I've frequently heard people say you can't use what you can't find.
What good are all those wonderful books, magazine articles, files and other resources for building your business if you can't find them and take advantage of what they have to offer? It's imperative that every small- or home-based business owner create an organizational system that works for them, making the least amount of time to spent on administrative tasks and the most time focused on tasks that help the business grow. Why bother frittering away your time digging for one client's file when you would be better off making phone calls to five more potential clients?
While some folks are naturally more organized than others, it's not too very difficult to find basic ways to streamline your office and organizational systems and still allow your inner creativity to shine through.
For me, personally, organizing is a stress-reliever and enjoyable part of my day or week. The downside is that because I do enjoy creating such systems and "playing" with all my files, I fall into the very opposite trap: spending more time creating a fun system when I could be querying editors and working from a much more simple program. It's a catch-22!
Try to find a happy medium so you aren't stuck with your head in the sand (and your files lost) or with your nose in a binder (and the actual necessary tasks left unperformed). Set up a simple filing system that can be expanded as needed. This helps you remain organized but flexible. You can always add more folders for new clients, but you need to at least have basic reference folders such as "clients", "wholesalers", "taxes", etc.
If you're starting from square one on your home office, you're in luck. You'll have an easier time of things and you can set yourself up for success from the very beginning. Check out Barbara Myers' time-saving tips to get you started. These will give you a good idea of concepts to incorporate into your routine from the very beginning.
Already have an office (and a mess) established? If it's time to slim down the old vertical file, Wendy Paris' interview of Julie Morgenstern may help. Read "10 Tips to Organize Your Home Office" for some interesting ways of thinking out how to organize your office...and how to remember where you filed everything when you cleaned up!
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