Christa Wagner

I provided a workshop called Kick Start Office Productivity for the Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce on June 18th and what a success it was.  We had about 30 attendees at the gorgeous Watermark Restaurant on Kitsilano Beach.  I have given many seminars and worshops over the years and this has to be one of the most beautiful settings I have ever spoken in.  What a view!

I wanted to thank the Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce, specifically Terry Clark and Kirsten Severson for hosting the event.   The topic was Kick Start Office Productivity and I provided 5 organizing tactics you can use in your office that will make a huge difference to your productivity.  There has been no better time to streamline and organize your business.  In a challenging economy we do everything we can to drive store traffic and increase revenue and sales.  Yet what are you doing to boost internal productivity, which can have a dramatic affect on the bottom line?  

Each attendee was asked to select one tactic, where they are the most challenged, and commit to focusing on it for 30 days.  Accountability is key so I will follow up and see how they are doing in 30 days.  I can’t wait to hear. 

The topics we talked about were related to email, desktop clutter, paper, time and focus.  We could have talked about each tactic over the course of hours, but we only had an hour and my hope is each attendee left with a few nuggets of inspiration that will make a difference in their day.   The feedback was terrific and everyone stayed afterwards to talk and ask me questions about their personal situation.  The event could not have been better!

Thanks again to the Kitsilano Chamber and contact us at 778.839.5792 if you would like your own seminar on Kick Start Office Productivity.

I hear people say all the time they wake up in the middle of the night and can’t fall back to sleep.  When I ask them why, they tell me they have so much running through their heads and they just can’t relax their brain.  This happens to me too, but something that has worked is to keep a notepad next to the bed and when you wake up you can write it down.  You might think this will activate your brain, but instead is allows you let go of the task knowing it’s there for you in the morning.  You write it down to remember and allow your brain to forget. 

Give it a try and get a good night’s sleep.

I am a member of the Kitsilano Chamber of Commerce and have been asked to provide an organizing or productivity related seminar in June.  Very excited about this opportunity I considered what questions I am asked about most often right now.

As I think about it for businesses, there has been no better time to streamline and organize your business.  In a challenging economy we do everything we can to drive store traffic and increase revenue and sales.  Yet what are you doing to boost internal productivity, which can have a dramatic affect on the bottom line?   For example, did you employees lost and hour each day searching for misplaced information?  Play with the numbers and you will see how greatly that affects profitability. 

Attend the June 18th workshop and learn a few simple organizing tactics to maximize your effectiveness and get the most important tasks done.  Attendees will learn how to overcome common organizing and productivity challenges, and learn the action steps necessary to Kick Start Office Productivity.  

The workshop is June 18th at 7:30am.  Now, I know that’s early, but think about how productive you will feel when its over.  You will have done more by 9am than most people do all day.  Click here to register and see you there!

It goes without saying companies are paring back and cutting corners where possible.  One thing I’ve heard that’s gotten the axe this year is the holiday party.   I can remember when this happened back when I was in the corporate world and it was a drag.  You work hard all year long, harder even from others being laid off, and then bam no party or anything to celebrate the holidays and to feel appreciated for that matter.  I remember how much that affected moral and then that negatively affects productivity. 

Last week my sister told me what her company is doing and I think it’s awesome!  They did have to cancel their annual holiday party due to lagging sales, but they made up for it with probably something even better than the party itself.  Now she gets a half day on Christmas and New Year’s Eve, the day off on December 26 and January 2.  That’s in additional to Christmas and New Year’s Day.  I was impressed when I heard this and wondered how this could possible be more affordable than the holiday party.  But they have to pay the employees anyway, there are no hard costs like location, food and spirits, and most importantly office moral took an upswing.  Who wouldn’t want more time off to be with the family and friends at the holidays.  Impressive.

Many times what is contributing to office clutter is all the stuff we keep on our desktops that is not really necessary.  It can be excess paper, photos, memorabilia, Knick-knacks, etc. This stuff can negatively affect productivity and just builds up over time.  Additionally, it often escapes up to place the tools we really do need on our desks. 

If this sounds like you desk, here is a tip for a down and dirty desktop de-clutter. 

1. Remove everything from your desktop.
2. Toss anything you do not use, need or love.
3. Clean desk removing dust
4. Add items back in order of importance.  Really consider if you need that stuffed animal or trophy on your desk.
5. Decide where you will place things based on use. 

Here are some important desk items that contribute to an organized office:

• Desk – An adequate, but great one.  One that you will motivated and inspired to use.
• Telephone – Obvious, but be sure to select the appropriate phone to enhance productivity. 
• Computer Equipment – In most home offices, but be sure to utilize your software to enhance productivity. 
• Shredder – Critical to eliminate unneeded paper containing personal information. 
• Action Files – For all that paper requiring your attention on your desktop
• File Cabinet - Remember to review contents annually.
• One Calendar – Paper or electronic; use it consistently. 
• Wastebasket and Recycle Basket – Don’t let items that need to be tossed linger around the office. 
• Appropriate lighting

Your office should support your career and your needs. Take the time to create a comfortable workspace you are proud of.

The other day I was working with a client and a quintessential filing moment happened. It started out like all appointments, I learned what was working, not working, etc. Then I explained to her the FreedomFiler, which we use nearly exclusively with all clients, and taught her the basic principles of the system. I explained the reason it works so we well is because you file your paper according to use. Makes sense, right? Oh and did I mention she is a bookkeeper?

Then we started creating her files based on her specific needs. As we reviewed her paper we came across a medical receipt from last year (2007) that she did not report on her taxes. Why, because it was with her medical records and she forgot it was there. Using the FreedomFiler, this medical receipt would have been in the tax section. She would not have had to “remember” it, it would have just been there with her other write-offs.

Can’t explain it any better than that. We have too much on our plates to remember everything, especially little details. By using the tools available to us, you can avoid losing on 20% of write-offs because they are in the wrong place.

My client now has all her receipts in her tax section and she is all set for tax season 2008. To order a FreedomFiler, go to www.freedomfiler.com and use our coupon code with our compliments. Contact us to get our coupon code for a discount!