Do you want to be the leader in your field? Are you looking to create raving fans? Planning to retire early? If you hope to achieve your technicolor dreams, now is the time to invest in your priorities. Rather than being “nickled and dimed” by clutter and poor systems, invest in the process of getting your business organized. Things of value require an investment. You can measure the strength of your priorities by the investment you are willing to make in them.

 

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Investigate what IS working.

Before you begin berating yourself for your disorder, stop and celebrate that which you are doing well. Do you return messages on time? Is your PDA working wonders for you? By noting your strengths, you can model after success. If your PDA and computer are buzzing with efficiency, perhaps using technology in other areas (lead generation and tracking, for example) would be effective.

Admit what is NOT working.

Make a list of your frustrations and concerns. Do you have a filing system that works? Are your daily tasks manageable? Does paper have a flow through your office? Are your five calendars causing things to fall through the cracks? Group your list into paper, space and time management issues.

Assess the costs of disorder.

Now, list what it is costing you to be disorganized in your entrepreneurial venture. Productivity? Credibility? Stress? Lost leads, which means lost income? An ulcer? Realize that this list is blocking you from achieving your priorities. This list is your catalyst for change.

Examine your causes of disorder.

Organizing is like counseling. You first have to figure out how you got here before you can get out of the place you’re in. If you truly want lasting change in your business and in your office, you will have to find out how you arrived in this place of chaos. Sure, it may be that you never set up good systems in the first place. However, it could also be that your time management is not supporting your office. If you allow no planning time, your systems have no chance to succeed. It could be as simple as crummy office furniture or too much superfluous stuff crowding your space. Once you identify your causes of disorder, you will be more likely to reap lasting benefits from your investment in organizing.

Review your job description.

As you talk through your job description, your daily tasks will come to light. These tasks are the basis for your systems. From processing to projects, you will need a way to manage the various aspects of your business. The sharp entrepreneur will simplify these daily processes to expedite their progress to their goals.

Reclaim your environment.

Systems will only go so far. If you create a fabulous filing system that empowers your start-up business, but the file cabinet is blocked by clutter, you won’t maintain your new system. The entrepreneur that wants to reclaim his or her business will tackle the burden of clutter invading the office. If at all possible, the office should be reserved solely for business purposes. After eliminating unnecessary or nomadic items, remaining items should be evaluated by frequency of use and point of use.

Enlist an expert.

If you know what isn’t working, and you know how much it is costing you, but you have no idea where to start, it’s time to call the experts. Let them help you take your project from overwhelm to overdrive. Consultants put business owners in the driver’s seat. Taming your office and creating intuitive systems allows you to work in your strengths and maximize your time.