Work From Home Choices

Get Organized for Business Success
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Laurie_Bornstein]Laurie Bornstein

Get Organized for Business Success!

Ever wonder why some businesses are more successful than others? There are several reasons, some are; focus, dedication, talent, marketing and organization. Why organization? Without organization you cannot stay focused, implement marketing strategies, have time to work on your business-not just in it and without organizational strategies you are quickly overwhelmed. When you get overwhelmed all you have time to do is to put out fires, you don’t have time to develop or grow your business. And if you don’t have time to develop and grow your business, you will never experience the level of success you desire.

OK, that’s the bad news. Ready for the good news?

Getting organized isn’t as hard as you think. The first place to start is in how you organize your day, your use of time.

Step 1- Master Your Time

Take an hour and in that time review how you spend a typical workday.

•    What’s the first thing you do when you get into work?
•    How much time does that take?
•    What’s the second thing you do?
•    How much time does that take and so on, until you’ve accounted for a typical day.

Now that you know how you spend your day, what part of the day is your most energetic? Your most creative? For me, my most creative, energetic time of day is in the morning. Once you know what time of day you are most energetic, schedule your day so that your energetic time is spent on your big projects-development, client proposals, customer service and those items that directly are in your first category. (See step 2 below for category information). DO NOT spend this time answering email, doing small projects or running errands.

In fact, I recommend reducing the time you spend answering and writing email to 1 to 2 times a day. For me, this means that I do not answer or read email until after I’ve worked for about 1 1/2 hours. I check email twice a day, the first after my productive
1 1/2 hours and the second before I leave the office. I spend 30-60 minutes on email each time. If this is the only organizational step you incorporate, I guarantee you’ll save several hours each day. Imagine how much you can accomplish with an extra 2-3 hours everyday?

Step 2- Build a Team

Begin by separating your daily tasks into a series of 3 categories.

•    Category 1-This category consists of tasks that generate revenue. Some examples are: customer service, follow-up, product development

•    Category 2- This category consists of tasks that directly support the generation of revenue. Some examples are: networking, client proposals, and education/training that support your ability and skills.

•    Category 3- This category consists of tasks that do not generate revenue, they support the business but they do not add to the bottom line. Some examples are: bookkeeping, paperwork, responding to every email message you receive throughout the day and the creation of your marketing materials.

Once you’ve separated your daily tasks into these 3 categories, review which of the items you can release to someone else, an assistant, a virtual assistant, a bookkeeper, etc. The items you should consider outsourcing are those items that are in the 3rd category, these items do not generate revenue. To spend your time on these tasks will not improve or grow your business. Almost all of your time should be spent on those items that generate revenue.

The mistake many entrepreneurs make is trying to do everything themselves. Why? Because they don’t think they can afford help. As long as you spend time doing tasks that don’t generate revenue, you take money away from your business. When you hire someone else to do those items, you have gained time, and this is time that should be spent generating revenue. When you spend the majority of your time generating revenue, you make more money. And when you make more money, you can afford to hire help! See how easy that is?

Step 3- Update Your Office

•    Update your computer programs for the New Year.  To grow your business you need the best tools available. Not necessarily all the tools available, but the tools you use should be up-to-date and as effective as possible.

•    Purchase and use office organizing tools, but before you buy any new organizing items, spend sometime thinking about how you work, what areas are most natural for you to use for files, for projects, etc. Once you know how you use your space it’s easier to purchase the right organizing items.

•    Clear all clutter from your desktop

•    Clear all clutter from your computer desktop (this means old email messages, files on your desktop, old files, old programs, etc.)

•    Clean any windows in your office

•    Consider a fresh coat of paint in a new and inspiring color

•    Purchase or improve your task lighting

•    Position your desk so that you have a solid wall behind and have a full view of your entire office when seated

•    Outsource those aspects of your business that do not require you

When determining your organizational strategy, you’ll need to know who you are, what you do, why you do it, and where you can utilize help. While each of these steps seems simple enough, spending time evaluating each step and laying it out in relationship to each of the other steps ensures that you’ll have an organizational strategy that supports growth and opportunity.

Copyright © 2008 Harmony Life, LLC. All rights reserved.

Feng Shui Teacher and Entrepreneur Laurie Bornstein, “The Feng Shui Marketing Queen” is the author and creator of ‘Simple Feng Shui Series’, her FREE monthly ezine filled with articles and tips on how to live and work in balance, visit http://www.fengshuimarketingqueen.com to learn more.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laurie_Bornstein http://EzineArticles.com/?Get-Organized-for-Business-Success&id=1004878

By Randi Gerber

Have you ever eaten dinner at a restaurant that had such a wonderful feel that you just really enjoyed being there? Have you ever been in a day spa that had a serene and calming feel the moment you walked in the door? Have you walked into a quaint shop or boutique that displayed each item for sale in the perfect way?

On the other hand have you been in a or restaurant that was dirty, old, and had no décor? Have you been to a store that was unorganized, messy or dirty, or smelled bad? Think of the contrast of these verses the places above. How did you feel in those places and why?

The reason you feel differently in these environments is the different vibrations of those places. Vibration is a term used to explain the energy something gives off. People have vibration, things have vibration, rooms have vibration, and even cities have vibrations. Everything carries a vibration.

It is interesting that we tend to surround ourselves with people and things that carry a similar vibration to our own - or at least what we are used to. Wealthy people enjoy nice restaurants, five star hotels, and shopping in high end department stores because they carry a vibration that they are comfortable with and that is familiar to them. Think about what is familiar to you.

Where do you vibrate?

The Law of Attraction states that like vibrations attract like vibrations. If you really want to change your life, improve your business, improve your finances, improve your sex life etc., then you must raise your vibration. I have included some very simple tips to help you raise your vibration by raising the vibration of your home and work space. [Read more →]

This video is an introduction to Feng Shui principles.

Feng Shui Tips For Your Home Office
By Charles Chang

According to the US Census, about half of all business in the United States are run from the home. Since so many people are working from home at least part of the time, it makes sense to try and keep things running smoothly and harmoniously. To that end, here are some Feng Shui Tips for your home office.

You’ll need your compass for some of these tips. Placing items and rooms properly is one of the keys to proper Feng Shui.

If you are able to choose the location of your home office, the best place for it to be is in the North end of your home. The North Sector is often called the Career Sector. If that is unavailable, the Southwest corner is the Wealth Sector, the Northeast is the Skills and Talent Sector, and finally the South is the Fame and Recognition Sector. Do your best to locate your home office in one of those sectors, with the North being the most desirable, and the South being the least.

Some other general Feng Shui Tips for objects within your home office are:

1) Always sit so that there is a solid wall behind your back. This ensures you have support in your life. Never sit with your back to the window.

2) Always place the fax machine, telephone, computers, and cash registers in the southeast wealth sector to attract more prospective business.

3) Arrange your desk to have a clear view of the door, preferably facing the door. If it is impossible to arrange, hang a small mirror so that you can see the door’s reflection.

4) Never put a shelf over your desk. The shelf symbolizes the burdens of the world coming down upon you.

5) Try and keep sharp items such as paper cutters, scissors, or the sharp corner of a machine away from your desk. Make sure they are not pointing at the desk. Keep as many sharp objects as possible hidden from view in a drawer or closet. The sharp edges symbolize the cutting of a knife which is a disapproving finger pointing at you.

6) Make sure that you can walk completely around your desk so that your workmates and workload do not cramp you.

7) Avoid clutter at all times and at all costs! Do not have an “in” or “out” tray on your desk. Keep only on your desk what is necessary for what you are doing at the moment.

Don’t keep cactus plants in your office. The needles of the cactus plants are thought to create negative energy flow.

9) Never arrange your desk in such a way that if the door swings open it will open into your desk. This will cause you to be faced with unexpected situations. If the door jams against your desk, it can block your prosperity.

10) If there are two doors in your office, don’t place your desk between them. The good Chi will pass right by you and out the other door.

As one final Feng Shui tip for your home office, a tabletop fountain made of bamboo or flat round stones is always good in the southeast corner to increase prosperity. If your company has a sign or logo, place it in the southeast corner of the office as well. Make good use of these Feng Shui tips and may you be showered with many blessings.

Charles Chang is a Feng Shui enthusiast and author. He enjoys helping others with feng shui tips through his articles and website.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Charles_Chang
http://EzineArticles.com/?Feng-Shui-Tips-For-Your-Home-Office&id=431303

Our Picks: Articles about Feng Shui for Individuals with a Home Business-

50 Practical Feng Shui Tips for the Home Office,  Feng Shui for the Home Office (Includes Color Information), (The) Dr. Joe Vitale on Office Feng Shui, Feng Shui Elements for Home and Office

What does your home office look like? Are there piles of paper everywhere. Stacks of bills that need filing? An unassembled shelving unit?

Do you think your office affects your productivity?

Video: Extreme Home Office Makeover

Author Brian Jones provides a realistic and comprehensive checklist for your home business home office.

Home Based Business Success Tips - Start out Right
By Brian A Jones

Do you want to have a successful start to your Home Based Business? I sure did and I am assuming you want the same to happen for you. Well, setting up your home office the right way makes a big difference in your business success outcome. You may or may not agree, but it has made an impact in my experience and many others I have talked with.

For example, you are talking with a prospect and you need your business partner to speak with them, but you don’t have 3-way calling setup on your phone system. Guess what, you now are going to miss out on some invaluable training because you will not hear how your business partner handles the prospects questions.

8 Tips for Setting up Your Home Based Business for Success

1. A great phone plan is essential to your success, so make sure you have the following:

* UNLIMITED Long Distance

* 3-Way Calling

* Caller ID

* Call Waiting

* Voice Mail

* Call Forwarding

* Anonymous Call Rejection

* Call Return

* Repeat Dialing

2. You must have a calendar

Your calendar is the backbone of your office. Without it, nothing moves forward. You can choose an online calendar such as in Google or Yahoo or in Outlook, or you can purchase an appointment book from your local office supply store.

3. Your computer software tools:

* High Speed Internet Access

* Adobe Acrobat 8: Free download

* Flash Player plug-in: Free download

* Internet Explorer (Internet Explorer 6 is sufficient)

* JavaScript: Free download

* Email Software - You may want to use Outlook or Outlook Express for your business email. Most other people use one of these, so it will keep uniformity in your business organization.

4. A good filing system

Staying organized is extremely important because doing so will help you work efficiently. Organization is very personal, so I suggest you personalize your folder names in a way that makes sense to you.

Listed below are some titles of folders that you can use for ideas of your own:

* Your “Main Business” Folder

* Sample Business Emails

* Training Material

* Advertising

* Announcements and Promotions

* Faxes

* Leads

* Tax records and payment receipts

5. Email signatures

Your signature should include a closing, your name, contact information (website, email address, and phone number) and a quote or favorite expression is optional. (always be mindful if using a quote to keep the message appropriate for a business environment)

Your signature can be a powerful advertising method, use it wisely.

6. Staying connected: Instant Messenger Service

Instant Messenger services allow you to communicate with your online contacts, get your questions answered and leverage your time because your phone line will be open for incoming calls from prospects.

Be sure to get the instant messenger ID of your mentors and business partners so you can always be in touch!

* Yahoo Instant Messenger

* MSN Instant Messenger

* AOL Instant messenger

* Skype

7. Shopping for office supplies

You will need:

* Large 3-Ring Binder with Tab Dividers

* Plastic Sheet Protectors

* Calendar

* Pens and Pencils

* Paper (printer paper and writing pads for taking notes)

* Correction Fluid

* Manila folders

* Plastic organizer to hold pens, paper clips, sticky notes, etc.

* Post it Notes

* Paper Clips

* Stapler

* 3-Hole Punch

* Filing Cabinet

8. Creating the mood - your office environment:

Your office should buzz with positive energy. Motivate yourself by posting your goals and the reasons “WHY” you started your home based business. Family photos may help you keep your focus. Motivational slogans or an inspirational quote can keep you focused on your goals.

Decorate your office in a way that reflects your taste and personality. Create an up tempo climate which motivates you to do your best. Your environment should promote a peaceful, yet exciting atmosphere for you to work in, so use pictures or anything that will create this scenario for you.

One of the biggest perks of working at home is having the freedom to personalize your workspace, so be creative in setting up the ideal work environment.

These 8 simple tips that we have covered can help you to a successful start in your business. By following these tips, you will be able to expand your business and keep your business flowing. You will be more focused on building your business and that is your goal, is it not? I wish you the best in your business venture.

Brian Jones is an Internet entrepreneur who helps people reach their goals in their quest for financial and time freedom. His goal is to coach people into full time home business entrepreneurs. To learn more, click here to get his Home Business Success Newsletter

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Brian_A_Jones
http://EzineArticles.com/?Home-Based-Business-Success-Tips—Start-out-Right&id=812291

Note: Be selective of who has your messenger ID’s. While instant messanger can be a life-saver and time-saver, it can also mean unnecessary interruptions from bored friends and family.