Organized Assistant » Working with Clients http://organizedassistant.com Virtual Partner to Your Organizing Business Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:19:17 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Self-Care for Professional Organizers during the Holiday Season http://organizedassistant.com/2011/12/20/self-care-for-professional-organizers-during-the-holiday-season/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/12/20/self-care-for-professional-organizers-during-the-holiday-season/#comments Tue, 20 Dec 2011 14:23:18 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2960 Self-Care for Professional Organizers during the Holiday Season
When friends find out you have your own business, they often make comments like “You’re lucky. You can set your own hours.” Or “That’s great – you can take time off whenever you want to.” But although it’s true that your schedule is more flexible than others, it’s not without its challenges, is it? That’s [...]

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Self-Care for Professional Organizers during the Holiday Season.

]]> Self-Care for Professional Organizers during the Holiday Season
When friends find out you have your own business, they often make comments like “You’re lucky. You can set your own hours.” Or “That’s great – you can take time off whenever you want to.” But although it’s true that your schedule is more flexible than others, it’s not without its challenges, is it? Young woman wearing Santa hat smiling That’s especially true during the holiday season, when there’s probably a lot more going on in your personal life than the rest of the year. But where most of your friends with regular jobs can plan to do their shopping, baking, socializing and other activities around their work schedule, it’s probably more challenging for you. For one thing, many people don’t realize they need a professional organizer until it gets down to the crunch. Perhaps they’ve realized they need to declutter before entertaining guests, or maybe they need to clear out the old toys from their kids’ bedrooms and/or playroom before Santa drops another bagful down the chimney. It’s very hard to say “no” to these clients. After all, you started this business because you sincerely love to help people get organized. And let’s face it, it’s hard to turn away potential income at any time, but especially when you know there will be days you’re not  working, and your own expenses are probably higher than usual right now. But how can you meet the organizing needs of your clients and the financial needs of your family and your business, and still have time for your own holiday activities? Why not apply the same strategies you teach your clients all year round?
  1. Assess your priorities. Are there things you do simply because they’re tradition, or because someone else expects you to do them? Can any of them be eliminated?
  2. Delegate. If certain tasks are necessary to your holiday celebrations, do you have to be the one to do them? Can your spouse or children help? Can you buy a dessert instead of making your own?
  3. Establish a schedule. If you need time off for holiday preparations, special events, or even just to relax and enjoy your family, make it happen. Whether you close down your business for a week or two, or simply reduce the number of clients hours you’ll book, make a plan, and stick to it.
If these last few days before Christmas find you scrambling about and longing for the days when you had a fixed schedule, it may be too late to get out of the commitments you’ve already made, but you do have the power to say “no” to anything else that comes up. Your clients will respect you for practicing what you preach! How do you handle the holidays in your business?
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/12/20/self-care-for-professional-organizers-during-the-holiday-season/feed/ 6 What Qualities to Seek in a Cheap Self-Storage http://organizedassistant.com/2011/10/25/what-qualities-to-seek-in-a-cheap-self-storage/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/10/25/what-qualities-to-seek-in-a-cheap-self-storage/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 12:44:05 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2829 What Qualities to Seek in a Cheap Self-Storage
Even after paring down belongings, there may be times when there is still too much to store in your client’s home, especially if he or she is going through a transition. My guest blogger today, Margot McClelland, provides some helpful tips for those times when you need to recommend a self-storage unit. Many consumers in [...]

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on What Qualities to Seek in a Cheap Self-Storage.

]]> What Qualities to Seek in a Cheap Self-Storage
Even after paring down belongings, there may be times when there is still too much to store in your client’s home, especially if he or she is going through a transition. My guest blogger today, Margot McClelland, provides some helpful tips for those times when you need to recommend a self-storage unit. self-storage units Many consumers in the United States simply have too many things. These consumers don’t have the time in their busy lives to manage all their excess stuff; they let their houses and lives become cluttered, and they lose sight of personal organizational skills. This is why they need professional organizers - you offer expertise in clutter removal. As organizing consultants, you help people detach from things they don’t use, and send those things to charities or throw them out. This part of the job is fun, but trying to organize stuff that your client wants to keep can be tricky. When a client wants to keep things that won’t fit in their living space, they often get a cheap self-storage.  Recommending a storage unit for one of your clients can be difficult, so let me give you some background information on storage units and what to look for when searching for one. The Self Storage Association discloses that 86% of all self-storage units internationally are available to people in the U.S. Moreover, around 10% of all Americans utilize self-storage facilities. The amount Americans consume is directly correlated to these figures. American consumers end up owning a lot of stuff – more than any other countries. It began during the time of the Industrial Revolution when an array of goods became within reach of the masses at lowered prices. So, individuals in the U.S. started to consume more. When they did, the economy flourished, paychecks gradually went up, and people began to consume even more. In the 21st century, Americans are consuming a lot and have a great need for self-storage facilities. If your client comes to you asking how to get a storage unit, start researching immediately to ensure you find the absolute best storage unit for their possessions. There are going to be a lot of storage options. DO NOT PICK THE FIRST ONE THAT LOOKS GOOD. Keep in mind that every self-storage business is unique. Some may charge exorbitant expenses for features your client does not need. You can use web aggregators like SelfStorage.com to search for storage companies and compare prices. Price is obviously a major concern, but you should also consider location and amenities offered. Ask yourself if your client will want a storage unit near their job or where they live. Don’t limit your search to one geographic area. Search a large area to find the best results. Amenities like 24-hour access may cost a tad bit more, but it can be worth their while. With 24-hour access, your client’s possessions will be available to them at any time of the day or night, which can save them the burden of waiting if they would like access to something immediately. Consider how big or small they would like their storage unit to be. Across the board, size is the variable that affects costs the most. The smallest units are usually the least expensive, and the largest units are usually the priciest. If the budget only allows for the cost of a small unit, recommend that they dispose of some of their possessions or try to find space for them in their house. Many people find that the best way to save money on self-storage is to find promotions. Some companies will offer to eliminate the first monthly payment. Others will discount the first couple of payments. Once you’ve conducted an adequate amount of research, you can make the proper recommendation to your client. Remember to assess beforehand what your client really needs. If you keep the abovementioned guidelines in mind, you can’t go wrong. Margot is a guest post writer on the subjects of homes and lifestyles.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/10/25/what-qualities-to-seek-in-a-cheap-self-storage/feed/ 2 Book Review: The Other Side of Organized http://organizedassistant.com/2011/10/18/book-review-the-other-side-of-organized/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/10/18/book-review-the-other-side-of-organized/#comments Tue, 18 Oct 2011 10:00:50 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2810 Book Review: The Other Side of Organized
I often say there are two types of professional organizers: those for whom organizing comes naturally, and those who teach others the skills they’ve acquired to overcome their own struggles with organization. The Other Side of Organized is an excellent resource, no matter which group you fit into. There are lots of excellent organizing books [...]

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Book Review: The Other Side of Organized.

]]> Book Review: The Other Side of Organized
I often say there are two types of professional organizers: those for whom organizing comes naturally, and those who teach others the skills they’ve acquired to overcome their own struggles with organization. The Other Side of Organized is an excellent resource, no matter which group you fit into. The Other Side of Organized - Linda Samuels There are lots of excellent organizing books that describe strategies to use in different situations, but in her book, Linda Samuels guides us through the other side of organizing, particularly the emotional issues associated with life changes. If you are a natural organizer, you excel at planning and implementing systems for your clients. Your easiest client is likely someone who is naturally organized as well, but needs you to set up a system which he or she can maintain. Although clients requiring more support are more challenging for you,  you can work with them successfully if you are able to demonstrate empathy.
Empathy… means feeling yourself into, or participating in, the inner world of another while remaining yourself. ~ Alfred Benjamin, from The Helping Interview
The Other Side of Organized can help you to achieve empathy by describing the personal challenges your clients may be facing so you can better understand them. It also contains many motivational strategies to apply that may not always come to you naturally. Even if it’s easy for you to empathize with your clients, you’re sure to find Linda’s advice inspiring, whether for your own benefit or that of your clients. Her description of the five stages of change as they relate to the organizing process is especially valuable. She also shares some of the practices she’s developed in her own organizing business and her definition of the role of the professional organizer. The main thing that distinguishes The Other Side of Organized from other organizing books is the emphasis on each person finding the right balance between being organized and having time for what’s most important to them. As Linda says,
We can always make improvements, but it’s important to know when to just let things be.
I was privileged to receive a copy of the book from one of my clients, who told me that she regularly gives copies to her clients. I think that is a great token of appreciation for their business, as well as a valuable resource to help them stay on track after her work with them has been completed! The Other Side of Organized is available in the Organizing – General department of The Bookstore for Professional Organizers.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/10/18/book-review-the-other-side-of-organized/feed/ 2 How Far Does the Confidentiality Clause in Your Client Agreement REALLY Extend? http://organizedassistant.com/2011/09/27/how-far-does-the-confidentiality-clause-in-your-client-agreement-really-extend/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/09/27/how-far-does-the-confidentiality-clause-in-your-client-agreement-really-extend/#comments Tue, 27 Sep 2011 13:12:52 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2761 How Far Does the Confidentiality Clause in Your Client Agreement REALLY Extend?
As an organizing consultant, you often have access to clients’ confidential information, and this is not something to be taken lightly. In fact, it’s such an important issue that I’ve invited Lisa Montanaro to share her expertise as a Certified Professional Organizer and former attorney, so you can approach it as a true professional. If you are [...]

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on How Far Does the Confidentiality Clause in Your Client Agreement REALLY Extend?.

]]> How Far Does the Confidentiality Clause in Your Client Agreement REALLY Extend?
As an organizing consultant, you often have access to clients’ confidential information, and this is not something to be taken lightly. In fact, it’s such an important issue that I’ve invited Lisa Montanaro to share her expertise as a Certified Professional Organizer and former attorney, so you can approach it as a true professional. keeping it confidential If you are a professional organizer, chances are you use a client agreement (if you do not, please reconsider!). Because professional organizing services are confidential in nature (we see it all!), your agreement most likely contains a confidentiality clause (if it doesn’t, consider adding one!). But what confidential information are you actually protecting? And how far does that protection extend? If you are unsure, then the confidentiality clause is essentially meaningless. If you don’t fully understand its weight and coverage, how will your client? Will a court or government body be able to ascertain the full meaning and scope of the confidentiality clause when asked to issue an interpretation of the confidentiality clause’s coverage? How will it play out if the party that drafted the clause can’t provide relevant information as to its scope and intention? As a former practicing attorney that has seen her share of confidentiality clauses, I can assure you that the importance of crafting a meaningful, powerful, but accurate and realistic confidentiality clause is vitally important to your business. Why include a confidentiality clause in your client agreement? Let’s first look at why you would want to include a confidentiality clause in the first place. A confidentiality clause provides a safe environment for your client and promotes trust. Your client wants to know that he or she (or “it” if you are working with an organization doing non-profit, business or corporate organizing) can fully trust you with confidential, personal, financial or proprietary information. A confidentiality clause demonstrates to the client that you are a true professional, willing to keep certain information to yourself and not disclose such information to others except under certain circumstances (more on the exceptions later). This allows the client to be fully present and disclose information freely which will result in a better, more open relationship, which in turn will lead to an increased ability to service the client. What can you keep confidential? There are some typical types of information that most confidentiality clauses cover. Many include confidentiality of financial information and trade secrets, promises not to release information to third parties without permission from client, no written or electronic information retained past the termination of relationship without the permission of client, no use of client information in marketing materials without permission of client, etc. In other words, it depends. You could guarantee that all information that you obtain during the scope of your work with the client be kept confidential. You could guarantee that any information that the client deems confidential will be kept from disclosure. But if you were to make that type of blanket guarantee, you would essentially be lying to your client. Why? Because it is up to the courts to determine the scope of the confidentiality clause if challenged. Why would a confidentiality clause ever be challenged? Let’s look at some scenarios. Let’s say you are organizing the client’s files, and promise to keep all financial information confidential. Then you get served with a subpoena by a court or the Internal Revenue Service advising that you must appear in court or cooperate in an investigation. Let’s take it a step further and assume that if you fail to cooperate, you can be held in contempt of court, fined, or worse, jailed. Now do you plan to stand by your blanket statement that ALL information of a confidential nature will be kept confidential? Doubtful. Because organizers are exposed to so much, there are other scenarios that may result in you being called upon to disclose information. Child protective services investigations, elderly protective services investigations, drug enforcement investigations, spousal abuse investigations, tax and financial investigations, firearms investigations, etc. The list goes on. Are these scenarios common? Not typically. But that doesn’t mean they may not arise. If they do, you need to be prepared for the fact that the confidentiality clause will most likely not be a match for the court or government agency’s stronger need for the information you possess. Do organizers have immunity against disclosure of confidential information? Some organizers may try to keep confidentiality by arguing that they have a certain type of immunity under the law. While organizers may be privy to their client’s personal and confidential information and that develops a special bond or relationship, there is no recognized protection for this relationship under the law. If you are a lawyer, doctor, priest, therapist, or other professional that is covered by such an immunity, then by all means, go ahead and assert it. But professional organizers do not have a recognized immunity under the law. Therefore, a court would most definitely overrule any immunity you try to assert as an organizer and order you to disclose any and all information in order to fully cooperate. How do you assure confidentiality in a way that is meaningful but allows for the fact that you may be called upon to answer to a higher authority? Be careful not to draft an overly broad confidentiality statement or you will give your client a false sense of security. You can only guarantee confidentiality up to the point when disclosure is required by law or subpoena. So why not just say that? Put clear language in your actual confidentiality clause that explains when disclosure is warranted. That way, the client is aware that you have every intention of protecting confidentiality, but that if you are issued a lawful subpoena and required to disclose, you will obey the law and cooperate. (By the way, when I refer to a “higher authority” in this context, I don’t mean God, although you may feel a moral obligation to disclose is just as strong, if not stronger, than a legal one. If so, then you can envision yet another means for disclosure and breach of the confidentiality clause if you will disclose for moral reasons and not just legal ones.) Where does that leave you and your client if you disclose based on a proper investigation and lawful subpoena? Disclosure would probably not endear you to the client. However, that would be the lesser of two evils given that the alternative may be financial ruin or jail time. Can your client sue you for breach of contract for violation of the confidentiality clause? Sure. Anybody can sue anybody over anything at any time. But you would have a pretty airtight defense to get the case dismissed given that your disclosure was court ordered. Plus, you may just sleep better at night if your disclosure helps remedy an unlawful situation, prevent a crime, or save a person. Copyright 2011. The information provided in this article is not intended to be legal advice, but merely conveys general information related to legal issues commonly encountered. Lisa Montanaro, JD, CPO, is Principal of LM Organizing Solutions, LLC, a professional services firm created in 2002 that offers professional organizing, business and life coaching, and motivational speaking to individuals and organizations. Lisa publishes the monthly "DECIDE™ to be Organized" e-zine for the general public, and “Next Level Business Success” e-zine for professional organizers and entrepreneurs.  Subscribe today at www.LMOrganizingSolutions.com. To explore how LMOS can help take your business to the next level, contact Lisa Montanaro at (845) 988-0183 or by e-mail at Lisa@LMOrganizingSolutions.com. Want to learn an effective new organizing process to use with your clients (while working on your own organizing projects personally and professionally)? Join Lisa for the DECIDE to be Organized Group Coaching Program, a 6-week teleclass series, starting 10/18. Upon completion, Lisa will issue a certificate for 9 hours of continuing education. Organizers have taken the program alongside non-organizers and say that it is a powerful way to learn an organizing methodology. http://lmorganizingsolutions.com/groupcoaching.html
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/09/27/how-far-does-the-confidentiality-clause-in-your-client-agreement-really-extend/feed/ 0 A New Website for the Atlanta Hoarding Task Force http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/30/a-new-website-for-the-atlanta-hoarding-task-force/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/30/a-new-website-for-the-atlanta-hoarding-task-force/#comments Tue, 30 Aug 2011 15:38:30 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2720 A New Website for the Atlanta Hoarding Task Force
Last year, I blogged about the importance of connecting with other resources in your area, particularly if you`re working with hoarders. In that post I mentioned that hoarding task forces and coalitions are forming in various communities in order to provide the public with information about the resources available to help hoarders and their families. [...]

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on A New Website for the Atlanta Hoarding Task Force.

]]> A New Website for the Atlanta Hoarding Task Force
Last year, I blogged about the importance of connecting with other resources in your area, particularly if you`re working with hoarders. In that post I mentioned that hoarding task forces and coalitions are forming in various communities in order to provide the public with information about the resources available to help hoarders and their families. Atlanta Hoarding Task Force I consider the work of these groups to be vital, especially now that television has opened so many people`s eyes and minds to hoarding issues. I was therefore thrilled when Judith Kolberg, Director of the Atlanta Hoarding Task Force (AHTF), asked me to convert the organization`s website to WordPress, to enable group members to easily update information and post news items and events. The AHTF, which was formed in 2009, includes professional organizers, therapists, and providers of supplemental services such as biohazard services. Their mission is to make resources and services available to metro-Atlanta compulsive hoarders and their families, and to educate those who encounter people who are hoarders. As a non-profit corporation with a small budget, the AHTF opted for our Basic WordPress Package and selected the Yukon Theme by iThemes. This gave them an uncluttered, easy-to-navigate site on which to present information about hoarding and the Task Force itself, with the ability to easily incorporate new material in the future. If you`re looking for hoarding-related books, websites, or videos, be sure to check out the new Atlanta Hoarding Task Force website. Where do you get information about resources for hoarders in YOUR community?
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/30/a-new-website-for-the-atlanta-hoarding-task-force/feed/ 0 Do You Want to Organize Like Julie Morgenstern? http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/16/do-you-want-to-organize-like-julie-morgenstern/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/16/do-you-want-to-organize-like-julie-morgenstern/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:04:11 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2685 Do You Want to Organize Like Julie Morgenstern?
One of the first books I read when I became serious about organizing was Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern. Despite the explosive growth in the industry, to this day, I can’t think of a professional organizer who is more well known. Just imagine what it would do for your skill level, your [...]

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Do You Want to Organize Like Julie Morgenstern?.

]]> Do You Want to Organize Like Julie Morgenstern?
One of the first books I read when I became serious about organizing was Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern. Despite the explosive growth in the industry, to this day, I can’t think of a professional organizer who is more well known. Businesspeople at a seminar Just imagine what it would do for your skill level, your credibility, and your self-confidence to be trained by the Julie Morgenstern Organizing Institute! Julie has developed cutting-edge training courses to teach her methods to both new and experienced organizers, including the following two programs scheduled for the fall. Organizing Clients from the Inside Out – Friday, October 21 and Saturday, October 22, 2011 To earn your clients’ loyalty, you need to understand how they think and function. Knowing how to make things look good just isn’t enough! Based on the Organizing from the Inside Out book, this workshop will train you to organize people rather than things, and to design systems that are customized to your client’s unique habits, style and goals. After two days, you’ll know how to provide exceptional client service that will increase your referrals and help you stand out from your competition. Conducting a Needs Assessment – Sunday, October 23, 2011 This workshop was designed to develop your analytic, diagnostic and closing skills, which are completely different than those required for hands-on organizing. It provides focused study and practice of each stage of a two-hour, billable needs assessment, from the first 5 minutes through the presentation and close. You’ll learn to walk into any new organizing project and map out a winning plan of action based on the client’s unique needs. I conducted a lot of free 30-minute consultations before I realized it wasn’t giving me a good return on investment, and switched to a longer, billable assessment. I’d have saved myself a lot of time and energy if I’d taken this one-day workshop, and it would have paid for itself very quickly! These workshops will be held in Midtown New York, and you can save $200 if you sign up for both. This is an amazing deal, especially if you’re traveling in from out of town for the weekend. Sign up before September 15 and get a 10% early bird discount! Click here for further details and registration information. Will you do me a favor? When you register, please fill out the form as follows to let Julie know you learned about the workshops from me. (Disclosure: I will receive a referral fee if you do.) referral Please share: What’s the most valuable thing you’ve learned from Julie Morgenstern?
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/16/do-you-want-to-organize-like-julie-morgenstern/feed/ 2 Interview with a Certified Family Manager Coach™ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/07/26/interview-with-a-certified-family-manager-coach/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/07/26/interview-with-a-certified-family-manager-coach/#comments Tue, 26 Jul 2011 12:57:53 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2643 Interview with a Certified Family Manager Coach™
One of the wonderful things about the Professional Organizers Blog Carnival is the opportunity to connect with organizing consultants with a wide range of specialties. Today I've invited Ellen Delap, who is one of our Professional Organizers Blog Carnival Star Bloggers, to tell us about hers. Families are struggling with cohesiveness, communication and  organization.  It’s [...]

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Interview with a Certified Family Manager Coach™.

]]> Interview with a Certified Family Manager Coach™
One of the wonderful things about the Professional Organizers Blog Carnival is the opportunity to connect with organizing consultants with a wide range of specialties. Today I've invited Ellen Delap, who is one of our Professional Organizers Blog Carnival Star Bloggers, to tell us about hers. family manager coach Families are struggling with cohesiveness, communication and  organization.  It’s about who is making dinner, can the laundry get beyond the living room, and who is doing what when.  Enter the Family Manager Coach! I have always had a special connection with my family clients, especially those with ADD.  The struggles these families were experiencing could be helped.  Certified Family Manager CoachesTM offer a unique perspective, that of viewing your home like a business, to help families think about their connections and roles in a new way. Training I learned of this certification through the Wall Street Journal and looked into the program.   Certified Family Manager CoachesTM are trained under Kathy Peel, called “America’s Family Manager” by journalists and millions of women. She has authored 21 books which have sold over 2 million copies.  Families find coaches through the www.familymanager.com website or through googling “family manager coach”. Over the course of 2 weeks and 6 modules which include several online tests and commenting on forums, I completed the certification in 2009. I have since renewed my certification with further review of modules and by taking an annual test. How it works As a coach, I have the opportunity to offer an online assessment tool for clients to find their strengths and challenges.  Some clients like this option and some would prefer the initial assessment in person.   Then we meet in one on one sessions, focusing on where they need a boost.  Typically, we work together on setting up family routines, such as the family meeting and daily schedules, organizing areas throughout their home, and finding creative ways to share and delegate responsibilities. What clients say At the end of each session, my client has a fresh start and a fresh perspective.
“When I hired Ellen, I needed help with time management and decluttering of my home. With her help, I was able to implement a regular family meeting and created a command central. We also partnered to declutter and organize closets and the home office. Putting her knowledge in practice has helped me better manage my family's schedule and create the order I needed in my home.”
Helping families is a rewarding experience and makes a difference for all of us!  I encourage you to look at www.familymanager.com to see if this would be a great addition to your business or if you could benefit from a session with a Family Manager Coach. Ellen Delap Certified Professional Organizer and Certified Family Manager Coach Ellen Delap Website: www.professional-organizer.com Twitter: @TexasOrganizer Facebook: EllenDelapProfessionalOrganizer LinkedIn: EllenDelapProfOrganizer
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/07/26/interview-with-a-certified-family-manager-coach/feed/ 0 Your Paperless Business http://organizedassistant.com/2011/05/24/your-paperless-business/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/05/24/your-paperless-business/#comments Tue, 24 May 2011 12:41:31 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2459 Your Paperless Business
Today I'm thrilled to introduce a special guest, Lelah Baker-Rabe, who is one of our Professional Organizers Blog Carnival Star Bloggers. Lelah specializes in helping clients eliminate paper from their offices, and is here today to explain how you can benefit from making your organizing business paperless. As professional organizers, we work with many clients [...]

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Your Paperless Business.

]]> Your Paperless Business
Today I'm thrilled to introduce a special guest, Lelah Baker-Rabe, who is one of our Professional Organizers Blog Carnival Star Bloggers. Lelah specializes in helping clients eliminate paper from their offices, and is here today to explain how you can benefit from making your organizing business paperless. NeatDesk Desktop Scanner and NeatReceipts Mobile Scanner As professional organizers, we work with many clients who are challenged by paper. The daily inflow of paper is constant and our expertise helps our clients manage paper effectively. As business owners, we also have paper challenges. Because we have paper-management skills, the paper might not be as overwhelming for us, but it must be managed well in order for us to run our businesses profitably. With recent tech products like smartphones, tablets and net books, professional organizers have excellent resources and excellent reasons to take their businesses paperless. What does it mean to have a paperless business? Invoicing and contracts would be sent and received electronically. Advertising and marketing materials would be electronic, too, forgoing a paper newsletter or direct mail campaign for an enewsletter or email campaign. When you do receive a piece of paper that you want to keep or a business card you want to refer to, you would employ a scanning system and then recycle the paper rather than storing it in a filing cabinet. Your calendar, address book and notebook might be available through web-based applications you can access on a smartphone, or you might use something like Apple's MobileMe to keep your data updated across multiple electronic platforms, such as an iPhone and laptop. One always has to keep some physical records for legal and tax reasons, but they can be limited to a small permanent file. Why go to all the trouble to retool your professional organizing business as a paperless one?
  1. Mobility. You can be anywhere and access important data, making it more efficient to schedule and follow up with clients and manage your workflow. You can also share data with employees or contractors more easily.
  2. It saves money and space. Your office space will be lighter without a lot of paper files; having all your data backed up to an external hard drive or a cloud-based backup system takes up very little room. While you might invest in new technology like a scanner or smartphone, you'll save money on supplies like printer ink and paper.
  3. It helps you learn new skills you can transfer to your clients. A paperless business teaches tech skills that will help you work with clients on time management, office organizing and productivity.
  4. It sets an example for your clients and can be environmentally responsible, too. Recycling is good, but not using paper in the first place is better.  However, tools like phones and computers can have large eco-footprints, so if you strive for a green business, do your homework before you invest in products.Lelah Baker-Rabe
Your organized business can also be your paperless business! Lelah Baker-Rabe is a Los Angeles-based professional organizer. For more information on how and why to go paperless, call her at 818.269.6671, email lelah@lelahwithanh.com or sign up for Lelah's News, a once-monthly newsletter.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/05/24/your-paperless-business/feed/ 4 Pixies and Personality Type http://organizedassistant.com/2010/10/05/pixies-and-personality-type/ http://organizedassistant.com/2010/10/05/pixies-and-personality-type/#comments Tue, 05 Oct 2010 13:41:03 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=1849 Pixies and Personality Type
When I learned about the ways a person's personality type affects the way they manage their time and space, I set out to explore this further by conducting a survey where I asked others to identify their own type, strengths, and challenges. The results of my research are documented in my ebook, Organizing Your Life, [...]

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Pixies and Personality Type.

]]> Pixies and Personality Type
When I learned about the ways a person's personality type affects the way they manage their time and space, I set out to explore this further by conducting a survey where I asked others to identify their own type, strengths, and challenges. The results of my research are documented in my ebook, Organizing Your Life, Your Way. Katie and Kelly McMenamin I've recently come to know Katie and Kelly McMenamin, two sisters who share my fascination with organizing and personality type. As qualified MBTI professionals with different personality types, they really "get" this stuff. Recognizing that one-size-fits-all organizing solutions simply don't exist, they developed their own system by taking the 16 types defined under the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) and grouping them into the following four "PixieTypes":
  • Classic "Traditional, Organized" (SJ)
  • Fun "Adventurous, Practical" (SP)
  • Smart "Inventive, Clever" (NT)
  • Organic "Idealistic, Creative" (NF)
Each group is further broken down into "Structure" and "Freedom" depending on the other type preferences. Katie and Kelly have stopped by to explain these differences by describing their individual organizing styles and how they work well together. Katie: Organic Freedom — INFP I’ve spent much of my life envying people who seem to have it together — organized, on time, cautious, well-dressed (and without cat hair, lint, dandruff, etc. upon their clothes). The kind of people who have no problem working first and playing later. As much as I have tried, (watching television WHILE I write this for instance) stray hairs are upon my clothes and I have never been able to be the strictly organized, on time, "work before play" person I have so much envied. Turns out, those super “together” people I’ve been jealous of were born with innate abilities for discipline and order. It comes EASY to them because if they don’t do these things, they get anxious and annoyed. Life becomes hard. These people (my sister for instance) are uncomfortable being messy. They aren’t happy unless they are crossing things off lists, making sure their outfits are put together, their world ordered, filed away, clean. It’s simply who they are. Not me. When it comes to being organized and together, I’m usually described as lazy, disorganized, forgetful, spacy, etc. And it’s mostly true. But I’m also mostly organized, usually on time, careful, stylish, and have an innate ability to finish projects at the last minute with great results. What I’ve found, and others discovered long before I was born — Jung, Myers, Briggs, Benzinger, Kiersey, Bates, Native American Mythology — is that, um, people are just born different. We all have different personalities and preferences, and when we learn what they are and to follow and accept them, we can then put aside our preconceptions of that organized, prompt, well dressed example of perfection, and become a realistic version of being organized and “together” that works for us. Yes, I like to watch TV when I do my “homework” and I do it late at night and not in the morning when my sister is hard at work and I’m often still sleeping. Yes, I don’t know where EVERYTHING is in my house, and I could stand to go through my closet again. But I know where my important papers are, I have a list of essential numbers taped to the inside of my kitchen cupboards, and I’m living the busiest time in my life (two kids, a new business, a writing career). It’s a very busy, very full, and very enjoyable life. And when I’m being myself, it’s easy. So, when it comes to finding organization solutions for your home and your life, implement systems that work for YOU. If writing things on your hand helps you remember things, then do it, convention be damned. My sister saw Richard Branson (the gazillionaire) on CNBC the other day and he had a reminder written on his hand. Know and accept who you are (the real you, not the one you envy). If you do, you’ll find solutions come easier to you. It’s not magic, but when it’s done right, your life will sparkle with Pixie magic. Trust us. Life should be easy. Kelly: Classic Freedom – ISFJ Every once in a while, for inexplicable reasons likely related to tidal movements, I’m tempted to try to be someone I’m not. Yesterday, I felt like watching TV all day but knew I couldn’t as I had writing to do. I thought, “Hey, I know! I’ll be like my sister, Kate. I’ll finish my writing while simultaneously watching TV.” So, I tried to write this bit while watching movies all afternoon. I didn’t get farther than a few sentences and had to keep rewinding the movies. End result: I neither enjoyed the movies nor experienced the joy of crossing off “Write Blog” from my To Do list. No matter how hard I try, I cannot be someone else. I work and then play, not because I’m virtuous or have superior willpower to Kate, but because it’s easier for me this way. If I don’t do it in this order, I don’t get work done and then I’m anxious and unhappy. That’s it. That’s the only reason. I like to keep my house tidy because I can’t relax if there is obvious work in front of me, i.e., junk everywhere screaming to be put away. I’ll honestly never know how people can truly relax amidst clutter. I can tolerate things temporarily but eventually it grates on me and I must find a home for something. So now you are probably wondering how anyone like me could possibly have problems with organizing. First, I am often super busy and therefore don’t always have the time to properly organize my belongings and the constant inflow (that’s when I start to stuff junk behind closet & cupboard doors or under the bed to avoid seeing it). Second, I get such euphoria from getting things done that I sometimes cut corners (if it isn’t work related) to get to the finish line. My house almost always looks good on the outside but if you dig deeper into cupboards, closets or drawers, they are often in disarray. Part of this is because I’m busy but it also feeds into my impatience with getting things done. I often don’t take the extra time to plan out how to properly organize all of the various nooks. When I first set up my linen closet, I did the bare minimum ... a shelf for towels, a shelf with three wicker bins for mostly vitamins/pills, plus hair supplies, lotions and miscellaneous bath type stuff because I had nowhere else to put them. I knew where everything went even if it wasn’t immediately obvious to an outsider. It was a closet that could neither be commended nor ridiculed, but one that was often annoying to me. There was the time I was searching for Tylenol, couldn’t find it so thought I didn’t have any and bought some more only to find the old (full) bottle hidden underneath something the next week. One bottle of Tylenol is obviously no big deal in the grand scheme of things but add this up over time and it gets … annoying. Then my husband moved in and he didn’t really get my organization and well you can see the results in the photo below. As you can see when it comes to setting up organizational systems, my personality type sacrifices quality for completion. With the linen closet, I didn’t want to take the extra time to sit down, measure the shelves, figure out what height the towel shelves should be, if baskets might make it easier to get the towels in and out, what things I could buy to make more distinct homes and empty space for everything I would eventually need to jam into the closet. As a result, it wasn’t the most useful closet. But, once I sat down with my sister and redid my closet, I finally got it right. Kate’s personality type enjoys process more than mine and isn’t in as much of a rush as I am to “get ‘er done”. She took the time to think about what I wanted to keep and retrieve from the closet, what made the most sense and then she tried a myriad of solutions to narrow in on the right configuration. Now, everything is easy to put away, retrieve, and makes sense to all who use it. I have baskets for folding items, heavy items down low, lighter items up high and then a plethora of labeled drawers for all of my pills and extra toiletries and it is indeed a closet to be envied. You can learn more about PixieTypes at www.pixiesdidit.com, and for more on personality type and organizing, check out my e-book, Organizing Your Life, Your Way.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2010/10/05/pixies-and-personality-type/feed/ 0 Book Review: Apartment Therapy http://organizedassistant.com/2010/09/14/book-review-apartment-therapy/ http://organizedassistant.com/2010/09/14/book-review-apartment-therapy/#comments Tue, 14 Sep 2010 15:06:12 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=1816 Book Review: Apartment Therapy
Published in 2006, Apartment Therapy is not a new book, but it is one that escaped my attention until recently. Having downsized from a house to an apartment several years ago, I've decided it's about time I start to personalize my space, and came upon it in my local Indigo while searching for a book [...]

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Book Review: Apartment Therapy.

]]> Book Review: Apartment Therapy
Published in 2006, Apartment Therapy is not a new book, but it is one that escaped my attention until recently. Having downsized from a house to an apartment several years ago, I've decided it's about time I start to personalize my space, and came upon it in my local Indigo while searching for a book to inspire me. apartment therapy One of the things that impressed me about Apartment Therapy was the way that author Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan described the close connection between decorating, organizing, cleaning, and living in harmony with one's surroundings. For the first time, I understand what feng shui is really about. I had always considered decorating to be about esthetics and organizing about function, but this book made me realize that dealing with one and not the other may leave your client feeling less than satisfied. The harmonized step-by-step approach to creating a happy and healthy home provides an excellent framework for developing an organizing plan that incorporates other work your client may need to complete or hire another professional to do – reinforcing the importance of forming alliances with decorators, contractors, and other service providers. The questions Gillingham-Ryan asks his clients during the initial interview might also prove helpful to you. They won't help you determine your client's organizing needs, but will give you important insight into what you can expect while working with him or her, and can therefore be a valuable addition to what you're already asking. As the title suggests, the book focuses on people living in apartments, but many of the principles would apply equally to any residence. This book is a must-read for all home organizers, especially those who specialize in clients who are downsizing or already living in small spaces. Apartment Therapy is available in the Home Organization department of The Bookstore for Professional Organizers.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2010/09/14/book-review-apartment-therapy/feed/ 0