I’ll admit it, I love paper. I print on it, I read from it, I file it, and, yes, I toss it - mostly into the recycling bin. But I still have an office full of paper.

Waaaay back in 1975, Business Week published an article titled that posited we would all be soon (!) working in offices where no paper changed hands. Well, actually, it didn’t really say that, read the article here to see what was really said.

What they did say was that “if we are to generate real efficiencies in the office, we’re going to have to alter traditional structures. The idea of one secretary for one executive is no longer efficient or economical. And we have to reduce and reposition the role of paper.”

Agreed!

But can I do what a friend of mine has done? Can I reduce all my office files to a single file drawer and have access to everything at my fingertips - on my hard drive?

I’m trying; trust me, I’m trying!

Take a look at what the Ecoprenurist has to say about how to get there. Here’s Megan Prusynski’s perspective.

“While planning my business, I have been trying to find a few ways I can be a nearly paperless operation. I already send digital PDF files for invoices, agreements, and proofs rather than sending my clients paper documents. I use digital signatures for contracts, communicate via e-mail or phone, and avoid printing anything that I don’t absolutely need to. Still, my office is hardly paperless and there’s a lot more I plan to do as I formalize my practices and launch my business.”

She gives some suggestions for going paperless.

• Digital Filing and Record Keeping - With the right mix of software, digital storage space, databases, and bookkeeping skills, you can do most of your business record keeping digitally.
• Faxing, Copying, and Alternatives - Purchase an all-in-one machine that can handle printing, scanning, copying, and faxing; and be mindful of the need - or not - to print.
• Publications - Online e-zines, blogs, and PDF versions of printed magazines are becoming more and more popular, both as a replacement for, and a supplement to, printed publications. Check to see if your favorites are available as electronic versions.

If you want a slick little application that previews all printer data streams to identify those “orphan” pages with little or no content so you can avoid printing them, get a copy of GreenPrint here>>