The following procedures will insure an organized and well run office.
1. Have a daily To Do sheet. This is made up at the end of the day. You might have items left over from the previous day, put those items first and work from there. If you make deposits on a daily basis, add them to the list. Plan to file at the end of the day or before/after lunch breaks. Doing this daily will avoid the "pile syndrome". This list should also include any marketing strategies you employ. This will insure you set time aside to implement them.
2. Have a weekly goal sheet that you review at the end of the work week and finish off any projects hanging, check supplies, make deposits, do invoicing, review the goals you set up in your business plan. This sheet will also include phone calls left to make, marketing or mailings you need to finish.
3. Your monthly goals and routines should include: making deposits, invoicing, bank statement reconciliation, mileage costs, copier costs, postage costs, and income and expenses for the month. Check your supplies and order, if necessary. Comparison of your income and expenses for the month will indicate whether or not you need to make any changes or adjustments to your marketing plan for the following month. Calendar any upcoming events. Make up new income and expense envelopes. Pull your tickle for the following month and place materials in the appropriate day. Make up your chron file for the month.
4. At six month intervals check on your competition. Are they increasing their prices? What kind of marketing are they employing? Are they offering new services?
5. Do one of the following things with each piece of paper that crosses your desk: act on it, read it, file it or toss it. Be sure you need it, before you file it.
6. Set up a mail system. Use different colored folders to categorize the mail you receive. For example, Red - you need to act on (write a letter, make a telephone call, etc.); Gray - for your information; Yellow - meetings, upcoming events; Green - minutes of other meetings, newsletters, reports, etc.; Black - flyers, advertising materials. Remember stamp the date received on all mail, and follow up as quickly as possible, if necessary. This system can be modified for those companies that do not receive a large volume of mail. This system will help staff members set up work priorities.
7. Make up a reading folder. Read or browse this material during lunch, breaks, during slow or off hours. Make up files with specific categories for those articles you want to keep as a reference. Check on these periodically (every 3 months) to see if the information is still up to date.
8. To cut down on filing and paper costs. Set up a chron filing system. A chron file contains any correspondence you have generated for a specific period of time. They are usually made up on a monthly basis. For example, label a file January Chron, and place any correspondence you generated for that month in the file. For most offices, this system avoids having to make up client files with one piece of paper in them. However, some offices keep an additional copy in the client file. Do this only if you have to.
Part 2 of this article will discuss what you will need to implement this system. For more organization and time management strategies for your business, check out our Home Business Manual at www.homebusinesssolutions.com/products/products.htm
Copyright 2000, DeFiore Enterprises
Interested in having your own successful, home based creative real estate investing business? Chuck and Sue have been helping folks start successful home based businesses for over 19 years, and we can help you too! To see how, visit www.homebusinesssolutions.com/products/products.htm for the latest FREE tips and tricks, educational products and coaching in creative real estate investing and home based businesses. No time to visit the site? Subscribe to our "how to" Home Business Solutions Digest, it's like having your own personal coach: www.homebusinesssolutions.com/products/products.htm
no-contract cleaning service Mundelein ..Ever wonder how they do it? How a short-order cook... Read More
What do you gain if you SIMPLIFY?Dictionary* says:to reduce to... Read More
One of the most basic ways to find papers when... Read More
Everytime Mary had to find a file on her computer,... Read More
Worried because you're moving soon? This really doesn't have to... Read More
The store reminded me of a well-worn slipper ? tattered... Read More
"My job is an endless series of deadlines, I am... Read More
"Do something every day that you don't want to-do; this... Read More
The Mexican VillagerThe American investment banker was at the pier... Read More
Our children are probably the biggest clutter creators we have... Read More
To want in one's heart to do a thing for... Read More
"Junkyard Wars," a TV series showed two teams of experts... Read More
Clutter costs you time, money, space, and peace of mind.... Read More
Winter is starting to retreat, and hints of Spring are... Read More
After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More
Paper1. You may already be in the habit of filing... Read More
Life is about maintaining a balance of all aspects. At... Read More
Working for one of the top Marketers online (David Ledoux)... Read More
Has your polished mahogany (or modular plastic) desk been buried... Read More
Here's a little lesson I experienced while packing boxes for... Read More
Do you use to-do lists? Do you find it satisfying... Read More
Use these 35 sanity savers this year to help you... Read More
Often we are in overwhelm because we are holding too... Read More
Finish each day and be done with it. You have... Read More
Sometimes the task of keeping a clean, tidy house just... Read More
maid service near Glenview ..I have a good friend whom (also being in the... Read More
Q. I have several projects going at once -- but... Read More
For some reason, Americans think they have something to prove... Read More
? Are you embarrassed when you walk into your home... Read More
Getting Things Done (GTD), is a productivity methodology designed by... Read More
Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More
Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of organizing your home? Start... Read More
1. Divide big jobs into smaller jobs. Make a list... Read More
Take a look around you right now. Look away from... Read More
Working for one of the top Marketers online (David Ledoux)... Read More
Light, Work, and YouWinter is here-and with it, short days,... Read More
Clothes. Check. School supplies. Check. No doubt you've got to... Read More
What does "time" have to do with getting organized? Everything!... Read More
I've noticed that in the two years since the major... Read More
How many of us have enough time to do everything... Read More
Home organization isn't just for neat-nicks or those drawn toward... Read More
So you've decided to get organized, but you just don't... Read More
Whatever your clutter problem the answer is the same: make... Read More
Spring?. Fresh breezes through open windows, sleeping trees come awake... Read More
Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More
Spring is here and its time to sweep away the... Read More
Last year I attended a presentation from Parenting Expert and... Read More
Do you ever sit down at your desk buried in... Read More
(This is the third in a series of three articles... Read More
Much of my time as a Professional Organizer is spent... Read More
Get Organized - Organization |