Find the Upside in Downtime

Almost every workday contains a little downtime. You can fill it productively with simple but useful tasks such as these:

Clean your workspace. Chances are you've got some stuff to put away or throw out -- pens, tools, coffee cups, etc. Cleaning during your spare moments will make your workspace more efficient (and you'll get points for clearing away clutter.)

Organize your contacts. Look through your e-mail list and other networking contact. Are any out of date? You'll probably find a few people you should call and touch base with. Checking though the names will make it easier to
keep track of important people.

Review your files. Go through your file cabinet and your computer, looking for anything you can discard or anything that needs your attention. Are file names and labels accurate? Is anything in danger of falling through the cracks? Back up you important computer files so they won't get lost in case of disaster.

Read More

Business Cards

So often, we send our clients holiday greetings.We send them cards during Christmas or Thanksgiving. It's been customary for a long time. But there's always that possibility that the card could get lost in the holiday shuffle. Or worse yet, it won't carry the same meaning.

So why not send your client or customer a business anniversary card? Try to remember the first time you got together for lunch, or better yet, the first time you had a break-through meeting. At first this tack may seem odd and not very businesslike, but that's exactly the point. The client will be flattered that you remembered such an obscure date.

Read More