Efficient Business Practices
I help busy work-from-home clients organize their data, paper, office space, and time to increase both the money they make and the time they want to free up for enjoyable activities outside work. My definition of working efficiently came from a mentor of mine Stephanie Calahan, “Easily creating or finding WHAT you need WHEN you need it.” The green words and phrases below are links to products that will help you become more efficient AND effective in your work-from-home business.
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1. Manage Your TIME:
• Define a one hour power period of uninterrupted time each morning to tackle your most important project.
• Allocate 2 times more the time for task completion than you think it will take. This accommodates for interruptions, etc.
• Break large projects down into small, sequential steps. Schedule these steps into your week with your planner.
• Set weekly priorities. The best way to determine priorities is to ask yourself the following questions:
- “What is the best income generating activity I could be doing right now?”
- “Who are the people or groups that bring the most money into my business?”
2. Organize Your Office SPACES:
• Keep only the office supplies you need on a daily basis on your desktop or in your desk drawer.
• Zone your work-from-home office by the activities that take place in that space.
• Keep your work-space free of clutter by cleaning up after yourself all day long.
• Keep a file index (a master list of file names). Check the index before creating a new file to avoid making duplicates. Also use it when deciding where to put new documents.
• Create a record retention plan for guidance on how long to keep specific documents. If you don’t have one in place, now is the time to do so. Click here for our ready made guide.
• Create an “Action File” for your papers that require further action to be taken.
• Only use your in box for items that haven’t yet been reviewed. Once reviewed, trash them, file them in your file-cabinet, or file in your action file.
One of my specialties is helping work-from-home clients overcome overwhelm by putting in place efficient business practices. I work on-site for Utah located clients, and virtually with phone, photos, and screen share for others throughout the USA. If you need help, contact me for your FREE 20 minute phone analysis. Be sure to include your phone number so I can get in touch with you.
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6 Responses to “Efficient Business Practices”
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January 29th, 2014 at 12:27 am
You said on the radio today that you would send me a sheet indicating the time tables for keeping documents. Also: what are your fees to help someone become organized?
January 29th, 2014 at 7:11 am
I heard you on Byu radio and I need help organizing my paperwork
January 29th, 2014 at 5:19 pm
I will email you the one page document I promised in the radio show. I offer small-business efficiency packages in 1/2 day and full day sessions. I come to your office and help get your papers, data, office spaces, and/or time better organized and systemized. Contact me to discuss those package options. I offer great prices for the value received. Vicki
October 1st, 2018 at 10:04 am
Hi Vicki! I worked with you before a few times. I need it again. I need a coach for a few months to get me doing good habits all the time!
December 10th, 2018 at 11:51 am
The biggest challenge we face is that our documents enter an “inbox of no return” until something becomes so urgent that it requires immediate attention. It makes us reactionary and less efficient since we are essentially procrastinating reckoning with those items.
February 25th, 2019 at 11:45 am
Jason. Your issue of the “inbox of no return” is an issue with many of my clients. You may have an out of sight…out of mind issue. The solution is to set aside a consistent time weekly that you can process through that inbox. This idea has been a game changer for many of my clients. Give it a try 🙂