Your Toolkit for Success in 2009

Here are some things to put in your toolkit for 2009:

1. Learn to use your computer more effectively. Watch our Computers 101 video. Once you know how to navigate around on a computer a whole new world of possibilities is open to you.


2. Back up your computer data online. Use either Mozy or Carbonite; both are easy to setup, very inexpensive, and easy to use.


3. Get your accounting computerized ~ purchase QuickBooks and our QuickBooks and Quoting, then sign up for our online QuickBooks courses in January or March. (Remember, all of our courses are recorded and available for you to view for up to 60 days)


4. Start using Microsoft Outlook as your CRM (customer relationship management) software. Outlook can handle your calendar, email and contact data information. Once you start using Outlook you can sync that information with your PDA phone. You'll love this feature! You can even purchase Customer Manager which will act as a liaison between QuickBooks and Microsoft Outlook. You will only have to enter customer information once and both QuickBooks and Outlook is updated. It's a real time saver and so inexpensive.


5. Get a professional looking logo or maybe just freshen up your existing logo. Sign up for our newest online course, "Create a Customized Logo," and learn all the ins and outs of creating a logo.


6. Secure a domain and create a website for your business. Give Simplified Websites a call to get started right away. Simplified Websites is easy to work with and, best of all, they will do the entire layout with their RapidStart program. All you have to do is provide them with photography and text regarding your business. Be sure to check out the examples of their work. If you don't have a website or you would like a more professional looking site, this should be high on your list. Don't put this off any longer.


7. Update your portfolio in a totally new and unique way. Several of you accomplished this task this year after you took our "Create Fabulous Portfolios" course and some of you decided to wait. If you are one of the people that decided to wait, why not add a new updated portfolio for 2009 to your list and purchase our "Create Fabulous Portfolios" course. When you purchase this recorded online course, you will have access to it for 60 days.


8. Start offering new and unique services like the "Design in Five" technique with Minutes Matter Studio.


9. Read educational articles for at least three hours each week. Top of the list, of course, is the Minutes Matter E-zine. We always are sharing information from the many articles we read and the numerous conferences we attend.


10. Revisit past marketing campaigns and revamp them for 2009. Purchase our Power of Innovative Ideas book when it becomes available in early 2009. This new and unique marketing book is chock full of innovative techniques. For more marketing tips, sign up for Jeffrey Gitomer's ezine. He is amazing and sure knows how customers want to be treated.
    

Review your list of goals at least once a month to ensure you are on schedule and to make necessary revisions. Wouldn't it be great to see most, if not all, of these goals accomplished by 2010? Once 2009 comes to a close and you reflect back and see all of the goals you have accomplished since the beginning of the year, the pride that you feel will be "Priceless."