Back to School Lessons for Your Business - Part 1

The back-to-school season, recently upon us got us thinking - what can we learn from school that we can apply to our business: As kids across the nation were sharpening their pencils and packing their lunch boxes as they readied for the first day of classes, they were dong what we used to but have forgotten. The academic season isn't just for kids though; business owners can take away valuable tips from students.

Whether you're a kindergartener (new business owner) or college student (established entrepreneur), these tips will help you get your business ready for a new year of success.

Time to Buy School Supplies

Many entrepreneurs are bootstrapping their business, making do with as small a capital outlay as possible. While not spending yourself into a hole is wise, refusing to invest when you need to can cause problems, too.Many entrepreneurs are bootstrapping their business, making do with as small a capital outlay as possible. While not spending yourself into a hole is wise, refusing to invest when you need to can cause problems, too.
Particularly in the area of technology, it's critical to have the tools you need to get the job done.

Just as you can't complete your trigonometry homework without the right calculator, you can't keep things in your business flowing if you don't have the right stuff. The main areas you want to look at are:

• hardware
• software
• business and office supplies.

In the area of hardware, today's desktop and laptop computers have advanced to the level that you could likely run a small country from a laptop or iPad. That's not to say that you need an iPad, or even a laptop. In fact, as long as you have a PC or Mac, a printer, and dependable internet access, you've got the basics covered.

You may also want to look at a mobile phone or iPad that will allow you to get online when you're on the road – provided that you do actually head out on the road. If you're strictly desk-bound, skip the portable devices and invest instead in the latest software to help you keep track of your business.

Software comes in a number of flavors. For most small businesses, you'll need:

• A word processing program. Microsoft Office Word is standard, but OpenOffice (available for free online) is a cost-free and versatile option.
• An accounting program. On one end, you can keep track of your budget and spending with a simple spreadsheet. If you want more bells and whistles, try Quicken or QuickBooks.
• A graphic design program. Even if you outsource all your graphic design needs, you still will want the ability to make small adjustments (price, etc.) to your “Buy Now” buttons, easily handled with Photoshop Elements. If you want to be able to design your own pamphlets, brochures, PDFs and more, check out Apple's Pages.
• An offsite backup solution. Could your business survive if it's records were destroyed?       More and more, your business records and vital information are stored on your computer. What would happen ifCould your business survive if it's records were destroyed?       More and more, your business records and vital information are stored on your computer. What would happen if
  your hard drive were corrupted by a virus which overwrote everything? What if it failed mechanically? What if a disaster like a fire, theft, food or tornado occurred? It's a business necessity to backup your data remotely to an external site.

Thanks to "cloud storage" huge amounts of secure, inexpensive disk space are available for storing your data.

Two providers are Amazon and Rackspace. To use those, you'll want to use Carbonite (www.carbonite.com $59 a year flat rate to backup common business files) or Jungle Disk (www.jungledisk.com with pricing as low as $2.00 a month); it charges based how much data you store and has a far more robust set of backup options including complete system imaging options.) Both are simple to install and run invisibly "under the hood," keeping your files automatically updated to the offsite cloud service with no action on your part. Restoring files from these services is simple as well, pretty much a "click to restore" process.

The good news about technology is that it's readily available and relatively inexpensive. The bad news is, the new versions come so fast and furious that no sooner have you invested in the latest and greatest, than you're already obsolete! But before you plunk down your credit card to upgrade, ask yourself:

• Is not having this holding me back?
• What am I hoping to do that I cannot do now?
• How much will it cost me to upgrade?
• If I make this investment, how long until it pays off?
• Do I have the cash to pay for this?

If your answers to the above questions are satisfactory, go ahead and invest. Do your research online to find specials or the best deal, and after you make your purchase, sign up as an affiliate and tell others about your recommendations. That way you can convert your expense into a revenue streamafter you make your purchase, sign up as an affiliate and tell others about your recommendations. That way you can convert your expense into a revenue stream
– and get an “A” in economics!

Clean Out Your Desk

“A Clean Desk Is the Sign of a Sick Mind.”
- plaque seen in gift store

No matter what pithy plaques say to the contrary, every good teacher knows that effective learning starts with a clean slate, a clean desk, and a clean page – and the same is true for business people. According to experts, Americans waste almost 30 minutes a day – 180 hours a year – looking for misplaced items. If your hourly wage is $20, that's $3600 a year!According to experts, Americans waste almost 30 minutes a day – 180 hours a year – looking for misplaced items. If your hourly wage is $20, that's $3600 a year!
I would wager that there are many things you could do with an extra $3600 or 180 hours this year.

One of the first steps to getting organized is eliminating the clutter, and one of the first places you should tackle is your desk. Here's a six-step approach to streamlining your workspace:

1. Set aside some time. The scenario you want to avoid: getting elbow-deep in the organizing process, only to have to dump it all back in the drawers and boxes because you have to stop to finish a report, host a webinar, or pick your kids up from school. While how much time you need will depend on the size of your space (and your mess), a good rule of thumb is an hour for a desk, bookshelf, or file drawer.
2. Pull it all out. Even though it will make a gosh-awful mess, the quickest and easiest way to start your organizing process is to clear out the drawer, shelf, or desktop. Strip it down to the studs and wipe the surface free of dirt, dust, and stray paperclips. Then you'll have a fresh surface to work from.
3. Sort. Sort the items you pulled out into categories, such as paper, writing implements, books, manuals, etc. As you are sorting, toss any obvious offenders, such as scraps of paper, broken items, outdated receipts, etc.
4. Decide. Choose how many of each item you need – pens, blank notebooks, etc. – and then toss, recycle, or give away the rest. Trying to decide what you need to keep? Think about what you have space for, as well as what you're likely to use in a reasonable amount of time. You might have room for seventeen replacement cartridges for your printer, but will you use it all before you upgrade to a new printer?
5. Organize. Replace the items in a logical manner – printing supplies near the printer, business books on a single shelf, computer manuals near the computer, etc. Also think about keeping the most frequently used items in the most accessible place, and less-frequently used items in more remote locales.
6. Maintain. Unfortunately, organizing is not a one-time event; you must set aside regular times to file paperwork, clear the counters, and take out the trash. Even just five minutes at the end of the day is sufficient to keep a handle on pile build-up. rganizing is a great way to start your fall. It will help you get a grip on any new needs you have, as well as remind you of tasks and projects awaiting your attention. You'll be ready to tackle whatever comes your way with a clean desk, and a clean mind.
7. Check Your Back-to-School Clothes. Who doesn't recall that annual excursion to the department or shoe store, searching for the perfect outfit or pair of kicks to start off the school year? And then, on the first day of school, wearing that outfit or shoes put you in the mindset of opening a new chapter in your life. Anything was possible with a new pair of Keds or a brand-spanking-new Le Tigre polo shirt!

When you work from home, you can think that your wardrobe no longer matters. After all, who sees you, sitting behind your keyboard? It might be true that the only person who sees you is your cat and the UPS manWhen you work from home, you can think that your wardrobe no longer matters. After all, who sees you, sitting behind your keyboard? It might be true that the only person who sees you is your cat and the UPS man
, butthere are still a number of reasons to upgrade your wardrobe – or at least make sure your shirt is Spaghettio-free:

• Clothes Make the Man (or Woman). Tom Gunn knows the truth: If you look better, you feel better. It's kind of like taking the time to set a nice table, even if you're dining solo. Putting in the effort to wear clean, flattering clothes, even if you're the only one who will see them, will make you feel better about yourself. And when you feel more confident, you act more confident. That feeling will come across in your emails, your voice, and your decisions.
• You Never Know... You might think that you won't run into anyone worth meeting at Starbucks or while out picking up a bag of dog food. But potential contacts, clients, and referrers are everywhere – even behind you in line at Petco. It's better to be prepared than to be sorry. You'll be a tad hesitant to approach someone, or respond to their overtures, if you're dressed in a stained 49rs t-shirt and a pair of too-tight jeans.
• Put Yourself Out There. If you aren't on YouTube, you should be! And while you don't need movie star good looks, you should at least get out of your pajamas before filming a video to put forth for the world to view.
• There Are Times... Every once in a while, you will need to enter the public eye – at an industry event, a networking get-together, or a trade show. The time to find yourself a few attractive, comfortable outfits is not the day before you get on a plane. There's an unwritten law that the more desperately you need a new pair of pants, the less likely you are to find them.

This isn't to say you need to go out and spend thousands on a closetful of clothes. But you can head to a reasonably priced department store and find a few separates that you can deem your new work wardrobe. You'll feel the impact immediately on your productivity and your self-confidence. backpack or pencil box, go right ahead.