For years I was a head-down, “git-er-done” sort of chick. If I’m totally honest, I still have a lot of that girl in me and I honestly fight against her fairly often. Let me explain. While it’s great to have that type of drive and determination, what I learned a few years ago was that never getting off the tread mill to look at the bigger picture and create a long (and short) term plan for my business would hinder my growth in the long run. Once I finally lifted my head long enough to realize that I was working much harder than I would be if I actually had a clear plan, setting aside and honoring time for planning in my business got easier.

Consequently, I’ve done quarterly and annual planning for my life and business for the past 3 years and it’s absolutely made a difference! The thing is, next year is almost here, and now is the time to really start thinking about making a plan for 2012.

Let me lay out a few tips and tricks that may make it easier (dare I say even fun) for you. This is what’s worked for me (and I have to give a shout out to my sweet, amazing, rock-star friend Krista Clive-Smith – formerly Krista Green – for teaching me most of what I know about planning. She’s still one of my planning partners).

Plan Time to Plan (and stick to it!) – First and foremost, you have to actually make time to sit down and go through a planning process. That means putting at least a half day on your scheduled dedicated to annual planning sometime before the end of the year, and then scheduling in at least a half day at the end of each quarter to solidify your plans for the next quarter. I’ve actually spent the last three years at a weekend retreat with my mastermind group dedicating an entire two days to this. For the first time this year, I won’t have that luxury so will rely on planning sessions over the phone with a few strategic partners as well as a full day I’m planning to hole up somewhere quiet in December where I’ll unplug and plan. Bottom line – put it on your calendar and honor that time, no matter what.

Choose a Theme For Your Year – This might seem sort of “woo woo” but it’s probably had the greatest impact on me. I get quiet, check in with my higher power, and “ask” for my theme. It always comes through loud and clear. This year, it was “Relax and Receive the Blessings.” That’s fairly counter intuitive to my “go, go, go!” energy, and has transformed my life and business as I’ve stopped trying to push and control and instead moved where I’ve been lead.

Choose Your Major Areas of Focus – I outline at least three to five major areas of focus for the coming year, making sure not to neglect anything in my life or business. This supports the harmony in your life and keeps your “eye on the prize” in all areas. My areas for this year were:

• Direct Sales Training
• Spirituality
• Home and Family
• The Undivided Divorce (a new project I’m starting with my ex-husband that’s just about ready to roll out)
• Self Care

Notice that there’s a balance between business and personal. Strive for that.

Identify The Projects In Each of Your Focus Areas – For those of you who, like me, are all about the action, this will be your favorite step. Decide on three to five projects in each of your areas of focus that will move you toward fulfillment in each area. These will truly become the vehicle for getting your goals. Be as specific as you can and take some time to really let this flow.

Make an Action Plan – Now break down your major projects into smaller chunks. Which project will you work on each quarter (maybe all of them, maybe not), and then decide what you’ll do in each area. That way, you’re working intentionally throughout the quarters of each year, the months of each quarter, and the weeks of each month. You’ll be surprised at what you’ll actually come up with when you take the time to sit down and plan your action areas and steps. Then make sure you’re doing short monthly planning at the beginning of each month and weekly planning every Sunday. The more specific you can be with where you plan to spend your time, the better. I use a brilliant free tool called Workflowy for this. Can’t beat it.

Make a Plan and Be Willing To Be Inspired – One last thing…make sure you stay open to inspiration. Even the best laid plans sometimes need to be ignored if you have an inspired idea or a circumstance presents itself that you just can’t let go by. So make a plan and then be flexible and open to take inspired action as well. I hope this excites you and makes you eager to actually plan and implement for 2012?

Storage is always at a premium no matter how big of a home office space you have. It seems as though the clutter grows to meet the size of the room. It is not always easy to wrangle it back in and get your things organized. That is why finding and organizing your things in the proper storage solutions from the beginning is essential. If you are trying to get organized, check out the five do’s and don’ts before getting started.

Size Matters – The size of the containers that you use to organize your home office space matters. If you only have a tiny closet to keep organized, you want to make sure that the pieces fit inside and are easy to remove.

Do: Choose containers that fit the size of your storage area and are easy to put in and take out.
Don’t: Buy the biggest containers you can find just because they will hold more “stuff”.

Clearly Thinking – Not only is the size important, but so too is the color of the containers. Colorful containers might be pretty, but they are not see-through. If you cannot see what is in a container, it is a lot harder to find things.

Do: Choose clear containers with lids for your storage needs.
Don’t: Pick containers that you cannot see through, because you will have a hard time remembering what is in each container.

Label Master – Become a master of labeling and label every bucket, bin, and tub that you use in your home office storage. It is important to keep track of everything and clearly printed labels will help you do that.

Do: Separate the things that need to be stored and clearly label all of your containers. Keep items organized by grouping like things together.
Don’t: Do not assume that labeling is not needed. Your mind goes a million different directions each day and it is important to have a reminder of what is in each container.

Keep It Covered – One of the keys to successful home office organization is keeping items out of the way. If you only have an open bookshelf for storing your things, put items in labeled baskets or bins and cover the bookcase with a neat pair of curtains. This will help to reduce the visual clutter and help you feel a lot more organized.

Do: Be prepared to cover and close the bins, tubs, and baskets that you have things stored in to help reduce visual clutter.
Don’t: Leave everything out in the open. If there’s a door to the storage closet, shut it. If there is not, create a covering to keep things neat.

Get Creative – One of the most challenging parts of having a home business is that sometimes there is not a lot of extra money for important things like storage containers. Instead of lamenting the fact that you have none, get creative and re-use containers around the house – just be sure to label them.

Do: See possibility in every empty container in your home. Wash and dry all containers and decorate them before putting them to use in your home office. Left over wall paper, contact paper, even scrap book paper and paint can be used to turn ho-hum cardboard containers into chic storage.
Don’t: Throw away containers before deciding if they can be used in the home office.

Organizing and storing things in your home office can be tricky, but with the right tools it can be done. Take the time to find containers that work for you. Before you know it, your office will be the neatest area in your home.

This article was written by Jessica Ackerman of WallDecorandHomeAccents.com – your best online source for decor and abstract metal wall art.

If you own a home business and have an illness or disease do you have an obligation to tell your clients?

Lest I look like a total insensitive boob, let me start off by saying that I am very sympathetic when someone or someone’s child gets sick or if there is a death in the family or other crisis. I get that life happens. It would be unreasonable to expect any business owner to truly be available 24/7 365.

One of the many benefits to owning a home business is that it affords you flexibility. Entrepreneurs generally choose to work at home either because they simply want to or often because of health concerns or caring for a loved one make it difficult to work outside the home.

Within my own team we have members who are dealing with Lupus, Cancer, Crohns, COPD, Narcolepsy, RA, Chronic Fatigue, depression, Bi-Polar, a brain tumor and Heart Disease. We have parents with special needs children and consultants taking care of aging parents. We have single parents and military spouses whose husbands are deployed overseas and we have pregnant and new moms. And those are just the challenges of which I am aware. I am certain there are plenty others that have remained private.

That said – if you own a home business and have an illness or disease do you have an obligation to tell your customers? My take on it is that no, you do not need to reveal this information providing your problems do not become your customers’ problem. If you can carry on your business in spite of challenges, and no team members will feel ignored or unanswered and if customers receive their product in a timely manner, then your health issues is no one’s concern.

If however, you’re going to be out of pocket or if the possibility exists that you could disappear for a while due to hospitalization or treatments, then yes, I do think you have an obligation to, at the very least, mention it to those you work with. The specifics can and should remain private, but it’s the responsible thing to say something such as, “I have some health challenges. I’ve been feeling very well lately and I do not anticipate it being any problem at all. However I wanted to let you know that sometimes I have off days or sometimes I need to be admitted to the hospital for a day or so. If that happens I will call, email or text you. Or I will have someone contact you to let you know what is going on.”

Me complaining about someone with health challenges would be the ultimate example of the kettle calling the pot black. It’s not the health issue that is the issue. It’s the lack of communication. The moment you decide to sell to one customer or take on one downline member, you’re in business. Whether you consider yourself a business owner or not, you are. Can you even imagine going to the orthodontist to pick up a retainer that you already paid for, need and are expecting – only to find the doors locked? No notice on the door, no one answering the phone, and no message left for you? No of course not.

Yet consultants and other freelance service providers see nothing wrong with accepting money for a product or service, providing a deadline when to expect delivery, and then not meeting the deadline, not communicating that life got in the way and inquiring if it would pose any imposition if the product or service were to be delivered a week later. I’ve seen it happen time and time again. And I’m not talking about a few days of no communication but weeks and sometimes months. Sometimes they even leave footprints on Twitter or Facebook, verifying that they are alive and appear to be well. Then eventually, after you repeatedly attempt to get a status update, they report that they had a death in the family or they weren’t feeling well. And what… there was no phone, smart phone or computer anywhere around in 5 weeks? I highly doubt they were on a deserted island. Communication is key.

Veteran Entrepreneur, Tara Burner has also experienced more than her fair share of consultants and freelancers who don’t deliver on promises made and who don’t communicate:

“As the popular saying goes, “Life happens”…but should it affect your business? No! Though sadly it seems to – especially in the WAHM community. We all have ‘things’ happen-kids get sick, we get sick or have health issues, people die, babies are born-but that doesn’t mean we don’t conduct business in a timely manner for months on end. When you’re in business, it takes work to build a client base and maintain a reputation of reliability and professionalism yet it only takes a missed deadline, unanswered emails & phone calls to destroy your reputation and your business.

There is an appropriate time for you to be ‘closed for business’ while going through things, but that doesn’t mean months should pass without conducting business and communicating with your clients. If it’s going to take that long, sell your business or close shop because people will move on and find someone else who is reliable, trustworthy and able to do the work at hand! Benjamin Franklin said, “He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else.” Keep that in mind when you’re making excuses when you don’t deliver to clientele.”

Tara was dead on when she said “If it’s going to take that long, sell your business or close shop because people will move on and find someone else who is reliable, trustworthy and able to do the work at hand!” Take your website down, request a leave of absence, put your emails on auto-respond that you are away but if there is an immediate need contact ____.”

If you have an active business website or if your signature line includes various ways people can contact you – email, phone, Skype, Facebook etc. then it is expected that you will respond to any or all of those platforms in a reasonable amount of time – ideally within 24 hours.

Do you have a back-up plan should you become incapacitated or are unable to fulfill your business obligations? If not, perhaps today is the day to line up a friend or co-worker to step in or at least make notifications if you are out of pocket for more than a day.

RYBLAB – Run Your Business Like a Business.

You are a home-based business owner in the Direct Sales industry. The commission on your sales is 50%. So, when you sell $1000 worth of products, you should have $500 in profit. Right? Wrong! As a business owner you have other expenses.

First, I advise you to track every business (Mary Kay, Lia Sophia, Thirty-One Gifts, etc.) expense. Only through consistent and complete tracking can you figure out where all the money is going. When you are tracking expenses, be sure to includes postage and shipping, sales aides, presentation supplies (cotton balls, pens, candy, etc.), hostess gifts, meals at Conference, registration for professional development, discounts given, gas, mileage, internet fees, etc.

Then, use a discerning eye on all your expenses. What are the categories where you can cut back? Could you utilize email or phone calls instead of mail? Or, cut down on postage/shipping by keeping full inventory and placing larger orders once a month instead of small orders every few weeks or days. Another expense to examine is sales aides. How many do you really need? For example, many times it is more cost-effective to demo from full size products than from samples. Hostess gifts – use the free products you receive from the company instead of using something in your inventory. With some focused thought, you can come up with a few ways to cut back on your expenses.

Another way consultants lose money is by discounting products. Each time you run a sale, you reduce your profit and you perpetuate the idea that your product is not worth full price. You are selling a great product; your customers love the product – why discount?

Finally, the more you sell the more money you will make. I know this concept makes sense in theory, but often we aren’t sure how to apply it to our everyday business practice. You will spend the same amount of money in samples and demo products for 1 person or for 30 people. The shipping cost for an order from the company is the same whether you order $100, $200, $600, or $1800. The more people you see, the more income you will earn. But, just as importantly, your expenses will not increase dramatically. That is where you start to see the real profit.

Tracking all your expenses and then problem solving ways to reduce those expenses will help you increase your overall profit. Which is why you are in business!

Lisa Crilley Mallis the owner of SystemSavvy Consulting and the creator of the College Success Initiative. She has assisted many students, solopreneurs, and busy moms, increase productivity and decrease clutter. Visit http://www.SystemSavvyConsulting.com for more helpful tips for direct sales professionals.

In a direct sales business, there is a lot of responsibility and tasks that need to be done to keep the business running smoothly. When the business first starts out, the consultant may be able to handle it on her own. But as the referrals keep rolling and the business starts to grow, the consultant will find that she needs help to keep the business going.

When it comes to delegating responsibility, there are a few tips that a sales consultant can use to make sure that the quality of the business does not trail off as the responsibilities start to grow. It is important to remember that just because the business is growing and you need to delegate some of the responsibilities, that does not mean that you should start to lose touch with your own company. You should have your finger on the pulse of your organization at all times.

Keep a Detailed List – In a direct sales business, keeping lists is critical to your success. When you hand off responsibilities to other people, be sure that you keep a list of what responsibilities you delegated and who you gave them to. If you do not keep a comprehensive list of the tasks that you delegated, then you will have a difficult time keeping track of your business.

Set Deadlines- Don’t just give people responsibilities; you should also set deadlines for them to meet those responsibilities. For example, if you have someone that orders stock for you, then make Friday the deadline for all orders to be placed so that you have product in time for the next few events. Without deadlines, you are just making suggestions and not delegating responsibility.

Have Consequences – When you ask someone to help you with your growing direct sales business, you cannot assume that your assistants have the same level of dedication that you do. When you delegate tasks and set deadlines, be sure that you also create consequences for people who do not meet their goals. Consequences mean more to people when you are paying them for their services. It helps you to make sure that jobs get done when they are supposed to.

It is not always easy running a growing direct sales business, but it can be extremely rewarding. When the time comes for you to delegate tasks to assistants and other people in your organization, be sure that you know how to delegate with authority.

The key to great customer service is having great systems. You are in business for the long term, not the one-time sale. Therefore, build your customer service plan for the long term. Run your business like a business, not like a fundraiser by only passing around catalogs. Here are some tips to help you increase your sales through a strong customer service system.

First, determine what makes your customer service stand out from the competition? Is it birthday cakes? Special events for preferred customers twice a year? Decorating sparkly ribbon on reorders? Including a balloon delivery with every large reorder? Whatever your “special service” implement it consistently by putting reminders on your calendar. If you plan it – you will do it!

Next, create a customer service plan for the next two years. Map out when you are going to make your new product calls, hold your open houses, have special sales, send out birthday cards, and hold special events. This allows you to consistently promote the next event while you are face-to-face with your customers and prospects. Also, by creating a long-term plan, you have the ability to coordinate your marketing activities with your customer service activities.

By creating a checklist for each event, each event becomes easier to implement. Put the checklist in a folder with all the supplemental materials. Take your Summer Open House for example. What is your advertising plan? Email, postcards, flyers, Facebook postings, Twitter, phone calls…? Put your scripts, copy of the invites, guest list, food served, special sales, pictures of product displays and other special activities in your folder. Then, each time you hold the event, you can pull out the folder, make adjustments as needed, and hold a stress-free and organized Open House.

Next, put “to-do” dates on your calendar for each event. If your “Christmas in July Open House” is scheduled for July 25th and you are going to promote the event with postcards, you need to count backwards. You want the guests to get the postcards 2 weeks in advance. It takes 3 weeks for the postcards to ship from the printer, so you need to make a notation on your calendar to order postcards at the beginning of June. Do the same with the phone calls. If it takes a week to call your customer list, and you want them to have a 2 week notice, make a note on the calendar to start making your customer calls in early July.

I urge you to take the next few weeks to implement one or more of the above suggestions. The more systems you can create, the easier the customer service portion of your business becomes.

Lisa Crilley Mallis the owner of SystemSavvy Consulting and the creator of the College Success Initiative. She has assisted many students, solopreneurs, and busy moms, increase productivity and decrease clutter. Visit http://www.SystemSavvyConsulting.com for more helpful tips for direct sales professionals.