The contest is over and a winner has been chosen.  I used the Random Number Generator website to generate the number.  I counted down to 108, beginning with the first day of the contest as the beginning, and skipping the “pingback” in the list of comments.  I have contacted #108 and she has responded.  Congratulations!  and Thanks to all of you who participated in the contest.

Here is the screen capture of the Random Number Generator:

To learn more about the Brother MFC 6490CW Printer, read my three contest posts:

Brother Printer Contest Announced

More about the Printer

Pros and Cons of the printer

Today is the last day of the printer contest; it ends at 11:59 tonight. Here is the link of the post to use to enter the contest:

Home Business Printer Contest

Please do NOT respond to today’s post – go to the contest post and comment, so your comment will be counted.

I also described more features of the printer last week, and I wanted to give you some final pros and cons for the printer.   I have been using my Brother MCP 6490CW for about a week, and for the most part I love it.

Best features:
Faxing is easy – I just plugged in my phone cord, ran through the fax menu, and the fax was sent.
The automatic document feeder is wonderful. If I have a stack of items I need to copy, they can be fed through quickly.

There is a neat little “tab” thingy that pulls out in the front to prevent the paper from flying out as it comes off the printer. My husband wondered if that would cause a jam if you printed a bunch of sheets. I could not get it to jam, so I don’t know.

The printer is fast, almost as fast as the laser printer I have. I’ve been using the Brother for both black/white and color, and it prints quickly, even in color.

Cons

I can’t really find much negative to say about this printer. Here was one thing I found annoying.  The menu screen times out too quickly.  When I was setting up the wireless network, it kept timing out and I kept having to start over. The longest I could set the menu screen was 5 minutes, which isn’t much when you’re trying to find information and read setup manuals.

The wireless network only allows two computers under the license. I didn’t find this out until I closely read the wireless setup guide. If you have more than two computers on the wireless network, you have to get an additional license.

The cartridges are expensive (but aren’t they all). I found them for various prices online, but all were around $30.00 each. The color is not quite as good as the laser, but it’s very good.

I have used several other “all in one” printers (a Lexmark X83 and an HP Deskjet) and I would say the new Brother MCP 6490CW is a generation ahead of them. It is faster, has more capabilities (especially the wireless feature)l, and it’s a great printer. And the price makes it a an excellent deal. If you are looking for a printer that can do everything except high-speed laser printing, it should be at the top of your list of possibilities.

Image courtesy Brother

I talked with Dee, the professional organizer who is helping me get organized in my home office. I asked to tell her story about being a professional organizer.  Here it is, in her own words:

My choice to become a professional organizer has evolved out of my desire for a new career and out of necessity in helping my 8 year old son Alec, who is an Autism Spectrum child.  Because of his unique challenges and his need for a peaceful, non-chaotic environment, I have learned the value of what good organization can bring to his well-being — physical, mental and emotional health.

For most people, general organization is “nice,” but for children and adults with special learning challenges like my son, it is an absolute necessity.  People who struggle with the daily effects of ADD, ADHD, and OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder) must overcome many sensory obstacles that most of us simply cannot comprehend.  My son has taught me a lot over this past few years and I have decided to use my passion to help others to no longer live in personal surroundings which they perceive as whirling, uncontrolled nightmares.  I can help them create restful environments that are filled with a sense of order and harmony.

Most people are unaware of the mental and emotional effects of our clutter.  Each day we waste tons of energy in “clutter management.”  We move it from place to place, we shift it, store it, lift it, walk around it, and we even dash madly to hide it when company comes to visit!  We spend hours frantically looking for things like our car keys, wallets, invitations, school notices, work documents, etc., only to find them in, under, beside, or behind some pile of dust-gathering junk, newspapers, or magazines that we have not read since Carter was president!

A professional organizer can help you start to sort out those piles and stacks of clutter.  Maybe cleaning the desk top you haven’t seen in months, sorting that basement room where you hide things, or helping you develop a system for sorting the pile of mail that causes such stress in your life each day.

My first task as a professional organizer is to take time to get to know you, my client.  My most important step toward success is gaining some understanding of your “mental picture” of what a smooth-running, productive day truly looks like.  This picture is as unique as your fingerprints.  Some clients prefer that I work with them through the entire process, whil others prefer that I “have at it” on my own, and some want to hire me more as a “motivational coach” who gets them started on projects and gives them homework assignments.

One of my favorite clients was a beautiful, feisty 80 year old widow who lived in a small dilapidated farmhouse.  I was hired by her children to help her clean her dining room table.  The family no longer came over for dinner because of the piles of old newspapers, receipts, photographs, and magazines which littered the table top.  I spent two whole days cleaning off the top of the table.  Words cannot describe the sheer joy and delight on her face when she saw her dining area clean, beautiful, peaceful and ready for her next family gathering!  I honestly didn’t know that an 80-year-old could hug my neck that hard!  OUCH!  It hurt so good!

Being a professional organizer has benefits, such as scheduling my own hours, being active throughout my work day, and getting financially compensated for my personal services.  But it’s those times with people like my elderly client that are cluttered with a sense of pride, accomplishment, and purpose that is, in a word, PRICELESS!

Quite a story, Dee!  I admire you for your great ideals and I know you’ll be fantastic in your own business!

Image source: PicApp

I’m running a Home Business Brother Printer contest here on Home Biz Notes. Go to my January 21st post to see the rules, comment and enter (please do NOT comment on today’s post, just on the Jan. 21st one.). Be sure to let me know how you would like to use the printer if you win.

I wanted to let you know about the Brother MFC 6490CW printer and its features, so the winner will know what he/she is getting, and so the rest of you will have an opportunity to consider it the next time you are looking for a printer.

First, I should tell you that this printer is bigger than you might expect. If you have used other all-in-one printers, you will be surprised to see that it’s half again as large as an HP or Lexmark (both of when I have used). But it fits nicely on the top of a credenza and, except for the power plug, all the controls are on the front or the side, so there is no problem with having to go around the back to do things.

Wireless Setup. i’m pretty computer savvy, and tech un-savvy, so I approached the setup with some concern. I’m also someone who doesn’t like to have to go to the manual. I did use the manual to set up the wireless. Once I found my network WEP key (on the back of my router), I was all set – it took me about 15 minutes. My only complaint about the setup (actually the only complaint with the printer at all) is that the menu screen kept timing out on my while I was trying to figure out what to do. I did figure out that I could set the time-out on the screen to 5 minutes, but when you are working with a setup, it may take 5 minutes just to read the manual.

Other Setup. The cartridges (4 colors) were easy to install, and the machine setup was quick, although I never did find the test page and couldn’t figure out how to run one (I looked on the Brother printer website – no luck). The setup on the menu screen was easy to read and the buttons were clearly marked, so I had no trouble getting through the initial setup. I like having 4 separate cartridges, because then I don’t have to replace them all when the black runs out.

Printing. I’ve been doing a lot of printing – I have run multiple color copies, and business cards on card stock, with no problem. The print tray holds about 150 pages, but there is a second print tray which can be used for overflow or for large copies.

Scanning. The printer scans up to 11×17 sized documents. My husband loved this, because he does geneology and he wanted to scan a large book. It was no problem, and he was able to do the scan and print a copy easily. He figured out the scanning function quickly and he’s been fighting with me to use the printer ever since!

AutoDoc Feeder. The printer has an automatic document feeder, for up to 50 pages. This is a great feature for allowing you to insert pages and let it go.

Price. Are you ready for a surprise? The printer is surprisingly inexpensive. It’s available on Amazon for under $200 and on the Brother site for $299.99 .

Tomorrow, more about faxing and other features.

In recognition of “Getting Things Done” and professional organization this month, I interviewed Ellen Faye.  Ellen is the owner of Straighten-Up and she’s a Certified Professional Organizer.  She’s been working in the professional organization business since 1999, and she is a key person in the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO).  Here’s the interview:

1.  How did you get into the professional organization business?

When my youngest child went to school full-time, I decided I needed to get back to work.  I had been in the hotel business, learned about service businesses, but I knew I didn’t want to work for someone else again.  I looked around for different kinds of businesses, and a designer told me, “You’re so organized, you should be a professional.”  I did some research and realized it was a perfect match – it included my people skills, my gift for organization, and my business skills.

I love what I do and I make a good living, and my business continues to grow.

2. What kind of advertising did you do or do you do now?

I do no advertising; I never have.  I put up flyers at my children’s schoools, and I do giveaways at school (school auctions, for example).  I get new clients from the website and from referrals.

3.  How far do you travel to work with people?

I will travel 30 minutes each way with no travel charge; over that, I charge by the mile.  I usually refer out business which is more than 45 minutes to an hour away.  I belong to a network of professional organizers and I can refer business to them (and vice versa).

4. Do you have a certain type of client you work with?

I work with a variety of people and I like being well-rounded.  My biggest criterion is working with people I feel connected to and people I want to work with.  Most of my clients are women who run businesses from their homes, who are trying to integrate home and business.

Every person is different, so my work is diverse.  I do an initial needs assessment which takes two hours, to determine the scope of work and the initial action steps.  Some people just use that and that’s all they want.

5.  How long is a typical assignment?

Each assignment length is different.  Some people start out with one area they need help with, and we keep finding more things to work on.  Once someone sees how successful the first project is, they want to keep going on and on.  There are so many aspects we can look at – from email to financial papers and paper management and more.

Assignment length runs from just the two-hour initial session to my longest assignment of over 400 hours.  People make decisions at different rates; some can make split second decisions on whether to throw things out; others are more emotionally connected to their stuff and might take longer to make a decision about it.

6.  Are there people you just can’t work with?

Some people are chronically disorganized.  These people have emotional issues and find it difficult to let go.  Sometimes it’s pretty evident that they are not ready to be organized; this is usually a mutual decision to end the relationship.

7.  How do you deal with “backsliding”?  That is, people who get organized and then can’t stay that way.

Many people backslide.  Think about WeightWatchers, for example.  A person might lose weight and put it back on again and again.  Sometimes it’s three steps forward and one step back.  As with losing weight, people don’t get organized until the reason for the change outweighs the reason not to change.

If you are interested in knowing more about Chronic Disorganization and Hoarding, read the book Buried in Treasures by Tolin, Frost, and Steketee.

In trying to change any habit, we don’t do it until it feels worse not to change.  If you decide to change, you start seeing the value in changing.  You feel much more in control, and so much more at peace.

8.  What are your rates?
Understand that rates in different parts of the country are different.  Also, I’m a Certified Professional Organizer, so I charge more.  I charge $250 for the first 2-hour session, then $450 for a six-hour session.   Organizers starting out usually charge less.

By the way, I work with clients every other week for three hours at a time.  That seems about right to me; too much too fast is overwhelming.

9.  If I wanted to become a professional organizer, what should I do?

Go to the National Organization of Professional Organizers website (napo.net)
If you live near a chapter, go to a meeting.  You might want to look at  the NAPO-Philadelphia chapter site and the FAQ’s I wrote, to learn more about what it takes to be a professional organizer.

Read books, talk to other organizers.  Consider attending the national conference – this year it’s at the beginning of May in Orlando. I’m doing a session on The Magic of Motivating.  (I’m also the chair of the 2010 convention in Columbus, Ohio.)

When you are first starting, practice for free on people you know, then get them to give you a testimonial.  Or trade work with someone and write testimonials for each other.

Get a good solid business structure in place!  Find someone you can work with on that business structure.  Talk to the Small Business Administration in your area, go to programs to learn how to put that structure in place.  Get a coach who can help you get a business structure set up.

10. Who becomes a professional organizer?
It’s really not a “mom” driven industry.  About half the people who are professional organizers are professional women who have been in other fields and who choose to do this.  It’s not just a bunch of moms who are not serious about it.

For me, it works.  As my children got older, I’ve added more hours.  When they were younger, I fit in my client hours when they were in school or on evenings and weekends.  I could choose when I wanted to work.

11.  What tips would you give someone who wants to become a professional organizer?

Here is what I would tell someone who wants to become a professional organizer:

1.  Keep the balance between just being a good organizer and your relationship skills.
2.  Have a good solid business structure.
3.  Keep it simple.

Thanks, Ellen, for your good advice.  Tomorrow, I have an interview with a new organizer, and she will talk about getting organized in your home business.

I am very excited to announce a new contest on Home Biz Notes.  Between now and the end of the month (next Friday), I’ll be telling you about a printer from Brother, and you will have the opportunity to win this printer!

First, the contest: Leave a comment on THIS POST telling me the first thing you would print on this printer or why this printer would help you in your home business. You must be specific in your comment about how you would use the printer or what you would print.  Don’t just say “this is cool” or “I’d love this printer.”  Your comments will help Brother know how their printer will be used.

You must include your email address (no one else but me will see it).  And PLEASE put my email address (jean@thethrivingwriter.com) on your non-spam list, so you can receive my email telling you that you won!

Only one entry per person. U.S. only for shipping.  The contest will end at 12 a.m. (midnight) next Thursday (January 29). I will use a random number generator to choose the winning entrant, and I will announce the winner on Friday, January 30.  The printer will be sent directly to the winner by Brother.

Brother MFC 6490CW

Now the printer: It is a Brother 6490CW – A color inkjet “all-in-one” copier, printer, fax, scanner – perfect for someone in a home office.  Some other features:

+ It prints in color and it can print on photo paper

+ It scans 11×17 size sheets, so you can scan two pages of a book at once.

+ It has an automatic document feeder to feed up to 50 sheets.

+ It has both wire (Ethernet) and wireless capabilities, so you can connect to several computers.

I have one of these printers in my home office, and I will be giving you more information about it over the next few days.  I’ll describe the setup process I went through, and how it handled some of the tasks I needed done.  Now if only I could get it to jam, so I could see how it handles that (just kidding).

What is your “dream” organized day?  How does being productive look to you?

My new professional organization expert asked me this question and I had to stop and think… Here is just part of what I thought about:

Start of the Day. First, my day would start with my having before me a list of the things I need to do, in the order I need to do them.

My email would be prioritized for me, the spam removed, and any email that required a quick response or appointment scheduled would already be taken care of for me.

Task Manager. My tasks would be presented to me – As I finished one task, the next one would appear, and I could work through it.  (Well, this dream is getting better – I hope I don’t wake up soon.)  Any interruptions, like phone calls or email “pop-ups” would be handled and put in my queue.

During the Day. Throughout the day, as I came upon new tasks, from email, phone calls, or my own thoughts, I would write them down someplace and immediately prioritize them, deciding on when to handle each one (this afternoon?  tomorrow?  end of the week?)

At the End of Each Day. Before quitting time every day, I would review my priorities and decide how to deal with each one.  I would set up the top priorities for first thing the next morning, so I would not have to waste time figuring out what to do first, second, etc.

Then, I would close the door on my office and enjoy my evening - quilting or reading or watching movies.

What about you?  What does your organized day look like?  How come your REAL day isn’t like that?

You want to watch the Inauguration tomorrow.  After all, history is being made and TV makes it possible for us to be there.  But you have a home business to run.  There must be some things you can do so you can move your business forward while still being involved in this historic occasion.

I have to travel tomorrow, but I know what I would be doing while watching the Inauguration.  Here are three things I would be doing if I were working at home:

Cleaning up email. I don’t usually get all excited about this, and I usually just let my old email pile up.  But once in a while, I do clean out.  This would be a a good day for it.  I have a procedure when I initially read an email, so I can separate the important from the junk:

• First, I do an initial “triage” – I delete the “spam/junk” and the stuff I know I won’t read.
• Then, I mark mail that I have to respond to and I make a note on my “to do” list.
• As I make my initial review,  I respond to the emails I can take care of quickly, like those that just involve “what time shall we talk?” or “Can you send me this (if I know where it is)?”
• The other emails I have to respond to that will take some time, I take care of during the time I have set aside for this.

Filing. I have been working on setting up my files to eliminate clutter and be able to find important pieces of paper more quickly.  I have been using the Getting Things Done system, but I’ve modified it to work for me.  For example, David Allen says to put everything in one file, labeled alphabetically.  I’ve set up two files – one for current stuff, and the other for stuff I need to keep, but I don’t need to get to quickly.
For example, I keep this year’s invoices and bills for my business, but I have pulled out last year’s and put them in my “2008 Business Taxes” file.  When I’m done with my 2008 taxes, I can put that file in my “archives.”

Prepare for Tax Time. While you are cleaning up, it might be a good time to get ready to file your income taxes. Start by making a checklist of all the tax tasks and forms you need.  Finding all the paperwork from last year, printing out W-2s or 1099s for employees and contractors, can all be done while you are watching TV. 

Whatever your filing system, it might be a good time to catch up.

Easy Tasks. I can’t do any heavy writing that requires concentration while I’m watching TV, but I can respond to emails, take notes on items I’m reading or find on the Internet that I want to work with.  And I’m sure there will be a few commercials I can use to make a phone call or two.

What about you?  Will you be keeping an eye on the TV tomorrow as you watch the Inauguration?  Or will you just set the DVR to “record” for the whole thing (as I’m going to do), and get to work?

Image source:  StockXchng

David Allen’s book Getting Things Done is our January “Book of the Month.”  I have been reading through it and finding lots of inspiration to get going.  Today, I wanted to give you a list of stuff that you will need to get started, but before I do that here is something he said that makes a lot of sense:  The filing system you set up should be:

FAST (it should take you less than a minute to get what you need from the file)

FUN (if it’s not fun, you won’t keep doing it)

EASY (that goes with fast, I think)

CURRENT (the stuff you are working with right now)

COMPLETE (nothing left out).

I like the “Fun” part, especially.  So here’s what you need:

1.  A Labelmaker - Cool!  I love labelmakers.  I always borrow my daughter-in-law’s but he says you need your own so you can make labels whenever you need to.  So I went out and bought one.  Of course, I bought a Dymo, since they were nice enough to give me a Twin Turbo for the December contest.  (I did give it away.)

2. File folders. I bought a lot of colorful folders.  No boring “vanilla” ones for me.  You may need the hanging folders but they won’t be labeled.  You will put just one folder in each hanger.

3.  A quality filing drawer or cabinet. Make it easy to get into so you don’t have to fight with the drawers.  I already have a credenza that goes with my desk, so I’m set there.

This is just the beginning.  There is lots more in his books (I also read Ready for Anything:52 Productivity Principles….).

More on this subject next week, including a CONTEST announcement.

I heard about the concept of MasterMind groups many years ago, when I read Napoleon Hill’s book Think and Grow Rich. Participating in a MasterMind group can be a great way to get support and creative ideas for your business and the group can be a catalyst to the growth of your home busines.  To learn more about these groups, I interviewed Karyn Greenstreet, President of Passion for Business; Karyn trains MasterMind group facilitators and she facilitates MasterMind groups.

What is a MasterMind group?
A MasterMind group is a small group of people – 6-8 usually – who get together on a regular basis with a facilitator, to bounce ideas off each other, challenge each other.  The purpose of the group is not just to give advice to each other, but to ask good questions and help clarify problems. For example, one member of the group might say, “I’m having trouble getting enough time for myself,” and ask the group for suggestions.  Or someone might have a hard time letting go and delegating to employees.  The group can challenge the person to make changes in her leadership style.

A MasterMind group is not a class where people are led by an instructor.  It’s not a group coaching session, and it’s not a networking/referral opportunity, although networking is sometimes a result.  A great MasterMind group contains a diversity of people with a common interest.  For example, the MasterMind group I belong to includes other business women: a chiropractor, a graphic artist, a professional author, and a professional songwriter.

What is the benefit of a MasterMind group for home-business owners?
It can be really lonely running a home business; you really need to know there are other people to connect with, people who understand.  Working alone at home, you get isolated in your thinking and you may lose creativity.  You get into a single-track though mode, and it helps to have people to bounce things off.

One of the other benefits of a MasterMind group is that the people in the group all see the world in different ways.  A graphic designer, an EBay business owner, might have ideas that are new and creative to share with each other.

Being in a MasterMind group is a great opportunity for you to step out of your “box” and figure out your life and your business.  The people in the group are not family or friends, so they have no other agenda.  They are together for mutual benefit.

Can you participate in a MasterMind group by phone?
Certainly.  Many groups use teleconferencing to meet.  The group members can be anywhere, as long as they can agree on a time to meet.

What makes a successful MasterMind group?
For a group to be successful, the members must be committed and willing to participate.  Groups can week as often as you like, but all members must commit to being at all meetings.  And everyone must participate.

Does a MasterMind group need a leader?
Not a leader, but a facilitator.  Having a skilled facilitator, someone who is skilled at running a group, keeps the group together and helps with difficult situations.  The group is more likely to fall apart if it doesn’t have a facilitator.   The facilitator makes sure everyone gets an equal amount of time to give and receive.  Some groups have a bully, who likes to argue or dominate conversation.  The facilitator can keep that person from dominating.

What kind of people should you not have in a MasterMind group?
As I mentioned above, bullies can be difficult.  People who are intensely quiet and not willing to express opinions can also be difficult, but they can be drawn out by a skilled facilitator.  People who aren’t into the process, who are not really trying to participate, can be a problem; these people may need to be asked to leave, or they self-eject.  The facilitator’s role is to be aware of personality types and use skills to bring the group together.

How do I find or create a MasterMind group?
If you want to be part of a local group and meet in person, you can find people; most medium to large cities have many groups.  A big-city Chamber of Commerce may have a list.  You can also search online.  If you can’t find one, create one.  (Karyn didn’t mention it, but using social media like Twitter or FaceBook may give you a lead on a group.)

You might look at the MasterMind groups on The Success Alliance.  The January groups are full, but you can sign up for a waiting list for the next group sessions facilitated by Karyn.  Or you can find an online MasterMind group led by another trained MasterMind facilitator (go to TheSuccessAlliance listing).

Thanks, Karyn!  I’m ready to join.

___________

More about Karyn: Karyn Greenstreet is the President of Passion For Business, LLC. Karyn is an internationally-known speaker, author, and self-employment expert who has taught business and personal development topics to over 250,000 people worldwide.  She is extraordinarily passionate about helping self-employed people to create the life and business they want.

Karyn has significant experience in starting and running home-based and self-employed businesses since 1981.  She has had successful businesses as a professional wedding & portrait photographer, owner of a recording studio, personal growth instructor, and owner of Passion for Business.