Speaking of goals, have you written out clear and specific goals for 2010?  One of the best ways to get clarity on what you want is to write it out in detail.  Your goals should be motivating and reachable, and they should be measurable.

Here are some other tips to help you reach your goals.

• Clearly define each goal.
• Create a motivational goal sheet. It could be a picture, map or list, something that you can post and will motivate you to stay on track. Create rewards for achieved goals.
• Commit to accomplish at least one activity each day that moves you toward your goals.
• Be positive. Your mental attitude will determine whether you view your life as a success or a disaster.
• Know that you are all you need to succeed – be patient and persistent.

We wish you much success in the new year and will do our best to help you do anything you put your mind to.

No sooner is the Thanksgiving turkey digested when the Holiday Party Season begins.  Many dread the often hectic schedule of December, as seemingly every company and organization hosts a lunch or cocktail party for their customers, clients, employees, suppliers, members and friends.

It’s true that this annual ritual of party hopping can add inches to your waist-line while stealing precious hours of down-time.  But it can also be a great time to meet new people and solidify your existing business relationships.  While part of you may wish to hide behind the craziness of your own year-end work and personal schedule and avoid this revelry altogether, staying away from holiday soirees is a networking mistake.

People do business with people they know and like; you need to take advantage of holiday get-togethers to build closer relationships with others in your business community or industry.  Think of it this way; when someone invites you to a holiday gathering they are announcing that they like you.  When you make the effort to attend their event you are returning the gesture.  And try to remeber that most of these parties are a lot of fun!

Marny was our guest expert speaking on the topic of Turning Networking Into Actual Business.  If you missed the call, click here to purchase the audio.

A Red Bench offer continuing education for professional organizers and small business owners.

I wanted to share one learning from each session and from Dan’s session my key learning was to avoid looking at Social Media as a campaign or a tactic, but rather as the way I do business.  I now want to use social media to way provide value, build my reputation and increase my customer base in a way I have not been able to do before. 

Thank you so much for being on the call Dan.  It was fantastic and we learned so much.  Continue to check our website and blog for more information regarding social media.  I have a feeling we are only at the beginning of the topic.

But, if you are not at conference this week, do yourself a favor and start saving now for next year. If you save $100 per month that should do it. As Standolyn Robertson said in the conference registration brochure. “Attending conference is not an indulgence – its and investment in your practice.” At conference, you can network with other organizers and learn how they are managing their businesses and learn, learn, learn from veteran organizer. Why re-create the wheel. Plan to attend NAPO Conference ‘10 in Columbus, Ohio.

Angela had a leadership meeting with the board members of each NAPO  chapter and then off to the Ask The Organizers Panel. This panel is always fantastic; everyone has so many of the same questions and they get answered by veteran organizers who have paved the way and learned a great deal over the years. We are so proud of Lauren Halagarda, an A Red Bench member, who is a panelist and a NAPO Conference speaker this year. I was a panelist in 2005 and I can remember how nervous I was so be sitting in front of my peers. Lauren did and amazing job!  You go girl!

Our opening keynote speaker was Scott McKain, author of “What Clients Really Want.” He was amazing and he actually brought me to tears in his presentation.  One of the comments he made was “If you have not done everything you could possibly do to build your business, your problem is not the recession, its business development.”  Wow! 

I excitedly went to my first education session which was 7 Proven Steps To Designing Workshops Participants Will Love.   It was outstanding.  I got a few little nuggets I will be sure to use in my next workshop.  When its not 1am, I will write more details, but its too late now and I have to be at the booth in a few hours. 

After the session, it was back to the Expo Hall, a cocktail reception with all the CPO’s and then…. well…. yeah…. it was back to the bar.  It’s Orlando and conference…… hey THE RICH BROOKS was in the house. 

Good night!

We are on the plane and both working, collaborting and sharing ideas. It’s awesome to have someone to bounce ideas off of. We land in 3 hours and will meet Angela. The three of us have been accountability partners for years now. It’s amazing to have someone to be accountable to. We meet, via conference call once per month. We report on our goals, share an accomplishment and a challenge. We all provide feedback and support to each other and it’s become a call I look forward to each month.

Back to working with Debbie. We are brainstorming blog and newsletter topics.  I can’t wait to feel the hot weather!

Syncplicity is the only all-in-one service that makes sure your files are everywhere you need them.  And on top of that is sync’s up with more than one computer.  No duplication of files, no confusion over which one is the most current – its awesome!   Syncplicity makes everyday sync, backup, and sharing as simple as it should be.   No uploading, no deleting and then uploading again when you change the file.  Who has time for that?

Here is how it works.  Install it on one computer and all your important documents, photos, and music are backed up online and complete with remote access. Install it on additional computers and Syncplicity will synchronize your files — your important files will be wherever you are.

If you have the need to share files, check it out at Syncplicity.

1. Nuture the relationships that matter.
2. Showcase your talents and area of expertise.
3. Listen rather than talk.
4. Smile and notice the tone of your voice; do you sound confident or deflated?

For more details, listen to our teleclass, Growing Your Business in Today’s Economy By Implementing Successful Sales Tactics, with guest expert John Oberg.

One of the tips we shared is your marketing plan should consist of the following:

1. Promotions: Short-term or seasonal incentives and programs that are designed to stimulate a quicker or greater purchase.
2. Advertising: Activity of attracting public attention to a product or business, as by paid announcements in the print, broadcast, or electronic.
3. Public Relations: Keeps your name and business in the eye of the community, increases your credibility and builds brand awareness.

Marketing isn’t a one-time event.  It’s a process and it’s essential to create a marketing plan that has all three components.  To listen to this great teleclass, you can purchase the recording at A Red Bench.

Happy Marketing!

On the teleclass, Lanna discussed the four unique brain styles outlined in her book, and how we can use this information when assessing and working with clients.  Here are a few learnings:

1. By knowing and understanding your client’s thinking style, you can better understand how to communicate with them and speak their language.
2. You can create a better solution to help your client maintain their newly organized space.  This is key as there are significant differences in how you approach different styles.
3. You can help your client understand how and why their thinking style is different from their spouse’s or children’s.  This can be life-transforming!

When you have an understanding of your client’s brain type and thinking style, you become invaluable to them.  And as we know, clients are willing to pay for services they value.

Perhaps you haven’t already listened to our teleclass on Organizing For Your Brain Type; it is definitely worth purchasing.  You can still purchase the audio at our website.