How to Create a Countdown Marketing Calendar

Just like there are reverse dictionaries, there is a reason to create a count down calendar. A count down calendar starts with Franklin Covey's philosophy, "start with the end in mind."
The biggest advantage to a countdown calendar is that it makes you think and focus harder as well as makes the planning easier.
First, you write down the exact results you want or expect. Let's say you have a teleclass, seminar, speaking engagement you are delivering on X date. This becomes your D-day -- sort of speaking. It may be end of the event planning, however, it can also be the beginning of your follow-up plan. For simplicity sake, let us stop at the D-day point.
Now you can prepare a count down calendar in several ways. One way would be to use a calendar with the days of the month filled in. You mark down the D-day and then you back track from there to today.
Count down the days until __________. Number of marketing days to go until __________.
Example: Count down days until seminar. 20 marketing days to go until seminar.
Any doesn't matter which calendar method you use, you will need to write down your measurements or your mini-results that will deliver the end results you want. I use the pivoting question, "What is it going to take to..." to get my thinking moving in the right direction. I like to think through and write these on the back of my calendars. This gives me a bird's eye view for that particular commitment that my software does not provide.
Another way would be to use a blank form like this with the appropriate number of days in between. Then cross out the days that you will do any marketing -- say Sundays or days filled with other requirements. For my teleclass programs, my D-day back to Day 1 is always 3 weeks, so I have created a regular calendar for these. In fact, I use green color paper to print out the calendar.
If you don't want to create your own, visit your local office supply store, they have countdown calendars available for purchase (blank planning books).
A third way to complete a countdown calendar would be to complete it in a linear form.
Day 21: Speaking event results I desire -- describe those results.
Day 20: Get handouts printed at Kinko's.
Day 19: Write and send out reminder e-mail to organizer.
To Day 1: Today.
Again, if you have a reoccurring countdown, like teleclasses, you can create a linear countdown calendar like the one above. Eventually you will see a consistent pattern of to-dos.
At that point, don't stop doing this with the thinking you have it down pat and you don't need to. This will jump up and bite you in the assets fairly quickly by bogging down your mind and making you wonder if you are missing something. If that occurs, jump back into the habit, it is a great one to have. Even if it is frustrating because it takes thinking time.
Once you have your count down calendar completed then you can enter it into your automatic reminder calendar, like Outlook or Act. This will track all your deadlines, goals, and projects. You will have a separate count down calendar for each one.

Grow Calendar 2011

How to Create a Countdown Marketing Calendar

Grow Calendar 2011

Create a Custom Laundry Room Using Stock Cabinets

One of the latest trends in home design is the creation of customized laundry rooms. With today's emphasis on customized spaces, there are a lot of companies that are cashing in by claiming to sell customized solutions specifically for the laundry room or garage. While they may call them custom, there really isn't anything custom about the cabinets. Similar to custom garage solutions, they are usually made out of particle board or flake board with a white veneer, which is exactly what you would buy if you were shopping at Home Depot or Lowes. The high prices are based on the concept that you buying them specifically for that space.

If you are planning on building a custom laundry room, you might want to think about using stock kitchen cabinets for the space. Kitchen cabinets are going to have the same features and functionality that you would get from these "custom laundry room cabinets, but you will be paying half the price. These cabinets usually feature higher quality materials, such as solid wood face frames and doors, and will usually have solid plywood sides as well. Rather than paying a company that specializes in custom units, consider buying these cabinets and installing them yourself.

Lowes Build

While stock kitchen cabinets can usually be found at your local home supply store, you can usually find some pretty good deals on-line as well. Recently, there has been a flood of companies importing stock cabinets and selling them on the internet. So rather than paying a premium for so-called "custom" cabinets that are designed specifically for your laundry room or garage, trying using kitchen cabinets. Not only will you get a durable product, but you can also coordinate the look of your house by having the same cabinets throughout.

Create a Custom Laundry Room Using Stock Cabinets

Lowes Build

Steps on How to Create a Shoe Rack on Your Cabinet

You like shoes; so, you have lots of it. You're interested in making a simple, yet useful shoe rack for your cabinet. Below are simple steps teaching you how to create a simple, functional shoe rack for your cabinet. Two examples of racks are illustrated how an individual making use of the step by step instructions could design a rack that's appropriate for the space available in his/closet.

Things that you'll need:

Lowes Build

3 precut boards Rods Tape measure Securing pin Drill bits Jig Saw Step #1

Buy 3 precut boards from hardware stores, such as Lowes or Home Depot. One board will go in the middle for support and 2 of the boards are used for the sides. You should buy rods to place your shoes into the rods. Take note, the rods must be different in sizes.

Step #2

Utilize a tape measure in order to see where you like to place the holes. Ensure all of the holes are equal for both sides.

Step #3

Drill holes for the rods to go over the holes.

Step #4

Put the rods in the drilled holes.

Step #5

Utilize securing pins to prevent the rods from slipping.

Step #6

2nd Design: Utilize the same idea as above, but you could utilize a jig saw to cut the design. See that this shoe rack is shorter and has only 3 shelves to place shoes. Take note, the key to any kind of shoe rack is personalizing it to match your space.

Steps on How to Create a Shoe Rack on Your Cabinet

Lowes Build

How To Create Your Own Dog Calendar For 2011

Got 12 good pictures of your dog? Then you're ready to make a colourful wall calendar for 2011 for yourself or to give as gifts. You can use simple freeware to design a special month-at-a-time calendar or go with a commercial service to create something really professional-looking. Then print at home, order it online or send it to your local business centre.

Step One: Pick the photos

Grow Calendar 2011

You'll need at least 12 good-quality, horizontal photos. Pix you've taken with your phone won't work; they need to be as large as possible to reproduce well. Kodak for example, suggests that photos that will be printed around 8" x 10" should be at least 1200 by 1500 pixels.

Once you've selected your photos, duplicate them into a separate file. Now you're ready to crop, enhance and resize them. When you're cropping, don't keep the subject dead centre, and come in close. (Remember though, that your final size has to be at least 1200 x 1500 pixels.)

Step Two: Pick the program

There are several routes you can take to make your calendar, from simple to wildly sophisticated. At the 'cheap and cheerful' end of the spectrum you can google "freeware calendar creation" and see what software is available for free download.

One good choice can be found at CalendarHome.com. You don't download the software; but instead you create your calendar online then output it yourself. Either print it directly or "print as" a pdf file and you can print it later or take it to an office supply store like Staples and get them to print it out on good quality, glossy paper.

Another choice is inexpensive software like Broderbund's Calendar Creator. It's around and offers you lots of templates and options. Again, print it out at home, or save as a pdf file and send it out for printing. (This software also offers other formats like large, year-at-a-glance wall calendars, pocket calendars, etc.)

Or, go with an online calendar creator

Instead of working with your own software, you can go with an online calendar creation service like VistaPrint or Smilebox by Hallmark. VistaPrint.com offers you a number of good looking designs and templates; you simply upload your photos and you'll be guided through the process.

You'll even get a heads up if your image won't reproduce well because it's too small or fuzzy. The "catch" with VistaPrint, is that they do the printing. However, the good news is that they do a great job and you'll have a really professional, high quality product in your hands in about a week. A 12 month calendar will run about plus shipping. (The more copies you order, the lower the unit price.)

Hallmark's Smilebox program gets my vote for the best calendar creator around. For 2011, there are 11 very cool designs, and lots of guidance on putting the calendar together. In fact, you just drag 'n' drop, and there's your calendar. In one version, you can even add little colour photos in the empty squares at the end or beginning of the month. Like VistaPrint, Smilebox will print your calendar and deliver a great looking end-product within a few days. BUT, you can also simply print your calendar yourself when it's done, or save it to pdf and have a local office supply store print it out. So high marks for cool designs, ease of use and flexible production.

Step Three: the finishing touches

Before your finalize you calendar, why not add in your local holidays, special events and yes, birthday and anniversaries. (Don't forget your dog's birthday, since this calendar is all-about-him!)

If you're sending your calendar out for printing, ask that it be spiral bound - looks really great, and makes it easy to use. And get a single hole punched in the middle of the top edge, for hanging up your creation.

If you're printing your calendar at home, you can get the same easy-to-use effect by using a 3-hole punch and tiny rings from the dollar store.

A couple of design tips

vary the photos in colour and composition crop in close as you can but don't forget to keep the final photo large (1500 pixels by 1200 or so) try to match each one up with the season - a cute Valentine's photo in February for example don't overdo the fonts - one or two styles is plenty!

Five ways to make your dog photos better and more interesting

take lots get down to your dog's level let your dog sniff out the camera go outside on a shady or overcast day - flash or sunlight makes the picture harsh, with hard shadows and red puppy eyes check the background - no trees "growing" out of your dog's head please!

How To Create Your Own Dog Calendar For 2011

Grow Calendar 2011