Organization!

Let’s talk about it!

It’s the hardest thing for me to do well. Being a creative, I just want to flow. I want to go from one thing to the next seamlessly and never have to document, count, or be held accountable for anything.

(Some of my super organized folks just cringed.)

I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to offend your sensibilities. I’m just being honest.

Just like the first Solopreneur Game Changer post, the goal is to help you do something great in your business and we both know nothing is easy about that.

While writing this post, I am in the process of moving out of my house. It has been crazy! The hardest part has been dealing with the confusion I have every time I open my computer and have to remember where I left off work wise.

If it weren’t for an awesome program I use (which I tell you all about later in the post), I would be frustrated and disorganized and my clients wouldn’t appreciate that!

I have a few tips for you wonderful people who have difficulty getting organized in your business.

Do it now.

Procrastination is the true enemy of every creative.

I’m a jumper.

What I mean by that is I will jump from task to task as it pops in my head. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason why I switch, but I do what feels good in the moment and whatever task I can concentrate on at the time gets my attention.

The problem is that certain business tasks NEVER feel good like bookkeeping, emails, project management, etc.

I don’t want to spend time on those things because I would much rather design something, talk to clients, or work on a new product.

For this reason, AS SOON AS you think of some non-exciting business task that has get checked off the list, DO IT.

It may take less time than you thought and IT WILL BE DONE!

You will feel so accomplished.

Ideas to stop procrastination in its dirty tracks include . . .

Setting up a reward system for yourself.
Reminding yourself of the consequences if the task doesn’t happen.
Trying the 2-Minute Rule: If it takes less than 2 minutes, do it now.
Breaking the task down into smaller chunks to make it easier to attack.

Get guidance.

I think that the sign of a mature business person is the ability to admit when something isn’t your strength.

What are you gifted in?

What do you do well?

What do you constantly make mistakes in?

There are certain tasks that I have attempted and I didn’t know if I was doing it right!

That’s not good.

Find someone who does well in your weak areas and seek out their guidance.

Remember, you are coming to them to for help, so make it convenient for them and have a solid idea of what you need help with, so you don’t waste any time.

Speaking of guidance, I have recognized the need for this more and more lately which is why you should check out:

IS YOUR BRAND A SHADY SITUATION OR JUST NON-EXISTENT? THE STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO DESIGNING YOUR OWN VISUAL BRAND

Seriously. I got you.

Educate yourself

In order to truly stay organized, you have to be committed to being a life-long learner.

Technology and tools change so much that in order stay efficient, you have stay up-to-date.

Continuing to learn also helps you by allowing you to handle more of your business intelligently.

Take design for instance. Educating yourself to learn something new for your business helps you to handle things without hiring other people.

Educating yourself about business accounting helps you to pay your taxes more accurately and avoid consequences later.

Tools for Continuing Education

Find the right tools.

Have you ever tried to hammer in a nail with your cell phone? No? You are probably worried that it would break. Or maybe you know it won’t do a great job.

That’s because it’s not what the cell phone was made for. Trying to accomplish a task without the proper tools just leads to frustration.

In business, you need the right tools for invoicing, design, project management, and marketing.

A major key to getting organized is equipping yourself with the right tools. Below you will find a video review of one of my most favorite tools. Check it out.