People join professional associations for various reasons. Some join because they feel it gives them credibility. Others hope to attract new clients through the online directory. For many people, those are the only reasons to join, so they don’t see any benefit in actively participating in their association.

I’ve even heard some people say

Why would I want to go to a meeting? It’s not like I’m going to get any business out of it.

Those people are missing out! Not only can you learn a lot from networking with your colleagues, active participation in a professional association can indeed bring in business.

I became a member of Professional Organizers in Canada (POC) mainly for the reasons mentioned above, and although it was certainly worthwhile in both of these areas, my relationships with other members brought me far greater benefits than I could ever have imagined! Here are just a few examples:

1. I received referrals from members in other regions who received inquiries from prospective clients in my area.
2. I was hired by a member who specialized in home staging to organize her home office, and by a home organizer to help organize her email and computer files. Professional organizers don’t all have the same skills or offer the same services!
3. Several organizers offered me subcontracting opportunities on projects that were too large for one person to manage alone, or where they needed someone with expertise in office organization.
4. I was also able to bring in other organizers on my larger projects, or when I needed someone with expertise in home organization.
5. One member left the organizing field to pursue other interests. This led to my being interviewed for a local radio show as well as an article in our local newspaper, which directly brought in new business.

Those things didn’t just happen because I paid my membership fee and stuck a logo on my website! I was very active in the association, attending Chapter meetings regularly and even serving on the National Board as Director of Membership for three years. During that time, the organization grew from fewer than 100 members to over 500, so I got to know hundreds of members, even if our only contact was by email. Even though I haven’t been a professional organizer or a POC member for several years now, I attribute much of my business success to the knowledge I gained and the contacts I made during that time.

If you’re new to the industry, I highly recommend you not only join, but actively participate in your professional association.

If you are involved with your professional association, please leave a comment to let others know the benefits you’ve experienced!

If you’ve decided professional association membership is not for you, please leave a comment to explain why.

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Are You Active in Your Professional Association – or are you just a member?.

In December, many of us take time to reflect on our activities over the past year. Since professional conferences often stand out as some of the best parts of the year, this month I invited my readers to share the highlights of the events which they attended.

We’ll kick off this month’s Blog Carnival with posts about the Professional Organizers in Canada Conference, not because I attended myself, but because I want to welcome our newest participant, Linda Vanderkolk who blogged about Organizing For A Conference, and to congratulate our newest Star Blogger, Jane Veldhoven, who blogged about Key Areas of Your Business.

The most blogged about conference was that put on by the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. Submissions included:

Linda Samuels – Vibrancy & Success

Ellen Delap – Institute for Challenging Disorganization and Motivational Interviewing

Angela Esnouf – Why I flew half way around the world

as well as Leslie Josel – The Power of Connection at Conference, whose post encompassed both the ICD and NAPO Conferences.

Also blogging about the NAPO Conference were:

Lelah Baker-Rabe – NAPO Conference Recap 2011

Julie Bestry – Rock Stars, Heartthrobs, Brainiacs and Organizing Innovators: NAPO 2011 In a Nutshell

One participant chose to blog about another conference, not specific to the organizing industry:

Tracy Hoth – SuccessPlus 2011 Event

As always, I encourage you to read the above posts as you reminisce about the conference(s) you attended and learn what you missed at those you did not.

Please leave a note to let us know what conferences you attended this year!

This is the last Professional Organizers Blog Carnival for 2011, but we’ve got a full slate of new topics lined up for next year. Be sure to mark your calendar so you don’t miss a single one!

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Professional Organizers Blog Carnival for December 2011: 2011 Conference Highlights.

Every year for over a decade, the Metro Washington, DC Area Chapter of NAPO has hosted the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Professional Organizers (MARCPO). For the benefit of others who might be interested in holding a similar event, I asked Deb Lee, Marketing Chair of MARCPO 2010, what goes on behind the scenes, and here’s what she told me.

MARPCO 2010 volunteers: Lynn Meltzer, Alisa Levy, and Susan Unger

If you’re like me, you like attending conferences. If you’re like me, you expect the ones you attend will have great food, amazing speakers, and be in a comfortable location. Not only will the content be fabulous, but you’ll also get to see old friends and connect with new ones.

If you’re like me, when the conference you’re attending is one that you’re also helping to organize, you absolutely want it to be great.  And, if you’re really are like me, then you know what it’s like to work with an amazingly tireless group of people to put on an equally amazing conference.   Working behind the scenes on NAPO-WDC’s 12th Annual Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Professional Organizers (MARCPO 2010 – Purpose, Passion, Profit) was fun, exhausting, exhilarating, and any other word you can think of when you’ve been immersed in it for twelve months!

Though it was the third year in a row that I’ve worked behind the scenes, I still learned a thing or two about what it’s like to coordinate the many arms of a conference.  If your association or group is thinking about putting on a great conference, you’ll need to do a lot, and you must have the “3 P’s.”

Judy Parkins, MARCPO 2010 Conference Chairperson

People

Before you have a plan, you need people.  Sound counterintuitive? It isn’t really. You can plan till the cows come home, but if there’s no one around to execute said plan, well, you don’t have much, do you? Besides, when you have people, they can help you create a plan so fabulous that everyone will look like rock stars.  Sometimes, your people get clever and get their own people (think sub-committees).  When everyone steps up to the plate and takes care of the things they’re tasked with, you’re almost guaranteed that you’ll put on a 5-star event.

“Say what you’ll do – then follow through.”

–Judy Parkins, MARCPO 2010 Chair

Care to guess how many people worked on MARCPO 2010? There was the Conference Chairperson, Judy Parkins, who pulled everyone together.  She had four committee chairs (Speakers, Expo, Marketing, & Program), and each of them had their own committee members. There were also volunteers who manned the registration desk, handled the AV, fixed speaker slides, and made sure we had banners and signs. Did I mention that we had a Community Partner liaison who handled the donations we received?  How about the folks who eye-balled our docs and website content to make sure there were no typos? …hmmm…think I might be forgetting a few people…

All in all, there were 30+ people involved behind the scenes. So, you see, people really come first.

“Another important element of creating a successful conference is a shared vision. All of the people involved knew that we could produce a high-quality, classy, professional event with a very strong educational component. We were all working hard to reach that same goal.”

–Julie Gray, MARCPO 2010 Expo Chair

Purpose

You probably thought that the second “P” would be plan.  No, not yet.  You need a reason or purpose for pulling all these fabulous people together. 

Janet Schiesl, Speaker Chair with Julie Gray, Expo Chair

So, what’s the point?  Is there a vision for the conference?  What do you hope attendees will learn and experience?  Solidifying the purpose will drive the direction and feel of your event.  When carefully crafted – and if your people are all on the same page – the memory of your conference will be forever imprinted in the minds of everyone in attendance. Yes, they will remember the content, but they will also remember how they felt, the connections they made, and they will remember to come back next year.

The MARCPO 2010 team wanted to create a conference that was positive, energizing, and filled with diverse programming that would appeal to both new and experienced organizers. We wanted attendees to walk away with an excitement level so high that when coupled with relevant information, they would be better equipped to serve their clients.

“Planning early allowed us lots of time to work a little at a time.”

–Cris Sgrott-Wheedleton, Program Chair

Plan

This is where the people, purpose, and plan all come together. It’s time to get into the nooks and crannies and figure out who’s going to do what and when.  This means creating a timeline with specific dates of completion.  Did you remember the Save the Date cards?  What about the conference logo?  Who will contact the graphic designer?  Did the Tweet Up stickers get printed?  What time will the Pre-Conference session start?

At the risk of making your head explode, here are other things to consider (not a comprehensive list, nor in any particular order, but a good starting point):

• Budget, Contract
• Social Media, Press Releases, Website Updates, Media Coverage
• Venue (rooms, food, parking, point person)
• Audio/Visual, Photographer
• Sponsors, Vendors, Exhibitors, Door Prizes
• Signs, Banners, Easels, Stickers, Ribbons, Buttons
• Speakers (gifts, accommodations)
• Registration, Name Tags, Conference Bags, Binders
• Length of Event & Logistics
• Thank You Notes/Cards
• Conference Debrief (lessons learned)
• Next Conference

Cris Sgrott-Wheedleton, Program Chair & conference attendees

As you can see, there are a myriad of things to think about and do.  Map out the plan, assign the people, and give them deadlines.

And, don’t forget to check in on a regular basis.  The MARCPO 2010 crew had a standing call once a month from March to July which increased to once every three weeks and then once a week as the conference drew near.  Having frequent calls kept everyone accountable, allowed for reassignments, and gave everyone a chance to ask questions.  Was it easy to carve out time for the high frequency of calls? No…but, ultimately, it was well worth it.

The Ancillary “P”

Once you’ve taken care of the 3 P’s, you’ll be well prepared for the big day.  But, wait! There is one more thing to think about.  You need a back-up plan. What happens if things don’t go as planned, like say a speaker doesn’t show up?  Two MARCPO speakers arrived later than we anticipated, and in the moments before they actually got there, we decided that if they were not present within five minutes, we’d assemble an expert panel.  The good news is that both speakers arrived on time and we didn’t need our back up plan. But, it was great knowing we had a “Plan B” to fall back on.

Dorothy Breininger, Closing Keynote Speaker with Deb Lee, Marketing Chair

The Final Word

Planning well in advance with a committed team focused on the same goals is essential.  Just remember that it’s your conference, too. Attend sessions, connect with friends, meet new ones, and eat.

If you’re like me, you’ll remember to have fun!

“This year’s conference was filled with ideas that challenged me to move my business ahead. I most enjoyed meeting new people and seeing friends.”

–Janet Schiesl, Speaker Chair

About Deb

Deb Lee is a Certified Professional Organizer® and the founder of D. Allison Lee LLC, a professional organizing company that helps residential and business clients realize their goals of getting organized, increasing productivity, and reducing stress. For more information, visit www.dallisonlee.com or follow Deb on Twitter.

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on MARCPO 2010: The Making of a Great Conference.

Change is all around us – you don’t have to look very hard to notice that the leaves are changing color and dropping to the ground, days are getting shorter, and people have switched from shorts and T-shirts to jackets and long pants. (I realize this may not be the case where you live, but please indulge me…) And this fall, lots of changes are happening right within the organizing industry!

At its annual conference in September, the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD) announced that, effective January 1, 2011, it will be changing its name to the Institute for Challenging Disorganization. As Katherine Trezise, CPO-CD®, CPO® and president of NSGCD explained,

The name Institute for Challenging Disorganization better reflects who we are as an organization: the premier resource for education, research, and strategies for overcoming challenging disorganization. It also better reflects what we do: benefit people whose lives are challenged by disorganization.

Not long afterward, the NAPO Board proposed a name change from the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) to Organizing and Productivity Professionals International (O.P.P.I.). According to a position paper distributed to NAPO members,

A name change addresses the reality that the industry clearly includes organizing and productivity. In addition, globalization has expanded the use of organizing and productivity professionals. NAPO conferences have long attracted attendees from other countries and sister organizations have formed worldwide. The proposed name change is intended to convey that organizing and productivity is an international industry.

From what I’ve seen on Twitter and Facebook, some members are fully in favor of this change, while others feel it is unnecessary or even a very bad idea. Someone has even created a Twitter account, @antioppi, to voice their opinions on what is turning out to be rather a contentious issue.

What is worrisome in this situation is that a move that was intended to strengthen the association may end up weakening it, by causing division amongst the members and possibly leading some to leave altogether.

If you’re up on the ins and outs of this proposed change, please feel free to use the Comments section as your platform to share your opinions and fill in those of us who aren’t in the know.

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Change is in the Air!.

I’ve often said that if one wanted to, it would be possible to attend a seminar, workshop, webinar or teleclass on a topic of interest every single week, if not every day! Most of us don’t have quite that much time (or training budget) available, but it is important to keep on learning. Here are a few events taking place over the next couple of months that you just may want to consider.

The Organized Child
Wednesday, August 18, 2010 – 10 a.m. (Eastern)
Teleclass

7 Secrets to a Successful Workshop
Wednesday, September 1, 2010 – 10 a.m. (Eastern)
Teleclass

Comprehensive Training Program for Professional Organizers
September 13 – 15, 2010
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

2010 Australasian Association of Professional Organisers (AAPO) Conference
September 13 – 14, 2010
Christchurch, New Zealand

Innovative Closet Organizing
Wednesday, September 15, 2010 – 10 a.m. (Eastern)
Teleclass

Organizer’s Boot Camp
September 21 & 23, 2010 – 6:00 to 9:00 p.m.
Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

Comprehensive Training Program for Professional Organizers
September 22 – 24, 2010
Toronto, Ontario, Canada

NSGCD Fall 2010 Conference
September 23 – 25, 2010
Austin, Texas

Professional Organizer Training Institute™ program
September 27 – 29, 2010
Lake Oswego, Oregon

Orvention 2010
Friday, October 1, 2010
Gelderland, The Netherlands

Mid Atlantic Regional Conference for Professional Organizers (MARCPO)
Saturday, October 2, 2010
Bethesda, Maryland

Organize In Your Own Learning Style
Wednesday, October 4, 2010 – 10 a.m. (Eastern)
Teleclass

Addressing Hoarding Through Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Thursday, October 7, 2010 – 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Brantford, Ontario, Canada

Comprehensive Training Program for Professional Organizers
October 11 – 13, 2010
Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada

This is by no means a complete list, so if you know of other classes or conferences that are taking place soon, please leave a comment below.

I’m thinking about adding an event calendar page on this site – is this something you’d like to see here?

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Upcoming Professional Development Opportunities.

Last week, we heard about NAPO 2010 through the Eyes of a Seasoned Conference-Goer. After asking Julie Bestry to cover the conference for my blog, I thought it would also be interesting to hear from someone who has never been before. I posted a request on LinkedIn, and  Randi Hutton rose to the challenge.

I was probably the only NAPO member who was actually excited about the annual conference being held in Columbus, Ohio — where I grew up! And my High School Reunion was being held at the same time… does it get any better than that????? So, off I went with great glee to enjoy my hat trick – Annual Conference, Reunion and Family. I had put a lot of time into organizing for the trip. My daily itinerary typed up, each session’s descriptions put into a folder for that day and much thought was given to choosing sessions to attend. Would it be worth it?

I arrived in Columbus on Sunday to visit with family and friends prior to the opening of the Conference on Wednesday. I stayed locally at a friend’s condo and I went over to the hotel on Wednesday afternoon to pick up my materials and case the joint. As a first timer attendee (yet an experienced professional organizer), I had no idea what to expect, starting with the box of different ribbons one could wear proudly upon their jackets. Of course, mine said “First Time Attendee” but I was assured by an experienced conference attendee that that meant everyone would say ‘hi’ and welcome me. Note: she was pinning on multi ribbons as she spoke.

The local Ohio Contingency had arranged a kick-off entitled ”The Amazing Race” which turned out to be different groups of attendees holding onto a rope and running around the exhibition hall looking to find the items on their scavenger lists. They all seemed to be having a fun time, laughing with glee at their finds, at their new camaraderie in the shared experience and the prizes won. This is not my type of activity and I had found my favorite organizer from NYC and we talked and then investigated the Exhibitors booths. That was kick-off enough for me.

Ah, the exhibitors booths – what an array of interesting and mostly useful products! From bagged storage items to storage boxes to calendars of all sorts (books, desk, wall, computerized) and books written by attending organizers, all sorts of technology driven organizational tools to closet companies and organizing related organizations, there was much to see, learn and some perhaps with whom one could partner. Great Exhibitors!

The Conference Sessions opened on Thursday with an enthusiastic Keynote Speaker who revved my engine and on we all went to our first session. All of the Special Guest Speakers were interesting and motivational in one way or another.

The Sessions: There were always at least five or more sessions to choose from and oftentimes I found myself having a difficult time choosing. Fortunately, they tape all of the sessions so my back-up plan was to buy the tapes to the unattended sessions of interest. Unfortunately, after all of my angst over choice, I was 50/50 and I think some improvement could be made. It would have been helpful to have a notation by each session re: entry, intermediate or experienced level of content.  I never mind going to a session that might be advanced, however, to have wasted time in a couple beginning level sessions was a bit bothersome. Yes, you can walk out and I did so at one session but I wouldn’t want to make a habit of it.

I was lucky to have someone tell me about some of the speakers but that is a very subjective analysis. I enjoyed many of the sessions and took something away from each of them. I have always felt that if you actually take something away that you implement (still on my ‘to do’ list) then it is worthwhile.

There was this wonderful Information Board where people would list get-togethers, invites to dinner, etc. There was a posting for all business organizers to informally meet at a certain time. This turned out to be one of the highlights of my conference experience. Around one table sat a group with the same interest, all of whom had something to offer to the conversation… all of whom I hope to get to know better over time. We decided to have a Google group so that we could have continued discussions year round. I am sure there were other opportunities that I might have missed due to my outside night-time commitments, yet I am very happy with this experience.

Prior to my trip, I had contacted a few organizers from different parts of the country and very much enjoyed meeting them and hope to build on those relationships. Some were less experienced than me, others moreso. Either way, we all have something to share with one another and this conference brought us together – so another win/win.

As I write this, I realize I took away even more than I originally thought. Yes, I gained inspiration. Yes, I gained ideas and information. Yes, I met some nice and interesting people and yes, I believe some of them will become long distance friends and associates. I am thankful that the stars aligned so that I was able to go to the conference, go to my reunion and spend time with my family. I don’t know if I would have gone had not it all fallen in the same week.

So, I might not be your typical first time attendee, but I am a happy first time attendee and now that I know some of the ropes, I hope future first time attendees will lean on me.

Randi Hutton, Professional Organizer, is the founder and owner of the RZ connection. After years as a Realtor, during which she has helped hundreds of people organize their homes, downsize and relocate nationally and internationally, Randi created the RZ connection to help her clients simplify their lives, reduce their stress, and increase efficiency. She is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) as well as the National Association of Realtors, Connecticut Association of Realtors, Mid Fairfield Board of Realtors, Consolidated Multiple Listing Service, Real Estate Board of New York, and New York Women In Film & Television. She has her B.A. from Lake Forest College, earned her ABR and GRI accreditations, and is a Seniors Real Estate Specialist, an Exceptional Properties Specialist and a Relocation Specialist.

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on A First Timer’s Perspective on The Annual NAPO Conference.

After losing an argument with myself about whether or not I would attend this year’s NAPO Conference, I needed to recruit a guest blogger to share the highlights with my readers, and the first person I thought of was Julie Bestry, who is a great writer and a constant source of support and inspiration to me. I think you’ll agree that reading Julie’s post is the next best thing to being there.

Innovate, Connect, Inspire…and Eat Amazing Ice Cream

For me, the National Association of Professional Organizers’ Annual Conference and Expo is a combination of the Super Bowl and the Academy Awards, with a dash of summer camp and a dollop of class reunion. One might imagine that after attending eight consecutive conferences, I’d be jaded going into the ninth, but even if that were remotely true, this year’s conference decluttered every bit of cynicism right out of me. For those of you who were unable to attend, Janet has kindly offered me the opportunity to share the details of what you missed.

Connecting Extemporaneously

The theme of this year’s conference was “Innovate, Connect, Inspire”, but I have to say I hold a special place in my heart for the “connect” element. The excitement began when two of my NAPO-GA colleagues, the Michelles (Grey and Cooper, of whom I was tempted to say “Hi, I’m Julie. This is my organizer, Michelle, and my other organizer, Michelle”) picked me up in Chattanooga for our rain-soaked road trip to Columbus, Ohio.

Upon arrival at the Hyatt Regency, I was eager to get up to my room to watch Lost. Although my room immediately struck me as oddly shaped, I was so captivated by the Smoke Monster that I failed to notice that Room #1111 lacked a desk! The narrow corner room, shaped quite like an arrowhead, with two full walls of windows and a rest room that required advanced yoga experience, was apparently one of four on each floor of the Hyatt that offered “special architecture”, as the front desk later pitched it.

I’m of a belief that anything that doesn’t kill you makes for great anecdotes, and found a flight-load of colleagues in the lobby on Wednesday morning to regale. While I warned those in need of desk space to avoid rooms ending in 11, 22, 33 or 44, friend and beloved host of NAPO’s famed Ask the Organizer Panel, Monica Ricci, noted that I have strange NAPO hotel room karma. It’s true. I endured a wee-hours fire drill the night prior to taking the CPO® exam in Minneapolis, and my hotel ceiling collapsed in Boston the year I opted for a “boutique” hotel.

While connecting with Randi Hutton, whom Janet has picked to share a first-time attendee’s tale, I sat in a prime position to see my colleagues as they arrived. Randi and I were repeatedly (but politely) interrupted by the joyous hoots of recognition and affection of colleagues, to the point that Randi must have wondered if we were more like sorority girls on the first day back at school than seasoned professionals. Unbeknownst to me, word had spread quickly of my hotel room adventures, and I ended up giving tours to the curious. I even played Pied Piper to one party of VIPs, including Clutter Diet’s Lorie Marrero, Hoarders celeb Geralin Thomas, the lovely Stephanie Shalofsky and incoming NAPO-NYC president, Sharon Lowenheim.

Lorie Marrero, Geralin Thomas, Stephanie Shalofsky, Sharon Lowenheim

During another tour, I stated that the bed’s positioning made me feel as though I were about to be shot out of a cannon. Fellow Tennessee organizer Melissa Gratias noted that the narrow point at which the two walled windows connected seemed more like the bow of a ship, and promptly acted out the “I’m the King of the World” scene from Titanic.

Innovating Connections, NAPO EXPO-Style

Impromptu connections notwithstanding, NAPO had something bold and innovative designed to help prompt connections, not only with our fellow professional organizers, but also with our esteemed vendors. On Wednesday night, the NAPO-Ohio chapter sponsored an Amazing Race-themed game wherein teams of ten organizers were shackled to looped ropes, a la kindergarten art museum field trips.

Armed with a list of 40+ trivia questions about vendors and their wares, the Race had each team running – connected (by rope) – hither and yon, across and around the Expo floor. While the CBS version of Amazing Race might be more high profile, I’d wager that the speed (and competitive nature) of teammates and rivals made the game at least as compelling, and I’m certain that NAPO-Ohio’s Andrea Sharb gave Phil Keoghan a run for his money as host.

A good time was had by all, though probably not as good a time as the Scott Roewer-led team to which I was assigned…because, through Scott’s tenacity and leadership, and a stroke of genius on the part of NAPO-Philadelphia’s Annette Reyman, we landed in first place and won ClosetMaid canvas bins full of prizes donated by Expo vendors. Rest assured, not one prize item any of the teams received could be remotely considered clutter! (For a recap of the merchandise displayed at the Expo, I invite you to my blog.)

An Army of Professional Organizers Marches (and Connects) On Its Stomach

NAPOites also connected, refreshed and dined in ever-changing do-si-do configurations throughout the week. Our official lunches ranged from ad hoc, standing-room-only in the Expo for Thursday’s boxed lunch to regional tables (not quite regionally-arranged, such that Pacific Northwesterners lunched a fork’s throw from Mid-Atlantic organizers) at Friday’s annual NAPO business meeting. For Saturday’s award luncheon, we chose special interest tables so that members could chat about business organizing, or working with ADHD clients, and so on. (I lunched with one of three tables of NAPO Twitter colleagues).

Dinners were decided off-campus, and ranged from formal chapter meals to spontaneous gatherings at niftily-named Columbus eateries like the Surly Girl Saloon and Sushi Rock. The long-awaited, expertly-planned (by NAPO-DC’s Kim Oser) Tweetup at Bucca di Beppo was such a hot ticket that numerous late-deciders, including one former NAPO president, had to be turned away.

Julie Bestry, Kim Oser

One unofficial dining experience seems to have been partaken by many… multiple times. (Indeed, only Saturday night’s downpour kept me from a third night in attendance at this local gem.) Each night, confection aficionados were found connecting and obviously inspired by the innovative ice cream at Columbus’ Jeni’s Ice Cream, where tantalizing flavors like Salty Caramel and Goat Cheese with Roasted Red Cherries captivated the NAPOites whom we saw coming, going, and standing in line.

Innovating and Inspiring…And Learning

Of course, the NAPO conference is much more than a big party. We came to learn…and be inspired! If the collective buzz, both at the conference and on Twitter and Facebook in the days since conference are any indication, our three keynote speakers were the most motivating in recent history.

Tim Sanders, author of Love Is the Killer App and the new Saving the World at Work, kicked off the conference with his keynote, Innovating How We Connect. Tim shared the lesson of his mentor, that we can “Accomplish more in two months, developing a sincere interest in two people, than in two years trying to develop their interest in you.”

Sanders talked about turning our customers into friends, but in a genuine and constructive way. First, he reviewed how we should not merely add, but multiply, the value we provide others, by recommending (and giving) books, because giving away knowledge establishes trust, and by sharing our networks, matchmaking to improve others’ professional and personal lives.

Next, Sanders spoke about empathy and the importance of listening “powerlessly”, without judgment or agenda, to help others feel truly heard. He captivated a room of 700+ professional organizers with the theory of “emotional leakage” propagated by Paul Ekman (upon whose research the Fox show Lie to Me is based).

Finally, Sanders spoke about elevating the purpose of a task to find the joy inherent within it. His anecdote about Timberland executives literally giving the boots off their feet to Hurricane Katrina recovery workers was awe-inspiring and left quite a few organizers decluttering their tears. And this was just on the first day!

Gina Schreck‘s Friday keynote, Connecting Via Technology, delighted inveterate tweeters and technophobes alike. Schreck humorously brought home the lesson that good social networking is part of a solid professional image, and that even if we haven’t changed, our clients have, and it’s expected that professionals will connect, collaborate and build communities. As part of that, Schreck highlighted some best practices for using Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube, and talked about the importance of using links to blogs, articles and video, not only to spotlight our expertise, but also to get indexed by Google.

I was enthralled by Gina Schreck’s entertaining combination of philosophical, practical and technical advice with regard to selecting whom to follow, befriend or link.  Her best pointer, however, was one that, while referencing Twitter, should apply to all of us, each time we talk or type:

“Be interesting, be helpful, or be quiet!”

Quite a few of our colleagues must have been inspired to innovate and connect (see, there’s that theme again!), as we veterans have seen a huge influx of NAPO members joining Twitter in the past few days.

Our closing keynote speaker, Monica Wofford, sent us home with a lesson on Inspiring Contagious Confidence. She began with the precept that “confidence is a belief that you can do something”, and the notion that confidence is not the same as self-esteem (“the belief that you are worth the effort”). Wofford dazzled the room with a high-energy invocation to clearly identify what we want from our businesses and our lives, and learn to articulate those desires with authenticity, through changed thoughts, perceptions, beliefs and actions.

And these were only the keynotes! In between, we soaked up knowledge about the skills of organizing, everything from “power offices” to health data, from project management to Six Sigma. Other breakout sessions focused on specific client populations, including seniors, clients with ADD/ADHD, and hoarders. Along with such conference stalwarts, NAPO speakers also presented new topics designed to make us better at running our businesses, from Porter Knight‘s “Knowing Your Numbers” to Lisa Montanaro‘s “It Takes a Village to Run a Successful Biz”, in addition to sessions on transitioning from hands-on organizing to coaching, working with independent contractors, and writing effective business proposals.

Innovating NAPO Session Structure

NAPO also innovated this year with mega sessions, including two back-to-back classes from Canadian professional organizer and marketing expert Krista Green. She charmed novices and veterans alike, with her practical advice on running, branding and marketing a successful organizing business. Another mega-session offered in-depth discussion on serving, as well as marketing to, the aging senior market.

No matter where you stood on the technology spectrum, from Luddite to webmaster, there was something for everyone at this year’s conference. Scott Roewer and Lauren Halagarda, NAPO’s own “I’m a Mac/I’m a PC” dynamic duo) each went a few steps beyond their 2009 offerings, inspiring attendees to venture into technological productivity solutions for themselves and their clients. In many cases, the Roewer/Halagarda team seemed to have inspired purchases of software and hardware (on an equal opportunity basis) for both PC and Mac platforms…and for all those gadgets.

Janine Adams, Lauren Halagarda

Another session offered a veritable college-level survey course on the various “Organizing Tools on the Web”. My own conference highlight was attending a session presented by the two most innovative professional organizers I know, Brandie Kajino and Allison Carter, whose “How to Make Money With Virtual Classes” walked attendees through every step of the teleclass and webinar development experience.

Brandie Kajino, Allison Carter

The NAPO 2010 Annual Conference and Expo innovated its own practices and taught us how to innovate our businesses, our marketing methods, and our ways of thinking and interacting. We explored new ways of connecting, at the conference and beyond, with one another and with our clients and prospects. And we were inspired, not only by our keynote speakers and presenters, but by our colleagues. I never fail to be amazed that I get to rub shoulders and tweets with so many jaw-droppingly fantastic colleagues. I hope to see many more of you, again or for the first time, at NAPO’s next conference, April 6-9, 2011, in San Diego.

Julie Bestry is a Certified Professional Organizer, speaker and author, who helps individuals and businesses save time and money, reduce stress and increase productivity through new organizational skills and systems. Although a generalist, Julie specializes in paper organizing, blogging as the Paper Doll, and publishes Best Results for Busy People: Organizing Your Modern World. For more information, visit Best Results Organizing at http://www.juliebestry.com.

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on NAPO 2010 through the Eyes of a Seasoned Conference-Goer.

Lots of Professional Organizer conferences and other events take place each year, but by far the largest is the NAPO Annual Conference, which will take place in Columbus, Ohio, from April 21 to 24, 2010. As winner of the 2010 Los Angeles Organizing Award for Best Educational Resource, this is an important event for professional organizers from around the globe.

As always, there will be some excellent opportunities to learn from experts, network with your colleagues, and discover new organizing products and services, as well as enjoy delicious food and take in the local sights and sounds. For a quick summary, check out this video message from NAPO President Laura Leist:

The theme, INNOVATE, CONNECT, and INSPIRE, will be reinforced by the three keynote speakers:

• Tim Sanders – Innovating How We Connect
• Gina Schreck – Connecting Via Technology
• Monica Wofford – Inspiration: Contagious Leadership™ of You, Your Customers and Your Business

In addition, there are educational sessions covering a wide range of topics to meet the needs of organizing consultants at all levels, including:

• Porter Knight – Starting an Organizing Business
• Krista Green – 4 Keys to Business Mastery in the Organizing Industry
• Allison Carter and Brandie Kajino – How to Make Money with Virtual Classes

Be sure to plan ahead so you can take advantage of the early bird discount, which is available until March 22.

If you’re on Twitter, watch for the hashtag #napo10 to keep track of who’s going to the conference and what they’re saying about it. I understand a Tweet-up is in the works, so if you’re planning to attend, you’ll want to register for that as well, since it’s not an official NAPO activity.

Visit the NAPO website to download a complete program or register for the conference. It’s one of the best investments in your business you can make!

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Time to Register for NAPO Conference 2010!.

Teleclasses, webinars, and live workshops take place throughout the year, but nothing can compare with a professional organizers conference. Spending entire days hearing expert speakers in the company of like-minded professionals is something you must experience, if at all possible, so grab your planner and decide which conference(s) you’ll attend this year!

April 21 – 24, 2010
NAPO 2010 Annual Conference & Organizing Exposition
Columbus, Ohio

September 13 – 14, 2010
2010 Australasian Association of Professional Organisers (AAPO) Conference
Christchurch, New Zealand

September 23 – 25, 2010
NSGCD Fall 2010 Conference
Austin, Texas

October 1, 2010
Orvention 2010
Gelderland, The Netherlands

Fall 2010
Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Professional Organizers

If you really like to plan ahead, mark these dates as well:

April 6 – 9, 2011
NAPO 2011 Annual Conference
San Diego, California

March 21 – 24, 2012
NAPO 2012 Annual Conference
Baltimore, Maryland

List Planit posted some great tips this week about preparing to attend an out-of-town conference. Be sure to read right through to the end of the post, where you can download a free Conference ePlanner.

I would love to go to all of these events so I can share the information with readers who aren’t able to be there, but unfortunately, neither my schedule nor my budget will allow it. If you’re attending a conference this year, and you’d like to be my eyes and ears in the field, please contact me about being a guest blogger.

This list is not complete, but is all the information I was able to locate at this time. If you have details for this year’s POC or POAA Conferences, or know of other events which should be listed here, please note them in the Comments section.

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on 2010 Conference Schedule.

Here it is – the 7^th Professional Organizers Blog Carnival, and the last one for 2009. We have a record number of professional organizers participating this month, and I’d like to thank those who are joining us for the first time, as well as our regulars and everyone in between! Grab your favorite beverage and get ready to read and enjoy!

Since it’s the festive season, it’s no surprise that many of this month’s entries are related to holiday preparations.

In A Few Thoughts on the Holiday Season, Jane Veldhoven gets us thinking about what’s really important to us at this time of year, and how we can maximize our enjoyment of it.

Jacki Hollywood Brown has some great ideas for Clutter Free Gift Giving, and reminds us that:

The holidays can be one of the happiest times of the year as we enjoy the company of our family and friends. It is also one of the most clutter-generating times of the year. Take a look at these gift ideas to reduce clutter and save you time and money.

You can read additional clutter-free Christmas gift suggestions from Angela Esnouf in her special series, beginning with Angela’s Advent, Day 1.

Joan Kosmachuk tells us how to Simplify your Holiday Decorating with Live or Edible Decorations, and Lelah Baker-Rabe suggests a few simple things you can do to create a year-round gift wrap station to minimize stress and maximize efficiency, in her post Preparing for every day: Gift wrap station.

If you’re looking for a unique way to keep track of Christmas card lists for yourself or your clients, check out Jeri Dansky‘s Forget the Address Book: Use an Address BOX.

Of course, this is also a good time for making plans for next year. Elaine Shannon tells us all about her own Planning Day, saying:

I love organizing so much that I have organized some planning around my 2010 goals. Yes the organizer is organizing herself. So many people wonder why they are not moving forward in their business but don’t have a score card to compare it to. By failing to plan as we know you plan to fail. With a few strategies you can take charge of your new year and meet your goals..whatever they may be!

While you’re making those plans, you might find it interesting to read about other organizers’ success strategies. Anne Blumer tells us how she got to where she is today in her post, Ask the Organizer Panel, and Angie Weid shares The Story Behind Organized Solutions, saying:

This post is sharing a story of being kicked down, learning to stand back up and keep on working toward success.  My hope is that it encourages fellow organizers to be strong and succeed.

Lisa Montanaro offers some eye-opening information in Coopetition: A Fantastic Way To Boost Your Business, a sneak peek of “Don’t Go It Alone: It Takes a Village to Run A Successful Business,” which she’ll be presenting at the 2010 NAPO Conference in Columbus, OH.

Looking for interesting organizing resources? Be sure to read My Brain Book from Hellen Buttigieg and PaperBackSwap.com from Michelle Deo.

Janet Baker discusses the why’s and how’s of Indexing Your Document Management Filing System is Worth it When You’re on the Road.

If you’re curious about hoarding from the client’s point of view, you won’t want to miss Geralin Thomas‘ Anatomy of a Client.

Deb Lee tackles The Myth of Work/Family Balance, asking:

Is it realistic to think that work/family balance is possible?  Can you be a great parent and a great employee (or entrepreneur) at the same time?  Can a family where both parents work achieve this balance?

Janine Adams wraps up this month’s Professional Organizers Blog Carnival with a look at her favorite social networking site in Why I Love Twitter.

I hope you’ve enjoyed this month’s edition. As you visit your colleagues’ blogs, be sure to take a moment to leave a comment or two and get to know one another.

As the Carnival continues to grow, I’d love to know what you’d like to see in the future. Specific topics for each month? Two separate carnivals, with one dedicated to organizing and the other to business ideas? Or just keep it the same?

Please visit Your Organizing Business to read and comment on Professional Organizers Blog Carnival – December 2009 Edition.