| As you look around at your desk, what do you see? | | | | use them to label things. Place one on each filing |
| Do you have the traditional desk organizers from your | | | | cabinet drawer and write on the back of some of |
| local office supply store? Did you pick them up | | | | your old business cards what is in the drawer. Use |
| because of the price, functionality, or because you | | | | them on the back of the magazine holder so you |
| should have it? | | | | know which client or project it is for. |
| Many entrepreneurs when starting off on their own, | | | | 3. Over-the-Door Shoe Rack - I have talked about |
| set up their home office as a mirror image of what | | | | these before and they are brilliant to use for office |
| they left behind. Oftentimes finding that they don't have | | | | supplies. Simply put one over the back of your office |
| enough wall space for mementos like they had when | | | | door and you have instant space for printer cartridges, |
| they lived in a cube. Perhaps it's not the wall space | | | | extra pens, staples, tape, etc. |
| they miss, but the ample amount of filing cabinets they | | | | 4. Coffee Mug - Why not use one of the numerous |
| had in their office. Whatever the dilemma, it's the bigger | | | | coffee mugs you have in the house for your pens and |
| picture of LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND! You left the rat | | | | pencils? It doesn't have to be a traditional ugly one, |
| race to spread your wings, spend more time with your | | | | maybe one of the more decorative mugs or if you |
| family, become more independent, well don't forget to | | | | really want to remind yourself what you left behind use |
| cut the office shoe strings as well. | | | | the coffee mug from your last employer. |
| Think outside the box when it comes to setting up | | | | 5. Gift Tags - If you love to label all of your baskets, |
| your home office. Instead of purchasing a $7 plastic | | | | boxes, or binders try using some of the colorful gift |
| paperclip holder, why not find a beautiful dish or candle | | | | tags you find at the store. Not only do they brighten up |
| holder you have lying around the house? Better yet, | | | | your space, you have something uniquely you |
| stop by your local antique shop and see what you can | | | | surrounding your space. Plus it's a cheery way of |
| find there. What are some other ideas for more | | | | reminding you that there is work to be done. |
| non-traditional office supplies? | | | | 6. Metal Strips - You may not necessarily need a cork |
| 6 Not-So-Traditional Organizing Solutions | | | | board even if you like to hang things up where you |
| 1. Magazine Holders - Instead of using them to hold | | | | can see them. IKEA has some great metal magnetic |
| your magazines, try utilizing them in lieu of stacking | | | | strips for $.99 that work out spendidly for hanging up |
| racks. You can have one magazine holder for each | | | | notes, coupons, deadlines, or articles that have been |
| client or project you are working on. They will not only | | | | written about you and your new endeavor. |
| hold a file, but books, magazines, or any other items | | | | Try not to worry so much about setting up your office |
| you may need to complete your project. If you aren't | | | | to look like an office. You may find that you are more |
| happy with the color, throw on a couple coats of paint | | | | inspired to work when you feel like you working for |
| or wrap them with contact paper or your favorite | | | | you and not for someone else. The most important |
| wrapping paper. | | | | piece of working for yourself is having a work |
| 2. Adhesive Business Card Sleeves - Although these | | | | environment you can work in and one that works for |
| work great for the inside of a file folder to hold the | | | | you. |
| business cards for your client or vendor, you can also | | | | |