2 Steps To An Empty Inbox

My crazy inbox while on vacation last summer.

We entrepreneurs are slaves to our inboxes, and we could spend all day answering email – but let’s not! There’s a smarter way to manage this. While the elusive Inbox Zero may not be your main goal, holding on to unanswered or unprocessed email is a drain on your mental energy. [...]

5 Ways to Simplify Your Art Business in 2013

2 candles

My word for 2013 is Simplify. I’m over all of the patched-together solutions and convoluted systems that were created in order to save money. I’ve had enough of chaos and complications. I’m ready for smooth and simple. How about you? [...]

Organizing Financial Invoices and Receipts Electronically

2013 finances

If you haven’t done so already, it’s time to update your files to 2013. I thought I’d share how I organize my finances electronically to avoid finding more space for paper files. Here’s how my Finances e-file looked a couple of days ago. [...]

Clean Up, Wrap Up, Gear Up

blank canvas to start the new year

With less than a week to go before the New Year, we are all feeling the promise of a fresh start. Oh, the anticipation of attaining big goals. But wait! There’s a lot of crap in the way of those promises and goals. Wouldn’t it feel good if the New Year felt . . . well . . . new? Kind of like a blank canvas? [...]

3 Hacks for Organizing Your Ideas

It’s important to create systems that make it easy to access and use what we learn. Here are three of my favorite hacks for storing ideas for my blog posts, classes, books, and newsletter. [...]

Task List Navigation for Peace of Mind

Everyone feels overwhelmed at times. I find myself in this position more than I would like to admit and thought I’d share a process that has worked for me. First, make a list of everything that needs to get done, including the small steps necessary to complete the larger tasks. Everything! [...]

Organizing Your Projects Visually

Guest Blogger: Sally J. Smith

After your teleseminar with Carolyn Edlund, I was inspired to map out a system that would help me manage all the details of my very full list of goals.

I sat down and wrote out what my ultimate goal was and then the various opportunities I have to get there. Then under each one of these projects, I described the steps needed to get me to completion for that particular activity.

Artist Sally J. Smith shares how she organizes her projects.

I realized that having this information written down in list form wasn’t enough. I wanted a way to track my progress, so I made this visual organizer.

On a piece foam core, I made trajectory lines for each project. Dots mark specific steps that need to be taken to get to complete that project .

As I complete steps, I move the colorful “markers” from left to right, [...]

How to Avoid Information Overload

You will always have a hard time focusing on your art and prioritizing your art business if you haven’t taken the time to assess and plan. Knowing your priorities helps you avoid information overload. [...]

Low on Brain Cells? 6 Brainless Business Actions

©2012 Mel Ristau, At the Start of a New Day. Pigmented digital print.

We all have moments when we feel our creative juices are spent. Here are six brainless business actions you can take when you don’t have the energy to think too much. [...]

3 Speedy Ways to Wrap Up 2011 and Get a Grip on 2012

Janice McDonald collage - Time Flies

It’s time to tie a bow around 2011 and prepare for 2012 by organizing your systems. The ideas here should take you less than 1 hour, and they will bring peace of mind to your New Year. [...]