First Word

People always ask me how I get so much accomplished in a day. I have a very specific routine. Yes, it's boring and regimented but it works. One of the first steps you can take in any routine and to start any work day is to get organized. I call this the "first-things-first" model. Of course in my office that requires a cup of coffee ;) first; but the first step to any day is to get organized. Step no. #1 always involves getting the information downloaded for each of the projects from my email. Each client's email (if it contains documents) gets filed in the proper folder -- that way nothing gets forgotten or downloaded in some forgotten segment of the computer. I can't say what your first steps should be, but I always advise entrepreneurs and the self-employed to get a system of organization in place and work it. Routines might take some spontaneity out of the day, but they guarantee your step no. #2 happens, too: make goals. Routines and goals set the pace for th...

I think organization is the foundation to success. How are you supposed to run a business when you're unorganized? You wouldn't be able to find stuff on-the-ready. You wouldn't be able to keep track. Now I am not an attention-to-detail girl. I have an operations manager who keeps her finger on the pulse of the little things. She manages our office activities and keeps the royalties accurate and on track. She is great at keeping the foundation of my company 3L Publishing firm and holding. But when it comes to personal organization, I think it's critical to keep my own activities on track. Here are a few tips to help you stay organized: #1 Calendar -- you can't beat a calendar. I live and die by my calendar. It helps me do two critical things: first, I use it to track appointments. Second, I use it to break my goals into bite-sized pieces. So, each day I itemize goals to accomplish and then check them off. I actually write on my calendar (I know, so analog, right)...

Over the years, a common theme in my life is that people call me a "work horse." For some reason my mind flashes to a Clydesdale humping the farm field, dragging a heavy plow. I shake my head and return to reality now. Since I'm no fan of the idea that one must pull a heavy plow to get a lot of work done in a day, I thought I would much rather give you some tips on why it is that most people seem to associate the Clydesdale with yours truly. The real reason is that over the years I have learned some important lessons on how to get a lot done in a day. I thought you would appreciate my insight. Organization first and routine second -- when I first got into business, I set up my paperwork and got all my primary documentation stored and on-the-ready. I have central contracts, invoices and legal documents pre-written and on stand-by for when a need rises. I recently had a very unappreciative former business associate who worked with me and asked for assistance in this area...