Filing is yet another duty most people either procrastinate over or do inefficiently, but this is an area where one should not stress over.
There are two main points to consider. Firstly bulk file at least twice per week, and secondly file the items into a well organised system. Lacking in this area and ultimately misplacing an important document can cost you both time and money so establish an effective system from day one if possible and adhere to it!
The System I Use
On my desk you will find just one folder, I hate an untidy and unorganised desk. I find that most people who scatter paperwork over there workspace are greatly stressed and subconsciously busy doing nothing!
Some time management and business system books will tell you whatever system works for you, is best. In my opinion this is terrible advice. I once worked with someone who’s desk and office looked like it had been burgled. It use to take up to ten minutes to find an item of paperwork and on many occasions some were lost for weeks. By having no clear workspace there is a tendency to accidently mix up paperwork and file incorrectly. He looked stressed, overworked and his inefficiency accounted for three hours of lost time each week.
The system I used today has been born out of much trial and error and combines the previous experiences with modern day advances in mobile telephones.
My current phone is a Blackberry Bold but any similar PDA type phone will suffice. Within the features of most PDA devices you will find a task system, and then within this option you will find the ability to categorise each task. I transferred my pen and paper system to the Blackberry system as follows.
- I established all my task categories into these headings; ‘At a Computer’, ‘At Home’, ‘At Office’, ‘Calls To Make’, ‘Errands’, ‘Learning Goals’, ‘Long Term Projects’, and ‘Reference Material’.
Job duties and work tasks for some people can cause stress and far too much concern than is needed. Completing your task list effectively is quite simply about finding a system which works for you and then making it a habit to use it constantly.
I get asked on many occasions how I manage to keep up with all my tasks, projects, business ventures, appointments, errands, trip planning and calls to make, and then still find time to disappear for six weeks every couple of months. Most people who ask me use multiple pieces of paper, post it notes and the back of their hands for jotting down to-do notes.
There are certain tools and Systems which I have found that have helped me achieve financial freedom. Most of which came at a financial cost to me. I have sinced learned by my mistakes and appriciate that mistakes are part of journey.
To learn from your own mistakes is wise, to learn from someone elses is pure genuius. I will list some common errors when trying to establish passive income in a later articles.
To assist you to leave the Rat Race, I have listed below some of the tools and online resources I use on a daily bases.
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