3 Clever Ways Creative Women Entrepreneurs Can Finally Get Organized!
By: kendallcoach | Leave a comment
If you’re a creative woman entrepreneur then chances are good you’ve labeled yourself as someone who just can’t seem to get, or stay, organized. Popping up with new ideas for your business or about how to help people? Easy! Figuring out a filing system or how to get those piles of paper up off your floor? Ugh…well, that’s a different story now, isn’t it?!
What organized people don’t understand about creative souls is that the thought of being organized seems to be in conflict with our creative spirit.
Accurate or not, creative types feel that if everything is neat and tidy then their creativity will be contained as well.
Well, I’m about to bust that myth because I am a both highly creative AND organized woman business owner. In fact, it’s when my papers, email and office are the most organized that I am the most creative.
So how do I keep both ideals—creativity and order—in harmony? The answers are easier than you might think.
Here are three simple tips I use to keep my creative muse inspired and my office organized:
Creative Organizing Tip #1: Make Space
Creativity requires space. For me, that means space in my physical environment as well as a feeling of spaciousness in my body. If you want to create success in your woman small business then it makes sense that you’ll need space to accomplish that.
ACTION: Pick another room, closet or garage and move everything that is piled up on the floor there now. Deal with it later but for now, enjoy the space you’ve just created.
Creative Organizing Tip #2: Make the System Match YOUR Creative Flair!
Creative women entrepreneurs hate being hemmed in by someone else’s system. Solution? Customize the system to match YOUR style, not the other way around! Use lots of bright colors for your files. If following the traditional A-B-C filing order isn’t your thing, then file in a way that matches YOUR creative flair.
ACTION: Pick an area of organization that feels difficult. What would brighten it up or make it feel more playful for you? For example, I eschew lots of folders in favor of three-ring binders that I decorate using inspiring images and motivational phrases. Binders keep my office neat and tidy and the information right within my reach.
Creative Organizing Tip #3: Quit Telling Stories
When I interviewed Fearless Organizing Expert Elizabeth Hagen, she told me that people with a lot of clutter typically have a story attached to each item.
Solution? Quit telling stories such as “I might need it again” or “Uncle Bob gave me this golf-bag shaped business card holder.” (Tell Uncle Bob thanks but since you don’t golf, donate it to a local resale shop that supports a charity).
ACTION: Pick up ten items in your office right now. What story have you told yourself about each item? Quit the story and immediately get rid of at least seven of those items.
I bless the success of my high six-figure business on my ability to comfortably integrate creativity with being organized. You can too, if you remember that being creative actually gives woman small business owners an edge when it comes to being organized because you can create the organizing solution that works for YOU!
Would you like to learn more simple ways women entrepreneurs can get organized and quickly move away from “dollars-for-hours work” and create more money, time, and freedom in their businesses? Check out my web site, www.KendallSummerHawk.com for free articles, free resources and to sign up for my free audio mini-seminar “7 Quick and Simple Tips to Brand, Package and Price Your Services for More Money, Time and Freedom in Your Business.’
Award-winning small business expert Kendall SummerHawk is the “Horse Whisperer for Business.”
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May 8th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Kendall,
It looks like you’ve really figured out what works for you. There’s nothing more important than being comfortable in the environment you’re working in. There’s already enough pressure and work involved in being a starting entrepreneur, the least you can do is keep your workplace nice and organized. I also like your idea of thinking outside the box and using bright colors if you need to keep your mind stimulated and uncluttered. I also find it efficient and productive to keep all your work within the computer organized. For example, Microsoft just released Office Live Small Business, and it’s a wonderful, highly organized and comprehensive tool for any budding entrepreneur. It’s a free service that includes highly organized e-mail capabilities, website traffic reports, and you can even design the page yourself with a completely user-friendly webpage designing platform. You don’t have to know the first thing about HTML to create a professional, legitimate business site.
There’s more information at http://smallbusiness.officelive.com
Office Live Small Business is a fabulous tool for getting any starting entrepreneur off the ground fast, easily and efficiently. Microsoft even hosts everything on your site for free! And to top it off, for no cost for the first year, you get a free customized “.com” domain name! Now, I work with Microsoft, so if you or any readers have any questions, I’m always around and would be more than happy to answer them for you! My personal e-mail address is k-rosenberg@live.com. Again Kendall, thanks so much for posting the tips! It was wonderful reading, and I hope to be in touch.
Best,
Kimberly