Welcome March! We start the spring season this month and for many people that means spring cleaning and organizing. For me this year it means moving. I have moved a lot in the past 10 years and I’ve become pretty good at it, but every time I tell myself that I’ll do it differently next time. I always say I’ll get rid of extra stuff this time. I convince myself I’ll have a garage sale or donate it. This has yet to happen. The truth is a lot of the stuff I can get rid of is still packed from last time, so it’s much easier to leave it packed and load it up with everything else.

What makes moving this time extra hard is that our new house is not ready yet, so we’ll be staying for a month or so in a rental. The trouble is, now I have to pack two sets of boxes, one set for the essentials I’ll need to get me through my month of a temporary living arrangement, and everything else. Doesn’t seem too hard does it? Like packing for a vacation, right? Not quite!

Here is the strategy I use:

Room by room – Pack least used rooms first – save your bedroom and bathroom for last. Pack everything in the guest bath and guest rooms.

Item by Item – All decorative stuff (dustables) should be packed first. Followed by pillows, fabric items, roll up rugs, pack lamps etc. Pack all books, electronics stereo equipment, CDs. Label the cords and wires for all with tape and/or put in individual Ziploc bags. Save large framed wall pictures for last.

Kitchen – Plan on not cooking or baking and using paper plates. Eat all leftovers during the packing period or throw them out. Pack all but a few med size storage dishes, one pot, one sauce pan, one measuring cup, one cutting board, two knives, a wooden spoon – leave out the crock pot and the coffeemaker. Don’t procrastinate in here, the kitchen can be puzzling and a bit overwhelming. You really can do without most of your stuff. Pack the spices, baking ingredients, dry goods, cans, etc. Throw out the almost empty stuff or anything you can’t remember when you bought. Leave out all cleaning supplies.

Home Office – Pack all books, dustables, etc. Put files in file boxes – label them! Box up all general office supplies, pens extra notebooks, paper. Clear off you desk completely and set out only what you’ll need to pay bills and complete work. Now is not the time to try and start a project like organizing your receipts and old bills. Again, labeling is important here, you’ll thank yourself when you go to unpack.

Personal Bathroom – Set out one set of towels, pack all the rest. Set out your daily use toiletries. Forget about what if you want to get dressed up to go out. Pack anything you don’t use on a daily basis. (If you end up missing it, you can always make a quick run to the drugstore) Pack all medicines, throw out (responsibly) anything expired or missing its instructions or labeling. Throw out all near empty bottles. Go through your make-up and put together one cosmetic bag to use. Pack the rest (or throw out according to same guidelines as food and medicine).

Bedroom – Pack all clothes not in season first. Then switch to dustables and decorative items. Go back to closet and drawers, pack more clothes that you won’t wear (if you haven’t worn it in a while – you won’t now, pack it). Switch to packing any bedroom electronics, lamps, stereos, CD’s etc. Leave out the alarm clock. Pack all your exercise gear, maybe set out one work-out outfit if you regularly use it. Pack extra pillows, sheets, bedding. Then go back to your clothes – pack a suitcase like you’re going on a trip. Anything left over in the closet or drawers- pack it!

Voila! You’re done! Now the last things to do will be pack the wall art, move the furniture, and clean your way out. I’ll let you know next week how well I follow my own advice! Do you have any moving tips to share? Please leave a comment below on what works for you.

How many times have you been steadily working on something when “oops” all of a sudden you accidentally close the window, or hit the back button, or a power failure causes you to lose your work? It’s happened to me 3 times this week! Many programs are getting better at incorporating auto save but many, especially web-based applications do not have this obviously useful feature yet.

Most recently I was working on our company newsletter using the web-based newsletter creation tool, and accidentally hit the “go back” browser button rather than the “Undo” button within the newsletter application. Errrgh!

To make it more frustrating, even though the application says “be sure to save your work at regular intervals”,  doing so,  by clicking the save button (always at the bottom of the page…) takes you off your editing screen and asks if you want to test the newsletter now. Then you have to go through two screens to get back to the editing screen! How inefficient is that?

What can be done about this poor programming? Unfortunately very little, unless you design your own app, or shop around specifically for this feature next time. We can learn from it though. After all, what’s there to do but go back and start over?

Yes, it can feel like starting over is a huge loss, but what you do differently the second time around can make it better than before. You might catch mistakes you overlooked the first time, you may find an easier way to complete the task, or you may even have a creative moment that didn’t happen the first time around. You never know! It’s definatly not the end of the world, and if you don’t look at it as wasted time, then it won’t be.

How has being forced to start over made your work better?

Building Your Relationship with Your Business

Today I want to talk about the relationship you have with your business, is it a healthy relationship, or do you suffer from one of the following issues?

Do you have a love-hate relationship?

One day you’re in love with your business, the next you hate it and wonder why you started it. We’ve all been there. An exercise you could try would be to brainstorm what you like and what you dislike about your biz. Then, come up with ways to minimize the parts you don’t like. It could mean hiring some outside help, or getting rid of a service or product that causes you more grief then profit.

Are you co-dependant?

You are always thinking that you should be working when you’re away from your computer.  You get distracted when you’re spending time with your family, wondering if you have new email or thinking of what you want your next marketing promotion to look like.

If you can’t think of anything else you’d rather do then work, it may be time to take up a new hobby or join a book club. Make an effort to talk to people as people, and not just for the sake of business networking.

Do you cheat on your business?

If you want to be efficient at running your business, you have to commit to working hours. Do you spend time away from work when you know you should be working?

How’s your accounting? Are you borrowing money from your business account to get your hair done (and trying to justify it as a business expense)?

If you create content or material for your business, how much of it is 100% original and how much is “borrowed” or inspired from your competitors?

Take a look at your habits. If you don’t feel like you’re getting much out of the business, perhaps you aren’t as committed to succeeding as you should be.

Are you Growing Apart/Have you lost the spark?

If every day you dread working in your business, it’s time you take a look back at the reasons why you started it in the first place. Pull out that dusty business plan. What did you write as a mission statement? Did you set goals for the business? How far have you come to reaching those goals?

It may be time to re-assess your plan and make new goals. Re-word your mission if it is no longer meaningful to you. What? No business plan? Well, it’s high time you put in writing why it is you’re in business. This exercise could very well get you out of the rut.

Are you jealous of your business?

How can you be jealous of your business? Look at your relationships. Are you closer to your clients and talk to them more often then your friends? Maybe you’ve built a strictly business persona for yourself and are afraid to let your real personality shine through? Or, you could be at a loss to converse about anything other than business.

Consider what aspects of your personality make you good at what you do, and then think about how those same aspects make you an interesting person outside of work. What other traits do you possess that don’t necessarily apply to your job? Give yourself credit for having a broad range of gifts and talents in addition to your great business skills.

Like they say in couples counseling – being open and honest about the problems in the relationship is the only way to overcome the hurdles and strengthen the bond. What better time than Valentine’s Day to take your relationship with your business to the next level?

Aah February… it always comes as a surprise that the new year is so quickly progressing. Then before you know it February is over!

But, before it is over, we have the sweet holiday of Valentines Day. In the spirit of Valentine’s Day, We’re dedicating our next two posts to relationship building.  The article below offers some excellent advice on the subject. We hope you take the tips to heart and not only start building some new relationships, but strengthen some existing ones.

Tips For Building Relationships

By: Louise Yates

If you’re starting up a new business, one of the key skills that you have to learn is about selling yourself and your services but to most people this doesn’t come naturally.

Many folks feel uncomfortable in these situations especially when dealing with strangers and it gets to the point where you are continually looking to find the next line to keep the conversation going rather than focusing on the subject matter of the conversation.

Wouldn’t it be great if you could sell to people that you already know, and even better if these people not only understood your business but were also able to recommend it to their friends and associates?

This is the principle behind business networking – a low cost method of promoting your business in a way that also embodies a relaxed and friendly environment.

But before you start “selling” the key is to build relationships and this starts with getting to know, like and trust people. So try these business networking tips and market your business in a way that makes you feel comfortable.

How To Get to Know People?

You’ve got to be able to concisely describe yourself, the service that you offer and of course it’s benefits. Let’s face it, if you can’t describe them, then how can you expect others to recommend you?

Try to be clear about what you want – what is your target market and who do you want referrals to?

Think about how someone can recognize that other businesses may need your service? This is critical for getting others to recommend your business in the right moment.

Prepare promotional material that clearly and accurately states what your business is about. Take your business cards for example and ask yourself whether they pass the “Ronseal” test – do they do what it says on the tin?

How Do You Get Others To Like You?

Rules 1, 2, 3 & 4 are all the same. Give, give, give and give.

1. Always try to help others before asking for help yourself.

2. Never criticize anyone.

3. Give written or verbal testimonials about the services of others whenever you can.

4. Always be supportive to others when they need it.

How Do You Build Trust?

Follow these three simple guiding principles and the trust will come:-

Firstly just be yourself, don’t try to be someone you are not. It’s you that people want to get to know, if you put on an act you won’t be able to keep it up and people will see through it.

Secondly, if you commit to do something for someone then do it! If you can, do it faster than you promised and exceed expectations.

Thirdly, pay people on time. You’re in business and your word is your bond. If you want a reputation for not being trustworthy, telling others that “the cheque is in the post” is the fastest way to building a bad reputation.

Summary

Apply these business networking techniques and you stand a real chance of developing your business in a way that you feel comfortable; in fact, you might even start to enjoy it!

About the Author

Louise Yates shares business networking information and business networking tips for word of mouth marketing, generating referrals and free sales leads together with performance business coaching for your work, life and career development.

(ArticlesBase SC #417642)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – Tips For Building Relationships

I just learned, thanks to Danielle Miller’s “The Dish” Newsletter that this is National “Take Back Your Time Week”.

What a great idea and perfect timing too. In fact, it just so happens I have been busy scheduling activities and making plans to do things that are fun. I’ve learned if you don’t actually schedule yourself to participate in activities just for fun, chances are you’ll either forget about the event or activity you wanted to do, or when the time comes you will make excuses to yourself why you shouldn’t go.

There’s a few more tips I’ve come across that can help you take back your time:

• Don’t get stuck watching TV – if you have a show you want to watch, watch it, but make an effort to turn off the TV when it’s over and do something more enjoyable
• Give yourself a scheduled break from work – whether its housework or business give your self at least an hour where you will not work and take time for your self – don’t answer the phone, check your work email, or do the dishes and laundry. Instead catch up with friends on Facebook, send email or write letters, or just spend a little time on a hobby.
• Plan your meals in advance – or better yet, prepare them in advance. How many hours have you spent staring into the refrigerator wondering what to make for dinner or making a last minute run to the grocery store?
• Make and use lists effectively – when something you need to do pops into your head, jot it down but be sure you also not when you will have time to do it. For instance if there is a deadline, plan to do it before the last minute – and mark it out once it’s completed. You’ll be surprised at how much you can get done this way, and soon you’ll be adding those planned fun activities to the list!

If you have habits that you use to make more time for yourself, please send us a note and let us know!

Ever wonder how Netflix can process so many movies, correctly, so often?  See this post for one answer… pretty sweet.

In Part 1 we talked about strategies to embrace while on the road; in Part 2 we discussed travel companies, packing strategies, etc; and in this segment, we are going to be discussing international travel.

International travel has its own set of rules, that will require you to do a bit of preparation before traveling.  Some common things to check out:

1)  Immunizations, vaccines, etc.

The Center for Disease Control has a comprehensive website that is helpful to determine what immunizations you may need and what medications you should consider taking (for malaria areas, for example).  The link above leads you to ‘destinations’ and from there simply enter the country you are planning on visiting.  Their descriptions will help you determine if you need to be taking medication or not; and if unsure of exact location, contact the area you will be traveling to.  When I went to South Africa for a business trip, the conference was in KwaZulu Natal; the website informed me that “northeastern KwaZulu-Natal as far south as the Tugela River” may be in malaria area… a quick check of the map, or a call to the conference organizers, assured me that they were not in the northeastern portion of KZN and I did not have to pack malaria medicine.

2)  Passport and visas

I have unfortunately found out the hard way that Taiwan will not let you into the country if your passport is within 6 months of expiring.  After pleading with the immigration agents, they reluctantly let me in the company with a passport that was due to expire in 5 months – but they wouldn’t let me out again.  So, one day instead of meeting with my clients for 3 days, I spent the first day at the US Embassy processing a ‘rush’ passport – which takes approximately 6 hours, complete with paying additional rush fees for the photo as well as the passport.   So now, I check with each country to find out their requirements for passports as well as visas.  The easiest place to start in the US is the Travel website of the State Department; I’m sure other countries have a similar site for their citizens…  these sites will help you determine if you need a visa (China requires a visa in advance of arrival, for example) or if there are passport requirements – for example, South Africa needs 2 completely blank pages in the passport; Taiwan not only has a requirement for a passport with more than 6 months to go on it, but you will also need to show proof that you have met the next country’s visa requirements (so, if traveling to Taiwan and then China, you will need to show proof of Chinese visa before being allowed to travel from Taiwan to mainland China.)

3)  Safety and security

This is very much a personal preference for what you are comfortable with.  I know some folks who won’t travel to many countries because of threat of robbery, etc. while others are like Star Trek – boldly going where no man has gone before.  The balance that needs to be struck is often one of (not so) common sense:

• try not to look like a tourist.  Gaping at a building with your mouth open advertises “pick my pockets!”.  Ditto for a big bulky camera around your neck.

• don’t dress with flash.  I leave my good jewelry at home for most trips, and wear a simple gold wedding band on my left hand, a nice $70 watch, and one plain gold choker.  I’ve got enough jewelry that I don’t feel ‘naked’ but not so much that I’m a billboard for robbery opportunities… and it’s a good excuse to bring along some costume jewelry that’s inexpensive but still fun to wear, to dress up those business outfits.

• be smart about where you go and when you go.  There are places I’ve gone to during daylight hours that were fine; however, you couldn’t pay me enough money to go there after dark.  There are also places you won’t find me in, no matter what time of day it is or how many other folks I’m with.  I’m smart about where I go, and when I go there; and if possible, I go with someone else who knows the terrain (or the language) if I can.

• Tuck your money away.  I have a small flat pouch that I wear around my neck and inside my shirt – it’s where I keep my money / credit cards, and passport.  I hope that it’s REALLY hard to get to the pouch for a casual pickpocket – the rule of thumb is that pickpockets will go after easy prey – and that’s not me.

4)  Planning your itinerary.

One client decided that we were going to visiting all of their Asian suppliers in one, month-long trip.  We casually laid out the country names on a whiteboard in no particular order.  That random order inadvertently became our travel itinerary, and we ended up flying much more than we had to.  We went from the US to Singapore, to China, to Korea, to Taiwan.  [If you don't know how inefficient this itinerary was, pull up a map of the Pacific Rim - go ahead, I'll wait...]  What we should have done was to either fly to Korea and work our way southwest, or fly to Singapore and work our way northeast.   A bit of planning could have saved us hours of flying…

5)  Food

I’m middle of the road when it comes to food – I’ll try something new, but won’t go too far (no, I’ve never had monkey brains, and don’t intend to…)  I’ve learned how to eat a fish (A fish – complete with fins, gills, skin, etc) and tend to stick with seafood and veggies when in Asian countries; but will gamely try something my hosts recommend.  I’m not a huge ‘hot’ fan; but others I’ve traveled with love trying the spiciest food they can find, happily sweating profusely and smiling…

My secret for eating well?  When you find a food you like, copy the characters down with the translation – it’ll help you in the next restaurant when you want something similar.  And, do learn the symbols for things you are allergic to, and have someone write down in native language “NO _______ – allergic – will ___________ (get sick, stop breathing, etc.)” and show to server when ordering.

I tend to bring one bottle of water with me in my suitcase (not in carryon, as it will be confiscated) so when I land, I can grab it right away (after going through the line at customs for example) as flying is dehydrating, no matter how religious you were about drinking water onboard; I also tend to carry peanut butter and crackers [note: peanut butter may be confiscated by US TSA - apparently, if it's removed from the jar and will change shape within 10 mins, it's considered a 'liquid' - so pack this in your checked luggage], or other ‘comfort’ protein food, so i can eat when I want to on the first day (nothing is worse than waking up at 3 am local time ravenous!).  And, since most hotels have some way to heat up water, I also bring my fave drinks (teas, or hot choc packets, or even instant decaf coffee) – again, so I can get something to drink with a minimum of fuss, at any hour that my body wants it (until I adjust to the time zone).

6)  Gifts

If you are going to a company, you may want to bring gifts.  Some electronics, such as flash drives, are no longer allowed in companies, so be careful what you bring along…

I will bring my host company some food from here – in Texas, we have great pecans, so I’ll bring them cinnamon pecans (they prefer spices to chocolate as a rule in Asia) or some other tidbit that has LOTS of pieces so they can all share.  Other well-received treats have been salt water taffy, cookies, and salty snacks.

Another well-received gift is a ‘travel mug’ – the Chinese drink tea constantly, so an insulated mug is appreciated.

Most things with logos are fun to get – pens, pads, etc. that they can use – and since my Chinese hosts adore their children (the government only allows them to have one, so each child is treasured!), I will also pack along some very small gifts for them (not knowing them or how what gender they are, I usually grab a handful of barrettes, and matchbox cars).

In our last post we talked about the top three things you need to do while on a trip.  Now let’s talk about the things you should do before the trip.

As a certified road warrior (I am platinum on two different airlines this year), I have done my share of traveling.  What are the tips and tricks I use to plan these trips efficiently?

1)  Find someone you like, and use them when you can.

I am a fan of Continental Airlines, Hertz, Budget, and Alamo for rental cars, and Hilton, Sheraton, and Holiday Inn chains for travel.  My preferences are saved on their airlines, I know the quality of service I will receive in advance, and I’m listed as a preferred customer with them.  This means that when my flight is delayed, my hotel room isn’t ready, or I need a rental car in a sold-out city, I’ll get additional TLC.  That is often the difference between a good and bad travel experience, and helps to ensure that my travel is as efficient as possible.

2)  Search for the best deal.

Many times, there is little difference between preferred companies – a room at one hotel is basically the same as another.  Use comparison sites such as Expedia, Travelocity, Hotels.com, etc. to check out the best rate, and go from there.  I like KAYAK – the layout lets me compare several options at once.  Once I find the best price, I still check the company websites – often I can get a free upgrade, better price, etc. through their loyalty program, at the same price.  If not, I book through the aggregator sites listed above.

3)  Pack in a carry-on.

Several times, I’ve been able to switch flights on the go, because I had no checked luggage.  If I am stranded in a strange city overnight, I have all my stuff with me.  In 15 years of travel, I’ve never had lost luggage.

How can I do this?  A few tricks:

a) Select a color, and go with it.  I have different wardrobes based around colors – which allows me to mix and match, and also only pack 1 pair of shoes (and wear another pair in the same color).  If I’m packing ‘brown’ this week, I’ll pack jackets and pants that can work together, and shirts that coordinate.  There is easily enough room for everything I need.

b) Look for alternatives to liquids.  Since the restriction on liquids, I’ve gone to a mineral powder base, powder eyeshadow, and stopped carrying lip gloss – I use lipstick instead.  I never carry shampoo, and only carry conditioner; and carry travel size of hair spray.  I carry a good moisturizer with sunscreen; and my one ‘luxury’ is a travel-sized bottle of bubble bath.  The best part?  All this fits easily in a sandwich-sized baggie, which can be carried on.

c) Leave some things in your suitcase on a permanent basis.  In my ‘empty’ suitcase, there is always:

- an extra bathing suit

- a large plastic bag (that the wet suit can be packed in if need be for the return trip)

- a spare pair of underwear

In my years of travel, I’ve found that if these stay in the bag, I can take advantage of an indoor pool for exercising, or if there’s a need, I have a quick change (e.g. I’ve spilled something on me, on my last day of the trip, or I’m stranded overnight unexpectedly on my way home from the trip…)

d)  Consider joining an airlines lounge.  There is a cost associated with this; however, if you travel extensively, you will find it really helps with your productivity to have access to wi-fi, a comfortable place to work, beverages, etc.  Again, I’ve found Continental’s Presidents Club to be the best value – they serve complimentary snacks and beverages (many of their competitors charge for this) and  they are located worldwide.  Also, if you are bumped or stranded, the customer service folks inside the lounge can usually help you more quickly than then counter folks on the concourse; there’s simply less folks inside than outside waiting in line.

No, they weren’t applying for a job here – I think it was someplace that has Golden Arches… here’s a link to a supposedly real application for employment courtesy of Resumark – enjoy!

This is our last blog post for the year; we post on Wednesdays, and since the holidays are upcoming, we’ll end the year with a humorous post.

On a personal note:

We hope that you are able to enjoy time with loved ones, and wish you the Happiest and brightest of Holiday Seasons.  Thanks for the follow, and see you in 2010!

The McDonald Consulting Group

The Efficiency Doctor

The Integration Doctor

When I first started traveling for business, a good friend of mine took me aside and gave me three valuable pieces of advice:

1)  Plan downtime into every trip.  Don’t schedule every minute of the trip with meetings, meals, and entertainment; allow yourself some alone time (to soak in a tub, read a book, call the family, explore the local area, etc.)

2)  Be healthy on the road.  Don’t use a business expense account as an excuse to eat too much, drink too much, and exercise too little.  Exercise after work and before dinner – every night.

3)  Plan for the worst, and hope for the best.  This involved losing things (rental car keys, airline tickets (back when we still had paper tickets), and hotel room keys) – so he developed, and shared with me, his system:

a)  Have a place in your briefcase or purse where these 3 things go – and put them there every time.  For him, it’s an outside flap on his briefcase while on the road, and the bedside table in the hotel room.  For me, it’s a specific location in my purse, whether in the hotel or on the road.

The benefits to this?  In case of an emergency, you can grab these things and be out of the hotel in less than 10 seconds – with a way to get home, get back in, or drive away.

In 15 years of travel, I’ve only had to evacuate 3 times – but all 3 times I was outside with my purse, keys, phone, etc. while others around me were wondering how to get back into their room, angry that they forgot their car keys, or worried that their wallet was still in the room.

b)  Always leave an itinerary, with hotel phone numbers, office numbers, etc. with someone ‘back at the ranch’ so that they can get in contact with you if you lose your cell phone or are out of service.

Stay tuned for Part 2 –