Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

I`m sure everyone has sung this tune or has heard this tune. I`m an beggining entrepreneurial. I`m doing about a bazillion things to launch my business. How do you all keep it organized.?

I have files and that`s all well and good but I`m starting to get interest from people who may become clients. As a consultant/ game developer/everything else: time is a limited resource. So before I do anything (accept offers and the like) I`m trying to get organized now. So my question is how do/did you all determine was the most important thing?

How did you balance planning/organizing a business while entertaining potential customers?

I guess the biggest question is how did you determine what was the best way to spend your time?


-------------------------

Follow the journey of Marvin Hawkins Visual Concepts and Nothing Like It Games at http://gamerdeveloper.blogspot.com/

This is never ending battle for many business people. My best approach to your questions are to get an organizer. Your customers are the number one priority. As far as paperwork, you need to do it before you go out to meet with clients. Instead of waking up at the time you do now, you may want to wake up much earlier to do paperwork. People are most functionable in the morning anyways. I would invest in a mobile filing system, so you could speak with clients about your product.

The best way to spend your time is efficiently.  Prioritze what things are most important to the success of your business.  I agree getting organized is primary, but you can become to hyper focused on it.  Look at your skills, some of your paperwork could be done by someone else that is skilled at filing, etc.  As your business grows rapidly it gets more and more difficult to keep it together.  If you need a good business program Quickbooks works for many businesses.  My accountant also helped me set up a daily routine to help me identify what information I needed to keep and how to keep it.  I only file weekly and do it while I`m watching or listening to Tony Robbins CD`s.  That way your able to kill two birds with one stone as they say.  Good luck!

-------------------------

Helping Businesses On The Grow
http://www.aliciarobertsco.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/aliciaroberts

I have 2 huge whiteboard, dry erase markers in 8 colors, and an incredible brain for memorizing 5 million things in a day. 

And I also do this every day.

I think to not only write all my daily tasks on the board but to put NUMBERS (priorities) on everything is important. I also stick due dates on all the projects so I see them right in front of me. It`s a must when I have 12 projects on the board right now!




-------------------------

That PHP Girl
Small Business Essentials
Latest Post on SUN: New Facebook Pages - First Impressions

I think everyone is terrific at making lists. :-) We all know how to do it, and we have all kinds of ways to make lists.

The real problem isn`t making lists. It`s FINDING whatever`s on a list! In many cases, it`s finding the damn list itself!

Explore many software packages, Post-It notes, dayplanner systems. Choose ONE. Then stick with that one only. If you somehow can`t put something into the system you`ve chosen, either you shouldn`t be doing that, or you chose the wrong system.

A good filing system is fundamental. When you get a new client, right away start a manilla folder. Whatever happens with that client, a copy goes in the file. You can index the files on a computer, so you know when to move a folder to the basement. But keep the computer index current.

Beyond that, have regular business hours. Don`t just talk on the phone "whenever."

Manilla folders? Who keeps papers?

We`re all digital, baby.
I even scan the papers I don`t want to lose, like my receipts.


-------------------------

That PHP Girl
Small Business Essentials
Latest Post on SUN: New Facebook Pages - First Impressions

Scanned paper and something to track all that paper might work for lots of people. I`ve found it easier to just do the manilla folders.

The point is to have 1 filing system that works for you, and 1 planning/organization system that works for you. Not ten different systems that add more clutter than organization. :-)

Of course an even better idea is to have an office manager who organizes everything and *tells* you what you have to do next! LOL!

I use a web app called Backpack which allows me to create separate pages
for different projects, or parts of projects. On each page, you can have
notes, lists with checkboxes, upload files and images, include links, or
nearly whatever you want. It also includes a calendar with mobile or
email reminders. And one of my favorite features are the Writeboards,
which is sort of a digital version of a whiteboard. You can share
Writeboards if you want with someone else to collaborate on projects.
You can choose to share those or any of the pages with anyone via the
web.

I use it to organize my art business, my upcoming web business, my
camping trailer business, my life plan and even stuff like auto repairs (I
drive a 1967).

The company, 37 Signals, makes a few
other web apps for business management. I`ve used Basecamp before as
well and it`s a good one. They have a new one coming soon for tracking
clients and leads. Looks promising. I highly recommend checking them
out.

-------------------------

Home Sweetest Home - Poster-Style Home Portraits
Zingerding - the Internet`s Funny Pages (coming soon!)

Steve Lowtwa

Oh you just like the "camp" theme. 

I use a program for my mac called ibiz that lets me track files to projects.


-------------------------

That PHP Girl
Small Business Essentials
Latest Post on SUN: New Facebook Pages - First Impressions

I won`t pretend the names do not resonate with me. :)

iBiz looks cool but I don`t charge by time. Though iBank looks like
something I might check out more. Thanks for the tip, Nikole!

-------------------------

Home Sweetest Home - Poster-Style Home Portraits
Zingerding - the Internet`s Funny Pages (coming soon!)

Steve Lowtwa