Is it Hot, Warm, Cold Office?

No, I am not talking about the temperature ladies. I am talking about organizing your desk and office.  As you all know, I am HUGE fan of JulieAnn Jones from her party tips to how to get into the ZONE in your office.

I mean who wouldn't want an office like this:

I still aspire to have my office looking like this but it is getting there.  One of things that JulieAnn suggests is to take EVERYTHING out of your office and slowly put it back in based on the zones.  As for me, I have done sections but not everything. 

Here are some great tips from Julie Ann on how to "Get Organized and Take Back Your Life":

• Hot Zone items are the items used on at least a weekly basis.  Make a list of the items you know will reside in your hot zone.  These things should be in arm's reach.  Let's be realistic and HONEST!  Are we a desk hoarder or do we really need everything that is in arm's reach?  I mean if you aren't posting your expenses weekly, do you really need a box on your desk to remind you that it needs to be done?  
• Warm Zone items are used less frequently.  These are often reference items that you need on a consistent basis but not always on a daily or weekly basis.  Place them on a shelf where you can see them if you need them but they are cluttering up your desk or hot zone.
• Cold Zone items are things you never reference but need to have access to for a period of time.  These are basically those archived items and should be moved OUT of the office and stored someplace (like the garage or basement). 

The easiest place for me to start was with the cold zone - moving out those things that I don't use or need.  WOW!  It is amazing how much room you have when you move those boxes that are stacked in the corner or clean out those files.  Maybe you don't need more filing cabinets, you just need to clean out the ones that you have.  What is the old saying - if you haven't used it in 6 months or more, toss it or store it? 

Maybe you won't get your dream office today BUT what you could have is a clear desk so that you can work without constantly moving papers or things that you don't need.  Love some of the organizational ideas in the pictures - let's do a "product experience".  I bring the products and we TRY them in your office or work space.  Let's see if I can help you with your vision for your office.

Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Organized Diva or Hot Mess?

Over the last few weeks, I have been working on a business plan where the FIRST question that they asked is "What are you selling?".  For those of us in direct sales, that seems like a no-brainer, right?  We give the pat answer of what our company sells and if people have heard of the company, they have an already pre-conceived notion about your products. 

What if you were to change that up slightly?  Here is my answer to that same question:

I CELEBRATE, ENCOURAGE & REWARD hard-working women with simple solutions to life’s organizational challenges while offering them an opportunity to reach for their dreams personally or financially.

Now, I have changed the perception from "just purses" to something that may be a little bit more appealing to everyone.  

So, in an effort to provide simple solutions - here is my first "organizational tip" - 10 minutes a day to DE-CLUTTER.

   

I know you are wondering what 10 minutes a day can do, right?  Pick a spot that needs to be organized - a drawer, a closet, a corner of the room - I will talk about the desk in your office tomorrow.  Clean out the junk drawer in the kitchen - it is amazing how completing one small project can give you a sense of accomplishment AND feeling of knowing where things are when you need them.  You can read more about the Declutter Challenge on The Peacefulmom.com.  She writes about saving money, getting organized and enjoying life.  

 What about the linen closet?  I know, the door is closed and no one sees it, right?  Wouldn't it be nice if you could open the door and find ANYTHING you wanted?  Better yet, wouldn't it be nice if the kids or hubby opened the doors and didn't yell for you because THEY couldn't find something?  

What is your vision of organized in your home?  Let me help you with that vision so that you are not a HOT MESS but the envy of friends and family who want to be organized - like you!

I would love to have you share YOUR organizational tips.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!

Essential Direct Sales Skills

When I share my "why" at parties, I always say that I never did direct sales before but the truth is I was a kit-napper.  I joined direct sales companies for the kit and the discounts then when the shopping bug for that product died - I found another company or just went shopping the traditional way - in a store!  As I have shared before, I started with my current direct sales company as a hobby - for my love of the product which meant discounts.  Somewhere in the back of my mind, I thought "Maybe I could sell this" but it took some time before I actually thought of it as a business.  

I came across a blog called "3 essential skills that Women Lack in Direct Sales" and began thinking about my own journey in the direct selling world.  The three skills that the writer talks about are computer skills, organizational skills and branding skills.    

Computer skills are more than just Facebook and email and should include some other applications like excel, power point and word/ publisher.  This was an easy one for me and I think for most women today.  As a mom, we need to be a little tech savvy to monitor what our children are doing on the computer.  If you have worked outside of the home at all, in all likelihood computers are involved in some aspect of your job.  I have found that many of the direct sales companies have forms, tracking mechanisms, etc. that can be downloaded and used.  An important skill but one that can be learned with a little bit of help.

Organizational skills - so for me this is an ongoing challenge.  I look back at the days when I was crazy busy: working a 40 - 50 hour work week, commuting 1 1/2 hours round-trip to work, single mom with a daughter who had a passion for competitive sports (gymnastics, field hockey, all-star cheerleader) outside of school and a craft business on the side which included making and selling American Girl doll clothes.  Of course I am organized, right?  The busier I am the more organized I am - the more time I have, the harder it is for me to be organized.  Seems kind of crazy but I keep thinking that I can do that later then later doesn't come.  I work best under pressure or deadlines which is not always good for my personal business.  I had a system that kept everything going.  As I moved into Leadership in Direct Sales, I have found it difficult to find a system that works for me to keep everything going.  Probably not the best thing to share with any potential recruit but I believe in being honest - you need to find a system that works in order to incorporate your business into your life.  On the outside, I am organized, supportive and a growing leader.  In my office - I am a hot mess.  I can find things quickly and respond to requests in a timely manner but it looks like a mess.  Something that I am working on.

Branding skills - this was a new one for me.  Branding to me was ONE of these titles: Belinda's mom, COO for Bethel, Social Worker, Bag Lady when in reality I was all of these things.  I often wonder how people see me?  I know that they see me differently than I see myself just by the comments, requests and questions that I get on a regular basis.  I am learning to incorporate all of those things in my brand which I hope will be a "motivator for women".  Thank you Vanessa Coppes for teaching me about branding.  I thought I had to wait to brand myself until I reached a specific level in my direct sales company but the truth is I can start NOW when I am a Director.  I guess I really started when I was a Consultant and was drawing recruits in without even trying to find them.

I don't claim to be an expert in any of these areas but I am growing.  When I don't know something, I ask.  As women, we already have many of the skills necessary to have a successful direct sales business.  I used to tell recovering, struggling addicts to take the skills that they used on the streets to sell and do drugs then apply it in a positive way to change your life.  In essence that is what each of us have to do with the skills that have - learn how to translate them into something that will help us in our business.  Not sure how to do this, ask someone how they see you?  You may be pleasantly surprised by their response.

Would love to hear about your organizational systems?  Please feel free to share you ideas.  Have a ThirtyOne-derful day!