Quick Tip to Organize Your Workspace

Is your desk a mess? One way to overcome a messy work area is to place items in relation to their usefulness. Items you use all the time should be at arm's length.

Things you use rarely, like reference materials, can be stowed on a shelf across the room. Only have files close by that you use all the time, the rest can go in a file cabinet.

Besides reducing clutter, you are sure to have the things you really use close at hand.

Are the items in your workspace organized in relation to the frequency of their use?

Get Organized FAD: File, Act, Delete

Use the FAD (file, act, delete) principle to get organized. This works great with email. When you go through your inbox be sure to file the message, act on it or delete it right away.

Do not read it and leave it in your inbox. If you do not have time to file, act or delete then wait until later to read your messages. FAD saves you time because you only handle each message once. Give it a try.

How do you handle your inbox? Could the FAD system save you time?

Read Weird Magazines

Read magazines that seem weird to you because you do not usually read them. You will get great insights and new ideas by looking at material you usually ignore like:

• Better Homes and Gardens
• Wired
• People
• Time
• Ninja Monthly

You never know where your next breakthrough inspiration may come from.

What weird magazines could you check for ideas?

Be Yourself

Be yourself.

• It's what people want
• It's the only way to be successful
• It's the only thing you can truly be anyway

So be yourself.

Are you yourself with customers?

Take an Hourly Break

Give your brain a break at least once an hour. There is a reason that most classes are scheduled to be 50 minutes long. Even if you don't leave your desk, try to give yourself a mental break. It may seem like you are playing hookie, but you will actually improve your productivity by getting away for a break.

Have you had a break today?

Post Your Contact Information

A few years ago people paid big money to put their name and number in the Yellow Pages, on billboards and TV commercials. How times have changed.

Many folks today are afraid to post their email, phone or address in fear they will get spammed. Well here's the deal, you will get spammed. The other side of the coin is that you want your customers to be able to find you.

Particularly on the web, the only way people who don't already know you can find you is if you freely share your contact information. Some people have customers fill out a contact form. This is lame. Post your information so people can call or email you right away. If you get some junk mail that's just the price of doing business.

Do you post your contact information?

Get Ergonomic

Be ergonomic by making sure your work area is a good fit for your body. How you sit where your desk is, how you set up your monitor and/or workstation can make a big difference in how you feel at the end of the day.

If you are having pain in your arm try a trackball mouse. I won't compute without one anymore. And if you feel a little depressed, try opening the window shade or installing natural lighting. These little changes can make a big difference in how well you do you work and how long.

Are you working ergonomically?

Use Emoticons

Emoticons are emotional messages you can communicate with keyboard characters. These are very handy when using email. It is difficult to read a person's tone in an email, but a clever smiley on the end can let the other person know you aren't miffed.

If you still aren't sure how they work, take a look at this and turn your head to the left:

:-)

It's a face with 2 eyes, a nose and a smile. Still can't see it? Turn your monitor clockwise 90 degrees. Just kidding ;-)

There are lots more on wikipedia.

How could you use emoticons? Have a splendid day! :-)

Have a Sense of Humor

Knock, Knock.

Who's there?

Grouchy business owner.

There's nobody home.

Who wants to deal with a curmudgeon who never jokes or cracks a smile? No one. So lighten up and have a sense of humor in the way you do business and communicate with customers. Whatever you do, don't get advice from your lawyer first. They suck the fun out of everything.

How could you be more playful with your customers?

Always Carry a Pen

Always carry a pen. You may need it to:

• Jot down your next million dollar idea
• To record important information (like at an accident scene)
• To get someone's contact info who forgot their card
• To look like a hero to someone else who needs a pen

There are some sleek models that fit in your front pocket. My favorite is the Space Pen. Don't leave home with out packin' some ink.

How has a pen saved your bacon in the past?