If I need to follow up with someone, I immediately create an appointment, applying Categories and a Label, and attach any necessary external documents (Word, Excel, etc.). For Calendar appointments, I also keep track of number of times I’ve attempted to contact that person. Example: For vendor Lisa Andrews, I’ll preface appointment with LA(2), where parenthetical (2) means this is my second attempt to contact Lisa. I allow a maximum of three follow up attempts – no exceptions. Chasing people down is a waste of my time--time I’d prefer to spend bringin’ home bacon.

You Make Call

Pet Peeve: Folks who call me and have no clue what they want to say. I’ve been known to hang up on such occasions, so let’s ensure you don’t make same mistake!

A few basic rules of etiquette follow:

1. Peace & quiet rule day, especially if you’re making a business call. If kids or your husband are home, close door to your office. If there’s a large amount of street traffic, go to an inner room in your home, as far away from noise as possible. You don’t want to shout over din; instead, make din disappear.

2. Know what you’re going to say! I’ve advised numerous clients to have either an index card or a small sheet of paper with bullet points of what they want to say. I do something similar – in Calendar appointment for telephone call, I include bullet points in memo field and make notes during course of conversation.

3. Keep it brief. Make your point, get down to business and let’s rock and roll.

4. Be on time. Have respect for person you’re about to call. They’ve set aside valuable time to talk to you.

You’ve Made Your List, Now Check It 2nd Time

Spend a few minutes at end of your day to review tomorrow’s calendar. Doing so will get you prepared for tomorrow and will jump start your memory if you forgot to do something. Do you have any faxes still waiting to go out? Did you remember to call printer and OK proof? Any prep work you need to do for tomorrow? Take five minutes, review your calendar and to do list and then complete any last minute work.

It’s All Relative – Well, Your Relatives Think So

I know many people who have home-based businesses and at least 75% of them do not have a “family policy” in place. Question: How can you work effectively from home if your girlfriends are calling you all time, and if Uncle Joe stops by several times a day? Answer: You can’t. What to do? Inform your family and close friends that unless it’s a dire emergency, family chit-chat and visits need to be kept to a minimum. For your part, you must ensure you call your dad at end of day to check in, and tell your girlfriend Lisa that yes, you can have lunch with her on Thursday. It’s all about balance: part work, part play. Too much of former will make you crazy!

“No” is Not a Four Letter Word (Subtitle: Even if it were, you should still utter it now and then)

Say this out loud, “It’s okay for me to say no.” Doesn’t that feel better? More important, do you believe it?

Do not allow procrastination or good intentions of others to encroach upon your time. If you do not have time today to handle a task, be honest and say so. Offer alternative dates and times when you are available, ensuring you mark these times as “unavailable” on your calendar so you don’t book other appointments during this time.

Remember, time is money. Learn how to organize and manage your time--you’ll be glad you did!

Copyright 2005 Lori Davis. All rights reserved.

He now cry's in is sleep because his eyes refuse to close so deep, and beep of alarm clock every morning makes his heart leap like he is on a bumpy ride. The sound of dawn has lost its sweetness; taste now is like a knife to his weak heart.

Everyday in his live is painted with colures of apprehension; everywhere speaks of face of depression. his face! He has completely fallen apart, travails of life is now currency of his world and poverty has become path that is leading him into a tomorrow that is pregnant with a sunlight that will only skim glimmers of hope.

Why is strength in his faith to overcome his fate becoming so little? Why does he grope for wall like blind?

With jerky unsure movements I walk over to window and stare into open, straining to keep my gaze on moon as if my answers are written on it.

I know that his mind is filled with so much pain and anguish. I also know that lately he has become a stranger to a smile, for wants and needs that he cherishes have refused to flourish. Nevertheless this is not a reason for him to become an outcast like Cain,just wandering, moping and stumbling at noonday as in night.

The going has become rougher for him. Now,his reaction needs to become tougher too. it is written in a book that "sorrows will endure for night, and joy will come in morning".

Hope is available to him