Follow Up: Friend or Foe

     As a businessowner, when you hear the term "follow-up" what immediately comes to your mind?  Right, getting on the phone or sending an email to a prospective client that you just met at a networking event or maybe a referral sent to you by somebody you already know.   While we always welcome new business and the great journey it will lead us on, it is common to say that most businessowners shudder when they are faced with the task of following up.

Studies show that many of us in business, well, let's face it......WE DON'T LIKE TO FOLLOW UP.  There, it's out in the open.  Moreover, many of us don't take follow up seriously and allow the task to fall to the wayside.  Sometimes, we even hope that people that we have just met will actually pick up the phone and call us to follow up before we have a chance to initiate the act.

So, herein lies the question... why do we generally loathe following up?   Because, the bottom line is many of us have a fear of rejection. (gasp) Yes, that is the REAL reason why many businessowners do not follow up.  Sure, there will be one phone call or maybe even two and that later will be followed by an email but after that, no more.   Generally, the very thought of being hung up on is a tough pill to swallow and if we trick ourselves into believing that the caller on the other end will hang up on us, then there is a seed of a pre-conceived act planted in the mind.  Owners are afraid that they will hear these words... "No thank you." or "I'm no longer interested in your products/services."    This is an inner dialogue that has been created even before the task is performed.

Don't allow the fear of following up hinder your advancement in your business.   The simple act of picking up the phone may have you trembling and nervous but once you make one phone call, you'll begin to feel more confident that you made the effort.

Create a New Career

As we slowly approach 2011 coming to an end, many people are still faced with the fact that they are unemployed.  It's a scary situation to find yourself in, especially when other members in your family depend on you to provide their basic needs.   While some people are so fortunate to have a steady paycheck coming in from a major corporation, there's still the fear of cut backs and lay offs that could come in the future.

With the new year right around the corner, many Americans are seeking to be gainfully employed, earning enough money to keep them floating above water.  With this being a major factor in today's society, some people want to reinvent themselves but really don't have an idea where they should start.

Virtually Savvvy is proud to introduce a new training program coming January 2012.  You can learn how to become a virtual assistant along side creating your own business in the comfort of your own home.  Our training program is designed to teach people how to jump start a business with basic business principles and free resources.

This program will lend the opportunity for future entrepreneurs to begin building an empire that is designed to meet the needs of various professionals in the business world.  

Stay tuned for more information in the month December.

Coming in 2012

Maintaining An Organized Home Office - Pt 3

We have made it to the final stretch of our three part series on Maintaining An Organized Home Office.
Before we complete our final step, let's take a moment to review the process of keeping your home office organized and clutter free.

The first step is make sure you have enough work space to accomplish your daily duties.  Remember, having an environment that allows you to be productive is important which means having a designated space to work.  Be sure to place your work materials in storage bins in order to easily retrieve the items you need.   Next, acquire a multifunctional piece of furniture that will allow you to perform.  Having a desk or simple table that will suit your needs ranks high on the performance list and make sure that you have intergrated your home office in a room crafted especially for you.

The final step in maintaining an organized home office is making sure that it properly serves its purpose for the person using the space most...YOU!   While there is no right or wrong way to design a home office, there is a way to keep it neat, clean and clear from chasos.    Here are a few tips to keeping your environment clutter free:

1. Keep your supplies in easy to reach organizational bins.   Paper clips, writing instruments, scissors, etc should be housed neatly together for quick access.  Remember, when you are finished using one or more items, put them back in the respective place.
2. If your desk top does not have drawers or compartments, be sure to keep your working items in matching storage boxes with labels.
3. Want to furnish your office without breaking your budget?  Not a problem, search other rooms in your home to see what can be used in your office such as old jam jars (great keeping paper and binder clips organized), utensil holders (serves as a great home to writing instruments, staplers, scissors, etc.)coffee mugs or rubber maid storage containers.

 The last important factor is having a great home office is having a great desk chair.  Make sure the chair is comfortable and offers great support to your back as it should be adjustable to be in sync with your desk.


Now, you have been properly equipped with all of the tools you need to keep your home office clear and clutter free.  Always keep in mind that as a business owner, it's important to keep your area clean, neat and ready to accomplish tasks.  The ultimate goal is to reduce the stress in your life because after all, a stressful work environment creates a mental block and that's what you are striving for.


Happy organizing



A stress free work environment



Maintaining An Organized Home Office - Part 2

Greetings to all of my Readers:

Today is Part 2 of Maintainig An Organized Home Office and I will be sharing two more steps with you on how to keep your office clutter free.

Step 3 - acquire an adequate work space for yourself.  You may not have a "desk" per say but why not be creative and search for a piece of furniture that will serve as a desk especially for you?   Here are a few examples:

 The armoire is a prime example of how an ordinary piece of furniture can be transformed into a work area thart allows the owner to utilize storage space to it's fullest. Small organizational bins, compartments located underneath the keyboard drawer...this space screams "controlled environment."    The white desk or unit simply appears to be an organizational shelf that may be found in a corporate office but it was (carefully) mounted on wood to create a desk.   There again using all of the space to it's full advantage, these creative desk allow room for calm, peace and productivity.


  

Cool Desk




 




Armoire

  Step 4:  Intergrate your work area into another room in residence.  If there is not a designated room for a home office, then use your imagination and create one, especially for you.  Take a look around in each room and think about where you can set up a small enough space to call your home office; maybe it would be the kitchen, or a corner in the dining room or even in your living room.    When using this method, be sure to seek out multifunctional pieces (as shown above)  that will be condusive to the room where your new work area will be.

Making use on adequate space in any room will allow you peace of mind to know that you have created a work environment of your own.

Maintaining An Organized Home Office - Part 1



Organized Chasos???














Happy Monday to all of my followers.

Let's talk about organized chasos and how does it make you feel?
Now, most people will say "I work better if my environment is messy..."  Well, contrary to what they may think and feel, it's not true.  Studies show that a person is not able to function 100% mentally if their environment is messy or disorganized. Trying to function in a work space that is cluttered and messy causes stress, anxiety and most of all, frustration.  How many times has your desk been a total mess and you get upset because you can't find a pen, or a small post it note with vital information on it? 

Today we are going to focus on what it takes to maintain an organized home office and we are going to use the picture above as an example on how to get rid of clutter and chasos.

Step 1 - allow yourself enough work space to accomplish your daily duties, such as working at your computer, making phone calls or simply sitting at the desk and writing or reading.   While these tasks may seem small and may not require much work space, you'd be surprised at how your brain will shut down when you are unable to complete these duties.

Step 2 - Place all of your work material in storage bins.  If you refer back to the picture above, this desk has plenty of space for storage including drawers.  If you have a fairly large desk, it will be in your best interest to utilize all of space to it's maximum capacity.  For example, if you have drawers, use hanging file folders to keep important paperwork handy.  Compartments should be used to house reading books, materials and other literary items that are currently being used.   In retrospect, the only thing the desktop should be used for is (1) keep your computer (2) your desk phone and (3) the current supplies and/or items needed to complete the task at hand.  Everything that is not being used should be tucked away in it's own space.

Don't allow your unorganized chasos to get the best of you.   Maintaining a healthy work environment allows more room for productivity.

Happy Organizing

Home Office Organization

Happy Monday and Happy Halloween!

If you are a small business owner/entrepreneur and you work from home, is your work environment conducive to your needs?  Do you have enough work space to accomplish your daily tasks?  Are you trapped in a clutter filled box and it's creating a mental blockage for you?

Home office organization is very important for those business owners who work from home.  The area where you work at should always be kept tidy and in order so that you are able to retrieve things easily without stressing yourself out.   This week I will be sharing 6 steps to Maintaining an Organized Office in your home.

After all, being organized and stress free is all a part of being productive.