Everyday a new business will be started. The dream of entrepreneurship becomes a reality
and freedom begins to ring in the ears of the much anticipated launch.

Although the majority of business owners would like to quit their day job, finances, health insurance and other factors take priority causing the business owner to stay on their day job longer than expected.

Meet Tai Goodwin – Editor-in-Chief of Launch While Working, the official online magazine for Employedpreneurs.
Tai provides support for the ever growing community of employed entrepreneurs.

Visit her online magazine at www.launchwhileworking.com

~~~~

10 Organization Tips for Part-time Business Owners

By Tai Goodwin

This one is for all of the time-strapped employedpreneurs – oh wait that’s most of us. Even though we don’t have to do it all – we do have to learn how to manage it all: work, life, part-time business. Poor time management means we will be inefficient in the tasks required for launching our part-time business. The more efficient we are, the more profitable our business will be, and the sooner we can transition from employedpreneur to full-time entrepreneur.

What’s the problem?

Maybe your day job is  too difficult or unsuitable which makes it a drain on your energy and confidence. Or maybe you are not making good use of the time you have for your part-time business (is there something you need to outsource?). At the core of most time management issues is a problem with organization. Becoming more organized can make you more efficient and productive which both open the door to better time management. Being well organized takes lots of time and effort and there is a lot to remember but the return on the investment is worth it: The more organized you are the more time you will have for your part-time business, to take care yourself and your other responsibilities without feeling overwhelmed or stressed out.

Here are ten tips to help you become better organized:

1. Write things down. With so many details to remember on any given day it can be overwhelming to try to keep it all in a memory bank. When you remember that something needs to be done write it down as soon as you can in a to-do list.
2. Use on-line organizers. Two great on-line tools are Toodle-do and Remember the Milk. In addition to being online they can be accessed and synced through your mobile devices.
3. Set-up email reminders. There are many good and free e-mail reminder services available. You can type in what you want to remember, such as a welcome party, anniversary or special event, and you will receive an e-mail reminder when the date is approaching. This is a terrific way to keep tasks fresh in your memory.
4. Use sticky notes. Sticky notes like Post-its from 3M are amazing as memory helpers. Write your tasks down and post it highly visible spots at home or at work. The bright, neon colors will be great to catch your eye as you are leaving. You will not likely miss it! Need to make an urgent call first thing in the morning? Leave a Post-It Note on your telephone.
5. Keep it all in one place. Whatever method you choose, make sure you are consistent in where you keep your list. Having things listed in one place keeps you from spending valuable time searching for your notes.
6. Deal with items only once: Handle each letter and email as soon as they come in.  Whatever it is read it and file it, redirect it to somewhere else, schedule it in your day planner or toss it. This will keep you from creating a never-ending pile on your desk in hopes that you will get to it eventually.
7. Use timers and alarms. Take advantage of alarm clocks and timers throughout your day. Have to take the clothes out of the dryer by 12 noon? Set your alarm clock to remind you. Want to leave for the ladies luncheon by 7 p.m.? Set your timer to beep a few minutes before it is time to start to get ready.
8. Be confident in yourself. If you keep saying you have a bad memory, you will continue to have a bad memory. Use affirmations and self-talk to drown out the negative messages that keep you believing that you can’t do what it takes to become organized.
9. Stay healthy. Eat healthy; get plenty of rest and lots of good exercise. These will enable you to have better memory, stay focused and be alert. And it’s not just your physical health you want to pay attention to – your emotional health can contribute to how organized or disorganized you are.
10. Establish a good routine. Having a structured routine helps you plan your time. Use a planner or journal daily and be sure to schedule time for yourself. Stick with your new routine and you will find you will be happier and with much less stress.

You can become better organized: It starts with changing your attitude, then adjusting your habits. From there establish and implement your plan. Over time, evaluate your daily routine, examine your findings and make revisions to your plan until it works for you. Commit and stick to your plan and eventually you will organized for efficiency.

~~~