Day 6: So Far, So Good

Well, it's Day 6 of the new year, and my "For the Love of God, Get Organized" resolution is still going strong. How are you faring?

I have this nasty habit of falling so behind and becoming so unorganized that just the thought of attempting to sort one pile leaves me feeling exhausted. But as I dig my way out of last year's mess, I'm feeling empowered and productive. I know for a fact that I lost money in 2008 simply because I was unorganized, and that's absolutely inexcusable.

In this dreadful economy (another friend of mine got laid off yesterday), while we look for new avenues of opportunity, make sure that you're on top of the things that you CAN control. Banks are continuing to slap all kinds of fees on their accounts and credit card companies are raising rates, so now is the time to take a look at all the services you use to see 1) if you are being offered the best deal and 2) if you're getting the most out of the deal (read: not lapsing into overdraft and getting hit with $10 fees for each transgression).

If anything, this recession offers the best excuse for cleaning house -- figuratively, of course. I honestly don't know what it will take to get me to vacuum under the couch.

Make Lemonade!

I totally agree with the author of this post, that the recession can be your business' best friend because there are, indeed, many companies looking for alternative ways of getting their wares to the general population. Now's your chance to get into the game. Be better priced and offer better quality merchandise or services. Offer them something they've never seen before, and follow up consistently, but not annoyingly. Barter, network... Get out there and don't take no for an answer.

Long Way Down

Well, it's official... The nation is in a recession. If you're working at home, you no doubt have been feeling the pinch over the last few months. It wasn't until the day before Thanksgiving that things really hit home for me, as a freelance writer and editor. I lost a sizable client that day (what kind of client tells you he doesn't need your services anymore just before a holiday?), and I spent much of the long weekend feeling as if I were wearing a hat that was too small for my head, pondering how to replace the income lost in a market filled with an abundance of writers (many of them my friends) looking for work.

I'm optimistic, though. It's my nature. But yesterday when a well-meaning friend said to me, "Dina, you know that when a door closes, a window opens," I couldn't help but wonder how long of a way down it was to the pavement from that window.