Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008 - (Page 14)

YOUR Lifeline Continued from page 13 working on clearing or cleaning one area so you don’t become overwhelmed by the chore and decide to quit. If clutter is your main culprit, consider taking DIY Network’s advice and identify your organizational needs: I Paper flow. First figure out where the paper is coming from. Can you streamline or eliminate unwanted junk mail, catalogs or magazine subscriptions? Then organize bills, correspondence, contact information and any other paperwork into “active” (used frequently) and “inactive” (used infrequently) files. Create a system for containing and categorizing all incoming and outgoing paper. Sally Allen (www.sallyallen organizer.com) says it best: “Remember to keep the paper flowing to its final destination.” Marlys Aballi, of the Connection to Cruise agency in Redlands, CA, admits that paperwork is often overwhelming for her. In addition to faxes, reports, bills, letters and the like, “I receive about 150 e-mails a day, along with voicemails, brochures and other notes,” she says. “It is hard to stay organized, but a good filing system helps.” Aballi also cleans her desk at the end of each day so she has an orderly workspace to greet her in the morning. I Your ability to find things. How quickly can you locate documents in your office? Build or revise your filing system and stop wasting time searching. Duncan organizes her vendors alphabetically and by type of travel: cr uise, land-based and other. Her client files are organized by year and subcategor ized by month. At the e n d o f e a c h ye a r, she clears her files and puts last year’s paperwork in stor14 FOR THE AGENT Searching for things wastes valuable time; set aside time to revise your filing system and eliminate clutter age—out of the way, but still accessible should she need to retrieve anything. All pertinent periodicals are also categorized in alphabetical order. I Time management system. Choose one method to keep track of your appointments, whether it’s a tried-and-true day planner or an electronic gizmo. The easiest way to frustrate yourself and probably your clients is to keep important dates and times recorded in two (or more) different places. Aballi says that time management is vital to her success as a home-based agent. “You’re a jack-of-all-trades when you run your own business,” she states, and the days can fly by in a whirlwind of phone calls, bill paying and family details. “You almost have to remind yourself to take a day off,” she says with a laugh. I Tracking “to-do” places. Software that includes e-mail, contact managers, calendars and other functions can streamline your life and clear your desk at the same time. Improve Use of the Computer I can’t put it off any longer, and neither should you. Back up files you couldn’t bear to lose and get into a habit of doing so regularly. A few other suggestions: I Update or upgrade any software that you use on a regular basis, and while you’re at it, update your address book—electronic or otherwise. I Take time to go through your e-mail in-box, filing or deleting as many messages as you can. I Organize and contain your computer wires. Bind them together with a cable cuff or adjustable Velcro straps. I Consider replacing your monitor with a flat-screen. You’ll be amazed how much space this will create on your desk. I Make computer files of your master lists: your daily to-do list, office supplies and any other list you find yourself making on a semi-regular basis. A new year, a fresh start…and who knows? Maybe even a clean office. Remember that you’re not just trying to organize your clutter, no matter how much or how little you may have. You’re creating a space where you can be productive, inspired even, and get back to work doing what you love to do. —Jennifer Glatt Is your to-do list in your head each morning, written on a post-it note stuck to your computer or drafted in detail somewhere (perhaps under a pile of paper s on your desk)? It may be time for you to consider upgrading to a software package that encompasses all of the tasks and details you keep i n m a ny s e p a r a t e items. Home-BasedTravelAgent F EB RUARY 2008 http://www.sallyallenorganizer.com http://www.sallyallenorganizer.com

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Home-Based Travel Agent - January/February 2008 Editor's Note Publisher's Note Your Lifeline Agent Spotlight: Tracy Dennis News Hot Deals Reader Survey All-Inclusive Resorts Home-Based Travel Agent Expo Portugal New York Bermuda Cover Story: Singapore Cruise: What's New Tours: Adventure New Products

Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008

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