Is Your Home-Based Business Old School?

I must admit as I am writing this article, the subject is a difficult one for me. I am not comfortable with change! Remember the adage “do not try to fix something if it is not broken”? Well, I totally agreed with this. My system had always worked for me. Paper records were my best business friends.

Paper calendars, notepads, logbooks, binders, sticker notes, and paper receipts gave me great comfort. I could always count on paper records for backup on any project or account that a customer requested. I kept all these paper records neatly organized in a three drawer filing cabinet behind my desk. Names, addresses, and phone numbers were organized in a beautiful address book that I referred to often. As a backup for the address book, there was the ever popular “Rolodex”. Some of you may not even know what that a Rolodex is unless you have seen it in a movie.

For many years, I practiced my old school ways in my business. I resisted updating to modern technology at every turn.What was I thinking???? I had a computer, a cell phone, and an iPad; yet none of them were being used for my business. While frantically searching for the phone number of a customer one day, my granddaughter asked me why I did not have the number stored in my phone. ( God has a way of opening our eyes to all the blessings around us, doesn’t He? ) Storing all my customer information in my mobile phone had never crossed my mind – after all, I had my trusted Rolodex and address book. How difficult and time consuming had I made my work, simply because change was not comfortable for me?

Once my eyes were open to the truth, changing to new technology became easier. I began to transfer all my information to my computer and mobile devices. These could all be synced so the information only had to be entered on one device. No more hand writing to keep track of information. All my devices had calendar apps that could keep me on track with notifications and reminders. Customer names, addresses, and phone numbers could all be stored on the phone. I could even note anything they had requested.

The information in the Rolodex became contacts in my phone. Instead of playing phone tag with customers (old school), I could text them messages with photos of their projects and get an instant reply. No more searching for the calculator when a customer wants a price quote, it could be done on my phone calculator. Sticky notes with messages all over my desk became notes on my phone. Business receipts were easy to store in an app on my phone. Just click a picture and the app put them in the right category and kept an electronic copy for taxes.

I had been using an expensive camera to take pictures of my work. The pictures then had to be downloaded to the computer, edited, and emailed to the customer. Pictures are now taken on my phone, edited, and emailed immediately from my phone. Talk about timesaving! The best part about using the mobile phone is that it is mobile. I could leave my workroom and still get work done. Now if an idea pops into my head, I can easily make a note to myself on my phone, even in the middle of the night.

Invoicing my customers and receiving payments were only a few clicks away. My customer could pay me using their debit or credit cards. The app I use allows me to customize my invoices with my logo. It tracks the date and times of payments so no need to keep a paper record. If I need to find a copy of an invoice, it is all at my fingertips. Since the invoices are emailed to the customer, my printing costs have gone down significantly.

My writing was always done old school with a legal pad and pencil.It could take me hours to type all my handwritten documents into the computer. Now, all my documents are dictated into the computer using a program that has a built-in microphone. It is an amazing time saver. All my manuscripts, blog posts, and other documents are dictated, edited, and emailed all in one place.

It was hard for me to admit that I was wrong about change. Keeping my business void of technology only kept me from growing. I had to swallow my pride and accept that not all change is bad. There is nothing wrong with staying in your comfort zone on somethings. But for my business the computer, the iPad or tablet, and the mobile phone have all made my work less stressful. These items have allowed me to stay in better contact with my customer. They have also given me the gift of time. Time that I use to slow down, count my blessings, and enjoy living my good life.

I would appreciate hearing from you on ways that you use technology to help you in your business or in creating your good life. Comment below or send me an email.

On a personal note – I still have my Rolodex hidden away on a shelf in my workroom. Old school habits die hard.