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Kick the Procrastination Habit

"I'll get to it–when I get a chance." You know what that means, don't you? You'll never get to it! Here are 8 simple ways to kick the procrastination habit and start getting things done.

  1. BREAK IT DOWN. Seem overwhelming? Don't look at everything as one big project. Break goals, projects or tasks down into small parts. Assign a specific deadline (date and time) to each part.

  2. WRITE IT DOWN. Make it official by recording on paper, what needs to be done. When it's written down, it's more concrete, and there's a greater chance you'll start and complete it.

  3. TELL SOMEONE. Tell a friend, associate or loved one what your plans are. Discuss decisions that need to be made with others. Ask a friend or associate for some ongoing motivation. Sometimes an outside perspective may be all you need to get started.

  4. SCHEDULE. Establish a regular time each day to work on your goal, project or task.

  5. USE PROPER TOOLS. Organize your environment, complete with the tools you need, so it is conducive to working.

  6. POST REMINDERS. Keep your goals in front of you. Post reminders of your goals and deadlines where you can constantly see them.

  7. I'LL ONLY DO THIS, IF I COMPLETE . . . Make something you normally do and enjoy contingent upon doing the avoided task. For example: "I will not watch my favorite television program until I complete Part A of my project." — By the way, no fair cheating!! 🙂

  8. SET REWARDS. Set rewards for your ultimate goals and mini-goals. You'll constantly have something enjoyable to look forward to.

_____About the Author______________
by Maria Gracia – Get Organized Now!
http://www.getorganizednow.com


Visit Maria's Get Organized Now! website for lots of tips, tools and ideas to help you get better organized, plus a FREE Idea-Pak and Newsletter!

Updating Your Resume: Create an Historical Perspective

Okay, maybe you're doing just great in that job, and the last thing on your mind is thinking about where you want to go next. For most of us, we forget we even have a resume until the realization of needing to look for new employment is thrust upon us – whether through an unpleasant work environment or experience, or because a new opportunity gets us thinking that maybe there's more out there…

Given how quickly things are moving today, wouldn't it be nice to have your resume ready the next time you discovered a place to share it? At least you can have the pieces updated so it's easier to put together and send off.

The basis of every good resume is a full and complete history. If you haven't already done so, take the time to create an historical perspective by listing everything you've ever done – volunteer or paid. Include the duration of the job or activity, the time basis (full time, and percentage of full time), and the major duties – as well as the traditional who, when and where. Someplace you should also identify the major skills you used as you performed the duties. This is important because it allows you to begin grouping your history into functions rather than just by employers.

And why is that important? Because skills are transferable. Being able to type on a typewriter transfers fairly easily to keyboarding skills on a computer. Interviewing authors transfers easily to interviewing clients. Scheduling rooms transfers to scheduling workers. Project management is project management. You get the idea.

And as you group your employment history into functions you will begin to see patterns – patterns that can help you recognize what you are good at and what you enjoy doing.

Another part of your history should include specific accomplishments. For instance, when I was working as a Training Manager, I was responsible for bringing in $500,000 each year, at an 85% profit level. And that was 25% of the company's gross income. As you can tell, the training function provided a LOT of capital for the other functions in the company. A prospective employer would understand that I know what to do to generate revenue – with high profitability.

As you look over the resume that got you your current job, think about the things you are currently doing that are not yet reflected there. Add the duties, the skills and especially the accomplishments to your historical perspective. Keep the history as a separate document and continue to add to it over time. And consider setting up a regular update schedule so you're not scrambling the next time you need to send one out. A little preparation in advance could give you the advantage that gets you the job!

© 1999 Katie Darden

10 Ideas to Help You Remember Better

  1. WRITE IT DOWN:
    With the amount of things you have to remember in any given day, why should you try to stuff it all into your memory bank? When you want to remember something, the very best thing to do is write it down. Then, when you need to recall it, it will be there for you in an instant.
  2. KEEP IT TOGETHER:
    When you write down things you want to remember, keep them in one consistent place. Otherwise, you're going to spend a lot of time looking for your notes. TIP: The New Get Organized Now! Easy Organizer makes remembering everything a breeze!
  3. GOOD HEALTH:
    Eat healthy foods, get enough sleep, and exercise. These are all important for your memory, staying focused and being alert.
  4. RECORD YOUR THOUGHTS:
    Sometimes you might want to remember something, but it's impossible for you to write it down, such as when you're driving. A little hand held tape recorder is a wonderful gadget to carry around with you and record your thoughts, or your parking space number, or a phone number you see on a billboard.
  5. CALL YOURSELF:
    If you're at the office, and you want to do something when you arrive home, call your answering machine and leave yourself a message. When you get home, you'll listen to your message and remember exactly what you wanted to do.
  6. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF:
    If you keep saying you have a bad memory, you'll probably continue to have a bad memory. It's important to have a motivated, I CAN remember attitude.
  7. E-MAIL REMINDERS:
    There are many free e-mail reminder services available. You simply type in what you want to remember, such as a birthday, anniversary or event, and you then receive an e-mail reminder when the date is approaching. Try http://www.calendar.yahoo.com
  8. POST-IT NOTES:
    Those wonderful, little sticky notes can be amazing memory helpers. Want to remember something before you leave the house? Jot it down on a Post-It Note and stick it on the inside of your door. You'll be sure to see it as you're getting ready to walk out. Have to make an urgent call first thing in the morning? Leave a Post-It Note on your telephone.
  9. TIMERS AND ALARMS:
    Take advantage of alarm clocks and timers throughout the day. Have to take the clothes out of the wash at 3:00? Set your alarm clock to remind you. Want to leave for the basketball game by 6:15? Set your timer to beep a few minutes before.
  10. VISUAL REMINDERS:
    Visual reminders can help you remember and focus. I especially like visual reminders for remembering your goals. If your goal is to take a trip to a beautiful island in a few years, keep a magazine photograph of the island right on your desk. If your goal is to own your own business one day, find a picture or ornament that will help remind you of this goal each day.

    _____About the Author______________
    by Maria Gracia – Get Organized Now!
    ============================
    If you liked this article on having a better memory,  visit Maria's Get Organized Now! website for lots of tips, tools and ideas to help you get better organized, plus a FREE Idea-Pak and Newsletter!

Refresh Your Business Plan

When is the last time you reviewed your business plan? Do you even HAVE a business plan? Many businesses sprout from someone's "good idea", by an entrepreneur who either didn't know about business plans, or simply didn't have the time to complete one.

While the idea of a business plan may seem overwhelming at first, many businesses end up hitting that wall when it's time to expand or they need financing. Anyone who wishes to attract funding quickly understands that without a business plan, commercial lenders won't even talk with you.

Yet business plans serve a much larger purpose, too. They allow the owner to really understand their business. Developing the plan requires a certain amount of research into the general industry as well as the business itself. Delving into the intricacies can give the business owner a new perspective on what's working and what needs to be improved in their own business. It also helps identify new or unexplored trends in the industry. New ideas and possibilities pop up when you are clear about what works.

There are several good software packages that can help you develop your business plan or you can simply start with a good business plan outline of categories and "fill-in-the-blanks". Either way you will be broadening your understanding of what's possible and probable in your business.

The approach we've taken in most of our "Writing a Business Plan" classes has been to divide the traditional plan into individual parts and focus on each section in turn. Even with the focus and group interaction, few participants were able to complete more than 60-75% of their plans by the end of the 7-10 sessions. Recently, however, I've come across a wonderful new book that takes a slightly different approach.

Using Jim Horan's "One Page Business Plan", I've been able to help one of my coaching clients complete her initial draft of a viable plan in three sessions. Jim Horan is a San Francisco Bay Area small business expert who has taken the complexity of business plans and demystified the process. My client had already done some work on vision and mission, and had a fairly clear idea about what she wanted to create, but she seemed stuck as she struggled to complete the formal business plan.

Jim's book offers several interactive exercises that are more interesting and enjoyable than straight research. The exercises are designed to get you thinking about key elements of your business, from vision and mission through strategies and plans. All the elements are still there, but with the One Page Business Plan(sm) they are simplified down to their essence.

Having the resulting business plan on a single page helps the business owner focus on the essentials of what will make the business work, rather than getting trapped in the verbage that makes up a more traditional plan. And it provides a document that can start the dialogue with bankers or venture capitalists.

My client's response to the One Page Business Plan? Now she's excited about her business again – she sees that it's doable, she has specific milestones to aim for, and best of all, a plan that will help her focus!

Whatever your approach, taking the time to develop your plan more fully will help you refocuse on your strengths and remember your vision. Whether you are starting a new business or expanding an existing one, a well thought-out business plan will add to your success.

_____For More Information_____
Contact the Career Life Institute to find out more about small business coaching, our Biz Plan In a Week Program and other upcoming classes.

©2000 Katie Darden, Career Life Institute

This book is available at Amazon.com. Click below to find out more:

The One Page Business Plan – Start with a Vision, Build a Company
– James T. Horan, Jr.