Running
a Tidy Ship
Albert Einstein
once pointed out that everything should be made as simple as possible
— but no simpler. This certainly can be applied to any business
that wants to keep its equilibrium.
For most entrepreneurs,
that requires constant vigilance since a business can become complicated
and cumbersome in the blink of an eye. Here are some guidelines to incorporate
into your business:
Make
simplicity a goal. It's not enough to say you want to simplify
your business. Identify specific, measurable results that will indicate
that you have made your systems, marketing, accounting, etc. as simple
as possible.
Work
on one profit center at a time. Give a single project your full
attention by keeping papers or items related to other projects out of
sight. When it's time to move on to the next project, stash things related
to the last project in a file or closet or drawer.
Avoid
confusion. "Clutter and messy work areas cause confusion
and irritability," observes Alexandra Stoddard. "Give your mind
a spa and take some time out to rearrange your office. Block off a few
hours on your calendar and use the time to putter. Edit out the unnecessary."
Identify
spendthrift behavior and eliminate it. New gadgets and technologies
can be seductive, but refuse to purchase anything for your business unless
it makes a positive contribution.
Keep
projects separate. If you manage several profit centers, color
code the work in each of them for ease in locating and filing.
Keep
a single calendar. A portable system such as Filofax is ideal.
If you write appointments, deadlines, etc. in several locations, you'll
waste time transferring them from place to place.
Hire
a professional organizer to help you develop the best system for you.
Make certain you understand how to maintain it as easily as possible.
Clean
out your computer and cabinet files at regular intervals. Make
a note on your calendar every 60 or 90 days to tidy up so things don't
accumulate.
Designate
space. My grandmother's favorite saying was, "A place for
everything and everything in its place." As I've discovered, uncluttering
is as much about creating places as it is about throwing away.
Identify
your nemesis and make a special effort to deal with that. Going
after the biggest problem — and solving it — often makes solving
lesser problems a snap.
There's
more where this came from.
Order Winning Ways now!
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