http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogList.asp?sort=organizer&schedule=117 Mon, 5 Dec 2011 14:45:02 EST en-us http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3562 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3562 Mon, 5 Dec 2011 13:28:26 EST SETTING GOALS The first step in shaping or growing your business is to decide what you want to achieve. Goals you set should be designed to move your business forward. If you don't have a destination in mind, how will you know if you're headed in the right direction? The easiest goals to set are those that are layered—long-term, mid-term, and short-term. You need to be able to translate your long-term goals into actions you should be taking right now. So, if you want to increase ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3554 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3554 Mon, 21 Nov 2011 12:35:02 EST Surround yourself with positive energy ¨ Create a supporting environment Create an environment that's motivating. For example, listen to music that energizes you. Make your office inviting so that you'll want to be there and will feel good about working. ¨ Develop healthy routines Being in good physical condition supports having a good mental attitude. Ease into the day with something you enjoy as part ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3546 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3546 Mon, 7 Nov 2011 11:26:08 EST Foster friendships Just about everyone you meet is someone you may be able to either do business with or refer to someone else. This network of business associates helps fill the space that coworkers used to occupy. One of the biggest adjustments people face when working from home is the loss of a built-in social network. It's natural to develop deep personal connections with people you spend time with every day—sometimes for years. You collaborate, you share experiences, you hear ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3532 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3532 Mon, 3 Oct 2011 10:28:15 EST Your desk will undoubtedly be the largest piece of furniture in the room, and is often the first and most expensive purchase. But before you spend a lot of money on a desk, give some thought to the practical aspects of what you really need a desk to do. Storage considerations No matter how sleek and fashionable an office may look furnished with a table (instead of a desk with drawers), if you plan to do real work in your office, get a desk with drawers . In most cases, a table will ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3479 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3479 Tue, 6 Sep 2011 15:03:44 EST If you're going to work at home, rather than just be at home, you need to create an environment that will allow you to operate in a business-like manner. There is no one "correct" way to set up your workspace. An organized office does not have to mean a desk with nothing on it and all paperwork hidden away in drawers with alphabetized files. If you forget about things unless you see them this clearly would not work for you. Instead, you should have project folders in an organizer ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3463 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3463 Mon, 1 Aug 2011 12:55:03 EST When you work for yourself, by yourself, the demands on your time are overwhelming. You simply can't do everything you want to, or even need to do. As your business grows, this becomes more and more of a problem. However, many solo professionals want to remain solo and don't want to take on the responsibilities and expense of employees. What then? Get help You don't have to do everything yourself. In fact, you probably shouldn't. The simplest way to maintain your solo ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3445 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3445 Tue, 5 Jul 2011 15:13:06 EST "Processing" paper means deciding what to do with it. If you don't make a decision as about what to do with piece of paper, clutter is the result. Therefore, it's important to have an easy process for making decisions. Use my two favorite checklists below to help you decide what to do with your paper. The first, the " A-SORT – Keep or Toss " checklist, provides very specific criteria to decide which papers should be kept or tossed. The second, the " 5-D – Next Action " checklist is ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3428 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3428 Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:59:17 EST „Y Deal with distractions When working alone, and with no one keeping an eye on us, it¡¦s sometimes difficult to stay on task. As much as we try, sometimes our attention wanders. Then there are the distractions all around us. Here¡¦s a list of common distractions to watch out for and what you can do to deal with them. 1. Email o Turn off that new message alert. It¡¦s just too tempting to see what¡¦s just come in. o Keep your email program closed until you¡¦re ready to ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3386 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3386 Mon, 23 May 2011 11:42:54 EST Whatever the reasons, procrastination threatens to overtake the work-from-home professional who is not on guard. Here are a few strategies you can use to fight back. When the task is overwhelming… ¨ Break it up. Deconstruct large projects into smaller steps.Large jobs can seem overpowering and tempting to put off. But a series of small jobs done over time are more manageable. Identify the small pieces that make up the larger whole and build them into your schedule at ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3377 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3377 Sun, 22 May 2011 09:00:00 EST So much of our work is done on computer these days that it's worth a bit of effort to keep your systems organized and streamlined. If you save even a few moments each time you access a record or return to a document, over the course of a day it adds up. Over a week, you could save enough time to knock off work an hour early! The following filing tips will save you time and trouble when dealing with your computer files: Corral bookmarks/favorites into categories. It's so easy to ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3380 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3380 Mon, 9 May 2011 13:50:18 EST I prefer the term "creative delay" to "procrastination." It involves dreaming up the most elaborate and unlikely way of doing something, so that by the time the scheme is worked out to the smallest detail, it's too late to start. With no boss or set schedule, it's very easy for work-from-home professionals to just never get around to tasks they don't want to do—or are afraid they won't do right. Everyone procrastinates to some degree, but when you own your own business, a ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3373 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3373 Sun, 8 May 2011 09:00:00 EST If you don't keep your computer files organized, you'll waste time you likely can't spare searching for your documents. A search tool like Google Desktop (desktop.google.com) can help you find lost computer documents. This handy little program searches your own hard drive like a browser searches the Internet. It's a lifesaver when you're having trouble locating a file. And it's free! However, no search tool can match the ease of being able to go directly to the folder ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3328 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3328 Sun, 27 Feb 2011 09:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3291 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3291 Sun, 16 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3290 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3290 Sun, 2 Jan 2011 09:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3289 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3289 Sun, 19 Dec 2010 20:51:11 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3228 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3228 Mon, 8 Nov 2010 21:55:42 EST Are you overwhelmed by a never-ending to-do list? Do you have notes covered with tasks you need to do, but can't get to? Do you feel like you can never get caught up? You're right! You can't! The average person has so many things to do that if they did nothing else but work on those things – didn't go to work, had no personal life, nothing – and added nothing new to their list - it would take approximately 10 weeks to get it all done! What does that tell you? It tells you ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3171 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3171 Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:07:07 EST Most of us have a variety of miscellaneous tasks that keep us occupied during the work day. When there's nothing urgent, it's easy to do a little here, a little there, a little now, a little later, and not accomplish very much. However, when a major project deadline looms, we work like demons on nothing else until our eyes glaze over and we drag ourselves to the finish line not having done our best work! Does this sound like you ? Dabbling at random tasks throughout the day ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3124 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3124 Sun, 18 Jul 2010 16:17:21 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3098 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3098 Sun, 27 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3070 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3070 Sun, 13 Jun 2010 09:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3058 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3058 Sun, 30 May 2010 09:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3031 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3031 Sun, 16 May 2010 09:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3014 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=3014 Sun, 2 May 2010 09:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2912 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2912 Sun, 7 Mar 2010 09:00:00 EST Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2559 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2559 Sun, 6 Sep 2009 09:00:00 EST I assume that since you're reading this blog, you would like your office to be better organized. But why bother organizing your office? Is it simply one of those "shoulds" you inherited from childhood, like "make your bed" or "eat your vegetables"? Or do you think having your office organized will actually make a difference in the way you work? If you think getting organized will make your work better, you're right! Your ability to work comfortably and effectively determines ... http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2525 http://www.onlineorganizing.com/BlogEntry.asp?id=2525 Sun, 23 Aug 2009 09:00:00 EST Small Offices Are Becoming the New Norm. The goal of working for a large company for a lifetime, the choice of many earlier generations, has become largely unattainable, and even undesirable, nowadays. Lots of people are going it alone, or with a small group of colleagues, in a small office. If that's you, this blog is meant to be an ongoing resource. I'll be talking about all sorts of issues that you will encounter sooner or later. I'll be sharing things I've learned ...