Since launching About Time, I’ve operated on a shoe-string budget. It’s important to me that I responsibly consider each expense – without completely “cheaping out.” So until recently I’ve relied on the nearly 10-year-old family computer and a small box of hanging files, along with a few other inexpensive odds and ends to get started.
But happily, About Time has taken off. I’ve purchased a new laptop, a labeler and several other tricks of the trade. I also have a budding library of organizing and small business books. Now what I need is a dedicated office and storage space in my home. Problem is my house is TINY! So what to do? Here’s what I did.
Saturday: Me, “Hey family, let’s go to Ikea!” Oldest child, “Nooooooo! I want to play with my friends!” Me, “OK, but if we go now, we may have time to get Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce. Yum!” Oldest child, “Ew, what’s that? Can I play in the playroom?” Me, “We’ll see – depends if there’s a line.” Husband, “Do I have to go?” Me in the most cheerful voice I can muster, “Meet you in the car!”
So, off we trod to stylish, inexpensive, functional Ikea. Brilliant! I want a small covered desk that will fit in our tiny living room, yet the baby can’t pull things off of it when it’s not in use. I also need a desk chair and a place to hold files and other papers.
Wait a minute, hold the phone. You mean there isn’t even one available parking spot within a half mile of the entrance? Uh-oh. It appears that we weren’t the only family to have this idea. In fact, it feels like the entire eastern seaboard is here.
We finally park and begin the trek toward the entrance (seeing open spots all along the way and cursing them). We enter the building and bob and weave our way through the crowd so that we can head directly to the warehouse feeling very smug that we are by-passing the herd as it wanders through the display floor – people bumping into each other like sheep.
We find aisle 9, bin 7 and lo and behold, the very desk I need is out of stock – despite checking availability online only hours before. Arrghh! And there is no way I’m waiting in that line for Swedish meatballs. We are so out of here!
Oh well. No one said getting organized was easy – or fast for that matter. So for now, About Time files continue to be housed in temporary boxes. And the About Time main computer gets packed up and put away before each meal. Still, there’s always next weekend. Right?
But seriously folks, I’m working on it and can help you too. Designing systems to handle your specific business needs is my passion and strength. Let me do the planning, shopping, sorting and staging – so you don’t have to spend another weekend fighting the crowds instead of enjoying the beautiful New England Autumn with your family.
Have a great week, folks!
But happily, About Time has taken off. I’ve purchased a new laptop, a labeler and several other tricks of the trade. I also have a budding library of organizing and small business books. Now what I need is a dedicated office and storage space in my home. Problem is my house is TINY! So what to do? Here’s what I did.
Saturday: Me, “Hey family, let’s go to Ikea!” Oldest child, “Nooooooo! I want to play with my friends!” Me, “OK, but if we go now, we may have time to get Swedish meatballs with lingonberry sauce. Yum!” Oldest child, “Ew, what’s that? Can I play in the playroom?” Me, “We’ll see – depends if there’s a line.” Husband, “Do I have to go?” Me in the most cheerful voice I can muster, “Meet you in the car!”
So, off we trod to stylish, inexpensive, functional Ikea. Brilliant! I want a small covered desk that will fit in our tiny living room, yet the baby can’t pull things off of it when it’s not in use. I also need a desk chair and a place to hold files and other papers.
Wait a minute, hold the phone. You mean there isn’t even one available parking spot within a half mile of the entrance? Uh-oh. It appears that we weren’t the only family to have this idea. In fact, it feels like the entire eastern seaboard is here.
We finally park and begin the trek toward the entrance (seeing open spots all along the way and cursing them). We enter the building and bob and weave our way through the crowd so that we can head directly to the warehouse feeling very smug that we are by-passing the herd as it wanders through the display floor – people bumping into each other like sheep.
We find aisle 9, bin 7 and lo and behold, the very desk I need is out of stock – despite checking availability online only hours before. Arrghh! And there is no way I’m waiting in that line for Swedish meatballs. We are so out of here!
Oh well. No one said getting organized was easy – or fast for that matter. So for now, About Time files continue to be housed in temporary boxes. And the About Time main computer gets packed up and put away before each meal. Still, there’s always next weekend. Right?
But seriously folks, I’m working on it and can help you too. Designing systems to handle your specific business needs is my passion and strength. Let me do the planning, shopping, sorting and staging – so you don’t have to spend another weekend fighting the crowds instead of enjoying the beautiful New England Autumn with your family.
Have a great week, folks!
