Getting Organized ~ Part 1 of ???

One of the biggest new year's resolutions I have this year is to get organized. And not the half-a$$ level of organization that completely and utterly fell into disarray the minute I broke my leg. I mean real organization that can withstand an Armeggedon and be quickly and easily picked up by the survivors.

On a side note, I've actually been going to the gym again (who thought 30 minutes on level 4 of the electronic bike could be so exhausting?) and have been spending the time catching up on all my women's magazine reading while there. According to Oprah and every other women's magazine the key to actually achieving your new year's resolution is to not just make a generic goal, but to lay out steps you are going to take to achieve it. Really? Who would have guessed? Never one to take the chance of failure lightly, I've outlined a few steps underneath my "Get More Organized" goal.

Step 1 - My work database is an absolute disaster. When I started this business almost three years ago I was, like most entrepreneurs, trying to keep costs low and opted to use an excel spreadsheet as my sales database. I've way outgrown that method. It's cumbersome, not easily updated, and generally more of a pain then it's worth. After talking to a bunch of folks and garnering a bunch of recommendations (and trying the product free for 7 days) I finally ended up purchasing a subscription on SalesForce.com. So far for my little business their entry level version seems to be just what I'm looking for. It's not necessarily perfect in every aspect but it does give me one solid place to keep track of all my sales contacts as well as updates on each account so that I can quickly look back and remind myself of where an account stands at any given time. Plus, one of the features I love, is the ability to schedule tasks that relate to specific accounts and then when I open the program up in the morning it gives me reminder updates. SSSOOO much better then the 'scrap paper' method I have been using. Plus for $99 annual subscription plan I can't really complain about the cost!

Step 2 - This is a biggie...I've decided that I need to convert our basement into my new office. I'll take pictures and post them as I work through this process but right now our basement is 75% finished but that last 25% definitely does not make it a welcoming workspace. However, using the second (and only other) bedroom for my office just isn't practical and the dining room table has truly become my office. I would like to reclaim the dining room table - as would my husband - and I think the answer is to get the basement up to par. To make it more interesting, I've decided that I think I can get everything done that needs to be done (new paint, carpeting, shelving, maybe even a little electric fireplace for ambiance?) for under $1500 so that's my goal. I haven't yet decided if some of the stuff that's currently in the basement that I'll eventually get rid of via Craigslist gets to raise my budget over $1500 or if that should be counted as part of the $1500. Though I'm thinking that if I can pull this off for $1500 then at least a little bit of the Craigslist money is going towards a cupcake and champagne ribbon cutting ceremony.

There are some other smaller componants to this Get Organized New Year's Resolution but those are the two biggest. I'm shooting to have both fully up and running as I need by the end of March at the latest. Salesforce.com will be the easy one...the basement will take a little longer.