Don't Procrastinate...
Immediately Get Control Of Your To Do Lists: The first key is to start organizing and planning earlier than later.
Most entrepreneurs are the worst procrastinators there are.
But procrastinating with their organizing is like death.
Start with a plain old paper and pencil, and start jotting down everything that you need to remember to do to establish a master list of to do items.
Then check them off as you do them.
Recently I have started using Mindmap software from Mindjet in conjunction with Gyronix's Results Manager that polls all my mindmaps for the next to do items.
Beware of using more than one system.
That is also the kiss of death.
Don't do it!I am speaking from experience.
You will not be able to get anything done, flip-flopping from one system to another.
Start Setting Up Your Filing Systems: The second item to do is to start setting up a filing system.
There are many systems to use.
One system that is particularly effective and the one I currently use is the Paper Tiger system.
You can Google it and it works well.
It is like a huge database that you add keywords to every folder you file.
Then all you have to do is to query the database for a keyword and it takes you to all the files that contain that keyword.
Properly set up, it will save you huge amounts of time looking for reference materials The test of a good filing system is being able to find something when you need it, regardless of how you choose to organize it, and the Paper Tiger system is the best one I have found.
Don't Keep Unnecessary Stuff: The third thing is to not become a packrat.
My mother keeps everything she has ever bought and sometimes you can hardly walk in her house.
I sometimes think that I am a business packrat because I keep things that I think I will need in the future when I know I can get the same item again if I wanted to.
Less is more.
There is an old and correct adage that less is more.
I have found that I get ten times more done when I am not constantly shuffling items that I have touched time and time again.
If it does not fit your immediate projects or projects that you are attacking in the next six months...
get rid of it! What To Keep: The fourth thing is what to keep.
Here are some of the things that I keep to help me accomplish my goals.
Obviously...
keep essential tax items.
You never know when you will need your receipts.
Keep marketing materials and items that spur your creativity in the marketing area.
Keep business cards.
Quick tip...
pay someone to enter all your cards into a database.
No clutter...
no wasted time inputting them and all those new leads in a clean database.
Keep a swipe file also for marketing.
Most marketing gurus advocate and I also do this.
Get a Rubbermaid storage container and dump in anything that uses direct copy sales letters.
Those are the ones that use words to sell an item or service.
The idea is when you start writing your own sales letter; you will be able to get inspiration from other well written sales letters.
Keep a few items that motivate you to accomplish your goals...
like a picture of your dream home and other things you are working towards.
Keep photos of your wife and children so you can keep it all in perspective.
Start with these 4 items to get back your sanity and start realizing your dreams.