As the end of another financial year comes to a close, I thought it would be ideal to focus this newsletter on your personal affairs.

I'm always amazed that so many people spend most of their life at work and totally neglect their personal affairs.

Many of my clients want to get their business organised yet often admit that their personal affairs are in chaos.

They have no systems for handling this most important area. The household paperwork is disorganised... piled up in a corner of the house... somewhere. They have no idea where they spend their money and often have no plan for their financial future. Sure they are busy in their business yet they can lose focus as to why they are doing what they do in the first place... and generally that is to make more money so they can have more choices in life. Whether that be to have more time with their family, make a difference in the world or to have a better lifestyle. Of course, you do want to enjoy what you do otherwise you won't be happy in the process.

If you do not organise your personal life, you won't have much of a future to look forward to. Avoid the excuses that you are too tired, don't have the time, and don't know how.

• Set up a filing system to store your paperwork.
• File your papers in categories: Bank, Car, Children, Home, Medical, Insurance, Investment, Tax, Utilities etc.
• Organise direct debits for regular bills.
• Read, sort and action your snail and e-mail daily. This will avoid a big build-up.
• Make a note in your diary when you need to remember to do things.
• Check your bank accounts weekly via phone or the Internet to keep tabs on your money.
• Allocate a particular day and time each week to review your personal affairs.
• Get educated - attend seminars, read books and listen to information on wealth creation. Having knowledge will make it easier to make better decisions and provide you with the confidence to take action.

This area should be top priority. If you do nothing because it's too much effort, well think about this.

What would happen if you are unable to work and receive no income for 6 months? How would you (and your family) survive financially? Do you have your insurances in order?

Where will you be in the next five years? Maybe retired and on a pension? Or perhaps you have superannuation you hope will be enough to live on? Unfortunately too many people are under false illusions about how superannuation will be the only answer for a secure retirement.

Hope is not enough. You have to be pro-active and seek out people who can help you. But be careful who you take advice from and what is the motivation behind them "selling" you their ideas.

Educating yourself on how to make the most of your hard-earned money so you can create wealth should be a high priority. After all, if you're not interested in securing your financial future, who is?

If you take control of your personal affairs you will have peace of mind and know that you are making things happen.

It's nearly six months since you probably made those New Year's Resolutions. Let me ask you; was one of those goals related to money in some way? Have you moved forward, stagnated or gone backwards?

You must learn how to manage your time effectively and get organised enabling you to focus on the highest priorities in your life, otherwise a year from now you could still be no further ahead.

Some people make things happen, others watch things happen and others wonder what happened. What do you choose to do?

Lorraine Pirihi is the founder of productivityqueen.com and creator of “The Productivity and Profit System” the complete one-on-one training program for solopreneurs and small businesses.

Lorraine is also the celebrated author of “The Productivity and Profit Home Study System” which helps you to easily organize your time, your marketing, your people and your systems so you are much more profitable and have time to enjoy life. This is available at www.productivityqueen.com Online Store.

Lorraine is a productivity expert, leading business coach, author and speaker. She’s known for her practical approach, combining a unique blend of innovative, straight-shooter, no-fluff strategies that really work. Being in her own business for over a decade she is committed to helping small business owners and entrepreneurs work less, earn more and have a life!

She is a well known and respected expert on showing small business owners how to free up their time, organise their systems and their marketing so they make more money and enjoy more time off.