The Super Organizer Mission

The Super Organizer is about helping individuals/businesses who want a clear path to success that is uniquely theirs.

 Many of my clients are people who are restarting their lives after widowhood, divorce, new marriage, retirement, relocation, and newly grown children. I help people re-enter the work force after years out of it. For my business clients, I help them find ways to run more smoothly. Some systems are outdated. I update them. I make filing systems easy to follow and specific to the company, the team, or the person.

The Super Organizer does not believe that one size fits all! The Super Organizer works to make sure the organization works for YOU!

thesuperorganizer.com

Where Is Your Portfolio?

If you are in a services field, then you should have a space where you have a collection of your work. When I say services, the examples that come to mind at the top are: contractors, organizers, event planners, photographers, just to name a few. Keeping an collection of your work is a nice way to keep track of your achievements. Its good for potential clients to see too.

Your portfolio can contain client testimonials, published works, awards, certifications, and of course photos! Photos, photos, photos! Some people have a folder on their tablets or laptops. Others actually have a "physical" portfolio. You can get special folders and holders for that. And of course if you have a website, you should have much of these things on there too.

What Observation is NOT

Observation is NOT:

• making assumptions
• asking questions
• imagining something else is going on
• speculation

Observation IS:

• looking
• listening
• making a systematic or scientific observation

What do you actually see? What did you actually hear? Observations aren't judgments or labelling.

For example: You walk into a room and see a shelf with a lot of "stuff" on it. That's an observation.

You walk into a room and see a cluttered shelf. That's NOT an observation. 

5 Steps of Assessing An Organizing Issue

When faced with an organizing (or lack thereof) issue, I find that the following five goals (steps) work for me:

1. To gather information
2. To define problem areas
3. To determine needs and wants
4. To talk about the cause of the problem areas
5. To create a plan/strategy

These 5 things are a great sequence to follow too. And the hope is that is aligns with the objectives of the client/person/friend/yourself. "They" should want to fix and understand the problem and find a solution. Gathering an accurate assessment of things before you attempt to begin is the way to go.

2nd Set Of Questions To Ask Before Organizing: What Is This Room For?

Hopefully you read yesterday's blog but if not, this still works. Once you assess the status of the room and its clutter issues you can ask the following questions to further assess what to do for that room:

1. Who uses the space?
2. Who is the space for?
3. How often is the space used?
4. How do you want to use the space?
5. What furniture and/or equipment is unnecessary in the space?
6. What furniture and/or equipment is necessary in the space?
7. What items don't belong in the space? And where do they belong?
8. Why Isn't the space being used the way it is supposed to?

Answer those questions. Some will come easy and others will take some time to figure out. In the end, it will become clear what to do in the organizing process. 

Questions To Ask Before Organizing: What's Going On In This Room

You always want to make a correct and full assessment of any situation. The following are some questions you can ask before you begin to organize a room:

1. What are the cluttered and messy areas?
2. Are there piles of homeless items?
3. Is there too much furniture in the space?
4. Can you see the floor?
5. Are there things on the floor?
6. Traffic areas blocked? 
7. Stuff on furniture?
8. Storage and space issues?
9. Collectibles not stored well?
10. Paper everywhere? Or piles of paper products?
11. Items not grouped together? 

Start with this and answer them. Then you can move on to the next set of questions (see tomorrows blog).

Some Traits Of An Organized Person

An organized person can have the following traits:

1. Keeps a place for everything and puts things away in specific places.
2. Uses systems to function efficiently. Works smarter not harder.
3. Keeps appointments, arrives on time, plans well.

Some organized folks are naturally this way but the great news is that these traits can be taught! With the right organizer (i.e. The Super Organizer), these traits can be learned and developed! Its never to late!

5 Personality Types In The World of Organizing

Many people have a lot of stuff! As an organizer, I see this all the time. The reasons why are not the same for everyone. But I have noticed similarities and have come to the conclusion that there are at least five types of personalities I encounter in my clientele.

1. The Messy One- does not put anything away. Can't be bothered. Also known as the slob.
2. The Concealer- keeps everything hidden. Stuffs things away and out of sight.
3. The Procrastinator- wants organization but puts it off. Hard time starting things.  Sometimes will put things off to the last minute to take any action. 
4. The Showcaser- they need to see everything. Hates to put away anything. IN some cases all walls and shelves are completely filled with stuff.
5. Hoarder/Pack Rat- Some will say a pack rat isnt a hoarder. I disagree! Its the same. They keep everything and finds it difficult to let things go. TO me they are the MOST extreme.

 Do you or someone you know fall into any of these categories?

Group Organizing: Cooperativeness VS Competitiveness

COOPERATIVENESS VS COMPETITIVENESS

Cooperativeness leads to coordination of effort, productivity, good human relations, and other positive benefits. Competitiveness leads to distrust, insecurity and discord. 

The common feeling of the group should be to find ways to work together for the organizing project! Choose cooperativeness over competitiveness.

Membership Has Its Advantages!

Proud Member of each of these Associations:

www.icfla.org/Public/Home/index.cfm

www.napo.net

NationalNotary.org

www.coachtrainingalliance.com

Take A Seat

You want to add some additional seating in your living room/front room and you don't have space for another love seat or couch. Using ottomans or storage cubes can be a great addition and very functional for the space! 

When they are not in use, you can store magazines, books, children's toys and they can serve as mini tables. (The trick is NOT to use them as junk storage or to hide things in them.) Then when guests come over, you can move them around and place them strategically in the room.

Beach Time! Pack Now.

Unless you are in Florida or Hawaii, now is the time of the year when its beach season!! Sometimes you know when you are going to the beach, other times it may be a spontaneous thing. One suggestion I have to is to pre-pack a tote bag!

Fill a tote bag with towels, swimsuits/trunks, sunscreen, hats, bottled water, non-perishable snacks, whatever you think you would take to the beach. Store it in the trunk of your car, or neatly corner of your closet. Have fun and be safe!

One Way To Make Your Life Easier

The life you want is up to you and is different for each person. There are as many processes to making ones life easier. I know ONE way to make your life easier:

Organizing the rooms and spaces in your home.

 Foyer to mudroom. Upstairs and downstairs. Side to side. Figure out the space or room that gives you the biggest frustration and start there.

If you need help, hire The Super Organizer. Contact us and I will show you the way!!

Book That I Like: The Coupon Mom's Guide To Cutting Your Grocery Bills In Half by Stephanie Nelson

I'm ALL about couponing! I grew up with a mother who couponed. There are deals to be had. I like couponing especially when it comes to my regular items. Regular items are things I need and get all the time. Toilet paper, toothpaste, Milk, El Pollo Loco, you get the picture.

I read a book from the CouponMom, Stephanie Nelson, that i think is really good and helpful. It doesn't matter if you are doing fine financially or need help wherever you can get it, I found the tips and suggestions helpful. Check it out!

I'll Take All Your Pennies

Piggy Banks are a fun way to save all your change. They are also a functional place to put change you find when cleaning and organizing. 

Little or big banks are also great for kids. They can learn at an early age how important it is to save money.

I Don't Know How To Fold

I learned how to fold a t shirt/shirt while working in retail a grillion years ago. I apply the same way to my current clients and they love it.  I fold in a way that is neat and nice and space saving. I was taught with cardboard. Now they have products on the market like the one pictured. And they come with visuals on how to fold. The one I got below was at Big Lots. Amazon has them too.

I Can Still Blink

I like coffee but I don't like to have a full cup of coffee in the afternoon.  Sometimes I want the taste of coffee in the afternoon but want to be able to blink and then sleep later. The solution is my new favorite coffee: Half Caff French Vanilla by Keurig!!

Up Your Clothes Wearing Percentage

People wear about 30 to 50 percent of the clothes in their closet regularly. The tendancy is to wear the same stuff over and over. One example of the cycle is you wear a shirt and pants, they get dirty, you wash them and then wear them again a few days later. Multiply that by several sets of shirts and pants (or skirts and blouses).  Here is a tip that I feel increases your chances of wearing more of the clothes in your closet:

Group all of your shirts ( or blouses) together in your closet. There are ring dividers that you can buy. You can place the divider on the pole and then all the shirts on the left of that divider will be clothes you've worn and all the clothes on the right are for you to wear.  When you start all the clothes will be hanging to the right of the divider. Wear the tops starting  left first and go across. If the shirt isn't dirty, rehang it on the far left. If the shirt is dirty and later you wash it, rehang it on the far left. Now the key is to continue going right when picking a shirt.  With the ring dividers, its easy to keep track.

Also try that with your pants, skirts, dresses too.

GOOD job Apps

http://thesuperorganizeruniverse.com/2014/06/04/do-you-need-a-job/

Todays Spanish Lesson

la súper organizador


Here are a few Spanish words and phrases that can relate to organizing:

Hola; Hello

Como Estas? : How are you?

Mi Nombre es: My name is

Necesito Ayuda : I need help.

Donde basura? : Where's the trash?

Casa: Home

Mesa: Table

Si: yes

Por favor : Please

Gracias: Thank You

De Nada : You're welcome

Bueno: Great

Malo: Bad

Alegre: Happy

Edificio: Building

Oficina: Office

La Hora: Time

Esquina: Corner

Cocina: Kitchen

Sala: Living Room

Monton: Clutter

Limpio:Clean

Organiza: Organize

A Los Angeles Area Professional Organizer

Organization For Your Home, Office, Life!

Need someone to do all the tasks that you DON"T want to do, or don't have time to get to, or have no idea how to start, that's THE SUPER ORGANIZER.

Everything from event planning to shredding to closet organization to Life Coaching,I can do it!

LET ME DO IT FOR YOU!

Organizational Life Coaching available too. 

• Non-judgemental 
• Satisfaction guarantee
• Dependable
• Customer Service Oriented
• Experienced

• Friendly

• Organized

For the whole month of June, 25% new clients first time job!!!

Click on the link for more details and to contact me:

thesuperorganizer.com

FORGIVENESS

http://thesuperorganizeruniverse.com/2014/06/02/forgiving-the-clutter-and-yourself/

I Can't See My Floor!

Your entire house or apartment is cluttered! Every room needs your attention! It's overwhelming! Here is a tip to start:

Choose a space you spend the most time in. The one with the clutter that irritates you greatly! (Irritation can be used for positive gains.) Or it could be the room that is keeping you from reaching your personal or professional goals. AND START THERE!

In the past I've given the tip to start in the least cluttered space. That works for some people. Starting with the biggest space that you spend the most of the time in works for others. One of the benefits is seeing the results quicker and in a more profound way.

SO which space/room is it for you?