Organizing Yourself to Succeed

Patti WaterburyCreative Growth Strategies, Inc.

© 2010 Patti Waterbury www.pattiwaterbury.com

Organizing Yourself to Succeed

You will learn how to: • Motivate yourself (to do even what you don’t really

want to do) • Organize information flow so you stop wasting time • Avoid distractions that lower your productivity• Stop procrastinating • Fully leverage your talent and skills

Motivate Yourself (to do even what you don’t really want to do)

• Decide what you want– Get clear on the what and the how will take

care of itself• Focus on your passion

– Enthusiasm (entheos in Greek) – to be filled with spirit

• Live “on purpose” - reconnect what you do with your higher purpose – “What is my why? What is the ultimate

goal?”• Align your life and business goals

– “Am I doing what I love to do?”

Organize Information Flow (so you stop wasting time)

Create a productive work environment in your office with systems

• Design your vision – what do you want it to look like? How does it make you feel? What would you be able to do if it were in place?

• What is stopping me? (space, clutter, resources, etc.)• Commit your resources to improve • Select your tools • Implement for min of 3 weeks

Information flow

Decide whether to file, act, toss • If you aren’t sure, ask…– do I need to take action? – Is it legal / tax related?– How difficult would it be to find again?

• Calendar – copy / paste between task, calendar, and email– Color code calendar

• Contact Management

Information flow

• Action files – By date – use tickler files

(1-31 & Jan – Dec)– Recurring (calls, waiting for

response)– Topic or project

• Reference files– For physical & electronic

files, if you can’t find it, it has no value

– Types of files• Business• Personal• Archive - keep a (tax, legal,

completed projects) – Ways to organize

• Alphabetical (category, name,)

• Numerical (phone, client, • Index system ( platform,

spreadsheet, index)

Avoid Distractions that Lower Your Productivity

• Finish one thing before you start something else – failing to complete robs you of valuable attention

• Use a timer to raise your awareness of your productivity

• Identify what issues are getting in the way – where systems and structures are needed to manage an area

• Say NO to the good things to protect your time for implementing the best opportunities

• Do NOT multi-task

Stop Procrastinating

• Identify your fear – failure, success• Break projects down• Get an accountability partner to check in

with on a daily or weekly basis • Create smart goals• Identify the “next thing” you must do and

get it done• Leverage resources to do what you are not

good at or do not want to do• Prioritize your calendar – free time first,

then revenue generating projects • Regain control of your thoughts and

behavior…make it intentional

Fully Leverage Your Talent and Skills

• Every outcome we experience is the result of how we have responded (our actions or inaction) to earlier events

• Take responsibility for your choices – what you think, images you visualize, actions you take (behavior)

• Know and play to your strengths • Do most important tasks during your peak

productivity time• Pay attention to the results you are producing –

results don’t lie

Next Time:

Structuring your Business for Success

• Your responsibilities as a leader and manager• Critical components of any organization• Sequential steps to designing an effective

organization • How to determine what to outsource