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!

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

Here’s an interesting post by my friend Cristina Favreau – we had the opportunity to visit in person recently when I was in Montreal, and I find this topic to be a bit fascinating, as I’ve used this technique many times without really considering it time management – which just shows that we can ALL learn something, no matter how skilled we are, in our passion/field!

http://blog.cristinafavreau.com/2009/12/time-management-while-you-sleep/

Thanksgiving starts a busy whirlwind of new to-do’s and list making and trying to get more done in less time than you’ve tried to do all year. How is it that with so much more to do, we somehow find time to get these extra things done? Instead of complaining about so much to do, we’re actually happy about it. Sure, we whine about it to our friends and worry that the holidays won’t be perfect, but most of us enjoy the holiday hustle and bustle. It’s different from the pressures we put on ourselves earlier in the year. Maybe it’s because we can actually visualize ourselves making the perfect turkey dinner and laughing off the snide comments that ruin many a family get together. We can see the joy in our children’s faces when they open the present that is “just what they always wanted”. This strong mental image pushes us through the unpleasantness of standing in long lines, never-ending trips to the grocery store, and unpacking and putting up decorations. This is what makes it all possible. What if we could do the same for the not so joyful tasks that we deal with throughout the year? What if we could really get excited about completing a project for work? It would be much easier to do wouldn’t it? This is how I think we should approach our goals. When you write down what it is you want to accomplish, be sure to close your eyes and visualize how good meeting that goal could be. The idea is not to simply cross a goal off your list, but to fully achieve it, that is, make it something worth celebrating!

If you don’t have specific goals written down, now is a great time to do so. Lots of people wait until the end of the year, but with so much going on, holidays and taxes and all, you should at least start thinking about goals now.

The first and most important thing is to write them down! Even if you aren’t sure how to word them get that idea on paper. The thoughts you have on the spur of a moment are often the most true feelings we have. You can always come back to review and better define what it is you mean later. The ideas you put down should have meaning and spark motivation. Don’t put down goals just because they sound good or they are the “popular” movement right now. It may not be the right time for you to act on those things. Remember, if you don’t want to do it, you won’t.

If you have trouble setting goals, one method to try is backward goal setting. Start with a big-picture vision of what you want your life to look like, and then break out the steps you need to make to get there.

When you are ready to review those goals there are a few methods you can use to help increase your chances of success. One key is to make sure your goals are SMART. Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Setting SMART goals ensures that you will know when you have succeeded in the goal and will help you along the way if you loose focus.

The last tip is to get some feedback on your goals. Often our friends or family members can be a great reality check. They can help us scale down our over the top ideas if needed, or help us find clarity in what exactly we mean to accomplish. If they don’t think you are up for a certain goal and it’s one you really believe in, chances are you’ll work harder to prove them wrong.