Doing More With Less in 2009

With the economic challenges facing business owners it is imperative to do more with less. Doing more with less is achieved through good workflow and time management. One of the biggest challenges facing working woman is achieving the balance between work and home. Unlike the women of earlier generations, we must play both provider and nurturer. As a woman business owner this is even challenging for a professional organizer. Here are some strategies to help you do more with less in 2009.

Electronic Interruptions:
• Turn off your email alert.
• Only open your email program when checking email.
• Pick three times a day to check email and voicemail.
• Give parameters on your voicemail and email so others know when to expect your answer.

Paper Clutter:
• Pay bills online through your bank.
• Purchase a scanner with digital filing system software.
• Reduce junk mail by filling out a form at https://www.optoutprescreen.com.n • Ask yourself what has to happen next when picking up a document. Either do it or put in an action file to be done later. There are three types of documents:n o Resource – to be filed and stored for legal, accounting or historical purposes.n o Action – something has to happen next.n o Trash – shred, recycle or throw away. Shred all prefilled out junk mail and forms.

Time Management:
• Time blocking – create sections of time to work on specific tasks, “hats” or projects. Your hat is the role you have and all of the tasks responsible for that role. Examples are accounting, administration, sales, customer service, CEO, volunteer, mom, wife, etc.
• Use one calendar to track all your time blocking, appointments, obligations and home activities. Color coding these will give you a visual of where you are spending most of your time. If you are lacking in an area take the necessary steps to adjust how you are spending your time.
• Spend the last 15 to 30 minutes of the day prioritizing the next days work and tidying up your desk.

If you need help learning these skills there are numerous options. Some of them are books, CDs, DVDs, downloadable products and seminars on organizing. You can also hire a professional organizer to walk you through learning these skills. To find a professional organizer in your area visit the National Association of Professional Organizers at www.napo.net. I offer training and consulting packages as well as downloadable seminar products such as “It’s A Matter of Time” and “Organizing 101 – Superwoman is a Myth”. To view samples of these visit our website at www.crollorganizing.com.

Another product that I fell in love with is the NeatReceipts scanner manufactured by the Neat Company. I found it so helpful that I became a representative for the product. The NeatReceipts scanners have helped my clients eliminate business card and receipt clutter. What is superb about this product is the software. It reads the information on the receipts and business cards so it can be either exported to a customer/sales database or bookkeeping program and has the ability to run expense reports directly from the program. Think about all those unused business cards in your drawers – that is lost profits! Electronic tracking is a fabulous time saver. I was able to run all the reports for my 2008 taxes in under thirty minutes.

Whatever your learning style and challenges there are solutions out there. Google the area you are interested in and you will be amazed at what treasures your search will bring. Just do it and do it now. Success is waiting for you just take action and make it happen!n n