Comments on: Ask the cubicle expat(s): How will you streamline your admin workload in 2009?

By: In Solitary, At Least They Bring You Three Meals — The Joy Of Working From Home - Caitlin Kelly - Broadside - True/Slant

Mon, 05 Apr 2010 13:38:42 +0000

[...] Those of us who work alone at home all day — especially without a separate office space — face our own challenges: when to stop working, finding social contact within the workday, trying (hah!) to control the clutter of books, newspapers, magazines I use for work while my “office” is a desk in the livingroom, staying visible and audible within our industries. I offer some tips on how to handle isolation on my website. Michelle Goodman, who’s written several great books about working freelance, has some helpful tips on her website, including this one. [...]

By: Dan Erwin

Dan Erwin — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 18:50:38 +0000

I regularly update objectives, but always keep the macro/umbrella issues between 3 and 5. Currently, they are, manage client base, develop web traffic, focus on site additions–reearch, blog, white papers. (In addition, I devote an hour a day to administrivia). I break down the big three into approximately nine issues, prioritize and cut out all but three under each, then break out weekly, then daily chunks. I clean the desk at the end of each day, and lay out the next. I travel a lot so it can get harried, but that’s the outline. Once a year I get overwhelmed–then I clear off the desk and start all over.

For managers, one of the best resources remains the golden oldie: Management time: Who’s got the Monkey? Harvard Business Review. It deals with three kinds of time: boss-imposed time, system-imposed time, and self-imposed time. (HBR, November-December 1974…I think that this is HBR’s all time, biggest reprint seller.) I can’t imagine a recommendation that old is still viewed as the best–but guess what? It still is…

If curiosity is killing you, I think the second biggest is “How to Manage Your Boss.” by Kotter and Gabarro. The hundreds of articles since that one are largely retreads. I mention Kotter and Gabarro, because managing your boss has a lot to do with managing your time.

By: redehlert

redehlert — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 00:59:42 +0000

Tangible steps for 2009:
Get business fully decked out using business management pro, Tina Janni of Bates Technical College.
Put video into the Cognition Studio web site.
Get up to speed on MYOB for books and billing — my biz partner is the only one doing this and I should do my part as well.
Continue reading books and social media re: intellectual property; concept to consumer; creating magic; being a leader; and tribe building while at the same time expanding my artistic horizons (via classes and daily training).
Be full time at Cognition Studio (still 50%).
Kill my television. Waste too much time there.
Charge accordingly and vacation accordingly.

Cheers!
Dave

p.s. Enjoyed your latest book!

By: Liz

Liz — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 21:12:24 +0000

I’m old school too – using spread sheets for financials, but I do want to try Quickbooks. I usually get so excited about playing with new software, but …ehhh….

By: Stephanie

Stephanie — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 19:31:20 +0000

I could definitely use a web analytics intern!

By: Lisa Gates

Lisa Gates — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 17:54:20 +0000

What a lovely find your site is! And your question couldn’t be better. Since I work in the field of life balance, I always start with a look at my declarations in all areas of my life. If I don’t, setting goals like “find an assistant” seem like it would float, unattached to my bigger picture. GTD, with soul, I call it.