Headed on a vacation? Good for you! So many Americans don't take their vacation times and get away. I happen to be one of them. I thought owning my own business would mean more vacation time and it so hasn't happened that way. It's terrible. So I applaud those who do take their allotted vacation times.
However, traveling has not become as enjoyable as it used to be. At least not for me. The last time I traveled it was to ski in Utah and I had to pay to check my regular luggage AND my skis. On the way back they tried to charge me extra because the bag was too heavy- (ski boots) so I ended up packing my ski boots in my carry-on and then literally put on every shirt and sweater I owned until my luggage weight 50 pounds or less. It was the principle of the moment - Delta airlines had royally screwed up my flight and the woman "helping me" was being as unhelpful as she possibly could be.
Luckily summer months are upon us, which means a lot less stuff we have to bring with us. This is great news for us! Some friends are on their way to Italy and I was suggesting a few ideas for them to maximize their trip without taking everything with them. I thought I'd share those tips with all of you.
#1 - If you can avoid checking your luggage - do so! It saves money and you won't be worried the airlines will lose your luggage - since clothing is much less bulky in the summer time, there's a good chance if you pack wisely you can just use your carry-on. This also saves a ton of time checking in at the airport and then you don't have to wait at baggage claim either. Trust me, I did this when I traveled to Berlin, Germany for a wedding last year and it was fabulous.
#2 - Roll your clothing. This takes up much less room than simply folding your clothing. If you are worried about wrinkles, check to make sure your hotel room has an iron prior to leaving or pack a small one. Or bring stuff that de-wrinkles easily or doesn't wrinkle at all. I avoid linen for this very reason.
#3 - Shoes. Unless you travel like Paris Hilton 3 pairs of shoes should be fine. One pair for walking, one pair casual pair and one dressy pair.
#4 - You don't need a whole new outfit every day. Bring clothing that you can mix and match.
#5 - Wear your clothing more than once. If you are going for a week bring 2 pair of jeans, 2-3 pair of shorts, 2 skirts, 4 shirts and a light jacket and possibly a bathing suit. If you run out of room - wear your jacket on the plane. It gets cold on those flights and you may want it anyway. If not, you can take it off and store it above you. Wear your bulkiest shoes for travel as well. You can always take them off on the flight.
#6 - Exercise your right to have a carry-on AND a purse by bringing another bag with you. I use a knapsack as my "purse" and that way I can pack much more stuff.
#7 - Buy travel sized toiletries. This helps you get through security with the 3 ounce rule plus it's much easier to carry. You can always refill the bottle with your favorite shampoo which means you can help save the environment!
#8 - If possible, buy certain things you need there. If you are going to the beach - wait until you go to buy your sunscreen. If you apply correctly and are there for a week - chances are you'll actually go through the whole bottle anyway- but you didn't need to carry it with you on the plane.
I hope these 8 tips will help everyone have an enjoyable flight this summer wherever you are traveling. To learn more about my business, Gotham Concierge, visit my website at: http://www.gothamconcierge.com or ask to be added on to my monthly newsletter which shares more information on how to organize your time, space and life. Or become a client - we handle everything you don't want to from errand running, bill payment, personal assistance, professional organizing and time management. To learn more about our Time Management seminar, contact Alison Kero at: 646-831-9625 or e-mail me at: info@gothamconcierge.com.
Tuesday, May 26, 2009
Friday, May 15, 2009
Saving Time Through Intuition
My week has been not so fun. Thanks to a variety of clients blaming me because they moved their own belongings around and then couldn't find their stuff, me explaining a situation to an employee at a furniture store who acted like he knew what I was talking about and then blamed me when it was apparent he didn't, another client getting angry because I asked her to confirm our appointment and she didn't feel she had to respond if she didn't want the time, I could not be happier it's Friday.
Had I listened to my intuition in many of those situations, I could have saved myself some time. I knew when I faxed some pages to the furniture store that some might not have made it through. I believed that since I called while faxing, that the employee would then call back and alert me the first page had not gone through. I should have followed my intuition and followed up with him right after the fax went through. Instead I waited and wasted time re-sending it using a scanner and an online fax machine rather than the regular fax machine I had use of prior to making the last call.
I should also have followed my intuition about a new client. Yes, she is sweet and yes, could most definitely benefit from Gotham Concierge's services, but I knew from our initial meeting she had no regard for anyone's time but her own. Instead I decided to go against my gut feeling and am left with time spent trying to get her to commit to a time to meet and her canceling at the last minute both times. When a 30 minute free consultation turns into over 2 hours and they don't notice or care, it's time to realize they don't care about wasting your time.
Intuition can save a tremendous amount of time. If your gut is telling you to do something, listen to it. Every time I have not paid attention to my gut, I've spent more time cleaning up messes and then berating myself for not listening to myself. Every time I have listened to my intuition, I've had less stress and the knowledge I did what I knew was right the first time.
Intuition is a great time saver.
Had I listened to my intuition in many of those situations, I could have saved myself some time. I knew when I faxed some pages to the furniture store that some might not have made it through. I believed that since I called while faxing, that the employee would then call back and alert me the first page had not gone through. I should have followed my intuition and followed up with him right after the fax went through. Instead I waited and wasted time re-sending it using a scanner and an online fax machine rather than the regular fax machine I had use of prior to making the last call.
I should also have followed my intuition about a new client. Yes, she is sweet and yes, could most definitely benefit from Gotham Concierge's services, but I knew from our initial meeting she had no regard for anyone's time but her own. Instead I decided to go against my gut feeling and am left with time spent trying to get her to commit to a time to meet and her canceling at the last minute both times. When a 30 minute free consultation turns into over 2 hours and they don't notice or care, it's time to realize they don't care about wasting your time.
Intuition can save a tremendous amount of time. If your gut is telling you to do something, listen to it. Every time I have not paid attention to my gut, I've spent more time cleaning up messes and then berating myself for not listening to myself. Every time I have listened to my intuition, I've had less stress and the knowledge I did what I knew was right the first time.
Intuition is a great time saver.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Sucking It Up- When Time Management Has Reached Its Limit
Today I was presenting my time management seminar to a group of members at NAWBO-NYC (National Association of Women Business Owners- NYC chapter) and afterwards one of them asked me a very important question. She told me that once a month, she and her assistant would spend 5 hours or more working on invoicing. She said she had felt they had developed a system that worked for them, but it was time consuming and unpleasant. She wondered if I could come up with an alternative solution.
I offered 2 solutions.
Solution number one would be to outsource invoicing which may or may not lead to less time because her clients changed their scheduled time so frequently.
Solution number two was to recognize that she was invoicing her clients. Meaning she was making money! Perhaps the process was not as fun as her other duties, but invoicing helps provide information on the health of the company. I told her the best solution was to realize it was going to be a lengthy process no matter what, allocate enough time for the process to be handled and the only thing she could change about the situation was her outlook.
Often, changing how you think or feel about certain duties you dislike can make a huge difference in how long something takes! If you look at the project more positively, it is easier to start the project, stay on task and finish earlier.
So good luck tackling that project or task you hate but remember, how you view it can make a huge difference.
I offered 2 solutions.
Solution number one would be to outsource invoicing which may or may not lead to less time because her clients changed their scheduled time so frequently.
Solution number two was to recognize that she was invoicing her clients. Meaning she was making money! Perhaps the process was not as fun as her other duties, but invoicing helps provide information on the health of the company. I told her the best solution was to realize it was going to be a lengthy process no matter what, allocate enough time for the process to be handled and the only thing she could change about the situation was her outlook.
Often, changing how you think or feel about certain duties you dislike can make a huge difference in how long something takes! If you look at the project more positively, it is easier to start the project, stay on task and finish earlier.
So good luck tackling that project or task you hate but remember, how you view it can make a huge difference.
Monday, April 27, 2009
The Art of Saying No
Time Management is an issue that affects most of my clients. It's why they contact us in the first place. They're smart enough to realize they need help and are willing to pay for extra time added to their lives.
However, time management is not just about outsourcing additional help when you need it. It's about making choices when adding new activities or opportunities to your already hectic schedule. How do you make those tough decisions? How do you turn down an opportunity without seeming ungrateful? How do you add more "life" into your work/life balance?
There's tons of ways to begin making positive changes to your work/life balance. Learning to say, "no" affectively is one of my favorite ways. Mostly because saying that word is so difficult for many people to say, especially women.
It is said that when a man says, "no" that is the end of the conversation. When a woman says, "no" it is the beginning of a negotiation. I find this, in most cases, to be quite accurate. I remember stepping down from a volunteer position due to lack of time, lack of desire and wanting to add other opportunities into my life and spent over 30 minutes defending my decision to the person in charge. It wasn't fun and frankly, my first reason was good enough - I didn't have enough time.
That being said, there are ways to say no more affectively.
"I thank you for the opportunity and hope more will be passed my way, but at this time I do not have the time to the focus that it nees to this project/opportunity . I hope you remember me again if another opportunity comes up in the future."
"I would love to assist you in that, but am feeling I do not have the time to cover this project by myself properly, is there a way someone else could either handle this or I can receive additional support from others?"
If you handle the, "gee, I'm sorry I don't have the time" situation well, most people will walk away feeling okay that you were unable to say yes. If, however, someone continues to persist, the best way is to say that you feel you've given your reason and you are delighted they feel so strongly about your being part of the activity or project but your time is precious and you've made your decision. " at that point you then make an excuse to walk away or get off the phone.
Lastly, always remember that you don't owe anyone any more of an explanation and often, the hardest part to learn is to realize this and stick to it. Do not feel guilty, do not feel obligated -those 2 key pieces will help when turning others down. You only have so much to give and are no good to anyone on a project or activity if you don't have the time or inclination to give it your full attention.
However, time management is not just about outsourcing additional help when you need it. It's about making choices when adding new activities or opportunities to your already hectic schedule. How do you make those tough decisions? How do you turn down an opportunity without seeming ungrateful? How do you add more "life" into your work/life balance?
There's tons of ways to begin making positive changes to your work/life balance. Learning to say, "no" affectively is one of my favorite ways. Mostly because saying that word is so difficult for many people to say, especially women.
It is said that when a man says, "no" that is the end of the conversation. When a woman says, "no" it is the beginning of a negotiation. I find this, in most cases, to be quite accurate. I remember stepping down from a volunteer position due to lack of time, lack of desire and wanting to add other opportunities into my life and spent over 30 minutes defending my decision to the person in charge. It wasn't fun and frankly, my first reason was good enough - I didn't have enough time.
That being said, there are ways to say no more affectively.
"I thank you for the opportunity and hope more will be passed my way, but at this time I do not have the time to the focus that it nees to this project/opportunity . I hope you remember me again if another opportunity comes up in the future."
"I would love to assist you in that, but am feeling I do not have the time to cover this project by myself properly, is there a way someone else could either handle this or I can receive additional support from others?"
If you handle the, "gee, I'm sorry I don't have the time" situation well, most people will walk away feeling okay that you were unable to say yes. If, however, someone continues to persist, the best way is to say that you feel you've given your reason and you are delighted they feel so strongly about your being part of the activity or project but your time is precious and you've made your decision. " at that point you then make an excuse to walk away or get off the phone.
Lastly, always remember that you don't owe anyone any more of an explanation and often, the hardest part to learn is to realize this and stick to it. Do not feel guilty, do not feel obligated -those 2 key pieces will help when turning others down. You only have so much to give and are no good to anyone on a project or activity if you don't have the time or inclination to give it your full attention.
Monday, March 19, 2007
March 18, 2007
April 25th will mark the 3 year anniversary of the day I realized I needed to make a change in my life. I was working at a job I hated and was feeling very under-appreciated. I had spent my entire working life in jobs I felt were boring, unchallenging and offered little opportunity for promotion. I'd had enough of being a 9-5 worker stuck in an office trying to figure out ways to kill time.
So I quit my job 2 months later and embarked upon one of the greatest journey's of my life. I started my own concierge business. I spent that summer learning how to run a business, filling out the proper paper work and writing my business plan. By late October I'd finished everything, designed my website and had my business cards, letterhead and brochures all set. I was ready to get started!
My only problem was, I had a great company and no one knew about it. It made me wish I'd taken an actual marketing course in college, but who knew I'd start my business? Back then I figured what I was meant to do would come to me after I graduated; and it did: it just sucked it didn't happen until I was 30. So what to do? I tried all sorts of marketing ideas. Spent thousands of dollars on ad compaigns that rarely worked.
I joined a networking group. Once a week, this diehard non-morning person dragged herself out of bed at 5 a.m. to get to the group by 7 a. m. and tried to convince others how great her company was. What was wrong with it were a few things: first, I hate people that early in the morning, and second, if you're in the wrong group, no amount of faked cheeriness is going to help you. I quit after a year and slept in happily. However, I will say that going every week did help me improve my networking skills in general.
In the meantime, through meeting hundreds of people, I was able to finally start getting clients. The greatest part is that no two clients are alike. They all have different needs and I get to figure out how to help them. That's the greatest benefit to having a concierge business. One day a week I do bill payment, quickbooks and the occasional general errand for a client. Another asks me to take their car in for servicing.
Recently I worked with a client suffering from hoarding. I worked with the family to help them figure out how to help their mother with minimum stress. It was a great learning experience for myself and I now can help others free their lives with clutter even better than I could before.
So I quit my job 2 months later and embarked upon one of the greatest journey's of my life. I started my own concierge business. I spent that summer learning how to run a business, filling out the proper paper work and writing my business plan. By late October I'd finished everything, designed my website and had my business cards, letterhead and brochures all set. I was ready to get started!
My only problem was, I had a great company and no one knew about it. It made me wish I'd taken an actual marketing course in college, but who knew I'd start my business? Back then I figured what I was meant to do would come to me after I graduated; and it did: it just sucked it didn't happen until I was 30. So what to do? I tried all sorts of marketing ideas. Spent thousands of dollars on ad compaigns that rarely worked.
I joined a networking group. Once a week, this diehard non-morning person dragged herself out of bed at 5 a.m. to get to the group by 7 a. m. and tried to convince others how great her company was. What was wrong with it were a few things: first, I hate people that early in the morning, and second, if you're in the wrong group, no amount of faked cheeriness is going to help you. I quit after a year and slept in happily. However, I will say that going every week did help me improve my networking skills in general.
In the meantime, through meeting hundreds of people, I was able to finally start getting clients. The greatest part is that no two clients are alike. They all have different needs and I get to figure out how to help them. That's the greatest benefit to having a concierge business. One day a week I do bill payment, quickbooks and the occasional general errand for a client. Another asks me to take their car in for servicing.
Recently I worked with a client suffering from hoarding. I worked with the family to help them figure out how to help their mother with minimum stress. It was a great learning experience for myself and I now can help others free their lives with clutter even better than I could before.
Lastly, I was pleased to recently assist a friend in re-organizing her kitchen. She felt she was ready to make a change and we were able to free up a ton of space and place like items together so she knew where to find everything. She has managed to maintain her kitchen and now even spends time in there now that she can use her table. Check above for the before and after shots.
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