Smart Book

Monday, January 21, 2008, by Leigh Anne

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It is freezing cold here in Portland, Oregon. O.k., it’s only in the low 30’s but the wind is blowing and for us that is cold (I did grow up in Wisconsin so I really do know what cold is but I have lived in Oregon long enough to have readjusted).

So any way - I was getting ready to go for a walk this morning and since it is so cold I decided I needed my ear muffs, gloves and a scarf and as I was reaching into the closet to get them - OUCH! I pulled a muscle in my shoulder/back. All I did was reach - I must be getting old!

I am now sitting at the computer with my “Original Bed Buddy“, something that looks like a long sock full of some kind of grain that you heat up in the microwave and it really does make my muscle feel better - so at least I can type this post. The only problem is my children think it stinks so they won’t come near me when I am using it (or maybe that isn’t a problem:).

Back to the post - last week I shared with you my Desk Declutter and that one of the things on my desk was my Smart Book. I promised more details on the Smart Book so here they are.

My Smart Book is called “my Smart Book” because it is my brain. It contains all the important papers, lists, directories, information that I refer to on a regular/daily basis for my business. As I mentioned in last weeks post - people spend 150 hours a year looking for things. My Smart Bookhas helped me cut that number down quite a bit. (If you read my Desk Declutter post - I did find the rebate check I was looking for!!)

To make your own Smart Book you will need:

A two inch - 3 ring binder
A set of numbered tabs (1-15)
All the papers, lists, publications etc. for your business that you refer to on a daily/weekly basis.

My Smart Book contains the following tabs:

Business Calendar (team meetings, webinars, conferences, customer events etc.)

Monthly Company Consultant Newsletter

Team Roster (my first line team members) -includes name, address, phone and email

Leader Roster (all team leaders)

Customer Newsletter

Customer Product Price List

Incentive Brochures -Qualifications for Company Sales and Recruiting Incentives

Incentive Trip Brochure/Qualifications

Convention Brochures (Regional, National and Leadership)

Upcoming Customer Event Registrations/Info

Company “Help” Numbers

Policy and Procedure Manual

Monthly Management Reports

Conference Call Info

Your Smart Book categories may vary. During the next couple of weeks keep a list of those items you use and refer to on a regular basis - what are you spending time searching for on your desk? These are the things that should be put into your Smart Book.

I just 3 hole punch the list, brochure etc. and put it right into the binder or for somethings I put a top loading page protector in the binder and slip in the item (fold out incentive trip brochure)- whichever works best for you.

The trick is to keep it updated - each month remove the outdated info and replace it with the current month’s publication. You will find yourself referring to your Smart Book many times a day - when a downline calls with a question about the current sales incentive, how many points they need to earn an incentive trip or a customer calls to find out about a monthly special.

Be Smart - get a Smart Book!

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