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Achieve Results at Home, At Work, and In Life
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Well, in a few more weeks, spring will be upon us. It can't come fast enough for me. I am officially done with winter, as I am sure many of you are too.
Some of you have contacted me to say that you missed my recent teleclass, Record Retention 101: Organize Your Paperwork, and want to know when I will be offering it again. Good news! It is available for purchase on my site as an audio recording. You can listen on your computer, iPod, or burn it to a CD. It comes with a bonus written handout too! Click here for more information and to order. From now on, all teleclasses will be recorded and offered on my site for purchase afterwards. That way, you can always catch up on teleclasses even if you missed them the first time around.
Stay tuned for my Career Transitions Teleclass Series, which will be announced in the next few weeks, and is perfect for traditional job seekers or those that are interested in becoming an entrepreneur. And I will be releasing a new audio From Here to There: The Path of Getting Organized, which is a jam-packed 60 minute presentation covering general organizing principles for home and work. Later this spring or summer, I will launch the DECIDE To Be Organized Boot Camp, a 6-week virtual program that allows participants to be guided through the entire DECIDE process in a group coaching environment.
For those of you using social networking media, feel free to connect with me via LinkedIn or Facebook!
As we progress on our "DECIDE to be Organized journey," this month's feature article focuses on Step 6 of the DECIDE process - Enjoy. For those of you just joining us, I encourage you to click on the link below to Past E-Zine Issues and review the DECIDE overview and steps 1 through 5 of the process.
Warmest regards ~
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- March 20, 2009 - Conducting Decide to be Organized: Achieve Results at Home, at Work, and in Life for Putnam/Northern Westchester Boces in Yorktown Heights, NY.
- March 22, 2009 - Conducting DECIDE to be Organized presentation for the Women in Agriculture conference in Warwick, NY.
- March 26, 2009 - Presenting Running a Thriving Business in a Tough Economy at the Winning Connections Matrix in Cornwall, NY for the National Women's In Network (NWIN). The full program includes networking opportunities and workshops. The event will be held at The Grail at Cornwall from 12 noon - 8 pm. Fee is $55 all day for non-member, $39 all day for member, and $25 for entry between 5-8 pm (includes dinner). Contact Laura Moritz at (845) 783-7363 to register.
- March 31, 2009 - Presenting Organize Your Home for Chabad of Orange County, NY. For more information, click here.
- April 1, 2009 - Conducting DECIDE ™ to be Organized presentation for Chabad of Goshen, NY.
- April 21, 2009 - Being interviewed as guest expert by Sandy Dixon of Interior Arrangements on teleclass for Interior Redesign and Staging Industry Specialists (IRIS), titled Bullet Proof Your Business: Tips for Using the Law as a Protective Shield. For more information or to register, click here.
- April 24-26, 2009 - Chairing Operation Clean Sweep for Town of Warwick sponsored by Warwick Valley Chamber of Commerce.
- April 29 - May 2, 2009 - Attending National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) Annual Conference and Expo in Orlando, FL.
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"He who does not get fun and enjoyment out of everyday . . . needs to reorganize his life." ~ George Matthew Adams
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DECIDE™ to be Organized: Step 6 - Enjoy
In the September 2008 feature article, I outlined the 6-step organizing process that I developed and use with my clients, DECIDE. In order to refresh your memory, here is an overview of the process:
This month, we will focus on the last step, Enjoy. Think of Enjoy as the light at the end of the tunnel. This is the time to bask in your newly organized systems, and enjoy the fruits of your labor. There is a reason why I use the phrase, DECIDE to be Organized: An Empowering Process for Change. Being organized brings positive benefits, and a sense of empowerment. There is something inherently optimistic about creating a clean slate, with the old wiped away and the new waiting to begin. The sorting, streamlining, and implementing that are a part of the organizing process are a tangible expression of that renewal. When our homes and offices feel under control, life feels more so, too.
As with any personal or professional development process, there must be some type of reward or benefit waiting for you at the end of the process to render the work and self-discipline of the process worthwhile. So, let's look at some of the benefits of getting organized. See if any of these can serve as your dangling carrot. Only with your own version of the pot of gold waiting at the end of the rainbow will you be able to effectively change your thinking from "I can't because" to "I will because I want to..."
 Enjoy More Time - Being organized saves time in the long run. Many people focus only on the time it takes to get organized -- the catching up from the backlog of mental and physical clutter, and the ongoing maintenance involved. Everything else appears to be a higher priority, but being organized will free up time for you to focus on your other priorities. Once organized, you will save time lost searching for things, and time lost to lack of scheduling and planning ahead. Remember, once organized, it should only take approximately 15 minutes per day to maintain systems. Those odds are very much in your favor. You will enjoy more time to focus on what you really want to accomplish, whether that is work related, self time, or family time.
- Enjoy More Space - Generally, the organizing process will open up some physical space in your home or office, making room to enjoy the things you love even more, or to acquire new items instead. If you still have some clutter, opening up space will provide extra room needed to store that clutter. In some cases, you can open up space and fill it with nothing, enjoying room to breathe.
 Enjoy Better Health - Being organized improves your health, decreases your stress, and frees up your mind. Most people operate better in orderly surroundings. This is certainly the case from a psychological standpoint, as clutter can serve as a negative energy drain. And, in extreme cases, clutter can cause physical accidents. Get organized and live longer!
- Enjoy Better Relationships and Reputation - Being organized can improve relationships and your reputation. You will be more productive at work, which will translate into returning phone calls and emails quicker, showing up for meetings on time, etc. When you are organized in the workplace, you project a professional put-together image that people trust and are attracted to. At home, many families have disagreements that stem from disorganized systems and habits in the home. Therefore, getting organized almost always improves your family life. In addition, if you are more productive at work, you may be able to leave earlier than usual, thus enjoying more time with your family.
- Save Money - Being organized will save you money, which is a nice bonus in this tight economy. You will save money by not buying duplicates of things you already have (a common problem among disorganized people), and by selling or donating items that are not being used (making cash or getting a tax deduction). Often, you will find checks that have not been cashed (I cannot begin to tell you how much money I have found for my clients -- thousands!). You will avoid having to throw things away that were not properly stored. You will pay your bills on time, thus avoiding late fees. You will be able to find your gift cards, gift certificates and coupons before they expire. And usually, in a work setting, increased productivity directly leads to more profit.
While you may never be "perfectly organized" (can anyone, really?), you can use the DECIDE process to make your home, work, and life function smoother. This will enable you, in turn, to achieve the bigger, more meaningful goals you are reaching for. What will be your reward for getting organized? Figure out what it is that you want to Enjoy, and then get ready for new opportunities and experiences to enter your life.
Happy Organizing,
Copyright 2009 © Lisa Montanaro
WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR E-ZINE OR WEBSITE?
You can, as long as you use this complete statement: Copyright 2009. Lisa Montanaro, "The Solutions Expert," 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 other entrepreneurs. Subscribe today at www.LMOrganizingSolutions.com. Through LMOS, Lisa helps people deal with the issues that block personal and professional change and growth. To explore how LMOS can improve your home or work environment, or help take your business to the next level, contact Lisa at (845) 988-0183 or by e-mail at Lisa@LMOrganizingSolutions.com. |
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Get Organized on a Budget: Affordable Organizing Options
In this tough economy, many people are looking for affordable ways to be more productive and improve their situations. For those of you who would like assistance getting organized, but cannot budget for hands-on organizing sessions, here are some alternatives.
 My E-zine - Free tips, articles and advice are offered monthly in this e-zine so stay on the list for motivation and inspiration. If you are new to the LMOS online community and this is your first issue, browse past issues by clicking on the Past E-Zine Issues link above.
- Virtual Organizing - This is a service mostly used by those outside of my hands-on service area, or by do-it-yourselfers that need access to an expert, but it really can be used by anybody. It is a great option if you cannot afford a hands-on session with me, but still need help. To learn more, click here.
- Teleclasses and Audio Recordings - These are great ways to learn from the comfort of your home or office and are an affordable option. Click here for more information.
The above options are ways for me to continue offering support and sharing my expertise in an affordable manner. Remember, there are always choices! |
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Lisa Montanaro, "The Solutions Expert," 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. Through LMOS, Lisa helps people deal with the issues that block personal and professional change and growth. To explore how LMOS can improve your home or work environment, or help take your business to the next level, contact Lisa at (845) 988-0183 or by e-mail at Lisa@LMOrganizingSolutions.com. |
Contact Information
Lisa Montanaro, JD, CPO
Certified Professional Organizer®, Business & Life Coach, Motivational Speaker
LM Organizing Solutions, LLC ™
PO Box 113
Warwick, NY 10090
(845) 988-0183
www.LMOrganizingSolutions.com
Lisa@LMOrganizingSolutions.com |
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