1. Clean, organize
and purge your desk. Update your files
and replace all torn files. Buy new files,
in different colours, and organize them by
Colour: green for financial papers, purple
for clients and so on. Be sure to label all
the files, and then organize them
alphabetically within each colour scheme. And
never, ever put the word "Misc" on any
file--once you file it, you'll forget what
you put in it. If you can say out loud what
the file is, you have your label.
2. Be
like Santa every day of the week. Make a
list and check it twice. There's nothing
more satisfying than checking things off
your "to do" list! Make a list every night
of all the things you need to accomplish the
next day. Do this every night, including the
weekends, so you get in the habit of relying
on your
to-do list to help you get things done.
3. Use only one calendar. Choose
the one that works best for you: one on your
computer, a handheld one like a PDA, or
a paper one on your desk. Then get rid of
all your other calendars and use just the
one to record and keep track of everything.
If you're maintaining more than one person's
schedule, like your children's, use
different colored inks to record information
for each family member.
4. Make a note on your calendar, one
week ahead of any event, about what you need
to do for that event. Do you need to buy
wine to bring to a housewarming party? Do
you need to send flowers for your mother's
birthday? Whatever it is, make a note of it
in advance so you can stay of top of your
tasks.
5. Make a list of your
goals. Write down at least 10 goals
you want to accomplish in your lifetime. Be
specific. Then put the list away and update
it again next year.
6. Choose one or two goals you want to
accomplish this year with your
business. Maybe it's to make more
money or to land more clients. How will you
accomplish that goal? What amount of money
will you make this year? How will you do it?
Type that information out in a clear
sentence, put by your bedside, and read it
every morning and every night to help
inspire you to reach your goals.
7. Get rid of any
office supplies you haven't used in the
past year. Return them to the store for
credit or donate them to your favourite
charity. The less clutter there is in your
office, the more happiness there'll be in
your life. If you buy a new printer, donate
the old one. You don't need two
printers--the old one is just taking up
space. This goes for everything in your
office.
8. Start planning now for the tax
year. Label a box "Taxes," and put
it in your office. This box will hold all
your tax-related documents throughout
the year: bank statements, receipts for
business expenses, online statements
indicating what bills you paid and charity
receipts. At the end of the year, remove the
contents from the box and make two
piles--business and personal--for your
accountant (or for yourself, if you do your
own taxes). The box will be the one place
you put everything that has anything to do
with your taxes. It sure beats searching for
the paperwork at the end of the year.
9. Update your rolodex. Clear out
all the cards of people you never called
last year. I can tell you that if a year
goes by and you haven't contacted them,
chances are, you'll never call them. If you
feel you need to keep the information, put
all the "maybe I'll call them one of these
days" cards in a file and label it that.
10. Feng Shui your desk and
surroundings. If it's good enough for
Donald Trump, it's good enough for you!
Leslie Jacobs is the owner of
Les Is More, a personal organizing
business based in New Britain, Connecticut.
