Clear Out The Paperwork and Increase Performance

 

              By Janet Taylor

 

              My goal as a professional organizer is not only to help you organize your current pile of

              papers but to help you manage the papers you deal with on a daily, weekly, or monthly

              basis.

 

              FILING SYSTEM

 

                 1.Create a filing system that meets your particular needs.

                 2.Title files by name or subject.

                 3.Color-code to distinguish files (geographically, suppliers, ven- dors, commercial,

                   residential)

                 4.Alphabetize files

 

              MAGAZINES

 

                 1.Skim through the table of contents to see if an article is of interest. Tear out the

                   articles of interest and get rid of the magazine. If nothing interests you, donate the

                   magazines to a hospital or nursing home.

                 2.Create a file for the magazine articles you decide to keep and categorize them

                   according to topic.

                 3.Purchase magazine holders to store magazines on shelves or in bookcases.

 

              BUSINESS CARDS

 

                 1.Set aside time after each networking event/meeting to have cards entered into

                   database.

                 2.Once cards are entered decide if you wanted to keep the business card or discard. If

                   you decide to keep the card place in a card file box or rolodex.

 

              MAIL

              Sort the mail using a desktop file or portable file box and divide into the following categories

              or create your own: (To-Read, To-Write, To-Call, To-Pay) (Bills, Corres- pon- dence, Orders,

              Infor- mation Request) Once you have the time, to handle your mail, prioritize each category

              handling urgent mail first.

 

              DESK

 

                 1.Only place necessary items on your desk (calendar, pen/pencils, clock)

                 2.Use trays to organize papers and projects but don’t overload them. Clear them out

                   daily.

                 3.Straighten desk at the end of the day so that you can start each day off with a clear

                   desk and a clear mind.

 

              OFFICE ON THE GO

              Use a portable file box to organize literature, client files, brochures, contracts, and catalogs

              when you are traveling on the road. Portable file boxes are great for taking along when you

              are exhibiting or participating in a trade show. Once you have a system in place, you won’t

              waste valuable time searching through piles of paper. HBM

 

 

              Janet Taylor is President and Owner of Totally Organized, a professional organizing

              service that helps clients save time and money. For more information about how they can

              help you contact: Totally Organized, P. O. Box 54091, Philadelphia, PA 19105-4091,

              (215)229-7232 phone/fax. E-mail :TOrganized@aol.com