About jack Expertise I have more than 50 techniques that will help people to plan their short and long range tasks and events more efficiently and effectively, how to reduce the amount of paper clutter they have, how to organize their files, how to handle telephone interruptions and how to juggle and schedule multiproject workloads.
Question I was not born with the “organization gene.” Even though I am a relatively successful business consultant, dad and husband, the organized side of my life is a constant struggle. I have tried Palm Pilot, Franklin Day Planner and pieces of paper but still suffer from the following obstacles:
1.Poor control over my work priorities and projects of varying lengths (example: some are long term 3-6 month consulting projects while others are monthly recurring standard services for existing clients.) I have already lost a client due to my timeliness problems and recently got in hot water with a good existing client for the same reason (a client I can not afford to lose!)
2.Procrastination on complicated work projects due to lack of a clear game plan as described above (so I avoid the task sometimes because I don't have a clear idea of where to start, where I'm at or where I'm going.)
3.Messy financial history: My wife and I have had a history (married 13 years) of a lack of a game plan for our finances. We have had recurring instances of debt problems over the years. We do not have financial systems in place for our personal finances nor for our three businesses (my consulting business and her two retail businesses.) We basically manage it using personal calendars and check registers and stacks of bills without a coherent way to plan, organize and track our finances. We are currently struggling through overextending our inventory costs for the two retail businesses and having to take out extra lines of credit at the bank and depleting all my consulting revenue and are still behind. I have purchased bill organizers, personal money software and filled out budget spreadsheets yet we have been unable to bring it all together and really improve, in a concrete way, our financial track record.
I feel like a lost cause because I have purchased and tried to implement many different organization techniques, as mentioned above. Since my computer is like my right arm for my consulting business I have tried computer solutions, but to no avail. I am envious of a self-employed friend of mine who can't even turn on a computer yet he is the model of organization. I also envy my elderly mother-in-law who is a master of financial organization and has complete control over her's and my father-in-law's household finances.
Any advice you can provide would be greatly appreciated.
Answer Dear Bill,
Asking for an internet guru to solve the multilayered needs you have would be frivolous. You need asome ongoing consultation yourself, Bill. If someone came to you with your situation, I am sure you would not feel you have done it justice to provide an internet all-in-one solution.
Neither can I.
I could be of help, and would expect two things from you - remuneration, and a time commitment during which you agree to work on agreements we set up. If possible, it would be great to work with both you and your wife. If you are interested, you may call me at 413 665-3552 or email me at Jackrap1@aol.com.
It sounds like you have been treading water for a long time, and I know how frustrating that can be. If you are really serious about making some changes, contact me.
