on course in 2011 will keep you on a path to success. Easier said than done, of course; but, you can and must do it to reach your goals this year. As you consider the economy and its impact on your business this year we have no choice but to look long and hard at the tools we will utilize this year.

Do you really need that membership? Did you use it last year to build your business or learn anything of value? If the answer is no, then just perhaps it is time to let it go. As an example, I love Ryze, well, I used to. I spent hours and hours just chatting away, back and forth. But, the last year or two, well, social media has grown and so have I; away from the Ryze community. Therefore, my decision for 2011 must be made. Will I continue to pay for their service when so many others are free, or will I let that business building tool continue without me?

What about that newsletter you signed up for? Is it really worth $xx each month? Did you read and implement any of the strategies? If you at least read it, why not commit to implementing some of the suggestions given this year? If you find yourself too busy to read it, perhaps the answer is to set aside time to read it rather than letting it go.

So, how do you tighten up and tidy up? Let's start by understanding what we are talking about. The Idoms free dictionary definition of a tight ship is "to run a ship or an organization in an orderly and disciplined manner." [1] Well, that kind of tells us what we are looking for, but a better realization is probably found more towards the organizational rather than the disciplined. However, being disciplined to read those newsletters and follow through, in practice, is really important too in this process.

Nevertheless, being organized is what we need to do. Organization is not just the executive structure, or the ordering process. It is also looking at the tools you use and those you don't; and that is exactly what we are talking about in this article.

No matter what type of business you have, small; medium; or large, waste is not an option in any economy, let alone in this tough economic condition. So, where do you begin trimming off the excesses and tightening up the ship? Let's look at just a few suggestions.

Impulse Buying-After you have cleaned house and let go of the unnecessary expenditures, as suggested above, the next step is to put a stop to that impulse buying habit. Think about what you are going to do with the product or service? Will it be useful long-term, or is it something that will make your business flow more smoothly? In other words, will it be essential to the operation of your business. If the answer is no, then you might want to hold off on making the purchase.

Seek Professional Help -Don't waste time and money trying to do it yourself. When you need help meeting a deadline, or don't have the skill to accomplish a task, it is better to hire the services of a qualified professional or perhaps a VA (Virtual Assistant).

Clean up you're Accounts Receivables-Asking for what you are owed is not a bad thing. Rather than letting your clients 'slide' because you don't want to bug them, call them and let them know that you are willing to help them work out a payment plan that will fit their budget.  You will find that most of your customers have at least some of the money to pay you off.

The important thing about running a small business is to know the direction in which you're heading; to know on a day-to-day basis your progress in that very direction; to be aware of what your competitors are doing and to practice good money management at all times. All this will prepare you to recognize potential problems before they arise.