The #1 Most Common Labeling Mistake That Sabotages A File System

Have you ever labeled some files, placed them in your filing system, and months later you spent a TON of time trying to find the file? You KNEW you made a file for something, but for the life of you, you couldn’t remember what the heck you labeled it!  You’ve racked your brain on what you may have called it.

THEN, you told yourself you’re wasting way too much time looking for it, so you either made a new file folder with a brand spanking new label that you just knew you’d NEVER forget,  OR you may have tossed the paper back onto the file pile you were trying to eliminate.  Who knows, maybe you’d have a sudden flash of memory the next time you stop to file.

I’ve done both – made a new file AND thrown a paper back into the file pile.  And I’ve seen this happen with lots of my clients.  Look, there’s no time for ineffective systems in your growing business, so I want you to understand the common labeling mistake far too many women make.

Here’s the labeling mistake that’s sabotaging the file system, and how to fix it.

The #1 most common labeling mistake that sabotages a file system is…INCONSISTENT labeling.   Below are examples of CONSISTENT labeling you can use to fix it:

• You could label using the company/client name:  State Farm, Entergy, Chase, American Express, Merry Maids, AT&T, XYZ Websites, SBA Coaching, XYZ Rentals, XYZ Accounting, Melody Granger, LLC

• Or you could label by the type of service the company provides to you:  Pest Control, Health Insurance, Electricity, Retirement/401K, House Cleaning, Internet, Website Design, Business Coaching, Office Rental, Accounting Services, Organizing Services, Piano Lessons, Yoga Classes

• You could also label by using your favorite nicknames:  Mel’s Biz Checking, Business Credit Card, Bug Zapper, Cleaning Team, Marketing Secrets, Pujo Street Rental, Money Lady, Organizer Extrordinarie, Pretzel Instructor…**

**I don’t recommend labeling with nicknames for businesses in general, but since you’re most likely the only person using your file system, and a HUGE perk of entrepreneurship is flexibility and doing things your way, then if you’re a nicknamer, it’s possible for it to work well for you.  HOWEVER, if you have a vision for hiring an assistant in your office, then I don’t recommend using cute nicknames for business paperwork.

Although the wording you decide to use on the label is important to help determine what’s inside a file, it’s even more important to be consistent in HOW you label things…or else you’ll end up with several file folders for the same paper and a horrible case of memory loss.

So, today’s task is to decide which consistent style of labeling you want to use in your file system.

In the comment section, I’d love to hear what your dominant style of labeling is:  company name, type of service provided, or nicknames