The story behind Working Naked®

Working Naked is a blog dedicated to helping anyone working from home either part time, full time... Read More Lisa Kanarek, Home Office Expert Lisa Kanarek

Your brain may affect productivity more than you think

Some people think that left-brain thinkers are analytical, sequential and sometimes obsessive (I’ve been accused of all three), while right-brain thinkers are creative types who make sure nothing stifles their creativity, including organization. The saying, “If a disorganized desk is the sign of a cluttered mind, what does an empty desk mean?” makes it hard to justify a clean desk. But if you’re a right-brain thinker, you can get organized.

•Focus on one area of your life that’s organized. Think hard. There has to be something in your life that’s organized. Maybe you’re an impeccable dresser, or you keep your favorite supplies in one place. Consider everything you’re doing now to get organized, no matter how small it may be, and pat yourself on the back. Who cares if no one notices the changes you’re making? It’s your life, not theirs.

Consider your priorities. If something is important to you, you’ll change it.  If not, you won’t— and in some cases you shouldn’t. If you make only a few changes in the way you work, you could be more productive and maintain your creativity.

Ask yourself why you’re having trouble getting organized. Instead of beating yourself up over missed appointments or postponed decisions about paper, face it: you may be someone who thrives in a disorganized environment.  Work around your need for a bit of disorganization and designate one place to put your keys every time you come home or figure out one place to keep track of appointments and enter them as you make them.

Before you throw in the organizing towel, realize that being right-brained doesn’t doom you to a life of chaos. If you change the way you think, you’ll reduce your stress level and leave yourself open to accomplish more.

The naked truth: how they did it

After so many years of meeting, working with and interviewing home based business owners, I never get tired of hearing their “how I got started” stories.  Maybe it’s because none of the stories are the same, including the ones behind these two businesses.
Business: Cute Beltz, a line of belts and accessories for children 12 months [...]

What I learned during my last conference call

Last week I chatted online with a client who was on the west coast while his assistant was on the east coast.  During the call, I learned a few things about online chat sessions.

Learn some stealth moves. If you decide to leave the room during the call, make sure it’s during a time when no [...]

What message are you sending your clients?

When you’re dealing with your clients, is what you’re saying and what you’re doing the same? You may not notice the disconnect, but eventually your clients will.
A few months ago I hired a makeup artist for a photo shoot and when she showed up wearing more makeup than a clown, I didn’t expect much. Actually, [...]

Perfect doesn’t mean productive

Yesterday I watched a new show on the Food Network called “24 hour Restaurant Battle.” (Watching the Food Network doesn’t make me a good cook, but it inspires me to be a good cook.)  On the show, two teams have 24 hours to create and open a restaurant. The winning team earns $10,000.
In the episode [...]