1) A computer – this one is pretty obvious to most of us. You can track your invoices so you know how much money you should have coming in. You can track expenses so you know what’s going out. Both of those will let you know whether you are profitable – or at least heading that way. You can use an electronic calendar to keep on top of tasks and appointments. There are so many things that you can do with a computer. It’s one of the top essentials.

2) E-mail – very few businesses can get by without e-mail in this day and age. Think of it as a way to do business faster, with less paper clutter.

3) Phone – whether it’s a land line or a cell phone, you need one so your customers can reach you. Not everyone wants to fire off an e-mail. And make your phone number easy to find. Nothing frustrates customers more than not having a choice about how to contact you – and having to dig for a phone number.

4) Printer – another obvious one, so you can print and mail your invoices. For convenience, space-saving, and a little less expense, try a combination unit that includes printing, scanning, copying, and faxing. If you don’t make a ton of copies, this is an economical way to do things.

5) Filing system – you need either a filing drawer or a small cabinet, hanging files, and folders to go inside. And you’ll need to think about how you want to set it up.

This list is by no means complete. It’s just a basic starter. As you look through the archives, you’ll find many more suggestions about what you’ll need to set up your office. And we’ll continue to bring you ways you can use these -and many other- tools to work more efficiently.

What tools do you consider an absolute must for doing business?

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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

(www.myorganizedbiz.com) – I have great, profound, and amazing thoughts. Usually at night. Or in the car. Or somewhere, sometime when I can’t really capture them. It never fails that I have a terrific idea, or someone calls, or I meet someone who doesn’t have a card, and I have no paper and pen. (Well, it used to.)

It’s frustrating. But a few years back I bought a small Moleskine notebook. And now, when I need to capture information, ideas, or just scrape off swirling thoughts, I have a place to do so.

Sometimes, I’m in the middle of a project and other ideas keep vying for my attention. Grab the notebook, jot things down, and then I can get back to what I was doing. Other times, I’ll be on the bus, thinking about post ideas or what I have to do next. Maybe I suddenly remember an email I forgot to send. Yipes! I write that in the notebook, too.

The point is, I have one place where I capture ideas. One place where I write things, rather than a thousand pieces of paper or sticky notes that can get lost. I don’t have to go searching.

And believe me, I used to search.

I’d tear apart my entire desk, looking for something. Trying to remember just where I put that envelope with a phone number on the back. Or worse, I’d run across an envelope with a number and first name. No context. No clue to tell me what it was for.

I find that in my notebook, I can flesh out an idea, briefly. I can jot more than a name and phone number, but also the reason I’m keeping that number and name. Later, I can add things to my to-do list, put numbers in the address book, or further plan out project ideas.

Don’t let those ideas get away from you. You don’t need a Moleskine, but I have to admit I do like it because it has an elastic band to keep it closed, and a bookmark to help me find my place again. You can use a small notepad and a rubber band if you’d like. Just grab those ideas so you can use them later.

I have a cheaper do-it-yourself alternative tomorrow. In the mean time, tell me what device you use to capture ideas.

Post from: My Organized Biz