Organizing.Decorating.Spaces | Painting My Interior Doors Gray

Painting My Interior Doors Gray

Small Decor Changes Big Impact

In 2018, my husband Ron and I decided to paint our standard white interior doors a beautiful modern gray. This color completely transformed our space and gave us the three things we were looking for.

1. Durability - can withstand medium to high traffic
2. Low Maintenance - less fingerprint visibility
3. Modern Appeal - clean lines, light and airy color with cool hues

Now I have to admit, this was not our first choice. Originally, I liked the look of black doors against white trims, but later felt gray will be better suited for our small space. So, once the first door was painted, we knew we made a great decision in choosing this color. Thus far, we have painted 16 of the 17 doors in our house and are expected to paint the interior side of the patio door this spring. It's been over a year since we painted the first door because we are working on one room at a time.

Here's what we needed to achieve this look

Average Cost of Supplies Used
Total Cost          

• $20.00 2 pairs sawhorses (purchased 1 pair each from Sears and Harbor Freight)
• $48.00 2 - 3 spray can per door (purchased 12 cans at $4.00 at Home Depot) 
• $27.00 1 gallon signature satin valspar paint custom color - stone gray (sale 25% off)
• $9.00 2 oil rubbed bronze spray paint
• $99.00 10 door knobs (closet, bathroom and bedroom knobs)

Tools

• drill and screwdriver
• electric sander with 120 grit sandpaper
• wood filler
• spatula
• gloves
• old paint brush
• old rag (to clean up any drips)

Time

Prep Time: 17 minutes 

• 7 minutes removing doors, hardware and hinges 
• 5 - 10 minutes filling holes and sanding 

Painting: 15 minutes per side

Drying: 45 minutes per side

Average Total Time: 2 hours 30 minutes

Painting Door Guide
Remove closet and bedroom doors, hinges and hardware
Place doors on 2 pairs of saw horses in a well vented area. We painted outside, weather permitting
Carefully review the door surface while cleaning with damp cloth for nicks, dents and unwanted holes.
Fill any small imperfections with filler
Gently sand door until smooth surface
Wipe away any excess dust particles
Paint doors from top to bottom. Layer the paint on to prevent any puddles or drips.
***At first we bought spray paint Stone Gray by Rustoleum, but later bought Valspar signature 1 gallon satin paint in Stone Gray (custom color). This application was easier and less expensive to work with.
Allow 45 minutes to an hour before flipping doors on sawhorses. Touch the door surface a couple of times to check if door is completely dry to the touch. It's best to have a partner to help with flipping.
Re-inspect doors for any missed spots
Rehung doors with unused old hardware allow paint to cure (1 week) before adding hardware.

Painting Hardware Guide
***We painted the brass door knobs and hinges with oil rubbed bronze rustoleum spray paint. After a couple months the paint on knobs began to peel off, so purchased 10 rubbed bronze knobs
Clean hinge and door knobs
Sand surface
Remove any dust particles
Place on cardboard or foam surface (old packaging) in a well ventilated area (outside)
Layer on paint in a circular motion until entire surface is covered
Check for drips and/or puddles
Retouch area, if needed
Place hardware in a cool dry area for 7 days to cure
Reinstall hardware

Below are the before and after pics of the closet door of my son's room

Thanks and hope this was helpful, Kimani...The Biz-Pro!!

Simplify.Organize.Manage.Data | Creating An Electronic Tracker

2014 E-Newsletter, Managing Time; Creating an Electronic Tracker

After a holiday, vacation or lately the winter blast, you may experience backlogs and find yourself juggling multiple tasks all too often.

Well, what if you can cut down on the the time it takes you to process paperwork without breaking a sweat.
How? You guessed it, an electronic tracker.
It's nothing like keeping things organized and close by--so close that you can practically store essential information right on your computer.

But wait a minute, you probably thinking I already have multiple computer systems and databases doing just that--NO NO, I'm referring to the other essential stuff.

How many times on a daily basis do you retrieve files and folders from your file cabinets? Once, twice perhaps more, well then it's time to consider a simple yet budget friendly time saver not to mention space saver, YES an electronic tracker. So you have no excuses, stop filing, sorting, re-sorting and re-filing over and over again!. And finally your office can reflect just that an office without the cabinet clutter.

Requirements:

• Office computer
• Basic computer skills
• An imagination 

Here's how!

1. Make a list of the type of information you're pulling daily to create subheadings for your spreadsheet
2. Open up spreadsheet computer applications (my preference is excel)
3. Set-up the headings, grab files to enter pertinent data followed by formatting 
4. Continue to tweak the layout and consider a printer friendly option
5. Save to hard drive or cloud server and VOILÁ!

For an extra bonus upload an image to accompany each file. Audit files periodically and set-up a central location to track new and revised forms before storing away.

Whoever said managing data has to be complicated overlooked the electronic tracker!

Hope you enjoyed this savings tip from Biz-Pro LLC!

Simplify.Organize.Manage.Data | What Policy? Who is in Compliance?

2013 E-Newsletter, What Policy? Who is in Compliance?

Have you ever been asked? What is your course of action?  And, you replied something like let me get back to you on that! Well you may not be alone, Small Business owners develop policies based on an immediate need and/or requirements. However defining the policies that are important to your business should reflect the company's core values at best. 

Letting everyone know what is expected of them provides a guideline of how they should conduct themselves as a stakeholder. The policy should also define what they should expect from their employer in exchange.

For example, if you define your company as a place to maintain a "healthy lifestyle" beyond work and play then consider incorporating the following:

• fruit snack bars
• gym discounts 
• posting healthy living publications 

This may help to reinforce a "healthy lifestyle".

Now let's review compliance. 

Effectively communicating what policies are in place is important, but also consider providing justification for that action. For example, if you’re instructing job applicants to stand in a single line when approaching the front office desk for assistance, then communicate the benefits of taking these actions. 

For example:

• quicker processing time
• prevents safety hazards
• promotes privacy initiative 

Remember getting someone to adhere to a policy can bring about confusion if it is not communicated well. Also if the policy is perceived as burdensome, the person affected may be resentful.
 For all extreme cases, threats of any kind to enforce policies are often short-lived. Be sure to review alternative measures to avoid any legal issues down the road and consult with in-house counsel to ensure all policies, regulations and practices adhere to local, state and federal laws accordingly.

It is often said, you have the power to change things you can control. Take control by understanding the value of your resources.

 Hoped you enjoyed this savings tip from Biz-Pro LLC.

Simplify.Organize.Manage.Data | MicroManaging

2013 E-Newsletter, Managing Time; It Is My Company so Do it My way: MicroManaging and You!

We all have received instructions from someone (parent, teacher or stranger) about how to do or make something to achieve certain results. For example a father showing his son how to reduce the time spent cutting the lawn when battling the summer heat. Well for many business owners their company’s success did not happen overnight, but with patience and perseverance growth occurred and is time to hire employees. With the time spent learning and perfecting one’s skill, you have mastered the ins and outs of operating your business effectively and efficiency up until this point.

Now it’s time to test your Human Resources (HR) skills, after all how difficult can training be, right? You tell yourself I’ll hire and show them ropes about my business and everything will fall together after that. This can be reality, but what steps have been set for employees to easily transition to this new role? And are you willing to let someone else lead and help build your business?

Just the thought of delegating tasks to someone else without direct supervision seems highly impossible, for the ambitious do-it-yourself entrepreneurs.  Is there a way to compromise without losing time and money, your employees, never less your entire business?  At some time during the beginning stages of developing your business plan, you might have brushed upon the topic of Managing Human Resources and created an employee policy for future references. Or if you haven’t already, there are lots of information on the internet to help you get started, including useful sites like SHRM, USDOL and your State’s DOL. However, we’re assuming at this point after hiring new employees, there’s a policy already in place. Are you pursuing ways to encourage and promote good employee behavior while discouraging the bad?

There are several ways to achieve this without being labeled as “Micromanaging”, but be mindful it’s easier said than done.

First, have you considered implementing a rewards performance program? Rewards programs provide an incentive (monetary or non-monetary) for accomplishing a set goal. This may help to build a relationship by expressing a “job well done” attitude in hopes to control employee behavior. Please focus on a KISS (Keep It Short & Simple) method to avoid confusion and frustration for all.

Second, establishing a “Step Up”  approach can help with internal controls while eliminating constant hovering over employees. Take for example a growing Clothing Company. After an initial contract has been finalized, four key positions can be filled that includes:
1) Clerk - gather and enter orders in database
2) Processor - fill and process orders to be shipped by deadline
3) Team Coordinator - perform quality controls and cross check processed orders against       exception report. 
4) Lead Supervisor - Review progress and allocate resources for smooth operations.

This allows for you distance yourself so that you're able to focus on growing and nourishing your relationships with current and future clients. In other words, you still set the initiatives, but monitor in the shadows allowing your staff to work in a semi self-directed environment. Who said flexibility was unreachable?

Lastly, consider the “Step Back” approach. After the initial training,  ask and encourage employees to contribute in creating and implementing new procedures. As time goes on, things change and people needs evolve and perhaps listening to your staff may lead to an advantage. Anyway, many products and services can be traced back to a suggestion by an employee, so it may be worth the time. If you haven't gotten to this stage yet, try establishing some ground rules, such as:

• Have a one on one or group discussion before all major procedural changes occur to keep you in the loop
• Provide a suggestion box or set-up an e-mail account 
• Consider monthly group meeting (15-20 minutes) to discuss ways to improve job processes. 

This can help foster relationships and improve development skills while growing the business.

There are many ways to reduce “micromanaging” your staff the list is endless. However understanding Human Resources can be as important as managing them, so consider how to keep your employee’s needs satisfied while encouraging good behavior through motivation.  After all your business started out as an idea, so can theirs as well.

Hope you enjoy this time savings tip from Biz-Pro LLC.

Simplify.Organize.Manage.Data | Back 2 School & Your Savings

2013 E-Newsletter, Managing Time; Back 2 School & Your Savings

Nothing is better than getting great deals around the holidays for your family, friends and of course your business, but getting the savings earlier in the year can be jaw dropping too. 

Back 2 School sales can help Business Owners stock up on office supplies for the budget conscious professionals. Stores such as Staples, and Office Depot etc. offer free or penny deals with a minimum purchase on top of current promotions/coupons to really stretch those dollars. And if you are getting ready to launch other projects or simply trying to find ways to save more, then this may help you do just that.

So when the summer approaches, here’s a few suggestions to rake in savings:

1.     Make a list of the items that frequently run low and re-evaluate your wish list.

2.     Cross reference your lists against the stores that carry items or similar matches you have selected.

3.     Sign up for the store newsletters, reward programs etc. and check for store and manufacturer coupons.

4.     Watch for sales and Happy Savings!

Hope you enjoyed this money savings tip from Biz-Pro LLC.

Simplify.Organize.Manage.Data | Oh No My Computer CRASHED!

2013 E-Newsletter, Managing Time; Oh NO, My Computer CRASHED!

 

It seems like every electronic gadget we touch such as, smart phones, MP3 players, cameras and tablets have some sort of computer capabilities to help boost our business. But it was not so long ago business activities were processed manually. With simply a few clicks we can practically create a website, attend conference meetings or track company sales in real time without leaving the office or your home for that matter. Just picture yourself as you start your day, sipping on a cup of coffee and then the unexpected happens. Your most trusted tool that houses your sacred information is beeping to an unfamiliar tune and after five reboots the blue screen won’t go away on your computer. Seconds turns into minutes, but you keep your composure and signed in to your backup server on your cell. Even though your computer’s hard drive may be gone for good, your data has been saved and it’s back to business as usual.

So are you prepared for the Oh NO moment, My Computer CRASHED!

There are lots of ways you can backup data externally, such as cloud server like Dropbox, Mozy and Google’s Drive just to name a few, that offers free or trial packages that suit your business.

 Furthermore, if you prefer a physical device consider an external hard drive. It’s easy to operate and affordable.

But in all in all, a back-up server or device can help you prepare for the unexpected while saving you time and money in the process. It’s best to predict the amount of gigs you’ll need based on your company’s activities and revisit this on an annual basis or as needed.

However, for those that are thinking about putting this off until later,  ask yourself does the cost of not having anything backed up is more important than the cost of having your business up and running? If not, then this e-newsletter is probably not for you.

This message was intended to inform Small Business owners on ways to provide inexpensive file back up alternatives, to avoid Oh No moment. 

Hope you enjoyed this time and money savings tip from Biz-Pro LLC.

Simplify.Organize.Manage.Data | E-Receipts and E-bills Saves Time

2013 E-Newsletter, Managing Time; E-Receipts and E-bills Saves Time

Nowadays many stores like Office Depot, Sears, Kmart etc. offer e-receipts. Talk about convenience, this option helps save our natural resources while reducing storage space.

Not to mention, e-receipts can be accessible 24/7 with an internet connection. But that's not all, this option allows you to store and retrieve receipts from reports you've created with features such as hyperlink. For example, you can hyperlink e-receipts to your electronic business calendar or reports that help you track spending right at your fingertips.    

Second, over the years many businesses started offering e-bill options. With advancement in technology, Small Businesses now can have the ability to do more with less. In addition, the U.S. Government (Federal, State and Local) have updated their websites that allow business owners to file and pay taxes as well as update company information online from the convenience of their office computer. Best of all set-up takes a few minutes and the service is free.

So ...

1. If you are enjoy working online 
2. If you are looking for alternate convenient ways to track and pay business expenses 

Then perhaps signing up for e-receipts and e-bills may be worth trying out. However, these extra services are not a requirement, it's a choice. So you decide if this may or may not work for you and your business.

Hope you enjoyed this savings tip from Biz-Pro LLC!