making more money, and improving your business. Not searching endlessly on your computer for a text file with someone’s phone number in it.

Find what works for you, what makes sense to how you organize information. Then stick to it. When tax time comes, you’ll be glad you did.

[Image: Newscom]

Post from: My Organized Biz

Celine, over at Pimp Your Work, talks about MindMeister as a good tool to try. It’s online, you can share with others, and you can see changes in real time. And it offers a free trial.

I bought NovaMind a couple of years ago and have been using it. Er, I was when I was still in school, as it was helpful for brainstorming projects. I should start using it again for writing. There’s something about following a crazy tangent in a mind map that can spark some really great ideas.

You could even use a mind map to get organized. How? Try listing all the things that you could organize, and then any ways to accomplish it. Just toss out whatever pops into your head. Don’t censor yourself. Just write down everything. Do it with software, or with a pen and paper.

When you’re done, take a look at the list you’ve generated. There are probably some ideas that you can run with right now (like clearing your desk) and some that will take more time (like setting up a filing system). See what storage ideas you can come up with based on what you already have on hand.

The point is to try some old tools in a new way. Shake things up a bit. Approach a problem from a new angle. You just may get inspired with a terrific idea to help you be more organized and productive. What unusual or new ideas have helped you break the organizational rut?

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Post from: My Organized Biz

Think about it. You walk into an office with a neat, clean desk. How do you feel – ready to tackle your day? Consider the alternative. You walk in and your desk is a maelstrom of chaos. Do you feel defeated before you even get started?

I know I do. I just cleared off part of my desk today (and managed to unpack part of my bags) and I already notice a difference in my outlook. While I still have more to do, I feel a little less overwhelmed than I did yesterday

Remember how we’ve talked about doing things in chunks? It really does help.

So go ahead and try this. Clear your desk, neaten it up every day before you end work (whether you have a separate office or a home office). Then take a moment when you come in the next morning. Do you notice a difference? Do you feel ready to tackle the day when you have a tidy work area?

Let me know how it works after a week or two. Is it worth the effort for you?

Image: Newscom

Post from: My Organized Biz