I like things organized, it is just when I get a hold of them, they have the tendency to get unorganized. But continuing on my journey to help you start a small business I will share with you one of my pearls. Those are pearls of wisdom if you are wondering. But first off, kudos to you! It’s an exciting journey with perils at every turn (sorry, I just have the tendency to be honest). You may already know this, I have hinted about it before, but—organization is key. Seriously. It is a key, because, when you use it you unlock a world of productivity. Whether it’s a big corporation or your little corner shop, without organization, things can spiral out of control faster than you can say “Where did my invoices go?” Pearl number two, don’t loose the invoices! That’s bad!

Now, I know what you’re thinking: “Oh great, more stuff to figure out.” Well, there are lots of things to figure out, staying organized is just something you do. But how? Hang on! Organization isn’t just about filing papers and creating spreadsheets (although those help, spreadsheets rule). It’s about streamlining your processes, prioritizing tasks, and keeping everything from finances to inventory in check. Oh my god, calm down. No need to hyperventilate. That part comes later.

For example, have a system for tracking expenses in place before you start. You don’t want those receipts piled up like a mountain waiting to be dealt with later. Take care of them as they come. Trust me—it’s not fun at tax time. It is sort of like coming home on Friday and doing your homework so you have the whole weekend off. There are tool for this (okay, not for doing your homework, but actually there probably are). Use apps that help keep everything tidy; think of it as your digital filing cabinet. Get a real filing cabinet, too!

And let’s talk time management. Depending on your business, if you’re juggling client meetings while trying to launch a marketing campaign, calendar tools can be lifesavers. Block out specific times for specific tasks. You’ll find that suddenly those pesky distractions aren’t so distracting after all (or they still might be, but less so).

Remember, organization isn’t just some boring task; it’s freeing, it’s a must, and it’s better to work with it than against it! When everything has its place and plan, you can focus on the fun stuff—like actually running your business (unless your business plan sucks)! So take a deep breath and embrace the chaos (you’ll be together for a while) with a well-organized plan. You’ve got this!