Organizing tips from the Boss Lady

Boss Lady mug / Workout top (short sleeve version) / My favorite leggings / O-Venture key ring (comes in lots of colors)

Working from home can be great but it also has its challenges. If you’re not careful, it can be a free-for-all kind of schedule. I’ve got some helpful hints on how to stay organized and be a awesome Boss Lady. Plus, I’m giving you a sneak peek into my home office and sharing some exciting news.

Nothing irritates me more than someone who asks “What did you do all day?” Seriously??? I worked! One of these days I’m going to be a smarta$$ and say “I watched soap operas and ate bon bons while planning my year-long sailing adventure around the world”. Working from home can give the connotation that you “sort of” work. I find that I work all.the.time!

I LOVE working from home. It’s the best of all worlds event though it can quickly get out of hand! But I have a few tips that make it manageable. I’ve written this blog post which gives practical tips that I still live by. If you follow me on social media (Instagram stories and Snapchat) you know that I am in the middle of my blogger headquarters room design. Occasionally, I post a picture of how the job is coming along. There will be a full blog post on how I designed this room with amazing Amy Berry. Right now I office in my sitting room off the master bedroom. It’s cozy but as you can see from the picture above, it’s just kind of where I landed. It’s not really a fully dedicated office space. The new office will be so spectacular for my Boss Lady self. I can’t wait to share it with you!

There are some qualities and work habits that I think you need to possess in order to effectively work for yourself from home (unmanaged). This would be true if you were a stay at home mom (I was for many years), a small business owner, consultant or blogger. Before I get into that, let me just say that blogging is a FULL TIME JOB. There’s no other way to look at it. Think about it. You are everything and every job that is required for any publication all wrapped up into one. Publisher, editor, writer, blog subject matter, researcher, tester, admin assistant (endless e-mails), location scout, stylist, wardrobe consultant, hair and make-up department and technology guru. When I get hired to be the talent on a shoot for a campaign, there are at least 20 people on set fulfilling all these roles. It’s amazing that I get dinner on the table at the end of the day.

Qualities and traits of a Boss Lady (or Girl/Boy Boss)

Goal-oriented: You know what you want and you are willing to work hard to get it! You give 100% to your business and will do whatever it takes to make it succeed. Failure is not an option. Most days I work at least 12 hours and I don’t stop until everything is done.

Organized: I’ve already written a post about my typical day as a blogger (no 2 days are alike). I would say that one of my best business assets is that I am organized and manage my time well. I do this with a task list and I love to cross things off my list. It means things are getting done! I also keep a paper calendar with a month-at-a-glance. All meetings are penciled in and checked off after they are complete. For me, I need this visual on my desk to keep me on track.

Business-minded: Let’s be real. This is a business and needs to be treated as such. Work effectively just like you would if you went to an office from 8-5 each day. Reply to e-mails within 24 hours (I try really hard to reply within 12 hours). Return phone calls. Confirm appointments. To me, all of this is common sense but you wouldn’t believe the nonsense I deal with. #adulting

Follow through: “No is the first Hello.” I learned this phrase when I was in the Junior League of Dallas and was learning how to fundraise. I continue to use it in everything I do. Blogging, non-profit consulting, fundraising, charity work, problem solving and life. Don’t take the first “No” as your final answer. Hustle! Everything I have achieved in anything I have ever done is because I hustled.

Work ethic: Know what parts of your job you love and stick to those. It will make you more effective. Delegate the other parts to someone else if you can. This is the hardest thing for me to do because I am a perfectionist. The parts I love: Writing, contract negotiation, brand pitches, photography sessions, meetings, cultivating, styling the upcoming shoots, project management and growing the brand. Not so much: Errands, taking my clothes to the resale shop, picking up clothes for a shoot, returning items, managing all the social media and collecting fees from collaborations. In my dream world I would have several people working for me and we would be a team of Boss Ladies. #dreambig

That’s it. It’s really simple if you think about it. Most importantly, be authentic in everything you do. It pays off in spades. What are some of the things that help you work effectively?  xoxo – Tanya

P.S. The dogs are allowed on the furniture in my office only. The rest of the house is off limits. Don’t judge!

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 Photo: Mary Hafner