Organize U

For the Do-It-Yourself type of person who needs a little motivation to get started, we have some simple tips. 

Many people become overwhelmed by their clutter.  They take one look at the overstuffed closet, the piles of papers in the home office, or the unopened boxes in the basement from their move four years ago, and they freeze.  The project looks so time consuming, they don’t even want to begin unless they can carve out an entire day (or more) to tackle it.  Here’s a tip that we tell our clients all the time during our needs assessment.

Break down your organizing project into smaller, more manageable chunks.

·        If there are several piles of papers on your desk, isolate one pile (or maybe only a portion of the pile, depending on how large it is) and work on that pile only.  Start with the most recent pile first, as this is where you will find the most time-sensitive action items.  Identify where each piece of paper needs to go (the shredder, garbage can, files, etc.), get them to their final destination, then start the next pile.

·        If there are several boxes in the basement, identify one box to tackle at a time.  Get through the contents of the entire box, get those items to their final destination (garage, elsewhere in the basement, garbage, etc.) before opening up the next one. 

·        If your closet is overstuffed with clothes, pick one section to start in and make your way across.  Remove a few items of clothing at a time.  Identify what is staying, what is being donated, and what can be tossed.  Put those items where they belong and then move on to the next few items, etc.

Resist the urge to start by dumping all of the clothes in your closet on the bed, or opening up several basement boxes at a time.  You don’t want to run out of time or run out of steam halfway through the project and then have an even bigger mess on your hands.

Ways to stay focused on that project:

·        Move the items you are working on to another area of the home.  For instance, you can take a pile of papers out of the office and work on it in another location.  This will minimize the visual distraction the other piles add.

·        Throw a sheet over the other boxes in the basement or push them up against the wall behind where you are working.  Again, you don’t need the visual reminder of how many boxes are left to be gone through.

·        Set a timer.  If you only have 30 minutes to work on organizing your closet, then work with a few items at a time until your 30 minutes is up.

The object is to reframe your way of thinking about the project at hand.  Instead of viewing it as one big project, view it as several smaller projects that can be done over time.  It is better to make progress in small increments than to not make any progress at all.

Here is some great advice that Betsy shared in her most recent newsletter….

You must de-clutter and let go of the old to make room for new prosperity to come in to your life.  If you don't believe me, listen to what today's financial guru, Suze Orman, says about clutter.  

Those of you who know me and who have worked with me, know how strongly I believe that "stuff" is energy and if the energy stops moving, your life can get clogged and it will prevent things, including money, from coming to you.  In Suze Ormans' book The Courage to Be Rich, Ms. Orman has dedicated a whole chapter (chapter 3) to how important it is to let go of the old to bring in what serves you NOW! 

She says:  "You make room for more by knowing what you have, by not owning anything you don't want or need or love, and by valuing every item you own. You make room for more, literally and metaphorically, by creating a place for more to enter." 

A step by step process on how to gain clarity on you life and your finances can be found in Ms. Ormans' book, pages 52-55.

Here is an article I wrote two years ago for one of my newsletter.  It appears my insight on this topic is timeless as it applies so well to our recent economic times.  Enjoy…

Most recently, my attention has been turned toward the concept of prosperity.  You might even think that tax season had something to do with it… and you’d be right!  I’ve been a little preoccupied with the estimated amount of money scheduled to be removed from my bank account and forwarded on to the IRS.  My thought process has been focused solely on the negative aspect of paying taxes.  Putting aside any belief as to whether or not the government deserves my money or my income tax rate is too high, could there be a positive side to this?  What about the consideration that I must be doing something right with my business that I’m making enough money to support myself, pay a mortgage, belong to a gym, go out to dinner with my friends, and throw in a vacation or two throughout the year?  I’m making enough money to owe taxes at the end of the calendar year.  I actually might have to consider that a success more than a problem. 

Some of you might say I’m fooling myself and that’s ok.  But I’d like you to consider that there is always another side to each situation.  A resource that I’ve turned to on occasion is www.choosingprosperity.com which is where I read an interesting excerpt on shifting the way you think and feel about paying your bills.  Essentially life is a balance between the money coming in and the money going out.  But the inflow and outflow of money aren’t opposing actions because they both contribute to prosperity.  If you consider the satisfaction you received from a product or service, it’s generally easier to feel good about spending the money.  Feel free to check out the web site for more information on that.

One of the steps mentioned in this article coincides nicely with being organized: making the time to pay bills and remembering to pay them.  Most people generally don’t like to pay bills because it might be labor-intensive with the number of checks they need to write, or they simply don’t like seeing their money go out the door.  In addition to shifting the way you think and feel about this task, why not also shift your environment. 

a) Make an appointment on your calendar:  If you use a calendar already, then schedule this like any other appointment. (If you’re not currently using a calendar, we need to talk!)

b) Create a mood: As I tell many of the people in my workshops, before you begin organizing, do something to make your environment more pleasing.  Maybe you’d enjoy lighting some candles, listening to some great music, setting up a nice bouquet of flowers to brighten up the space; or maybe it’s all about being comfortably dressed and you need to change into sweatpants and a t-shirt.  Whatever it is that makes your room, office, space more pleasing, do that for yourself.

c) Consider switching to online banking as this can be a real time saver… and it’s less expensive as you’ll cut down on your postage expense!

d) Create a lovely reward for yourself that you can look forward to when you are complete:  it’s always nice to have something to look forward to in addition to the satisfaction of being able to cross this task off your list. 

Whether you’re trying to motivate yourself to pay your bills or do another bit of organizing in your home or office space, finding ways to shift your environment and create a setting that’s pleasing for you mentally and physically will help you to adopt a better mindset while working towards achieving your goals.

Here’s a portion of an article Betsy wrote in 2006.  Given our current economic state and the desire for people to postpone putting their homes on the market, many are opting to renovate or even redecorate instead.  Here are some ways an Organizer can help you fall in love with your home again.

Every time Norwalk entrepreneur Jane Pollak noticed the closets bulging with unused clothing and stored memorabilia in an unused bedroom, she knew that something had to be done. With her grown children no longer living at home, their bedrooms were typically used as storage areas.   “Along with being a waste of space, those rooms no longer functioned with the rest of the home,” admits Pollak, an accomplished business coach and author.

That’s when Betsy Krobot, owner of the Black Rock-based Betsy K Home Choreography, LLC www.BetsyK.com stepped in and made a few strategic but important changes.  Pollak was amazed to find not just the de-cluttered bedrooms, but the entire home transformed.  “I’ve fallen in love with my house again,” said Pollak.

Pollak was enjoying the results of a new business venture – Betsy K Home Choreography, LLC – recently launched by Krobot, a 30-year veteran of the corporate business world.  “Home Choreography”, explains Krobot, is a unique combination of strategic organizing, ruthless de-cluttering, and gracious decorating to completely transform a home at minimal cost. 

Krobot named her business Betsy K Home Choreography, LLC to reflect the sense of graceful movement that occurs when a homeowner’s furnishings and possessions are redistributed to create an entirely new environment.”  Krobot describes her work as “a dance.” 

With the same precision and grace that dancers bring to the stage, Krobot strongly believes that all elements in a room should work together. When this occurs, harmony is created in the home, she says. “I have found that there is a ripple effect from even the smallest changes. When you start changing one area, it changes the rest of the house,” she said. 

Since Betsy K Home Choreography usually involves discovering new uses and placements for a homeowner’s own beloved possessions, rather than purchasing new ones, this transformation takes place at minimal cost to the homeowner.  “I take what people already own and love and make it work more effectively in an appropriate environment,” she said. “When all elements are working with each other, rather than against each other, a sense of harmony and order is established.” 

For example, by emptying Pollak’s stuffed closets and adding “a soft, feminine look,” what was once her daughter’s bedroom became a personal dressing and meditation room for Pollak.  This freed up more closet space in the master bedroom as well

“Betsy made our bedroom a place for peace, quiet and rest, which is what it’s supposed to be. It still takes my breath away when I walk in there. And I feel a sense of calm and joy when I enter my dressing room every day,” Pollak said.  Krobot says that by making only a few changes in select areas, homeowners can once again love the home they once cherished.  “When a house no longer suits their family’s needs, people often feel that they have to move,” says Krobot.  Then they spend exorbitant amounts of money and energy sprucing the house up so that it will sell faster, she says.  “What about fixing it up because you love it?” she said. “Sometimes by making only a few minor changes to freshen up a room, my clients will notice a new energy and vitality present throughout their homes. Many of them fall back in love with their homes all over again.” 

As she deftly executes Home Choreography, Krobot gently encourages clients to “let go of the old and let your new life come in.”  “It’s spectacular when you watch the people go through the process,” she said. “When you feel in control and in harmony with your world, you are automatically more confident, creative and productive.” 

Dear Cara,
My wife and I both work from home but still cannot seem to get ourselves organized. I would like to know more about your services for homeowners/home businesses.
Please call or email me at your convenience.
Sincerely,
Prospective Client

I called the prospective client to find out what his organizing challenges were.  Although it sounded like a perfect fit, because he mentioned a home business, I still needed to be sure I’m the correct person for the job. Within that conversation, he revealed to me that his wife isn’t exactly on-board with hiring me.  They would like to get her office area organized so she no longer has to use the kitchen.  They need to address incoming mail and bills so that every item coming into the home has a designated resting spot and gets to where it needs to be.  Secondary to this, his office also needs some organizing, as do the children’s bedrooms.  His wife is adamant about the fact that they should be able to do this themselves and he wants to be very careful not to cause any further tension.

This is not uncommon.  Betsy and I have both received phone calls and emails like this and want to be sure we have everyone’s approval before we begin an organizing project.  If this situation sounds like you or if you’re a beginner organizer who receives an inquiry like this, here are a few things to consider:

1. Always be sure the person whose room/office/items/stuff you are organizing wants you to help her get organized.  Often family members or work associates think they are doing someone a favor by bringing in an Organizer when the client feels she has no need for one.  This can lead to resentment and an unwillingness of the client to participate.
2. I asked the above client if he’d like to begin working on his office.  It is possible that once his wife sees the progress we make with his office, she will be more willing to have me work with her in her space as well.  Leading by example can be a great way to get another person motivated.
3. I was very sympathetic and honest with him about his situation.  I also offered some insight with which he could share with his wife:   “Although there are times when people are able to find the motivation to get things done on their own, there are also many times when the best of intentions just can’t make it happen.  I think the pace of life in general has gotten so fast for all of us and we’re left wondering why we can’t keep up.  I’m here to let people know that asking for help doesn’t mean you’ve failed; it just means that you value your time and would rather spend it doing other things.”
4. And lastly I encourage keeping in touch with the client; at a minimum via newsletter or through periodic announcements.  Even if I never work directly with a prospective client, I want him/her to feel that I can be a resource for them when it comes to getting them organized.  My business is as much about education as it is about making money. 

If you have any questions or comments about this blog, please feel free to post your feedback or email me directly at cara@organizewithsos.com.

Although the organizing profession has been around for over 25 years, it really started gaining its popularity a few years ago with the advent of reality TV and shows like “Clean Sweep” and “Mission: Organization”. I often find myself having to be a little bit more descriptive about my business when meeting people for the first time. It’s difficult to pull that off in the “elevator speech” used when networking. (For those of you who don’t know what an “elevator speech” is, it’s the quick answer to the question, “What do you do?” The idea is this: if you meet someone on an elevator, you only have a short window of time to tell them who you are and what you do, so whatever you tell them better be good!)

When I first started my business five years ago, the fun part of perfecting my elevator speech was listening to the reaction I received afterwards. I’ve heard everything from, “Do you organize unions?” to “People actually PAY YOU for that?!” Wow - way to boost my confidence with that last comment, huh? It’s amazing what comes out of people’s mouths!

So I’ve learned over the years that the best way for me to describe what I do is to tell people about a client I’ve worked with. If I can paint a picture of a client and her situation, that usually triggers an “Ah ha!” moment for the person I’m speaking with. Inevitably this person either a) knows someone like the client, or b) is, himself, just like that client. Please note, when I do provide client examples I do not, under any circumstances, include my clients’ names or personal, confidential information. My intent genuinely is to find a common thread to illustrate my point. I would imagine each and every one of us, at some point in our lives, has needed assistance with getting organized. Even those of us who are perfectionists need to be told when to say when.

The purpose of my blogs going forward will be two-fold:
1. I want you, the public, to understand more about what Professional Organizers do and to raise awareness on the advantages, benefits, prosperity and abundance possible when living a well organized life.
2. I want the new Organizers who are just beginning their career in this industry to learn from my successes and failures. Our industry’s success depends on our collective efforts to share information and continue the learning process together.

A professional organizer enhances the lives of clients by designing systems and processes using organizing principles and by transferring organizing skills. A professional organizer also educates the public on organizing solutions and the resulting benefits. The National Association of Professional Organizers, or NAPO (pronounced NAY-poh), currently has close to 4,000 members throughout the U.S. and in 8 other countries

To find out exactly how we do what we do, stay tuned for more blogs!