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Reduce Clutter & Boost Your Productivity: Smart Tips for the New Year

Reduce Clutter & Boost Your Productivity: Smart Tips for the New Year

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With 2015 firmly upon us, now is a great time to tackle clutter. Who doesn’t want a fresh, clean start to the new year? For many, getting rid of clutter is a kind of physical act that can help figuratively clear their mind. In fact, Princeton University published the results of a study they conducted called Interactions of Top-Down and Bottom-Up Mechanisms in Human Visual Cortex. The website Unclutterer.com summed up the study’s conclusion this way: “When your environment is cluttered, the chaos restricts your ability to focus. The clutter also limits your brain’s ability to process information. Clutter makes you distracted and unable to process information as well as you do in an uncluttered, organized, and serene environment.”[1]

When you’re organized and can navigate throughout your house and workspace easily, you’re more likely to be more productive and less stressed. Here are some of the best tips we rounded up about how to sort through a mess and come out organized on the other side!

 

At home:

 

Go room by room. First thing: start by picking up everything that’s on the floor. Keep two bags handy – one for trash, and the other for donation. Once your floors are clear, move onto the surfaces: desks, side tables and dressers.

 

Designate a space. Everything should have a place. This may mean you need clear storage boxes or a piece of multi-functional furniture. But in the end you’ll be better organized, and instantly know where to go when you’re looking for something specific.

 

Empty every drawer. You won’t know what you’ve got until you pull everything out for inspection. For the items you decide to keep, make sure they’re clean and folded. If you love an item and wear it often, keep it. If you can’t remember the last time you wore or used something, donate it.

 

Brave your closet. Again, review each item – if you haven’t worn it in six months, consider donating it. Many cities have non-profit programs that provide professional attire to those who are looking for gainful employment. Crisis centers are another place to consider donating both adult and child’s clothing.

 

Grab that label maker. You know you want to use it! Label makers are great if you’re using (upcycling!) old shoe or cardboard boxes for storage. Being able to glance at the outside of a box and know its contents can save you a lot of time in the future.

 

Allow yourself 15 or so minutes a day for maintenance. Set aside a manageable chunk of time that you can spend every day maintaining your newfound sense of order. Just a few minutes set aside every day can keep you from spending a whole day at the end of every month.

 

 

At work:

 

Tackle your desk. With a few empty boxes sitting by, clear out each drawer and the surface of your desk. Wipe out the inside of each drawer with a damp cloth. Recycle (or shred) old files and notes, and consider setting up a simple file folder for each project. Make an inbox for all incoming work, and commit to sort through it daily. That way you can prioritize easier and deal with paper clutter before it starts!

 

Clean off your computer. Outdated files on your desktop, clogged junk email folders, your web browser’s bookmarks…all of these can probably use a thorough examination and purge. Also consider combining (or refining) the items on your desktop so they’re more streamlined and easily accessible.

 

Reduce it down to 1. Got three pairs of scissors in your drawer? 67 ink pens? At least 13 half-full legal pads? Not that having only a single pen is the best idea (in fact, that could be a bad idea!) but having an amount that is practical and requires less space is probably a smart way to go.

 

 

In life:

 

Get off mailing lists. If there’s a magazine you’re getting that you routinely don’t read, or you are bombarded with junk mail offers every day, search the internet for ways to unsubscribe from these lists. You’ll save a few trees and your sanity in the process!

 

Reexamine your habits and routines. Is there a way you’re doing something that is costing you time? If you’re the type to tackle a challenge or problem as it arises, you might often find yourself overwhelmed at the prospect. Planning for contingencies and thinking ahead can save you time and worry. For example, do you find yourself spending 30 minutes ironing an outfit the night before work? Instead, designate one set time a week to get all of your ironing done. This might mean having to organize your laundry schedule, as well. But grouping several small, spread-out tasks into one big one can save you time and a headache in the end!

 

Just say no. Take a close look at your commitments. (It helps to grab a pen & paper and jot them down so you can physically see a list.) What are your biggest time sucks, and are they costing you somewhere else? If you’re over-committed and stretched too thin, you won’t have time for the daily maintenance required to keep your life simplified and clutter-free. It’s okay not to agree to every activity or project someone wants you to do. If you don’t truly love a group or activity you’re involved in, it might be time to disengage.

 

Get rid of the “mights”: If you had every intention of using an item, but a year has gone by and you’ve never touched it, it might be a good idea to get rid of it. It’s tempting to take things that are offered for free, or that are deeply discounted, but most people don’t have enough storage for all the “I might use this one day” items.

 

 

 

 

[1] unclutterer.com/2011/03/29/scientists-find-physical-clutter-negatively-affects-your-ability-to-focus-process-information/

Work from Home Opportunities and Company Culture

Work from Home Opportunities and Company Culture

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work from home opportunitiesCompany culture is often a big reason that people quit their jobs and choose to look for work-from-home opportunities. The idea of being your own boss and setting your own schedule is incredibly appealing to many people, but especially to those who have worked under supervisors who are particularly oppressive and unsupportive.  What many people don’t realize is that even when you work from home, company culture is still something that needs to be taken into consideration as you look for the types of opportunities that are right for you.

In many work-from-home situations, you still work for another company in one way or another – sometimes you’re providing a service to that company either as a full-time employee or as a contracted freelancer, while other times you are selling products or services that you have purchased from the company.  In either case, the culture of the company that you’re working with is a factor to your success.

It’s important to find a company that’s supportive of the people it employs or works with; that is easy to communicate with (answers your questions or concerns in a timely manner); is reliable (they provide what they say they will provide); and encouraging (they want to help you be as successful as possible).  Even though you are not sharing an office or sitting in a cubicle next to someone, the culture that is created by these traits will help ensure your success in your work-from-home endeavors.

Vollara takes pride in helping its Independent Business Owners succeed by providing the encouragement and support that makes any company great – whether working together in one central location, or from their own homes with their own hours.

 

MLM Leads: How to Make Customers Your Evangelists

MLM Leads: How to Make Customers Your Evangelists

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MLM LeadsGenerating MLM leads can sometimes seem like a tedious part of building your own MLM business, but it doesn’t have to be.  The secret is making sure that you don’t have to do all of the work yourself – let your customers help you out.  Word of mouth can be a very powerful marketing tool, and there’s no one better to help spread the news about your company and products than your customers.

The most important thing that you can do to help turn your customers into your own personal marketing team is to offer high quality products.  You have to completely believe in the products that you are offering.  If you don’t love what you’re selling, then odds are high that your customers won’t really love them either.  Enthusiasm is contagious.  If your customers see that you aren’t just selling them a product, but that the products are things that you use in your own home and truly believe in, first they will be more likely to buy the products, and then they will also be more likely to spread the word among their friends and family about how wonderful the products are, and finally, there’s a good chance that they will also want to sell the products.  Turning a customer into an MLM lead can be as simple as that.

When you have customers that are as excited as you are about your products and enthusiastic about wanting to also sell them, it is important for you to act as a mentor and help them get things started.  Be supportive and encouraging every step of the way because the more successful they are in their efforts, the more work they will be doing for you to help spread the word and generate new leads for both of you.  Cooperation is essential.

So, the next time you are talking to some of your loyal customers, go ahead and suggest that they share their love of your products with their friends and families, and if they are interested, encourage them to not only use the products, but sell them as well because it ends up being a win-win situation.

 

Tips to be a Successful Work from Home Mom

Tips to be a Successful Work from Home Mom

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Being a successful work from home mom is the dream of many moms out there because the benefits are many – more time with your children, money saved on daycare, flexible scheduling, etc.  In some ways it sounds easy to be able to sit and work from home on your own terms, with your own schedule, but the reality is that there are several challenges that need to be overcome in order to ensure success.

The first step to success is to take your job seriously.  Figure out what sort of work you want to do from home – what kind of business you want to run – and create a clear business plan.  Outline your financial goals, the number of hours you are willing to put in, marketing strategies, etc.  Regardless of what you do from home, you are essentially starting your own business, and it needs to be treated as such.  Periodically check to see if you are meeting your goals, and if you are not, create an action plan to help you meet them.

Even though flexible scheduling is one of the major benefits of working from home, it can also be a drawback at times.  It can be easy to procrastinate and put work off when the kids want your attention, the laundry is piling up, the dishes need to be washed, and dinner needs to get on the table.  It is essential to clearly set aside a certain amount of time each day for work.  During your work time, that is all that you should be focusing on.  This means that someone else is watching the kids (or they are asleep), housework can wait until later, meal preparation has been taken care of, etc.  It helps to have a certain space in your home set aside for your work as well, such as a home office with a door that can be closed and locked.  Make it clear to your entire family that your work time at home is to be treated the same as your work time would be treated if you worked outside the home – you are not available during that time.

If you can take your at home job as seriously as a job that you would have outside of the home, you are well on your road to success as a work from home mom.

 

What Qualifications Make a Top MLM Company?

What Qualifications Make a Top MLM Company?

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Work from home opportunitiesIn today’s economic climate, a number of families have reached the conclusion that they need two incomes. At the same time, many people are looking for careers that will allow them to work from home, whether to save on the financial and economic costs of commuting, or because they feel that it is important for their families. Multi-level marketing is one path that allows people to work from while they take control of their career and live the lives they choose. But what is it that makes a top MLM company? What should you look for before getting involved?

  • Relationships. A good company should compassionate, and put people first. This is especially true of MLM companies, where the entire company is built on relationships. Look for a company with a high moral standard, that really cares about their customers and their affiliates.
  • Experience. Look at the company’s history, and be sure there are accomplishments to back up the promises. While getting in “on the ground floor” may sometimes be appealing, it is reassuring to know you have a trustworthy business behind you. Having proven business knowledge upon which to build your business puts you ahead of the game.
  • Commitment. A good company has drive and discipline, and expects the same from all those associated with it. Accept nothing less than total commitment to your success.
  • Passion. Do not sell something about which you are not passionate. Along the same lines, do not get involved with a company unless that company inspires you with their enthusiasm for their products or services. A good MLM empowers its associates, and inspires its customers.
  • Stewardship. Look for a company that cares about its impact on the community, and the world. The company’s philosophy should be one of compassion and responsibility for the earth and all its inhabitants.

Choosing an MLM company is, in a way, like choosing any relationship in your life. Before committing to any company, know who it is with whom you are dealing, and what standards are upheld. Making an informed decision will help insure the security of your own future.

Top 10 Ways to Generate MLM Leads

Top 10 Ways to Generate MLM Leads

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In order to make the most out of your home-based business, you need to have an effective strategy to generate MLM leads. Each contact, online or in-person, is an opportunity to reinforce who you are and the value you offer. Try to develop each lead into a face-to-face meeting so that you can develop a relationship.
While working at home, generate MLM leadsGrow your existing relationships: The best way to generate MLM leads is by using relationships you already have with people – ask friends and family for referrals. Try to grow your database organically. Using existing relationships makes it easier to build new relationships with more people.
Facebook: Facebook is a great tool to engage your current network. You’ll be able to see quickly who is interacting and interested in your unique value proposition. It’s a great stepping stone in the transition from online interaction to a face-to-face meeting.
Blogging: Start a blog about your business and your products.  Blogs are an easy way to constantly offer new information to clients and potential clients about your business.
Articles: By writing articles and posting them on sites like EzineArticles, you can establish yourself as an expert in your field and gain credibility that can help you generate more leads.
Forums: Joining forums gives you the opportunity to participate in discussions related to your business, which again helps you establish your credibility and connect with more people.
Other Social Media: Twitter, LinkedIN and location based services, like foursquare and Gowalla, all have groups dedicated to every interest imaginable.  Join groups related to your business interests and start connecting with other individuals in those groups.
Videos: Using free sites like You Tube to post videos about your products and company helps people put a face to a name.  This type of personalization makes it more likely that people will want to do business with you.
Webinars: Hosting a webinar or teleconference is another way to get the word out about what you do and what you sell.  Give valuable information to participants that they can use right away, and host your webinar on a regular basis to make it easy for people to spread the word about when and how to participate.
Samples and Demonstrations: When people visit your website, offer to demonstrate your product in their home, or give them free samples of products so that they can experience for themselves what it is that you are trying to sell.  This also gives you another opportunity to connect with people face-to-face to build a lasting relationship.
Pay Per Click Ads: Pay per click (PPC) is a cost effective way to send out highly targeted ads.  They are free to run; you only pay for actual click-throughs.
These are the strategies that top MLM companies use to generate leads, and you can use them to help boost your business as well.
Top MLM Company Vollara Develops, Introduces and Launches Guaranteed Minimum Income Program™

Top MLM Company Vollara Develops, Introduces and Launches Guaranteed Minimum Income Program™

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Vollara, a top MLM company based in Dallas, Texas,  launched an innovative program last month that will change work from home opportunities forever! The Guaranteed Minimum Income™ program basically guarantees earnings of $1,000 to $8,000 every four weeks, provided the Distributor meets the minimum requirements.

Part-time Distributors interested in working 2 to 10 hours per week can earn a Guaranteed Minimum Income of $1,000 while people seeking a serious full-time executive level income can earn up to $8,000 every four weeks.

It’s exciting to be part of something that even the company’s CEO is passionate about. Joe Urso said, “This is just the beginning of a truly serious income opportunity; there is simply nothing else like this in the industry. This innovative program is based on the simple concept of “when you do this – you get that”; essentially direct reward for your effort. The Vollara Guaranteed Minimum Income program removes the uncertainty and income fluctuations that normally occur when building a new business, creating a balanced process that is specific and controllable so your know when you do your part, you are assured your income.”

The first payouts are scheduled to begin in March and as of this week, hundreds of full-time and part-time Vollara Distributors have met the initial qualification for payout in March.

Vollara, Dallas-Based Top MLM Company, Closes Third Quarter With Record Week of Activity

Vollara, Dallas-Based Top MLM Company, Closes Third Quarter With Record Week of Activity

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Dallas, TX – Vollara, LLC, a top MLM company in direct sales of natural health products and one of the world’s most inspired work from home opportunities raised the bar just a little more last week with the most productive full week of business since the company’s launch just eight months ago.

Vollara wishes to thank all of its Field Leaders and new Distributors for their diligence, enthusiasm and swift action. For the week of September 27th through October 2nd, Vollara set records with the most Fast Start Essentials packs purchased, the highest engaged activity level ever, the highest number of active autoships and overall one of the top sales weeks in the history of the company.

“Our mission has always been to help people change their lives through great products and technologies and a rewarding home-based business opportunity,” said Joseph P. Urso, Vollara’s Chairman & CEO. “This is the time where people need something special to help them achieve their dreams. At Vollara we want people know that it’s ok to dream big again.”

Through this record week, Vollara recognized a number of its Field Leaders and new Distributors for their results. DH, who joined Vollara in early September earned $1,000 just on Fast Start packs through his efforts last week, not counting the other bonuses he qualifies for now. JB earned $3,000 last week on the Fast Start Essentials packs in addition to other bonuses. PH earned $1,000 last week, again not counting other bonuses. Several brand new Distributors like SG, KF and AL were rewarded for their efforts last week, each earning an additional $500 from Fast Start bonuses. Just to name a few.

Vollara, a Top MLM Company in Dallas, Launches MoreVollara.com

Vollara, a Top MLM Company in Dallas, Launches MoreVollara.com

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Dallas-based top MLM company Vollara, LLC, one of the world’s most inspired work from home opportunities today and a global leader in direct sales of natural health products, launched a free informational site at MoreVollara.com.

“People are drawn to Vollara’s product technologies and strong earnings potential,” said Erin Bender, Vollara’s VP of Marketing. “Sometimes, new people need more information to decide how Vollara best fits for them. We wanted to provide a resource that helps guide them through their decision process by featuring key aspects of the Vollara business; hi-lighting our comfortable, inviting culture; and showing them the support they can expect from an organization committed to their success.”

MoreVollara.com is a video-driven informational website that is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and provides details on Vollara’s Essential Products, the science behind the products and technology, how easy it is to share Vollara with others, the Business Opportunity, and the People of Vollara.

MoreVollara.com was launched as part of Vollara’s National Conference held last weekend in Dallas. Vollara supports a culture of tools to help people make the most of their independent businesses.

About Vollara
Vollara, which is derived from the Latin verb “to fly”, is a subsidiary under the umbrella of Aerus Holdings L.L.C. Our family of companies has a rich 80-year history dating back to Electrolux, USA, a company known for excellence in its technology, unmatched service, and endless accomplishments. Its products have been honored in the Smithsonian and its satisfied customers number over 50 million.