Organize your office: Prepare for the Day after Tax Day

Tax Day is almost here, this year – April 18 – there are piles of tax documents scattered around the desk, perhaps the floor and on other pieces of furniture. When everything gets back to "semi-normal" you will need an effective filing system to file those documents away for easy access for the next tax year. Plan ahead and use DYMO labels to make your life a lot easier.

Here three ways to use DYMO labels for "after tax day" organizing:

1. Label file folders appropriately.
   

   Labeling the files will make the search for documents quicker.
   

2. Make mailing address labels.
   

   Need to mail documents? Make them now so that you don't have to waste time preparing them later.
   

3. Label storage areas.
   

   Where will the documents be filed? Identify a secure place and label the storage area. This will make finding where you put the files easier and faster.
   

This is one of the most stressful times, next to Christmas, when we will spend countless hours collectively looking for documents, using labels to identify, organize, and arrange documents will reduce stress, mistakes, and wasted hours.

As an administrative professional and former tax preparer, I understand the importance for an effective filing system, in exchange for trying out the DYMO Label products and receiving compensation, I discovered a great way to organize my home and work offices.

Effective Decision Making: The Art of Realization and the Elements of Knowing

Effective decision making is a learned skill that comes from past and present experiences. Decision making stems from what we have realized and what we know as a result of realizing. When making a decision, it is very important to understand the difference in the factors of realization and knowing. These factors play an important role in the process because the decision will be based on previous moments of realization which have now become bits and pieces of knowledge.

Realizing is the ‘aha’ moment. It is the moment, when we acknowledge that we have discovered something new. Failure helps us have ‘aha’ moments. When we fail we have realized that we made an error, and we should know not to repeat that same mistake or we will fail again. Realizing is also when you acknowledge something that may have already been visible, but you never noticed its presence. How many times have you watched the same movie over and over again, and you always notice something different? The movie hasn’t changed, but your thought patterns have; the same movie that you have watched countless times has caused your brain to see things in a different parameter. Then comes the ‘aha’ moment.

Knowing is the information that we already have stored in our memory bank. It is a collection of data, inferences, facts, etc. that came the moment we realized its existence. The elements of knowing are stored up information that came from realization.

Here are some examples of how to use the art of realization to make effective decisions:

 Realizing that you have figured out a new feature in a computer software program
Knowing how to use that feature to be more productive and produce quality documents

 Realizing that your supervisor is not a morning person
Knowing to schedule meetings in the afternoon

 Realizing that Mondays are the busiest day of the week at work
Knowing to plan your schedule accordingly, especially when working on big projects

So, the key is to have more moments of realization. Here are some ways to have more frequent moments of realization to increase your knowledge base which will result in better decision making:

1. Make a commitment to learn something new each day.
2. Learn from your mistakes and others.
3. Become more observant.
4. Do not be afraid of failure.
5. Use active listening skills.

Understanding how to use the information that you have come to realize is a major step in the process of decision making. Effective decision making requires specific thought patterns that process information that was once realized and is now a known element.

Top 10 April Fools Jokes You Don’t Want to Play on Your Boss

April Fool's Day is a day that can catch many people off guard and the workplace is the worst place to joke around. You may make up many fabrications and stories today, but don't relay those messages to your boss or else consequences and repercussions will occur! Here are the top 10 things jokes you don't want to play on your boss (even if they are true – to a degree!):

1. You don't want to develop or improve your skills.
   
2. You can't get along with your co-workers.
   
3. You can't meet deadlines.
   
4. You are unorganized.
   
5. You would rather be someplace else than at work.
   
6. You have no interest in getting a promotion.
   
7. You are not a team player.
   
8. You spend the majority of your day shopping online and updating your Facebook page.
   
9. Your performance evaluation is not important.
   
10. You are actively looking for a new position.
    

If you want to be successful in the workplace, reread the top 10 and do the opposite of each, not only will you improve your relationship with your boss, but positive outcomes will result, which will make for a more productive, stress free environment. NO FOOLIN'!