Organized Assistant » guest blogger 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 NASMM Conference Opens New Doors for Professional Organizers http://organizedassistant.com/2012/01/26/nasmm-conference-opens-new-doors-for-professional-organizers/ http://organizedassistant.com/2012/01/26/nasmm-conference-opens-new-doors-for-professional-organizers/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:32:14 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=3043 NASMM Conference Opens New Doors for Professional Organizers
As a blogger, I’m committed to sharing all types of information that might benefit you in Your Organizing Business, so when I heard about the recent National Association of Senior Move Managers conference, I was eager to invite an attendee to tell us about it in a guest blog post. Robin Blinder was happy to [...]

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]]> NASMM Conference Opens New Doors for Professional Organizers
As a blogger, I’m committed to sharing all types of information that might benefit you in Your Organizing Business, so when I heard about the recent National Association of Senior Move Managers conference, I was eager to invite an attendee to tell us about it in a guest blog post. Robin Blinder was happy to oblige, and I’m pleased to welcome her here today. Lady Bird Lake, Austin, Texas The annual conference of the National Association of Senior Move Managers was in Austin, Texas this month – January 12th through the 15th.  As a professional organizer who is also a senior move manager, this conference is one of the ways I continue to educate myself, recharge my business batteries, and network with those throughout the country whose professional life has taken the same fork in the road.  This was my second NASMM Conference, and once again, NASMM did not disappoint. First, the venue – the Hyatt Regency in Austin, Texas – was a wonderful place to attend a conference.  Great halls for the nearly 400 attendees to gather for keynote sessions, meals, and events like the 10th Birthday Party of NASMM, excellent rooms for breakout sessions, and a myriad of open meeting areas for networking and small group meetings.  Austin showed up with weather that was warm enough for walks along the river or across the bridge.  And there were plenty of restaurants and nightspots to visit with new friends or old friends reunited.  Fun times! This year’s educational sessions were superb.  I started out my conference time with Thursday’s pre-conference sessions – “Speak Up! And Present Your Way to Success” and “Winning Sales Strategies for Senior Move Managers.”  Both sessions, taught by renown experts in our field, gave me tons of ah-ha moments & things I could implement to grow my business. There were four keynote general sessions – one more than last year, and each of them touched a different area of my business.  Friday’s opening keynote, “Differentiate and Dominate” by John Jantsch of “Duct Tape Marketing” fame, helped us to think of our business and our marketing strategy in a whole new way.  Saturday’s keynote, “My Client Has Dementia: Now What?” by Teepa Snow, was phenomenal.  Teepa delivered some tough information in a very entertaining way.  Sunday’s keynotes, Jeremy Solomon’s keynote on dealing with diversity in the aging market and Tim Richardson’s “Rich Service” presentation, both gave me a number of take-away points to apply. But that wasn’t all!  The 24 breakout sessions during the conference were so rich that I bought the CDs in order to catch the sessions that I wasn’t able to attend.  The topics hit on business topics like marketing, sales, human resource & finance, tactical topics for SMMs like estimating, space planning, and disbursing client belongings, and client-centered topics such as family communication, client “potholes,” and decision-making.  There was definitely something for everyone, and many of the sessions also applied to my organizing business. If you’re a Senior Move Manager and have not attended NASMM’s Annual Conference, join us in St. Petersburg next January 20th-23rd and experience for yourself the tremendous value it brings to you and your business.  If you’re a NAPO or ICD member and have thought about adding senior move management to your services, come to St. Petersburg and see what this growing field can add to your business.  Hope to see you next January in sunny St. Petersburg, Florida! Robin Blinder is a Professional Organizer and Senior Move Manager serving the Tampa Bay, Florida area.  You can find more information at http://www.consideritorganized.com.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2012/01/26/nasmm-conference-opens-new-doors-for-professional-organizers/feed/ 0 A Shout-out to Our 2011 Supporters http://organizedassistant.com/2011/12/27/a-shout-out-to-our-2011-supporters/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/12/27/a-shout-out-to-our-2011-supporters/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 14:12:02 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2993 A Shout-out to Our 2011 Supporters
With 2011 drawing to a close, it’s time for something that’s become an annual tradition here at Your Organizing Business. For my final post of the year, I’d like to acknowledge the many professional organizers and other supporters who have shared their time and expertise with my readers in some way. The following individuals contributed [...]

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]]> A Shout-out to Our 2011 Supporters
With 2011 drawing to a close, it’s time for something that’s become an annual tradition here at Your Organizing Business. For my final post of the year, I’d like to acknowledge the many professional organizers and other supporters who have shared their time and expertise with my readers in some way.

2011

The following individuals contributed as guest bloggers or participated in a blog interview this year. Simply click on their names to read their posts. The Professional Organizers Blog Carnival has continued to grow in popularity, with a total of 191 posts submitted by 61 professional organizers, including seven new Professional Organizers Blog Carnival Star Bloggers. A big thanks to:
  • Ellen Delap
  • Audrey Cupo
  • Linda Samuels
  • Ramona Creel
  • Deb Lee
  • Elaine Shannon
  • Clare Kumar
  • Jane Veldhoven
  • Lisa Montanaro
  • Tracy Hoth
  • Jeri Dansky
  • Julie Bestry
  • Nancy Borg
  • Geralin Thomas
  • Janine Adams
  • Lauren Giammarco
  • Lelah Baker-Rabe
  • Master Cruz
  • Natalie Conrad
  • Pauline Wiles
  • Rivka Caroline
  • Sue West
  • Angela Esnouf
  • Barbara Tako
  • Jane Woolsey
  • Janice Russell
  • Jonda Beattie
  • Leslie Josel
  • Michelle Panzlaff
  • Stephanie LH Calahan
  • Debbie Pendell
  • Hazel Thornton
  • Heather Burke
  • Hellen Buttigieg
  • Jacquie Ross
  • Janet Baker
  • Laura Wittmann
  • Paul H. Burton
  • Shelley Molitor
  • Alys Milner
  • Ann Acquaviva
  • Anne Blumer
  • Deanne Kelleher
  • Debbie Stanley
  • Jacki Hollywood Brown
  • Jennifer Crutchfield
  • Jodi Granok
  • Kate Brown
  • Kimberly Eagles
  • Krista Colvin
  • Kristin Lindstrom
  • Laura Lawrence
  • Linda Vanderkolk
  • Linda Williams
  • Lurlene Anderson
  • Margaret Lukens
  • Margarita Ibbott
  • MaryJo Monroe
  • Michelle O'Sullivan
  • Oksana Bellas
  • Sheri Bruneau
With such a wealth of information and industry contacts at your fingertips, I hope you’ll spend a little time reading or re-reading their posts, leaving some comments, and expanding your online network. I know that many of you support this blog by leaving comments and/or sharing your favorite posts by email or social media, and your efforts are appreciated as well. As you prepare your Blogging Plan for 2012, you may find the following resources helpful for generating content ideas: And if you haven’t already, be sure to subscribe to Your Organizing Business by RSS or email for lots of ideas for your blog and other aspects of your business! Have a happy and prosperous new year!
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/12/27/a-shout-out-to-our-2011-supporters/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 [...]

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]]> 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 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 [...]

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]]> 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 Do You Play Well with Others? A look at cooperative competition http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/23/do-you-play-well-with-others-a-look-at-cooperative-competition/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/23/do-you-play-well-with-others-a-look-at-cooperative-competition/#comments Tue, 23 Aug 2011 13:17:42 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2698 Do You Play Well with Others? A look at cooperative competition
In my experience, most professional organizers are very happy to share resources and expertise with their colleagues and reap many rewards from doing so. I asked my client, Julie Stobbe, about her thoughts on the subject, and was so impressed that I invited her to share them here today as my guest blogger. Coopetition occurs [...]

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]]> Do You Play Well with Others? A look at cooperative competition
In my experience, most professional organizers are very happy to share resources and expertise with their colleagues and reap many rewards from doing so. I asked my client, Julie Stobbe, about her thoughts on the subject, and was so impressed that I invited her to share them here today as my guest blogger. Professional organizer Julie Stobbe sharing tips with other local businesswomen
Coopetition occurs when companies work together for parts of their business where they do not believe they have competitive advantage and where they believe they can share common costs. (Source: Wikipedia)
Cooperating with someone in your line of business is a great way to get to know people, brainstorm and  learn ideas and help each other with areas that you are weak in. When I decided to try coopetition, I did it on a project basis. I used it to help me to market better, because marketing is not my strength. I would think about something I would like to have (product development) or something I would like to do (offer a new service) and think about someone who had mentioned that they had an interest in the same thing.  I would approach them with an idea and see if they were interested in working together to develop and implement the plan.  It was nice to have a partner to walk the path with and hold my hand. The payoff is having to do half the work while increasing business for both parties with the understanding that if they get busy and need help, they would approach me first, and I would do the same for them.  If you develop a service with a partner, if someone gets sick, you have the other person as backup.   I always selected someone who lived east of my main marketing area.  This made it easy to get materials delivered over a larger area - half the work, twice the area covered.  This gave us both exposure to a larger market. Here are some examples of projects I’ve worked on with people in my field and with complementary businesses:
  • Developing organizing tip booklets; we have 4 different topics.
  • Developing courses to offer to colleges, school boards and groups; we have 3 different 3 hour courses prepared.
  • Advertising someone else’s electronic resources (because I don’t want to develop them at this time) in exchange for services.
  • Advertising together so the cost of printing is shared by both companies.
  • Recommending specialty services to clients, such as clutter removal service, rug cleaning, and website design.
  • Inviting someone to attend new meetings and events with me. That way I don’t have to walk in alone, and perhaps they can make introductions too.
Although I have been fortunate and careful with whom I partner, there are always things to consider.
  • The person you partner with now represents your company as well as their own.  Make sure you have similar business ethics or your company’s reputation maybe adversely affected.
  • If you are producing a product and the quality of what they produce is not up to your standards, you may be disappointed.  However, you have both contributed time and money to the project so they may use it the way they want to.
  • One of the companies may work much harder at marketing the product or service than the other company.  Make sure that you can live with it if you realize that you are marketing them but they are not marketing you.
Overall, I have gained a lot from coopetition with others.  I have grown as a business person, I have learned new skills, I have made good friends I can depend on, and I have learned to be flexible.  I hope my coopetition partners have found me to be reasonable, supportive and hard working.  Taking a chance to work with good people is really making a sure bet. Julie Stobbe is a POC Trained Professional Organizer and the owner of Mind over Clutter in Beamsville, Ontario, Canada. You can also like Mind over Clutter on Facebook. Do you have a “coopetition” story of your own? Please share it in the Comments. If you have any questions for Julie, please feel free to post them here as well.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/08/23/do-you-play-well-with-others-a-look-at-cooperative-competition/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 [...]

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]]> 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 From Cleaner to Professional Organizer http://organizedassistant.com/2011/03/22/from-cleaner-to-professional-organizer/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/03/22/from-cleaner-to-professional-organizer/#comments Tue, 22 Mar 2011 12:44:23 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2140 From Cleaner to Professional Organizer
My special guest today is Michelle O'Sullivan, owner of Saving Spaces, in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. When I met Michelle last year, I was interested to learn that she had run a successful cleaning business for ten years before becoming a professional organizer, and I invited her to share her story with my readers. Michelle, why [...]

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]]> From Cleaner to Professional Organizer
My special guest today is Michelle O'Sullivan, owner of Saving Spaces, in Burlington, Ontario, Canada. When I met Michelle last year, I was interested to learn that she had run a successful cleaning business for ten years before becoming a professional organizer, and I invited her to share her story with my readers. Cleaning and organizing a kitchen Michelle, why did you become a professional organizer? Having had the cleaning business, I found that I was doing a lot of organizing for my clients - they loved it and were getting it as part of my cleaning service. They had referred me to their friends, and after a few jobs I realized that I enjoyed it more than the cleaning. It was less methodical and more rewarding on a personal level, and my clients were more appreciative of the organizing service than the cleaning service. How did you make the transition from cleaning to organizing? There really was no transition as I still have the cleaning business. I decided to change the name of the cleaning business from Emerald Household Services to Saving Spaces and added organizing and decluttering as another service. I told my clients, and they were all very supportive. I have a small cleaning clientele of 30, and I have had half of them for over eight years, so we know each other well. Their main concern was that they were going to lose me. I never had to advertise for my cleaning service - all were referrals - so I knew I had to market and promote myself to be recognized as a professional organizer. I did my research and checked out all the other organizers in the area, and what services they offered, I joined POC and started taking courses with them, I read lots of books, I got business cards and a website, I joined network groups, and started to market myself to a different target. How did your experience in the cleaning industry benefit you as you launched your organizing business? It was of great benefit to me as I was already doing the job for lots of my clients but not getting the recognition for it. It also helped as I wasn’t nervous as some are when they go to their first client.  Over the years I have learned to read people by their homes and the way they live so I have a good idea what is going to work for them. Are there differences in the way you run your business now? I have had to hire help for the cleaning business, which gives me time to focus on marketing myself as a professional organizer. I am more money conscious and invest more in my business.  The cleaning business was just a job to earn money. Now I have found my passion and it is my career. What do you like most about your business? I love what I do! I get to meet great people and the knowledge that I am able to help them with their organizing and cleaning needs, and their gratitude to me for my service, is the greatest reward. I have also got to meet great people in the industry of Organizing, Marketing and Networking, and I get to meet new people all the time that can help me and I them. What is your greatest challenge? It has to be online marketing: first building my website, getting to know and navigate my way around Facebook and Twitter, and now I am starting to blog - there is so much to learn. It has taken me a year to become familiar with it all. Of course my typing was not the best either so that was another challenge! My personal motto is
Stay focused and take one day at a time.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/03/22/from-cleaner-to-professional-organizer/feed/ 2 Social Media Is Not a Race http://organizedassistant.com/2011/02/22/social-media-is-not-a-race/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/02/22/social-media-is-not-a-race/#comments Tue, 22 Feb 2011 13:44:10 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2081 Social Media Is Not a Race
As much as I love to blog, I'm thrilled to take a break today and let Kerry Rego take over. One of the many wonderful people I've met through Twitter, Kerry runs her own consulting business, through which she offers social media and technology training as well as home and office organization services. She's got [...]

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As much as I love to blog, I'm thrilled to take a break today and let Kerry Rego take over. One of the many wonderful people I've met through Twitter, Kerry runs her own consulting business, through which she offers social media and technology training as well as home and office organization services. She's got some great advice here for all of us! Running a race I taught a session at the NAPO-SFBA Regional conference in the fall of 2010. I spoke to a fellow organizer about a problem she was having with social media. She had recently started her business and had created a website she really liked. Her problem was she'd signed up for every social media tool she'd ever heard of and then placed the link or widget on her main site. Yet, she didn't have any content when people clicked through because she was so new. This is what I told her: Keep all those accounts but remove the widgets and their obvious presence from public view. Then pick just one tool. Facebook, LinkedIn, blogging, YouTube, whatever you want to start with. Hang out there. Learn the culture, the lingo, get a feel for it. Observe what others do and how you respond as a viewer/consumer. When you feel like you have a good grasp of the way it functions and the purpose that it serves, evaluate whether or not it's the right tool for whom you want to reach. Then do it again with a tool that you think serves an audience, or function, that you aren't already achieving. When deciding which channels are right for you and your brand, don't forget to ask "Who is my audience? Who is my client?" Age, sex, profession, income level, secondary interests, geography, climate. There are many ways you can market your services based on these few categories. Each platform is different in demographics and usage. Learn about them before signing up to use them. If you pick a tool just because YOU like it, it might not be the right one to help you achieve your goals. After awhile you've added a few new social media channels to your arsenal. You've been writing on your blog, you've set up (and are using!) your Facebook page, and have a YouTube channel with some videos uploaded. As you work and learn each avenue, you are adding content over time. Social media is about your brand and message, expressing your professional opinion, building trusting relationships through communication, and is the new source for customer service.  I always say it's like getting a six pack. You can't expect to have ripped abs in a week or six weeks of going to the gym. In six months you should be nicely toned. This is not a sprint to the finish line. Master walking before you start running. I'd like to thank Kerry for taking the time to share these tips with us. To learn more, read her blog at Kerry Rego Consulting. If you'd like to be a guest blogger for Your Organizing Business, please drop me a line!
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/02/22/social-media-is-not-a-race/feed/ 3 Book Dream to Right Team http://organizedassistant.com/2011/02/01/book-dream-to-right-team/ http://organizedassistant.com/2011/02/01/book-dream-to-right-team/#comments Tue, 01 Feb 2011 13:39:25 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=2014 Book Dream to Right Team
Have you ever considered writing a book? Do you know what steps are involved? You'll find out today from my guest Linda Samuels, the author of The Other Side of Organized, who is here to walk us through the process and introduce us to the people who were involved in helping her fulfil her dream. [...]

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Have you ever considered writing a book? Do you know what steps are involved? You'll find out today from my guest Linda Samuels, the author of The Other Side of Organized, who is here to walk us through the process and introduce us to the people who were involved in helping her fulfil her dream. The Other Side of Organized - Linda Samuels My long-standing goal of fifteen plus years was to write a book about organizing and life balance. Once I committed 2009 as the year, I enlisted help to bring my concept to reality by gathering a team of experts. The first person I hired was my book coach, Julie Trelstad of Plain White Press. We met at a local business meeting where she was speaking about social media. Her expertise was invaluable as she reviewed and discussed my manuscript, explained possible publishing options (self-publishing vs. traditional publishing), guided me through the publishing process, established deadlines, recommended designers, editors, printers and marketers, discussed distribution options, set up my book web site and provided general guidance. Together we determined that self-publishing was the route I’d take to bring The Other Side of Organized to market. As a result, I started my own publishing company, Oh, So Publishing! so that I could control all aspects of production from design to editing to printing and distribution. I hired the logo designer, Ron Romain of Ron and Joe to design the Oh, So Publishing! logo. I knew Ron for years and admired his fun design sensibility. Meanwhile, Julie suggested that before I gave the manuscript to an editor, I should mail it to about five key people to get feedback and suggestions about the content. I selected several trusted friends and colleagues including professional organizers, Sheila Delson and Barry Izsak, along with psychologist and author, Dr. Ellen Littman. While the manuscripts were out, I began interviewing potential editors. The referrals came from Julie and a few other contacts. Many phone conversations, emails and estimates later, I hired Sara Cypher of The Three Penny Editor.  Working by phone and email, she made the process painless. She also reviewed the manuscript again after the book designers had completed the design and layouts. For the next step, I researched and interviewed book designers. I learned that some book designers only design covers, some just design book interiors and others design both. There was a huge range in skill and cost for the various components. After getting five or six estimates and reviewing designers’ portfolios, I hired Ian Shimkoviack and Alan Hebel of The Book Designers. They handled both the cover and book interior. They worked with me closely by phone and email until they developed a design that I loved. The cover was designed and approved first. Laying out the book’s interior followed that. Once the book was designed, the files were uploaded to the printing company, Lightning Source. This print-on-demand company allows you to order one copy or thousands of copies. In addition, book retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble can order the books directly on demand. When the first boxes of books arrived at my doorstep, I was overjoyed!  It took about nine months from my first meeting with Julie to actually holding the printed books. While the goal had been to publish a book, the journey didn’t end there. The next phase was book marketing. In the first few months of 2010, I quickly realized that marketing could easily become a full-time job. I knew I needed more help. Once again, Julie put me in touch with several resources. At her suggestion, I hired a book publicist, Crystal Patriarche of BookSparksPR. With Crystal’s help, we developed marketing strategies, widened my audience and increased media exposure. Writing The Other Side of Organized was a wonderful experience! Learning about the publishing process from an amazing team of experts gave me that hands-on level of understanding.  Many other people offered their advice, wrote book reviews and supported the project in a variety of ways. They included Charles Francis, Richard Rockwell, Dan Poynter, Judith Kolberg, Sharon Phillips, Monica Ricci, Janine Adams, Vicki Dellaquila and countless others.  In addition to industry experts, I received tremendous love and support from my husband Steve, our daughters Allison and Cassie and many family members and friends. By handling all aspects of the book project, I was able to ensure that the final product looked and felt like what I’d envisioned. I am forever grateful for everyone that helped bring The Other Side of Organized to fruition. Linda Samuels, CPO-CD® is a compassionate, enthusiastic professional organizer who facilitates change in her clients’ lives. In January 1993, she combined her visual arts expertise, business background, love of helping people, and organizing abilities to launch Oh, So Organized! The Other Side of Organized is available in the Organizing – General department of The Bookstore for Professional Organizers. One of my clients has sent me a copy, and I look forward to reading it and reviewing it here for Your Organizing Business.
]]> http://organizedassistant.com/2011/02/01/book-dream-to-right-team/feed/ 6 Reviewing 2010 and Looking Forward to 2011 http://organizedassistant.com/2010/12/28/reviewing-2010-and-looking-forward-to-2011/ http://organizedassistant.com/2010/12/28/reviewing-2010-and-looking-forward-to-2011/#comments Tue, 28 Dec 2010 14:13:14 +0000 Janet http://organizedassistant.com/?p=1969 Reviewing 2010 and Looking Forward to 2011
As I go through the process of planning my blogging schedule for 2011, I can't stop thinking that "Your Organizing Business" would be no more than random thoughts passing through my mind if it weren't for my faithful readers. This final post of 2010 is therefore dedicated to all of you. I would especially like [...]

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As I go through the process of planning my blogging schedule for 2011, I can't stop thinking that "Your Organizing Business" would be no more than random thoughts passing through my mind if it weren't for my faithful readers. This final post of 2010 is therefore dedicated to all of you. Thank you for supporting Your Organizing Business I would especially like to thank the individuals who contributed as guest bloggers or took part in a blog interview this year. Please click on their names below to read the posts that you missed or that you'd like to enjoy again: The Professional Organizers Blog Carnival continues to be a popular feature, with 45 bloggers submitting a total of 151 posts, and 7 qualifying to be named Professional Organizers Blog Carnival Star Bloggers.
  • Ellen Delap
  • Elaine Shannon
  • Jeri Dansky
  • Angela Esnouf
  • Audrey Cupo
  • Ramona Creel
  • Geralin Thomas
  • Julie Bestry
  • Lelah Baker-Rabe
  • Debbie Pendell
  • Jacki Hollywood Brown
  • Joan Kosmachuk
  • Stephanie LH Calahan
  • Barbara Tako
  • Clare Kumar
  • Deb Lee
  • Lisa Montanaro
  • Margarita Ibbott
  • Anne Blumer
  • Christine Simiriglia
  • Jane Veldhoven
  • Janet Baker
  • Michelle Deo
  • Hellen Buttigieg
  • Jennifer Crutchfield
  • Jodi Granok
  • Kimberly Eagles
  • Master Cruz
  • Michelle Panzlaff
  • Tina Blazer
  • Angie Weid
  • Beverly Coggins
  • Cari Pemberton
  • Carmen Coker
  • Eva Wallace
  • Heather Burke
  • Jacquie Ross
  • Janet Nusbaum
  • Janice Russell
  • Krista Colvin
  • Margaret Lukens
  • Paul H. Burton
  • Sarah Kimmel
  • Sarah Welch
  • Terry
As you make your own plans for 2011, I hope you'll keep the monthly Professional Organizers Blog Carnival topics in mind. It's a great way to share your expertise with other organizers and to generate traffic back to your blog! I also encourage you to download your free 2011 Blogging Calendar, if you haven't already. It includes a full page for every week with enough space to plan your blog topic ideas and other related activities. If you're interested in being a guest blogger, please let me know, even if you don't have a specific topic in mind. Here's to your success in 2011!
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