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March 27 Blog Choices - Which Do I Use?I never thought that having a blog could be this much work! Thank goodness the kids are sleeping and Frank is off playing hockey, because I definitely need some quiet time when it comes to blogging. The worst part about my evening is that I am going to have to come up with a decision pretty dang gone quick regarding blogging.
The good news is my website is getting revamped!!! Completely revamped! Feel free to give me feedback on what you think of it now, the ladies at ASU have been helping me tremendously and since I'm not emotionally attached to anything life is pretty good on the ego home front. You can see my glorified business card at: www.OrganizationalEmpowerment.com (ok, I take it back, I am emotionally attached to the domain name so don't recommend I change that aspect!)
The reason for my great consternation stems from the website updates. Last year, I started fiddling around with blogging and this was my first attempt. I started to practice, I found it therapeutic, and I generally enjoyed it. Then someone suggested I go to www.Blogger.com since I got my feet wet already. So, I believe a couple of months ago I went out to Blogger signed up for another blog and http://letstalkorganizing.blogspot.com was born. Now, I have two of them. Yikes!
So, what do I do? Do I keep the MSN blog or the Blogger? Do the search engines pick up one over the other? Is there one blog service that is more socially acceptable than the other? Or am I making a bigger issue than there really is? So many questions, so little time.
So my question to you is which one do you like better? What format is more pleasing? What am I missing on either site? Eegads, I'm asking for someone else's opinion! How scary is that?
Anyways, any feedback would be most appreciated and if I like what you have to say I'll be sure and create a blogging shrine post just for you!
Until then, HAPPY ORGANIZING!!!
Suzanne McLoone
Organizational Empowerment February 03 Before and After PhotosLife has been busy already this year and it's amazing how the older we get the faster the years fly by. In two weeks time I will be getting married and it still seems surreal. However, that is NOT why you are reading this blog. Unless, of course, you are family or friend who is trying to find out all of the juicy details by Googling our names. (Trust me, it's happening!)
Aside from planning the wedding, I have been having a ball with my latest office! This week I had one of the most exciting offices to organize. The space was amazing, the mess was...messy, and the transformation was inspiring! I just had to share!
Hope you enjoy them and as always, Happy Organizing!
Suzanne January 09 Classification Folders to the RescueIt is no secret that my favorite organizational tool is the Classification Folder. I use these bad boys any chance that I get! From organizing my clients to creating the Ultimate To Do List, my classification folders go with me.
Favorite Uses
Most recently, I have put my classification folder to work on my wedding and with less than 6 weeks to the big day I am in dire need of keeping things together and organized.
I use the 6 prong classification folder since I do need to have the extra tabs for the different sections. My sections are broken down by:
Not only do I drag this with me everywhere I go, during the actual ceremony I can hand this right over to my wedding planner and let her have at it. Everything she needs for the ceremony including contact information and contracts are in the folder organized and easy for her to use. Happy Organizing! Suzanne
January 04 One Note to OrganizeIf you have Microsoft One Note, oh my gosh! is this not one of the greatest tools on your computer? If you don't, you must try it! Microsoft is offering a free Beta of One Note until March 31, 2007 (I think!).
I have had it on my computer since April or some other such nonsense and have now only started to play with it. I am kicking myself for not using it sooner! It is absolutely brilliant to use for organizing!
Here is one such example of how I use it to organize my notes.
First off, I keep it open constantly! I have been doing a lot of research lately on new ways of sprucing up my company and the services that I offer. Most of it is on the internet. I come across a ton of websites that I like the theme, the layout, the content, etc. Instead of saving them to my favorites, I simply click the little One Note button in the corner of my browser and it instantly sends it to One Note.
I then place it the tab for Websites and then "jot" down a quick note of what I liked about the website.
Wha la! Now when Krista asks me what kind of layouts interest me, I can just email her over the "notebook" and I'm all set!
PLUS! I don't have to "save". As soon as I type something it is there to stay, even if the kids come in and shut me out of a program without saving...grrrrrr!
Another way I use One Note, is to organize my leads. I was using Outlook for a lot of my Customer Management methods, but I think I am liking One Note a whole lot better. As soon as I enter in the lead into my Contacts, I click my little One Note button and it sends me off to a page in One Note complete with the contact information from the card. While I am talking to them on the phone I type in my notes, questions that I have for them and an assessment of their situation. I move their individual sheet to my Leads Notebook and they now have their own tab. Once I have them as a client, I move them to my Client Notebook. This way I always have my findings and my notes from their initial conversation.
I HIGHLY recommend trying out One Note if you don't have it and if you do, you most certainly need to start using it!
Happy Organizing!
Suzanne December 20 What's Your Favorite Organizational Tool?Everyone has a "favorite" organizational tool that they can't live without. I have several, but that is only because I can't make up my mind on what is my favorite and since I'm a lady it's ok!
Right now, I have a new "favorite" system that I am using continuously! My stacking desk racks. I used to use these strictly for sorting all of my paper, but I have found myself working on more and more projects and I needed to get them all situated so I could quickly decipher between one project and another.
Much to the dismay of my cat, I now have a 6 tiered tower on the corner of my desk that house my current projects. Each rack is a different client or project. When I need to work on Butch's reports I pull out the papers from his rack. If I get interrupted or when I'm done for the day, his file along with any documents I'm working on goes back in its section. It's WONDERFUL!
It has virtually eliminated excess papers on my desk and I love it!
2007 Shopping List2007 Wall Calendar 2007 Appointment Calendar 2007 Accordion File for Receipts New Composition Notebook for Voicemails 30-Second Desk Tidy UpPut all of the pens/pencils in your pencil cup or drawer. Remove all of the cups, soda cans, food wrappers, etc. from your desk and throw them in the trash. Throw away all of the envelopes your mail came in that you tore apart and left on your desk, including junk mail. Put your receipts in your receipt envelope/file folder. All the papers you are working on right now, pile it up and place it to your left…or right, whichever is easiest. All of the other papers, stack and pile AWAY from your computer monitor. Take a deep breath and enjoy a clean desk for at least a minute or two! Out With the Old In With the NewDon’t worry about your second pile right this very minute. When you have a quiet moment in the next week and a half, take an hour and let’s go through THAT pile. Grab an “empty” trash can, recyclable if you can. Go through the PILE and let’s throw away anything that doesn’t belong. Create File Piles for everything in the PILE. Have one TO DO NOW pile for all of those tasks you forgot about and need to do ASAP. The rest of them start piling into stacks according to where they get filed to. Once your PILE is gone, file away the other stacks. Take your TO DO NOW pile and let’s determine what you need to do with it. Either highlight the “to do” part or use a sticky note to give yourself a reminder of what it is you need to do. Also give yourself a Drop Dead Date of when you HAVE to have this complete by. Try and realistically shoot for December 31 so we can start the new off with “clean slate”. Take a breather, empty the trash and get to work! =) December 19 Organizing Must Read ArticlesQuestion for you. How many magazines and newspapers do you have lying around your home and office that you are "going to get to"? How many of those "going to get to" magazines are you REALLY "going to get to"? But, Suzanne, there is an article in that magazine from June of 1995 that I am going to read. Hmmm, not sure I REALLY believe that, but we are going to see about making it so it can either happen or help to ensure in 11 more years you aren't saying the same thing.
If you are like 90% of my current clients, you have a stack of "reading" material that is collecting dust on the floor, desk, or table. Many times it is older than 2005. Many tears have been shed, many excuses have been given, but in the end your pile is gone and you are left with what you REALLY want to read.
In the next week, I want you to go through your stacks of magazines and piles of newspapers and either flag the articles you want to read or tear out the articles of interest. Once that is accomplished, throw away the magazine and/or newspaper.
Next, take all of the articles you tore out and put them into a pile. If you live in the Phoenix area you are one of the lucky few who can call me and have me do the next several steps.
 What you'll need
1 - 3 ring binder
1 box of page protectors
Page divider tabs for page protectors
Once you have your pile, start separating them into "Topic" piles.
For example:
Home Decorating
Recipes
Organization
Business Tips
Kid Projects
Take each of those topic piles and do a coinciding Page Divider Tab. Be sure and keep all home related topics in one section, business in another, and so forth.
Next, write down the article name and possibly even the publication in which it came from. Don't panic about not having the magazine any more. More times than not the magazine publication along with date is at the bottom of the page.
Once you have that written out, type it on the computer and print it out.
This is your Table of Contents.
Next put all of the articles into the page protector sleeves. This will help keep your article from wear and tear.
Organize your binder, put in your Table of Contents and Wha La you now have a great binder for you to take with you to read when you are waiting for kids, sitting at the doctors office or just have a quiet time for yourself. PLUS, you finally have the time and the means to read those "must read" articles of interest!
Happy Organizing!
Suzanne December 06 When You Have to Have Post It's!I think it's safe to assume that the majority of the free world LOVES Post It's. Who wouldn't? The come in nifty shapes, cool colors and they are so convenient to use! They are also one of the most over used and clutter clogging tools out there, unless of course, you use them correctly.
Now, I'm a big fan of Post It's. I have flags, Post It index cards, Post It's, Post It To Do lists, super sticky pads, lined pads, pretty post it's with cool designs, pop up post it's, you name it I have it. I love post it's! But I also try not to use them randomly.
One of my clients is an office manager for an HVAC company and the owner is notorious for coming in and stealing a post it, jotting down some notes, and leaving it stuck to some part of her desk or on other papers, or God forbid, on another post it. She has no idea of what is what, how old the post it is, if there is a revelance to the post it, or anything else. They are just...There.
So we came up with the Post It Board.
1st - She put all of her post it's in her drawer. We discovered he would not go into the drawer's of her desk so they were relatively safe there.
2nd - We used a piece of form core and used Super Sticky Post It's and put them at the top of the board.
3rd - We put columns for certain action aspects for the Post It's = To Do, To Call, For Butch
4th - Next we explained the system to the owner. Every time he needed a Post It, he would take it from the board, then after he was finished writing on it, he would stick it to the appropriate column. If it was something his office manager needed to do, it would go in that column. If it was something for the owner then it would go in the Butch column.
Results - There are no more piles of post it's and once the Post It is complete it gets thrown away immediately. Life is definitely better on the home front! Or work front rather!
Try your own Post It Board and customize it to what you need!
Happy Organizing! December 05 January is National Get Organized MonthJanuary is coming up fast and furious and with it is new year's resolutions, weight loss goals, gym memberships you use only 4 times, and promises to eat healthier. All of this equals unfulfilled goals. Not my idea of a good time.
My idea of good time is NOT sweating on a treadmill or harming my friends while I innocently try to shut down the stair climber. How was I suppose to know I was hitting the wrong button? I'm short! (Sorry, Laura!)
Instead, I like to set realistic, obtainable, goals for myself. I see them, I reach for them, I obtain them. It's very gratifying at the end of the day and the end of the year for that matter. I'm not suggesting that you go out and reinvent yourself or make lofty resolutions for yourself where organization is concerned. Instead, let's take it one day at a time, but let's also get the ball rolling.
First Step: List every single one of your frustrations; including your husband's bad snoring habits.
Next: Prioritize that list. What is the most important aspect of getting yourself back on track? Is it working with the piles of kid's homework? Balancing work and home? Managing your clients?
Finally: Determine which ONE you are going to start with. Did you catch that? Only ONE thing. Even if it is something as simple as cleaning out your sock drawer. Start there. Master it. Sort through all of your mismatched socks that the dryer ate the matching pair of get rid of them. Do it every two weeks. Make your sock drawer the best looking sock drawer this side of Nordstrom's. Once you have conquered your socks, move on to the next one. Don't over do it, just take it nice and slow! You'll be on your way to being completely organized and half way sane by Independence Day! (Brings on a whole new meaning, doesn't it?)
Happy Organizing!
Suzanne Babb
November 22 Too Many ProjectsHere we go!
I needed to find a system to help me out with all of the projects I have going on at the moment and my typical To Do List and Outlook Tasks just weren't cutting it for me. So, I turned back to the old fashion paper list, but I spiffied it up a bit!
Right now I have on my "To Do" plate:
Plan a wedding
8 new offices
Remodeling the house
Getting ready for the holidays
Revamping OE's image
One list just wasn't doing the job. Instead, I took out my handy dandy Classification folder, created a List for each segment and placed them each into a section in my folder. This folder is now attached to my hip. If my florist calls me while I'm getting ready to go meet with a client, I simply flip to my wedding section and write down her request. If I need to run by Lowe's and pick up another can of paint, it goes in my book and I swing by on my way home. I don't have nine million To Do's on one list, but I do have 9 million to do's in one folder. It's fantastic!!!!
October 03 New Workshop!Over the last 2 months, I have been putting together a slew of new workshops, tweaking the past favorites and feverishly scheduling dates and times 2007. Not to mention updating websites! I have been working so much on my computer lately that the gal from Post Net called me to help her defrag her computer. Ya, that's about all I know about the computer world! Save for anything in Outlook and the new Microsoft 2007 that is coming out...ooh la la! But, I digress!
Every month I send out my Organize Me Newsletter, if you haven't signed up yet you should! I am biased but it's great information and we have a bunch of great ideas, tips, and solutions. My favorite aspect of the newsletter is I have readers who email me great ideas on organizational methods they use, questions on problems they need help with, or a great idea for a workshop!
So, kudo's to Dana Jean from Papers, Etc who is primarily responsible for the latest and greatest OEWorkshop! Day-to-Day Organization: For Working Mom's. A little bit about Dana so you will be able to understand her concept; she is mother of 3, a wife, the owner of an adorable stationery shop, and she still has to find some time to run her household and enjoy a few quiet moments for herself. So this new workshop is pretty much HOW to do it. From organizing all of those papers the kids bring home from school, to juggling errands, accomplishing all of the To Do's, and still have time to do Christmas shopping and send out cards!
If you are in the East Valley of Phoenix, you will have to check out the workshop and join us for this informative, yet fun morning!
Saturday, November 18
Papers, Etc.
309 N. Gilbert Rd
Gilbert, AZ
9:00am - 11:00am
$25 per person
For more information regarding all of our upcoming workshops, be sure and check out our website at www.OEWorkshops.com
Happy Organizing!
Suzanne
September 20 Organizing Your OrdersUse an Accordion File for the orders you receive at a party.
Once you place the order move the orders into the "Orders Placed" section.
When the items come in, reconcile the order and move them to the "Orders Received" section As you deliver the orders, move them to the "Orders Delivered".
Last but not least, "Thank You's". Send them to the people who have ordered through you. September 03 Organization for the MLM;sA lot of people forget that those individuals out there who represent companies such as Arbonne, Mary Kay, AVON, Passion Parties, Weekenders, Silpada, Southern Living, etc. are essentially their own companies. They need to go out and find clients, sell their product, manage finances, and uphold their reputation, they also need to maintain their company's professionalism.
Organizational Empowerment has put together an organizational workshop designed around the ever growing world of Multi Level Marketing. Each workshop is set up exclusively for the Team Lead and her group and we customize the workshop to design organizational processes to fit their needs. These topics include:
Each workshop is 90 minutes long and we provide all of the organizational tools we recommend as well as show you how to incorporate them into your business. The best part of the workshop is we come to you! You can register your group and find out more about the workshops by going to our OEWorkshops website at: http://oeworkshops.com/mlmworkshops.aspx What better way to get ready for the holiday rush than organized and ready to take on the onslaught!! Happy Organizing! Suzanne August 31 All sorts of new stuff!Ok, I have to share a couple of things outside of organization for the moment. If you have ever been in the dire need of some great photos for your website, marketing materials, etc. you have got to try out www.dreamstime.com They are so cheap and they do have some great stock photos and illustrations for $1.00. Here is one of my favorites and although it's an illustration they do have actual photographs as well.
Enough of that plug!
I am, however, working on my new workshop schedule! I am finishing up a corporate contract and I'm in the process of getting the rest of my business back in the swing of workshops and home office organization! The latest and greatest workshop I am doing is for those people who are strictly Multi Level Marketing! Yep, all of you Arbonne, Passion Party, Mary Kay folks, this one is for you!
I have had some great feedback from the girls who have attended the first 2 workshops and I'm now starting to book more to get everyone ready for the holiday rush. You can check out the details for the latest and greatest workshops at www.OEWorkshops.com and you can find some more of the pictures I downloaded from Dreamstime at www.oemygirlfriday.com and www.organizedadmin.com
As always, Happy Organizing!
Suzanne August 22 The Organized AdminWell, my latest little endeavor is up and running and I would LOVE some feedback! www.OrganizedAdmin.com is up and running in its infant stage so be kind!
Organized Admin is a website dedicated solely to those inspiring individuals who give selflessly to other people so their lives are all that much better. It's full of tips and hints on how to stay sane, organized, and make more money! Ok, it's not FULL, but there is a lot of great stuff in there right now.
If you do decide to head on out to the website, PLEASE send me feedback on the features, content, ideas, tips and definitely send me your stories as well. I want to include an "ask the admin" section where it's full of stories and helpful suggestions from administrative assistants.
Thanks so much and as always, HAPPY ORGANIZING!
Suzanne August 13 How An Organizer Organizes!Oi, am I busy! Any busier than the next person? Probably not. We all have our fair or not fair amount of "stuff" going on in our lives. Although it is a common myth that Professional Organizers are very rarely stressed, never have an impromptu "fire", and never ever do they ever run out of time in their day. Did you get the "myth" part?
Very recently...ok, this afternoon, I realized that I am a hairs length away from absolutely drowning in everything that I have going on in my little life. You know the feeling, your stomach cramps up, you get tunnel vision when the kids ask you what is for dinner, the very idea of having to run out to the grocery store absolutely terrifies you, and if the phone rings one more time you are going to scream. Or maybe you already have! Sorry, Mom! So, what did I decide to do about it? Well, I'm updating my blog!
Yes, I thought the very same "what the..." thought, but I also felt that this would be a great way to help shed some light on a lot of other people who are out there getting ready to pull their hair out!
So, here we go!
First things first...Let's make a new list of everything we have on our plates a REALITY CHECK more or less. Write down EVERYTHING you have going on in your little life and the things you have to do.
You get the idea, just keep that brain dump coming! It will amaze you sometimes at just how much you have to do and how little it really is. Once you have your Reality List, read it to yourself. Look at it and ask yourself can you delegate some of these items? (You better believe I'm having my oldest daughter finish folding the towels!) When you have that sorted out look at the final items and start figuring out your plan. This is going to be fairly indepth and it needs to be. You need to know several things on each Reality that you have on your list.
One more to add to my Reality List...Buy a new light bulb for the bulb that just blew...grrrrrr So, let's take one of my less than savory tasks...lose 20 pounds before January. Reality is...I'm lazy when it comes to working out and I'm stubborn about not drinking Coke. So, realistically what can I do? I know that I am a creature of habit, so I should probably put it on my calendar to do, but when? Half the battle is determining when I COULD do this and when I WOULD do this. I have two options; before I start my day and after I end my day. I'm a morning person so mornings would probably work out better and the kids will still be sleeping so that should work. I also know that I have this sickness for seeing things in graph form so I have put together a Weight Log. It makes me sick to just think about it, but it's what I think I need to do. Definitely change the weights to where you are, but definitely delete mine! You can also change yours to be a daily vs. a weekly log. Ok, so far, I am getting up at 5:00 to do my workout, I put it in my Outlook calendar, and I have my Chart/Log. But how often should I do my "workout"? Again, I know myself and I am a creature of habit. If I do it 2 or 3 times a week, I know I will fail. I haven't established that GREAT of a workout routine so I had better start off with an easy daily. I'll give myself 2 snooze hits on the alarm and I'll walk on the treadmill for 20 minutes at a leisurely pace, do 20 crunches and 10 squats...did you forget I'm lazy? ;o) But I am also realistic. I can put on here I'm going to "jog" for 45 and then do some sort of horrific aerobic workout, but then I would just shoot myself and never get on it again. I could potentially be happy being a size 12.....but, I'm also getting married and going to Jamaica for the honeymoon. I am so not looking like Molly Moo Cow in my dress! So, what do I have so far? I think I'm pretty good for this one and quite frankly I feel pretty good about it. I made my Reality List, I kept my "To Do" in a perspective of reality for me, I have my Plan, and I have one less "stress" on my shoulders! All I have to do is put the other things on my list in the same format! To help with your Reality, download the My Reality page complete with the questions you need to answer and the plan on how to do it! I hope this helps you with your hectic and crazy schedule and be sure and keep me updated on how your Reality turns out! Happy Organizing! Suzanne
August 12 List of the MonthEvery month I send out a newsletter and in that newsletter is the List of the Month. The list of the month is essentially a list that Organizational Empowerment develops to help themselves or one of our clients. They are simple, sometimes full of personality, but always necessary. Some of our Lists include To Do's, Project List, Travel Logs, Client Project Forms, and the list goes on and on.
Not only that, we have a special section for those of you who have designed your organizational list to actually submit them into Organizational Empowerment. If we feature them in our newsletter, you will receive your List professionally sealed in your very own note pad.
If you would like to sign up for our Newsletter please be sure and visit us at ORGANIZATIONAL EMPOWERMENT NEWSLETTERS
HAPPY ORGANIZING!
Suzanne Babb August 10 Family Organizer BoardThis is the exciting project of the month! The Family Organizer Board! Courtesy of Better Homes and Garden and one of the easiest most versatile home organizational systems. They have this one set up for family mail, bills, activities, etc., but the fun doesn't have to stop there! I have transformed mine to be one for Kids School Stuff. If you have children in school then you understand the onslaught of school papers coming home from the teachers. Mine started on Wednesday and goodness, it has begun!
To replace "BILLS" I have Jordyn. To replace "MAIL" I have Garrett. Each one of my little people put their papers from school into their own personal pouch and if they have something for me to sign they clip it to the day of the week I need to sign it on. As for field trips and other school functions, they clip it to that day as well. It definitely helps me to identify what in the world I need to be doing for school this year!
For home business use, you can have one pouch for pesky receipts and another for nifty articles you come across in magazines or newspapers. If there is a networking event or conference coming up, clip it to your board.
Getting married? This would be perfect for a simple way to organize all of quotes, brochures and flyers you get from potential vendors. You could have "VENDORS TO CHECK OUT" and "QUOTES". Instead of having days of the week, you could have Vendors Confirmed. Each clip would represent a different vendor. You could attach their contact information or their contract, but at least you know you have physically confirmed every one on your list.
If you have another idea, please be sure and share it with us!
Happy Organizing!
Suzanne Babb
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