Cord Management Through Bread Ties

Posted by Marie on January 8, 2012

Simple, effective, and brilliant. Courtesy of David Tanimura.

Prepare Your Business for 2012: Clean Up Your Tech

Posted by Marie on December 28, 2011

Yesterday was a great day to clean up your physical workspace. So today, let’s move on to the business technology.

How does your computer’s desktop look? You’ll feel just as wonderful looking at an uncluttered screen as you do sitting at an uncluttered desk.

• Go through your contacts in your phone(s), email(s), and database(s). Update and delete.
• Create subfolders named 2011 and drag all your completed projects into them. Now that blank space is ready to receive your 2012 work.
• Tackle that email! Delete, file, archive, and back up.

Tomorrow, reconfigure your schedule.

Prepare Your Business for 2012: Clean Up Your Workspace

Posted by Marie on December 27, 2011

Are you back at work and surfing the ‘net right now? It doesn’t matter if you are employed or self-employed; this tends to be a slower week for everyone. It takes the most motivated of small business owners to keep pushing through this last week of the year.

But if you have to be at work, or at least want to feel like you are at work, how about being productive without really doing what you do?

For example, how often have you felt frustrated at losing something important at a critical time this past year? How many times have you wished that thing out of your way?

It’s no surprise that clutter makes us feel anxious and disorganization causes stress. So right now, while the phones are not ringing and your inbox isn’t refreshing constantly, why not take the the time to physically rearrange your space?

• If you haven’t used it in two years, then you don’t need it. This is true of everything from a color scanner to the pens in your cup. Put them in the donate pile.
• Fix your ergonomics by raising your monitor, getting a mouse that fits your hand, and upgrading or modifying your chair. A pillow behind your back or a box under your feet works wonders.
• File your paperwork. Yes, it must be done, and you can make a big dent in it all by doing a big chunk all at once. Take rests as you need and put on some fun music.

If you feel like you can do with a second pair of eyes, please give me a call. You can even send me a picture. I would be happy to send along some suggestions.

You will feel so much better with cleaned surface areas. A comfortable space allows for greater energy and optimism. Hey, 2012 is going to be a great year! Let’s prepare to meet it.

Tomorrow, clean up your tech.

Help Entering a Backlog of Receipts

Posted by Marie on May 31, 2011

It happens to the best of us. We resolve that expenses will get entered as they occur this year. This year, we’re going to stay on top of things.

And then one day we turn around… Man! Where did that pile of receipts and statements come from?

And perhaps the more important question is: How long will it take before the whole mess is cleared out?

Wouldn’t you love to drop it off somewhere, and it all comes back organized and in order? And perhaps someone could even put it into your company’s books for you?

Ah, but the dream is at hand. Why not give me a call at the Detour Services office? I am an Intuit certified QuickBooks User. Microsoft Excel is my favorite of the MS Office programs, and I really do enjoy putting things in order. I can help you keep your business resolutions.

Recent project: Organizing A Parent’s WWII Photographs

Posted by Marie on April 26, 2009

Detour Services doesn’t just handle assignments only within a client’s business. Earlier this year, I received a pretty large project involving a parent’s WWII photographs.

This collection consisted of hundreds of photos, and my client wanted to get them organized, researched, and eventually donated to a place where they would be used and appreciated.

Luckily, there was writing on the backs of a fair number of the photos. As for the rest, I researched the patches and insignia on the sleeves of the pictured soldiers to get an idea of the timelines and locations.

After some pretty intensive effort from all parties, the collection is now ordered and in an album. A donation point has been identified with everything ready to go.

Do you have what seems like an overwhelming task sitting in a box somewhere? Why not give me a call and get that weight off of your mind?