On November 19, 2014 I attended a discussion group with the Doyenne Group and Rebecca Kleefisch that focused on funding for women entrepreneurs.  It was exciting to hear about what other women are working on, and where they are finding support for their businesses.  While I am not currently looking for funding, I see potential for growth in the future and find it incredible useful to know the current state of affairs.  I was really amazed to hear how women are lagging in funding.  It is a really exciting time to be a small business owner an see such great opportunity on the horizon.  

Link to the article in The Daily Cardinal by Andrew Bahl

WOOHOO!  I was really excited to attend the 2014 Annual Conference for the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO).  They are known as the Organizing Authority.  They provide home and business organizers with a code of ethics, educational opportunities, and community involvement opportunities.   Consumers can go to them to find information about organizing and to locate members in their area.   

The conference offered a wide variety of opportunities to grow my knowledge about organizing challenges, as well as chances to be a more savvy business woman.  The sessions I attended included:

• Organizing a Successful Business in Your Own Office and Your Client's by Krista Clive-Smith
• Marketing to Therapists and Psychiatrists by Ari Tuckman, PsyD, MBA
• Decisions, Indecision, and Cutter in Hoarding Situations by Elspeth N. Bell, PhD
• Creating Home and Business Inventories by Susan Kousek, CPO ® 
• Distracted and Obsessed: Helping ADHD and/or OCD Clients by Robert Olivardia, PhD
• How to Work "ON", Not "In" Your Business by Nick Friedman
• LinkedIn Means Business by Collette Robicheau, CPO ® 

I was able to meet many organizers from across the country, and some in my backyard that I look forward to collaborating with in the future.  I came back to Wisconsin full of ideas to continue to grow as a person and a business.  Stay tuned for some very exciting announcements this Summer and Fall from Life: Organized. An evolution of sorts. LLC

I am very excited to announce an event that will be taking place on the North Side.  It is a seminar series on April 9 & 16, 2014, called Transitions.  They are Living and Planning Seminars for Active Seniors.  Each of the dates will feature three sessions designed to get seniors actively involved in planning their futures.  Maybe it would be helpful to listen to see if you are on the right track.  Are you ready?  Or maybe you have no idea where to start and need some ideas or help finding resources?  No matter where you are in the process of planning, these sessions have something to offer everyone.  

If you have any questions, please feel free to email me at claire@lifeorganizedllc.com

I hope to see you there!

Do you have organizing projects but are not sure how to get started?!?  

Enter a drawing to receive one month of virtual organizing services for FREE!!!

How to enter:

1. "LIKE" us on Facebook
2. Email claire@lifeorganizedllc.com  Please type "FREE February VO Drawing" in the subject line.  Once I receive your email, you will be entered!
3. You may enter additional times by referring your friends too!  Have them follow the same instructions, and in their email they should include your name.  Viola!  You will be entered again!  (Limit 5 friend referrals.)

What will the package include?

• Weekly 30 minute Virtual Organizing sessions by phone, Skype, FaceTime, or Google Hangout.  (Your preference!)
• Weekly email followup with your plan.

Any restrictions?

• You must be committed!  Sessions will be scheduled once per week in March 2014.
• No cash value

The drawing will be held on February 28, 2014 at 10PM by use of a random number generator.  Winner will be contacted by email within 24 hours.   

Everyone is a Winner!  Every one who enters will be added to our monthly newsletter which includes book reviews, project ideas, and organizing tips and tricks.  Cheers!

So, I don't know about you but the [December Purge to Remember] just got me warmed up for January!!!  
If you missed it, here are the links so you can go back and look at all my cast offs ;-)

• Week 1 http://www.lifeorganizedllc.com/1/post/2013/12/december-purge-to-remember-week-1-jump-into-organizing-2014.html 
• Week 2 http://www.lifeorganizedllc.com/1/post/2013/12/december-purge-to-remember-week-2-jump-into-organizing-2014.html 
• Week 3 http://www.lifeorganizedllc.com/1/post/2013/12/december-purge-to-remember-week-4-jump-into-organizing-2014.html 
• Week 4 http://www.lifeorganizedllc.com/1/post/2013/12/december-purge-to-remember-week-4-jump-into-organizing-20141.html 

I should clarify the premise of the project.  
It is simple: Purge on item per day for the entire month!


And, now we are moving forward, or should I say back…  It felt like I went back in time with part of this purge.  My husband and I went through all of our CD collection.  It had been sitting in totes in the basement since we moved into our house (almost six years ago!?!)  Why?  Because they were out of sight and out of mind.  We purged about half of the collection and put the rest back in to a tote.  Finding a solution to store them where they are accessible is on the list, but not a priority.  We joked that in a couple years we will not have a way to play them and will get rid of the rest.  Times change quick!

What else is homeless?  Desk lamp, chairs, exercise ball, more toys, a clock, and two cell phone holders.  Wowzers!  It is really exciting!  I have had to purge a couple of times for cross country moves, and I remember how good it felt.  It has been awhile though and I have to say that it is a good refresher to do it again.  I tell my clients about this feeling and it is hard to describe, so I am glad that I can have a refresher.

I have to say that I am really surprised at what we have to get rid of.  Our house is not cluttered, closets have stuff in them, but are not full, and yet look at it!  It is amazing!  Anyone jumping on the January Organizing purge with me?!?  Remember, purging is the first step in the process and then the fun part of organizing everything that is left!  I am salivating just thinking about all the fun projects you are all coming up with.  

Remember that I have two dates scheduled to have virtual [Ask the Organizer] session this month!  Follow the link if you are interested in more information!
http://www.lifeorganizedllc.com/1/post/2014/01/go-month-ask-the-organizer-via-google-hangouts.html

Happy New Year!

As a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), I am committed to spreading awareness about organizing.  That means I am happy to answer questions about what I do, as well as share tips to help others.

Last year I coordinated a shred event and a class about clutter.  They were both a lot of fun!  This year, I wanted to try something different…

Ask the Organizer via Google+ Hangouts!  

I know that January can be a crummy month for making plans, and then anticipating the cancellation of said plans based on snow and ice events.  Rather than plan events for you to come to me, I thought it would be great if you could all stay in the comfort of your own homes and join me on Google+ Hangouts!  It will be a video chat so we can all see each other and interact.  (If you do not have a camera or microphone on your computer, you can still join, but your experience will be limited.)

How would it work?

1. You will need a Google account.  It is free, and I highly suggest it anyways.  (I am obsessed with the calendar, but that is another event all together!!!)  Once you have an account, you can open Google+ and I will invite you to the session.  
2. Space is limited to 9 guests per session.  January 16th at 7:00pm CST, or January 30th at 7:00pm CST.  We will plan on an hour and I will get through as many of the questions as I can.  
3. Please email me at claire@lifeorganizedllc.com  In the subject line of the email, please state ASK THE ORGANIZER: (include which session).  
4. In the body of the email, please include two questions that you would like to ask, as well as any photos that you would like to use as visual aids for the questions.  If you want to remain anonymous on the call and not associated with the photos, I am happy to use an alias for photos.  The questions are REQUIRED!  I want this to be an interactive event and each participant to leave with personalized advice.  I am happy to talk myself to death about organizing, but it is more interesting to talk about what you want!
5. Make sure to include the gmail account that I can reach you at on Google+!

So, I committed to a December purge, and wanted to share with you my personal progress after only a week. My goal was to find one item a day that I could donate, throw away, or sell.  Below you will find a photo journal of my first week's purge that includes: a child's Halloween costume, swim suit, athletic pants, plastic containers, seasonal decorations, child safety tools, and potty chair…  Now, I should point out that some of the photos include more than one item, but I counted them as one "collection."

I wanted to do this in December for a couple of reasons:

• January is typically a very common time for New Year's Resolutions to purge.  I wanted to show people that you can do it any time of year and make a big difference!  
• Also, I thought with many of my followers and clients considering some resolutions as the new year approaches, that this might inspire them!
• Finally, I wanted to make sure to make room for the new treasures under the christmas tree!  

So you want to get started, but are not sure how?  

• Start by dedicating a box someplace easily accessible.
  
• Invite everyone in the house to participate (partner, kids, room mates.)
• You do not have to go looking for something to purge.  As you go through your daily routines, just be aware of the things around you.  For example, you might be making breakfast and open the utensil drawer for a tool.  You look inside only to dig through a seemingly bottomless drawer full of tools you never or rarely use.  Pull a couple out and throw them in your box!  Viola, you completed your first purge!  Another example might be while you are doing laundry, you notice that a shirt had a tear, stain, or shrunk.  Send it to the box!
• Maybe you have spaces that you know need work and want to purge.  Book shelf, costume jewelry, SOCKS?!?  Put on your favorite CD and get sorting!  Before you know it, you might just have that box filled up!

You will be so surprised at the end of the day, week, and month that you might be inspired to keep going.  If you are having trouble getting started, then give me a call ;-)

As always, I would love to see and hear about your personal progress.  Feel free to share here or email me and I am happy to give feedback as well as share for others!

Happy Holidays!

I chose this [PIN of the WEEK] because I laughed when I saw it! I do this any time I am planning even the smallest event! After the menu is prepared, I pull out my dishes to see how it will all be organized. I often do this a couple of days in advance because it takes one less variable out of the equation and I sleep better at night.

http://www.pinterest.com/pin/333055334914375150/

I know that I have mentioned this filing system before in passing, but I thought this was a great time of year to bring it up again.

What is a Tickler File?
It is a filing system used to file all of your upcoming tasks. This can include everything from watering the plants, paying the mortgage, and sending out birthday cards. There are tabs for each month in the year and each day of the month.

How does it work?
Simple really. You place each task, bill, or card into the day you want to complete it. It is probably easiest to understand if I just use an example:

So, let's say you buy a birthday card for a friend. Her Birthday is April 10th. You can place the birthday card in the April folder and forget about it! (For now!) On the first day of April, you will take the contents of the April file and file it in the 1-31 daily slots according to what day you want to complete the task. Now, back to that birthday card! If the birthday is the 10th and you want it to arrive on or before the day, I would suggest getting it in the mail at least four days in advance, or the 6th. So you would put the card in the 6th folder.

If a task is reoccurring I suggest using note cards and reusing them. For example watering the plants. If you water the plants every four days simply move the card from today and count ahead four days. When you get to that day, the note card will be there to remind you to add it to your daily list.

Each day, you can go to your tickler file and pull out the items in todays date to address. I suggest having a small notebook near by. Make yourself a task list for the day that includes everything in the file as well as leftover items from the day before. Rather than numbering them 1-10, number them by importance. #1 Urgent. #2 Preferred. #3 Wishful thinking. Then get going!

A sample day might be:
Thursday Saturday April 6, 2013
#1 Mail Melissa's Birthday Card
#1 Put out the garbage
#3 Store (Milk and Paper towels)
#2 Pay Phone bill online
#3 Organize Desk
#1 Return Books to Library
#2 Call agent about travel arrangements 608.555.5555
#1 Call Claire @ Life: Organized LLC to schedule my in home Assessment! 608.622.7678
#1 Dentist appointment 2:30

I underlined tasks that require travel outside the house to complete. I suggest mentally mapping your route to save time and fuel driving, and only making one trip if time permits. This seems like a simple step, but I am surprised at how often I hear people not doing this.

Finally, at the end of the day, if there are any tasks not completed, put them in tomorrow's file. And repeat. The process may sound cumbersome and at first you might forget to check the file daily, but over time it will become habit.

Suggestions for success:

• Keep your Tickler file in a convenient place (preferably where you open mail)
  
• Leave the top open so it is easy to access
  
• Have a recycle basket/shredder close by
  
• Keep basic supplies near (Paper, pen, checkbook, stamps)
  
• If anyone else will be using it, go over the process so every one understands

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I will be holding a drawing at the following event for the filing system pictured above.  I am also happy to answer questions about the Tickler File and other organizing projects you might have.
The drawing will be held after my presentation.

January 15, 2013 6:00pm
Join organizer Claire Matejka for a discussion:
What is clutter?
Where does clutter come from?
How can we make clutter go away?

Watertown Public Library
100 South Water Street
Watertown, WI 53094
Please call to RSVP 920-262-4090 ext. 25 Everyone is welcome!