1. Clean, organize and purge your desk. This is so important so you have a good perspective on each day and you can focus on what you need to accomplish and get it done successfully.
2. Be like Santa every day of the week. Make a list and check it twice. There’s nothing more satisfying than checking things off your “to do” list! Make a list every night of all the things you need to accomplish the next day. Do this every night, including the weekends, so you get in the habit of relying on your to-do list to get things done.
3. Use only one calendar. Choose the one that works best for you: one on your computer, a handheld one like a PDA, or a paper one on your desk. Then get rid of all your other calendars and use just the one to record and keep track of everything. If you’re maintaining more than one person’s schedule, like your children’s, use different colored inks to record information for each family member.
4. Make a note on your calendar, one week ahead of any event, about what you need to do for that event. Do you need to buy wine to bring to a housewarming party? Do you need to send flowers for your mother’s birthday? Whatever it is, make a note of it in advance so you can stay of top of your tasks.
5. Make a list of your goals. Write down at least 5 goals every month you want to accomplish and work towards accomplishing them. i.e. loose 5 pounds, save an additional $200 (pick any amount), put more money in your retirement account, spent more quality time with your family, etc
6. Choose one or two goals you want to accomplish this year with your business. Maybe it’s to make more money or to land more clients. How will you accomplish that goal? What amount of money will you make this year? How will you do it? Type that information out in a clear sentence, put by your bedside, and read it every morning and every night to help inspire you to reach your goals.
7. Get rid of any office supplies you haven’t used in the past month. Return them to the store for credit or donate them to your favorite charity. The less clutter there is in your office, the more happiness there’ll be in your life. If you buy a new printer, donate the old one. You don’t need two printers–the old one is just taking up space. This goes for everything in your office.
8. Start planning now for the next tax year. Label a box “Next Year’s Taxes,” and put it in your office. This box will hold all your tax-related documents throughout the year: bank statements, receipts for business expenses, online statements indicating what bills you paid and charity receipts. At the end of the year, remove the contents from the box and make two piles–business and personal–for your accountant (or for yourself, if you do your own taxes). The box will be the one place you put everything that has anything to do with your taxes. It sure beats searching for the paperwork at the end of the year.
9. Update your rolodex. Clear out all the cards of people you never called last year. I can tell you that if a year goes by and you haven’t contacted them, chances are, you’ll never call them. If you feel you need to keep the information, put all the “maybe I’ll call them one of these days” cards in a file and label it that.
10. Feng Shui your desk and surroundings. If it’s good enough for Donald Trump, it’s good enough for you!
One you master the above, and put them into action, I can almost guarantee that you will start to see some amazing things transpire in your life and in your business.
Good Luck!
