A Day in the Life of a Professional Organizer...

The National Association of Professional Organizers holds its annual conference each year to provide continuing education to organizers so we can be of the best possible service to our clients. We have big name keynotes this year and lots of expo participants to teach us about the latest and coolest products to help our clients. Stay tuned next week and I'll bring you tons of information and techniques!!

Corporate relocation countdown...5 days and counting...everything is dialed in and ready to go.

Even when we're most sure that love can't conquer all, it seems to anyway. Anne Lamott

If you have no regrets, you need to get out more. -Stacey Donovan

It takes a long time to grow young.

Organizing Tip: Hard time getting started? Set a timer for 10 minutes grab all the obvious trash in a bag and take it directly to the trash.

Organizing Tip - Keep it simple. Set a goal for the space and write 3 activities to reach the goal. Start small and reward your efforts.

A Day in the Life of a Professional Organizer...

So I'm getting ready for a weekend in Lake Tahoe with 7 of my most AMAZING girlfriends to celebrate my 40th birthday. Man I feel great for 40! As soon as that's done I have another trip scheduled so my organzing brain in thinking....I'm really packing for two trips from the standpoint of toiletries and such. While the climates are completely different there is a lot that overlaps. SO, as I pack tonight for my trip tomorrow I will keep in mind to fill the little 3oz bottles to the tippy top so don't have to do it again when I get back from this trip. Also, when I get back and do laundry things just get washed, folded and back into the suitcase, the same suitcase. I also have been setting stuff aside or making a list of the things I need. I have some wine to take and games/cards but on my list are my refrigerator/freezer items that need to go in the cooler. Just a little thinking ahead saves the last minute rush Friday morning before we head to the airport to get one of the girls coming from Oregon!! Happy Birthday to me. I am such a lucky girl to have such AMAZING friends!

Good Morning! Another beautiful day in paradise. I'm so excited to see what today has in store for me.

Organizing Tip - Easy does it! It didn't get this way overnight, be kind to yourself and start slow, one small area at a time if needed

Life is Plan B

Organizing Tip-Quarantine Method-haven't used it but really can't let go? Tape it up in a box, put a date 6 months out-tape in tact toss it.

You're never lacking in opportunities to clarify your priorities at any level. Pay attention to which horizon is calling you. David Allen

The best place to succeed is where you are with what you have. Charles Schwab

Organizing Tip - Moving your office? Purge before you move...don't think that you will do it once you move - don't move what you don't need.

Be Yourself. Everybody else is already taken. -Oscar Wilde
Now THAT is a FABULOUS quote.

Organizing Tip! - Write it down, get it out of your head. Create a reliable place to collect your to do's. David Allen-Getting Things Done

Organizing truth - your external environment is a reflection of your internal environment. Are you disorganized?

And from my martial arts instructor. Satori. In the moment at my best.

Be where you are. Otherwise you will miss your life! Buddha (I love that)

A Day in the Life of a Professional Organizer...

Just a quick post this morning - running a little behind in getting ready for work. Crazy week this week with evening commitments. Friday is the beginning of the best girls weekend EVER! So I will be at my organizing best to make my commitments this week and still take care of myself. Each of my kids had friends over Saturday - a good lesson for me that it's fun while it's happening but then I stayed up a little too late had was grouchy Sunday. A lady at church said being grouchy is too expensive...she was 90 so I think she's got some wisdom to share. lol. Sharp as a tack and lovely woman.

So, today I'm sharing the lesson of taking care of yourself. What fills your soul? Do that first without feeling guilty.

Have a magnificent week!

I wish I had treasured the doing a little more and the getting it done a little less. Anna Quindlen.

Heading out to the CCHAT center wine tasting fund raiser. CCHAT benefits deaf children. www.cchatevents.org

Day in the Life of a Professional Organizer

So I am working with a fabulous team on a corporate relocation...I know I am doing what I am meant to do because I am giddy with the details that need to be managed to have a successful move...especially when I will be traveling for the actual weekend of the move. Even more important for me to have all the details nailed, all the i's dotted and t's crossed. Same principles apply for a residential move and home or home office organizing. We have a goal in mind and work our way through the details to get to the end!

Organizing Tip: Paper - you do not need to keep every paycheck stub, once you verify all is correct keep only the latest stub!

The world in conspiring in your favor!!

Organizing Tip for Business: DOCUMENT your processes-don't reinvent each time...Huge time savings and you are consistent to your clients

Organizing Tip: Start with a goal for the space - draw it, write it, tear a page out of a magazine. Refer back to this for motivation.

In life and in CLUTTER - the best way out is always through...

Anyone who has never made a mistake has never tried anything new! Albert Einstein Amen to that!

Heading into my 5am Mastermind with other genius business owners

Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to.

5am Mastermind call...American Idol and bed!

Organizing Tip! use your vertical space in the garage, kitchen or office to keep surfaces clear. Especially for visual people!

Day in the Life of a Professional Organizer

Hopefully you have your taxes complete and off to uncle sam. Let's talk about organzing for taxes. No longer do you need to make a common practice of searching for everything you need for taxes at the last minute or in a frenzy or while wondering if you have not forgotten everything.

Use a manila folder, write the current year and Taxes for example 2009 Taxes. Through the year collect here any documents or receipts. You can have one for personal and one for business if needed. (more on business tax organization later). In this file you can put the receipt for your property taxes, donations, tax deductible medical expenses.

Don't file these things separately then pull them all together...save time and file them together as you go through the year. Why add to the stress of the tax season by having to search out your documents!?

The power nap is a beautiful thing!

The awesome Jennifer Bourn is our featured expert at educatingsmallbusiness.com today

Organizing Tip - The smaller the child the larger the bin...little kids can get things into larger containers. Set them up for success!

We only have this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand and melting like a snowflake. Marie B. Ray

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we will not find it. RW Emerson

Welcome to this beautiful thing called life! Make it a great day - the choice is yours!!

Ah the quite of the morningbefore the kids get up and going. I shared last night that I clear the decks before I call it a night and I LOVE getting up and into the morning when my house is in order. I was able to sit quietly and read some "good stuff" to start my day off right and meditate for a few minutes. So great to get grounded...

I'm working on a corporate move right now. They relocate end of May while I am away at my NAPO Conference. Talk about preparation and then letting it go. There are plenty on the team to make sure all goes well and I love knowing that my expertise and preparation will make their part a little easier.

A Day in the Life of a Professional Organizer...

So I got home from my event and realized I now do automatically what I suggest to my clients...once I got the kids in bed and got into my comfy clothes I did a sweep of the house to get the kids stuff back in their room, gathered a few school projects and got them into the bin in the kids closet top shelf, cleaned up the dinner dished and made my lunch for tomorrow and put the kids backpacks by the door. This is the 5 minute sweep I talk about with clients...OK maybe this took 15-20 but really, now I can sit down and get some work done without looking over my shoulder.

Making dinner for kids and gram..I'm going out to speak at the American Business Women's Association! Increasing Profits by Organizing.

A Day in the Life of a Professional Organizer...

I was thinking about the things I tell my clients when were working together to create a new space for them or working on creating new habits...I was thinking how I really do practice what I preach so I thought I would blog my days and see what happens.

Today I got up a little later than I should have...5:45am. I have to be up showered and dressed in order to get the kids up at 6:30. I thought about blogging this today because I didn't want to make the bed this morning but remember what I tell my clients and myself....make the bed so you have a nice place to come back to at the end of the day and it only takes 3 minutes to make the bed really...even though my 5 year old ended up in bed with me last night it still only took a few minutes...he didn't thrash that much.

If I'm going to encourage, OK make, my kids make their beds I have to be an example...the same for my clients eh?

Happy habit making!
Kelli

Organizing Tip - Create/label all your filing the same whether email, paper files or computer files. Consistency breeds efficiency. Kelli

We all have times when we think more effectively, and times when we shouldn't think at all. -Daniel Cohen

What are the top 3 questions I should ask when interviewing a business coach?...I need someone awesome.

Your work is to discover your work and then with all your heart to give yourself to it! Buddha

Think like a man (or woman) of action, act like a man of thought! Henry Bergson

Organizing Tip: Use a hanging shoe sorter for belts, scarves and other accessories to keep them in easy view in your closet.

What we teach ourselves with our thoughts and attitudes is up to us.

Vision is not enough; it must be combined with venture. It is not enough to stare up the steps; we must step up the stairs. Vaclav Havel

Now here's some valuable information...The National Soap and Detergent Association believes getting rid of clutter would eliminate 40% of the housework in the avg home.

What an INCREDIBLE day. Time to go put my nose in a great book!!! "Getting Things Done" by David Allen

According to a study conducted by a Boston marketing firm, the average American burns 55 minutes a day looking for things they know they own but cannot find.

The Self Storage Association estimates that there are almost 40,000 self-storage facilities in the US, and the demand for them doubled from 1994 to 2004.

Each year, about 100 million households receive 16.6 billion catalogs.—Direct Mail Association

The Wall Street Journal reports that the average U.S. executive wastes six weeks annually searching for important documents lost in clutter.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) estimates that 80 percent of filed papers are never looked at again.

Go confidently in the direction of your dreams! Live the life you've imagined. As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler. Thoreau

Renew conference was awesome...Love speaking and helping others free themselves from clutter!

Up and getting ready to be a speaker at the Renew Women's Conference in Rocklin today!

speaking at a women's conference in Rocklin tomorrow with Christine Giri!!

Look towards Rocklin...see that cloud of genius...that's us taking over the world! YAHOO!

Working with my awesome biz partner Christine today...building our fortune!

Life is Good! I love my life! Celebrate, Appreciate!

There are several steps to take to overcome clutter and disorganization. It's not about the stuff...there is a spiritual solution to the stress and unmanageability of being disorganized. Watch for my book. Kelli