Don't Let Disorder Mess Up Your Plans

Proverbs 16:9- In his heart a man plans his course,
but the LORD determines his steps.
Proverbs 15:22- Plans fail for lack of counsel,
but with many advisers they succeed.

Everyone wants to know a better way that they could get through their various tasks for the day, and have everything work in their favor. Many people say, “If I just had a few more hours in a day, I could get more things done.” Well, as we know there’s only 24 hours in a day. From sun up to sun down, we labor to get all of our priorities met. But sometimes we are left with more clutter than when we started.

My good friend and advisor, Pam Perry from Ministry Marketing Solutions, has provided a wonderful article that I would like to share that gives tips to organizing your life and business, the Jiu Jitsu way. I hope you find some of them to be empowering and proactive in your life!

Great article on Jiu Jitsu Business Systems

My computer consultant was at my office last week optimizing my Macbook for my next business trip. Opening up my email, he said: “OMG, your inbox is clean!” Then he looked around my office. ”Are you really this organized?” I am.

Stuff is distracting. If your office and inbox are overflowing and you don’t like it anymore, keep it clean with these five Jiu Jitsu moves:

1. Start with a clean slate every day (clean inbox, clean office, clean desk). If you need help getting to ground zero, bring in an office organizer to help you catch up and put systems in place.

2. Set aside the last hour of your workday for planning. Write down three high payoff actions you’ll complete tomorrow and pull out any documents you’ll need. Then clear off your desk. Don’t just stuff it in drawers, put it away so you can put your hands on exactly what you want when you want it.

3. Set only 3 phone appointments each day. Leave the rest of your day for emails, return calls and working on your biz. If possible, do the high payoff actions first thing in the day. That way you’ll feel good about what you accomplished every day.

4. Download your email once in the morning, once at noon, once before planning hour. If you’re waiting for something urgent, look for that email more often but leave the rest for later. When you do focus on email, aim to reply to or delete everything. Be ruthless. Good intentions only last for so long. If you have to keep an email for later, put it in a Pending folder in your email program and set a time to go back and clear the pending emails each week.

5. Have one day each week set aside for outside-the-office appointments. Tuesdays are my day for the doctor, dentist, massage, etc. Cluster appointments whenever possible.