Don't be afraid to call and Organizer

I was just reading my NAPO posts in my email. That is the National Association of Professional Organizers. Yes, there is a professional organization for that. One of my fellow organizers was telling us that she had finally realized that she would rather work with organized clients. I had to read that twice befor I understood what she was talking about.

Since I have been in business I have found out the hardway that people are afraid to admit that they are disorganized. When they finally make the discision to get an organizer involved they know they have a problem. The next thing they hear from the organizer is there may be a psycological reason for that. Now there are two things that are wrong with them. They is sometimes more than a person can deal with.

Unwanted Credit Cards

Have you had it with unwanted credit card requests try this website. https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t.   That is the easy way. But if you want to do it the fun way try this:  Take all of the unsolicited credit card envelopes you get at one time, open the envelopes, take everything out and put it all back into the return envelope that is always postage paid. Stuff everything back into that envelope including the envelope it all came in. Let them pay more postage to get their own stuff back.  And keep our postage carriers working.  It feels good. Just saying.  

Working for Organized People

I was reading my email thread from NAPO, that stands for the National Association of
Professional Organizers. Yes, we do have a national association that sets the
standards for professional organizers. My colleague stated that she wanted to
work with organized people. I had to read it twice before I understood what she as saying.

After being in business for two years I have had clients who have come to terms with the
clutter in their space. The first step is to realize that they have a clutter
issue, and then get help. The next thing they know is that they are confronted
with the fact that the clutter is not necessarily the only problem. Long term
clutter and disorganization can be a psychological problem. Now the client has two problems. Who wants to deal with that? My problem is to confront the client with the problem and work to resolve the issues so they can live in their space and find their stuff.

Just a reminder:
1. 7 out of 10 people need some kind of organizing - many don't
realize it!
2. The average retrieval time for a piece of paper is 10 minutes!
Think of how much time you would save if you had your paperwork organized!
3. Americans waste 9 million hours per day looking for misplaced
items!
4. Getting rid of the clutter eliminates 40% of the housework in the
average home!
5. A study found that if people regularly tidied their homes, most would gain between 16 minutes and 1 hour a day when they could be working to check off another item on their
"to do" list, or even better, take some "me" time! You would gain between 4 to 15 days a year!
6. The tidier a person's files, the tidier their finances are! When you take the time to open, read and file your bills and statements, in a sense, you are connecting with your money
and taking control of the very important financial side of your life!
7. 23% of Americans admit to paying bills late because they can't find them.


Organized people can be a lot easier to deal with. They already get it. Organized people know that being organized relieves the stress in day to day living and raises productivity. An organized person can accept new ideas and practices and realizes that disorganization is not a
stigma and is more willing to refer an organizer to their friends who my needs
some help. I always hope that people would become the friend that your friends needs rather than the friend they want.

Definition of Clutter

Just catching up with some old chat messages, and found one I really can add to - an industry definition of clutter.

There are 3 definitions of clutter. The first one is "a crowded or confused mass or collection." The second is "a disorderly heap or assemblage; litter. A state or condition of confusion." (Random House Dictionary, 2011) The third and my favorite: "clutter is postponed decisions."

The key distinction about clutter included in all 3 definitions is that clutter involves confusion. No matter how over-full my space may be, if I have no confusion about it, it may be excess (that is, more than is usual, needed, desired, or specified) but it's not clutter.

So let's say that I have a big-enough closet, and I have 15 pairs of shoes. If they are all kicked into the back of the closet and covered with cast-off clothes, I may not have excess (15 pairs is on the lower side of average) but I definitely have clutter, "a confused mass."

Or say I have everything with a StarWars theme ever made, and it's causing friction with my spouse because, though it is orderly and completely catalogued and dusted and insured, it has taken over every room in the house. I have a collection (objects gathered for study, comparison, or exhibition, or as a hobby) and I have excess but no clutter (there is no mass or heap or confusion).

Note that clutter may be physical or mental.

The solution for excess is to let go of some or create more space. The solution for clutter is to end the confusion and replace it with order. Of course excess and clutter often go together.

Electronic Files

I just saw this on Manta.com

Hold On to Those Electronic Files
Tip of the Day for Jan. 17, 2012:
If you decide to have your logo, sales collateral or website designed by a professional, be sure to ask if you can keep a copy of the files after the project is complete. If you decide to make edits later, and you can't track down the original designer, you may have to pay to rebuild the files somewhere else.
By the way, I am looking for a web designer for my new website if anyone can refer me I would appriciate it.

Just starting

The 21 century is here and I was told that I can help more people if I blog. I have just recemtly post on Facebook. So here it goes, but don't think you are getting free organizing help by reading this. This just allows me to let off a little steam and try to get my message accross.

It is tax time. I am ask "what do I have to keep?",and "How long do I have to keep it?" My standard answer although tax consultant, so of my guru organizers will say that you need to keep tax returns for ever. The final tax return that comes out of your computer or what your CPA gives you in their cool embossed folder is all you need to keep. The IRS can go back to the Stone Age if they are looking for fraud but an audit will be done within 7 years. You can challange a return within the last 3 years.