I’m proud to know and work with a few fantastic professional organizers. Let’s face it, I keep hoping some of their organizing brilliance will rub off on me. I’m delighted to present their expert tips for you, on “Entrepreneuring While Staying Organized” Many of us work from home and can definitely use these tips. Please feel free to reach out to any of these brilliant ladies for more info!

Andrea Walker, Smartly Organized

  1. Know your numbers – invest in a bookkeeping software product from the very start as this will help drive your processes around most other activities and help you create the systems and structure you need to move forward.
  2. Track your KPIs (key performance indicators) – identify indicators through financial figures, like tracking number of clients, hours worked, referral sources, networking events, testimonials received, etc. At the end of the year these numbers will help you determine how and where to spend your time and money.
  3. A dedicated home office is key – invest in your space to make it attractive and comfortable since you undoubtedly will spend a lot of time here. Make sure you have enough space and good tools to get and stay organized while working IN your business and ON your business.
  4. Systematize everything – don’t reinvent the wheel – Write down anything you need to do more than. This process of documenting helps organize and streamline how you do business. Create one master document and edit and update every time you do a task. This allows you to expand your team without you being the one to answer all the questions.
  5. Done is better than perfect – pay attention to details and do the best you can but don’t agonize over your internal work (blogs, etc). If you hold off doing something until it’s perfect then you have probably waited too long. You will always look back and see things you would do differently – that’s part of the growth process.

 

Deborah Gussoff, In Order Inc.

  1. Purge your workspace – Discard unnecessary papers, office supplies, and other stuff taking up valuable office space. Get rid of duplicates. Clear out anything you haven’t used in 6 months.
  2. Use your brain the way it was designed – Our brains were meant for thinking, not remembering. A recent study suggests the average human can remember 3 or 4 items at a time. Take advantage of available list making apps or dictate to Siri or Alexa. Even paper and pen is better than trying to keep it all in your head.
  3. Figure out when you function best – Pay attention to the times of day when you’re at your peak and use those times to conquer high priority or complex tasks. Don’t attempt to do tasks that require a high level of thought or concentration when you’re tired.
  4. Block distractions – Schedule set times to check your email (mid-morning, after lunch, and late afternoon). Constantly checking email pulls your focus from the task at hand. Now turn off all notifications; data shows even the envelope icon can pull your attention. Researchers report that it takes from 8-23 minutes to regain the level of focus you had prior to being interrupted.
  5. Say no! – No is a complete sentence. Your schedule and your time are valuable assets that need to be protected. Don’t feel the need to expand or explain…that opens the ability for someone else to challenge your reply. Instead, “just say No;” if you feel the need to say more, “I wish I could” will suffice. Protect your time.

 

Kathe Roberts, Top to Bottom Organization

  1. Squash distractions. Delete shortcuts from your browser for social media and turn off phone and other electronics (for a specified time) to stay focused and productive.
  2. Commit to your Power Hour every day. Carve out time for projects to grow your business. Put everything aside for one hour (use a timer) to commit to working on business owner tasks, whether it’s a new website, business partnership, annual marketing plan.
  3. Define a dedicated workspace. Working from home might have its comforts but defining a space that is quiet, private and separate for yourself and your work is important in order to establish boundaries between work and personal life.
  4. Separate the personal from the professional. Keeping files, paperwork, financial accounts as well as electronic files separate for personal and professional use will make locating needed items easier and tax filing more efficient.
  5. Schedule time to get out every week. Meet a colleague or friend for lunch, join a local networking group or two. It’s healthy to get out of your home office for human interaction, support and feedback.

 

Evelyn Cucchiara, The Toy Tamer – Working With Kids at Home

  1. Get a nap schedule: Even if your kids are too old to nap, an hour of quiet reading time is worth its weight in gold for everyone. Use 15 minutes of this time to recharge your batteries with a power nap also.
  2. Assemble a Phone Basket. Put a few toys in a basket, store it out of your child’s reach, and when you need to make that important call, bring the basket down. Do not bring it down at any other time. The uniqueness of it will guarantee you a few quiet minutes.
  3. Figure out what’s for dinner ahead of time. Post it on a board in the kitchen, along with the time it will be served, so that family members don’t have to keep asking, and so you don’t have to waste time thinking about it at crunch time every day.
  4. Work out a swap schedule with another working mom. You watch all the kids for 3 hours every Thursday morning, she watches them for 3 hours every Friday. Imagine what you could get done with 3 hours of uninterrupted time! And for free! There are plenty of moms out there with exactly the same needs as you – all you have to do it ask. And if you can get another mom too, then that’s 6 hours, 2 days’ worth of uninterrupted time. Everyone wins. Amazing – right?
  5. Put some order into your playroom. Bins and baskets, signs and labels will make it easy for the kids to find what they want without asking you.

 

Sindi Mensahn, The Clutter Queen

  1. Sindi suggests you start with YOU – clutter of the brain can physically drain you, so write it all down! Keep a journal or a simple notebook where anything that runs across your mind can be captured for reference later, and to alleviate stress.
  2. What do you want to accomplish each day? Write out a to do list of your plan for that day.
  3. Set aside and schedule time to get each of those things done – and write it down on your calendar.
  4. Write down your weekly goals. Be specific, use quantifying factors whenever possible. It’s best if you go through this exercise at the same time you set aside for your other weekly tasks.
  5. Don’t organize clutter – shred it! If you don’t have to keep paperwork, and it’s been handled, then shred it.