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The Ramblings of a Professional Organizer ….

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Garfield“I’m too busy to get organized!”  REALLY?!?!? ……That’s makes absolutely NO sense!  OK, I need to calm down… BUT, people just don’t understand that if we would take the time to get organized and put some semblance of Order into our lives, then we would have more time to enjoy what’s really important in life!

Let me explain… It is my true belief that disorder & clutter has a psychological effect on our productivity, stress level and overall state of mind.  As we enter another new year, things are hectic (as usual) and sort of out of control (again!).  Therefore, some of my clients are simply TOO BUSY for our organizing sessions and have postponed, in some cases, until the Spring …. which is kinda ok, IF we resume in Spring.  It is so frustrating for me, because I have seen their spaces and I know that if we could just get to Ordered Chaos, their lives would be so much better.

We must ask the questions, Are we just TOO busy to take a moment to breathe, Too busy to spend quality time with the ones we love or Is everyone on the run all the time?? Ultimately, life is too short and time is too precious to let it pass us by.  All I am asking is that we come out of the forest and see the trees …

For us to say that we are TOO busy to organize, is an oxymoron.  “What will it truly take to get our house in Order?”  Don’t try to eat the elephant, we can only take one small bite at a time…. the papers on the dining room table, our home office with files stacked high, the kids’ closet, the daily morning routine, family mealtime after work, or even finding quiet time (what’s that?!?!?)

Well, my moment of frustration has passed.  It means so much to me to help you to get there(?), whereever your Order is. It’s so logical to me.  I see it so clearly in my mind’s eye.  But I know that it is not an easy task.  It is extremely difficult to convey the concept of Divine Order to those that are in chaos.  But I will NOT give up!  I will continue to chip away at the clutter and disorder, one life at a time.  It is just that important to me. It is my mission, it is my calling.  So, March, April, and even May will get here soon enough….and hopefully, by then, at the very least, we will be able to see the trees!

2015 is quickly approaching…

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Most people believe that as a professional organizer, that I am always organized… I must say that I believe that I am more organized than most, however, I too must take time to re-organize.  Granted I try not to let it get too out of hand, but for me, it is very therapeutic to get organized so that I can be more productive and more efficient.  In spite of my very hectic schedule, it is important to invest time, in order not to waste time in the future.

I spent two (2) days last week putting things in Order!  I started with my closets and dresser drawers…

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Then I worked on my office…

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This is a project that I am working on for a client, who wants to get all her files in order for 2015.  She has a number of big projects for next year, so she wants to be prepared to work with a spirit of excellence and divine order, as God has ordained!

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Do you have a plan for 2015?  You do know that God has one for you, so I would suggest that you get prepared.  Take some time to put your things in Order and be ready to prosper and be in health, even as your soul prospers….

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Organizing Project Complete!

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This project was to organize an entire home, from garage & family room to the upstairs bedrooms.  I met my client at a vending event that I attended to share info about ShelfGenie and Order Your Steps.  She arrived just when the event was beginning to shut down.  She passed by our booth and she said that she really needed to get her home organized.  However, she simply took the info and said that she would call me.  Arline, ShelfGenie franchise owner, said “Did you get her phone number?”  Please understand that God always Orders Your Steps…. I kinda chased her down and got her phone number.  AMAZING!!   A few weeks later, I did her FREE in-home assessment and the rest is history!   😀

She’s been truly AWESOME!  She’s been very patient with me and has worked diligently throughout the entire organizing process. However, at times, it was simply overwhelming for her, but she stuck with it.  Although, there were times that she just couldn’t get her homework done, she was always ready to work when I showed up.

Once motivated, she began doing other improvements to her home, i.e. painting, deck refinishing and replacing patio doors… I mean BIG stuff.  She is living proof that once you start to establish more organization in your home, it promotes an Order to your life were also times that we had an opportunity to discuss her work life…It is all about Order!!

HOORAY!  We have finished the bulk of our project, and now we will need to do some fine tuning to a few areas of her home. We will establish a maintenance program that will enable her to continue what we have started.  Our official project wrap-up was last Friday. It felt like we were closing a major chapter of her life, which I guess we have!  I appreciate how the Lord has allowed me to minister to her during this last few months.  Moving forward, I will check in with her by phone or preferrably a pop-up visit every other week or so.  In addition, we will have a two-hour organizing session once a month and then we’ll just see what happening from here!   😀

Here are a few rooms that we did… Take a Look!!

Organizing My Car …. that doubles as my Office!

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I spend even more time on the road these days.  I now cover Prince George’s, Montgomery, Anne Arundel Counties, parts of Howard & Baltimore County and more, in Maryland.  Thus my car now doubles as my office.  I must have everything that I need to do my job with me at all times, whether I am going to an Order Your Steps client’s home to organize their closet or I’m doing a FREE in-home ShelfGenie consultant…. and everything must be easily accessible.

I used Windows Movie Maker to produce my lastest video (my daughter helped a little bit  :-D)… the application was fairly easy to use.  However, it took a lot of time and patience to produce a finished product that I was willing to share….

Please let me know what you think!

Motivation

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As some of you may know, I had an ad on Living Social during the month of February and March.  The offer was 2 hours of organizing services for $50. The response was really good, especially with regards to clicks on my website.  So what does that have to do with “motivation”???…. Well, I’m getting to that!  Two (2) hours really isn’t a lot of time to complete an organizing project, so you either want the client to buy additional hours of your services or you want them to be motivated to continue the project without you.  Both are WIN-WIN scenarios!!

There was one client in particular that was given the Living Social voucher as a gift. She had taken the time to make a list of questions for me prior to our visit and was really excited about getting started.  She has a sincere desire to de-clutter and become more organized, but again, we only had TWO hours.  We started our time together by sorting and purging through her dresser drawers.

Here is an excerpt from the email that she sent me after our visit…

Ms. Candy! 
I had a great time with you Saturday, I am so glad you came. Thank you for the motivation, I truly needed it. As for separating my work and casual clothes that are folded I think I am going to keep that as is. It’s more important that they are folded up and put away in the drawer.  There were numerous items that we decided to hang in the closet, so the closet became our 2nd area of focus.   I was drawn to the nearest Walmart to purchase those things you spoke of called “skirt hangers”. Those things you called “skirt hangers” really do exist, AND they hang up skirts perfectly! … LOL!!!   :-D.  I purchased 3 skirt hangers that hold 6 skirts each, so I have extra hangers if I purchase more skirts. 

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I’m even amazed myself on how much we were able to accomplish in 2 hours.  We didn’t have time to work on other areas of her apartment, so she did the kitchen after I left.

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I love it when a plan comes together.  My goal is truly to have the client motivated, so that they will de-clutter and organize on their own and maintain it after I leave. This client suggested that I FaceTime with her, every once and a while to check on her progress.  AWESOME IDEA!

I appreciate all your suggestions and motivation. Thank you for helping me declutter my apartment of all the clothes! Everything is on the up and up and I plan to keep it going. Have a wonderful day! 

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11,000 Views and counting…..

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WOW!!!  11,000 views and counting.… With over 500 fellow blogger followers!!!   It is truly overwhelming to know that so many have visited and others have even decided to follow “Finding Order in Chaos”.  A HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!  But I must apologize for not posting more frequently.  Order Your Steps is really growing and for that I am so very grateful, but I understand that I have an obligation to those that take the time to stop by from time to time.  As a planner, I will make sure that posting find a spot on my To Do list and to my more recent followers, I promise to find ample time to visit your sites as well.

I plan to have a post out by next Wednesday and I am asking for your topic(s) of interest.

Please check one of the following…

Now allow me to leave you with a little inspiration!

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Snowmaggeadon – Part 2??

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Not quite!….. But we did get a SNOW DAY!!!!! 😀

photo 1 (1)So yes, the organizer in me says (I just can’t help myself) 😦  … Since you are inside anyway and you are bound to get bored eventually, so why not take a moment or two…

Cut on some MUSIC!

… And Organize the Bookcase!  Take a moment to reflect on the story behind the stories.

photo 3 (1)And when you are done…  Reward Yourself!

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But what about the kids?  When is the last time that you read to them?…

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Enjoy Your SNOW DAY!!

Spring Cleaning in the Winter?

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Spring is ONLY 38 days away and if it appears that I am in hurry to see Spring…. I AM!  😀  

However, in my neck of the woods, winter will probably linger.  It “snowed” yesterday and the sun’s out today, but 1 to 22 inches of snow is in the forecast for the rest of the week.  It is always during this time of the year that I recall the  final preparations for my wedding day.  My wedding anniversary is March 10, and the Thursday before, almost thirty years ago… It SNOWED, no REALLY, snowed!  But by my wedding day, the snow was practically all gone and the sun was shining.  GO FIGURE!!  

Winter gives the earth a deep cleansing and kills the germs in the air… BUT Spring is a season of rebirth, rejuvenation, resurrection and regrowth.  March 20th will be here before we know, so why not start preparing for our period of renewal and Order right now.

Now I wouldn’t suggest that you do this…

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But I would suggest that we map out a “Spring’s Comin” plan.  We have 38 days and counting to get ready.

  • Days 1 thru 15 – Assess your space and determine three (3) major areas that require spring cleaning first and allot ample time to complete.  Assign small tasks to complete over time.  Write down the plan and post it.  Technically, we will have 3 months to get it done.  (yes, I understand that we still have lives, that why I suggested only 3… :-D)
  • Days 16 thru 30 – Find two (2) small areas that need to be organized (yes, there is a difference between clean & organize…).  Then let the sort & purge process begin.
  • Days 31 thru 38 – Get the family to participate.  Review the plan with them and get their support & buy-in (even under duress :-D)…. and absolutely, have a BIG party when it’s done.  Have fun with it!

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It’s February, Already!

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Back in December, which seems so long ago now…. We talked about getting ready for 2014 and the need for us to lay out a plan to achieve our dream, Big or Small!!  Well, it’s February already and I am checking to see how the plans are going.  I suggested that we jot down 2-3 things that we really wanted to accomplish this year. Now that 32 whole days have passed… How Goes It??

We must always keep our eyes on the prize or we will lose sight of our goals.  Our path may become real foggy.  Yes, I know that it is still early, so may I suggest that we at least glance at the plan and just make sure that we are heading in the right direction.  It is so VERY easy to get caught up into the day to day routine and before we know it, it’s September and we are saying, “Well there’s always next year!”

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NO, not again!  Let’s make this year different.  2014, the Year of Double Completion, we can accomplish TWICE as much! Double for our Trouble… We will be BLESSED twice as much…  Double Spiritual Perfection… in order to make certain that what you hope for will come true. Then you will not become spiritually dull and indifferent. Instead, you will follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance.  Hebrews 6:11b-12 NLT

We can accomplish GREAT things by simply taking one step at a time.  Yes, Our Steps are Ordered!  

Are you making progress??  I am sure that your story will encourage others or you may need our encouragement to Don’t Give Up!  Your dream is closer than you think.   Please share…. 

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