Organizing Tips from Patty Kreamer
My fortune in my fortune cookie a few weeks ago said:
The efficient person gets the job done right.
The effective person gets the right job done.
Think about that for a moment. Which one is better? (This is kinda like the chicken/egg argument!)
Which one of these describes you?
Patty Kreamer, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer®
Filed under: General Info | 6 Comments »
If you haven’t taken a vacation in a while, take it from this Certified Professional Organizer®, it’s time! We just returned from a 2-week vacation – one week on a cruise and one week in FL on the golf course. Now I’m refreshed and ready to rock and roll! Time away is like the reset button on life.
When was the last time you took a vacation?
When is your next vacation? Where are you going?
They say when you get back from your vacation, you should start planning your next so I gotta go – where to next?
P.S. Check out the demo video of the flight line me and my sisters did! http://tinyurl.com/dek40m
Patty Kreamer, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer®
Filed under: General Info, Simplicity | Leave a comment »
Every year, I have a theme for the year. 2008’s theme was “The Year of Transformation”. During a 2 year illness that ended this past August, I decided last January to transform my business to a more virtual business that offers value out the ears.
In doing so, I have rolled out The Clutter Rescue Course™ and the accompanying workbook, added phone coaching to my list of services, residential organizing packages, CorporateConnect, and I began delivering teleseminars and webinars. These additions have allowed me to offer way more value to my clients through more cost effective means for them.
For me, 2009 is “The Year of The Package”. I want to take all of our products and services and offer them in packages to deliver even more value. This year, look for The Mess Kit™, coaching packages, speaking packages, and much, much more!
So what is your theme for 2009?
Patty Kreamer, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer®
Filed under: General Info, Question of the Month | 1 Comment »
I believe that our two daschund pups (wiener dogs) could qualify as professional organizers. Kaylee and Kolby have either picked up on my Monk-like tendencies or they are naturally organized.
When they go outside, they have to run the perimeter of the yard – EVERY time. Kolby can never just run out into the yard. He has to go to a certain point to cut in. To return to the house, he has to go to that same spot and run the perimeter again to the door.
When they eat, they eat from one edge of the bowl to the other. They never just cut into the middle of the food…never. And they use the same bowl. Very organized.
They play with their toys in the same spot every time. They don’t put them away yet, but I suspect that is coming.
These two are totally regimented (dogs after my own heart) and dig routine, nay, they thrive on routine. Couldn’t have found a better pair of dogs to add to our already anal-retentive home.
Ask me if they can sit, speak, or roll over? I said organized, not attentive.
Patty Kreamer, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer®
Filed under: General Info | 1 Comment »
As a kid, when someone asked you what you wanted to be when you grew up, you always answered with some profession for which you had a penchant in your heart. In hindsight, I sometimes wish I could have said, “I want to be a professional organizer, but sometimes, I just want to be.”
With the speed of life these days, you rarely find anyone that is relaxed and has time to be. Kids don’t have a clue what it’s like to just be. They are being schlepped from school to soccer to dance to baseball, etc. Even retired people are busier now than when they worked.
Can you remember the last time you were just able to be? Not be busy, productive, or effective. Just be.
If you can remember, it’s probably a standout moment in your mind rather than the norm. If you can’t remember, well, that wouldn’t be surprising. Usually when you are trying to be, you are too busy feeling guilty about what you should be doing rather than just being.
It seems like everyone is stretched tighter than a rubber band powered airplane. If one more component or layer is added to your life, you are likely to snap. This is not good.
If you look at your day as a circle and slice it into 24 pieces of a pie to represent the hours, shade the number of hours you need for sleep, work, errands, people, yourself, and whatever you do with your time. If you see that you don’t have enough time in your day to do everything you want, it’s time you step back and take a deep look at your life.
When you can’t take care of yourself, you will unlikely be able to tend to others. Your sleep will go by the wayside and you will not be the most favorite person to share time with.
As you look at this circle of your day, why not carve out some time to be? Be-ing can mean just sitting on your porch with a cup of coffee in the morning or taking a walk with someone you love. Whatever it means, let it happen.
So the next time someone asks you what you want to be, it’s OK to tell them you just want to be. Nice answer.
Patty Kreamer, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer®
Filed under: General Info | 2 Comments »
We are bombarded on a minute-by-minute basis with information and if you ask me, you have to set limits.
As a professional organizer, every day I work with folks who are on information overload without a clue of how to get away from it all. Try this: stop watching the news, stop reading the newspaper, stop surfing the internet for news, stop listening to the radio news, and stop reading emails with news. This doesn’t even take into account email and Internet information.
If there is one thing I know for sure, it’s that no matter what happens in the world that is important, we will know about it. Trust me. It’s all the stuff that is not important that worries us, creates negativity, makes us feel anxious, and above all, clutters our minds 24/7.
Stop it.
Here’s my challenge to you:
STOP accessing the above mentioned sources of information (and any others that you have) for a week (or a month). At the end of that week (or month), let me know what you think. My guess is you’ll see a change in your attitude, you’ll start to see what REALLY matters in your life, and you’ll be more relaxed and less stressed.
Patty Kreamer, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer®
Filed under: General Info | Leave a comment »
I know I just blogged on how bad the economy is and how to make organizing a part of your life during these not-so-great times.
As a professional organizer, my antenna is always up to see what is happening when it comes to buying more stuff, but I have to tell you, I’m seeing a huge disconnect.
All we hear about is how bad the economy is and how nobody has money to spend yet every time I go out, the roads are jammed more than ever in spite of the gas prices, parking lots are full to where I have to park at the end of the lot (it’s OK, I can use the exercise), and the stores are crowded in the aisles and especially at the check out lines.
Is it me or am I the only one experiencing this?
Patty Kreamer, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer ®
Filed under: General Info | 3 Comments »
So you know I went to Dover, DE. While I was there, I was able to get into the track the day after the race to take a spin in a real race car with a real professional driver on a real race track. Really!
It was an incredible experience and if you ever have the opportunity to do so, take it. I was actually giddy the whole time – I think it’s like a high that can’t be explained. The only downside is helmet hair.
So, the most organized sport, whether observed from the spectators point of view or from the inside track, ROCKS!
Patty Kreamer, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer®
Filed under: General Info | Leave a comment »
As a professional organizer, I feel qualified to say that NASCAR racing is the most organized sport I have ever known. Last weekend, I was in Dover, DE for the NASCAR race and was fortunate enough to have a Pit Pass. My sister and I were given access to Pit Row and all of the activity that takes place before a race.
I gotta tell you, these folks are impressive – they have systems in place for every thing that happens to their car all the way down to the lug nuts for the tons of tires lying around waiting for their turn around the track. From the opening ceremony to the victory lap, it’s like a scripted play. Of course, the accidents aren’t scripted but the aftermath is. The yellow flag goes up and the crews go into action to clean up the mess in the most efficient manner and then the race goes on. And best of all, after every pit stop, the crew sweeps up their own designated area to keep the pristine and organized look!
I guess I fell hard for racing. You’ll learn why even more in my next blog post!
Patty Kreamer, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer®
Filed under: General Info | 1 Comment »
Life comes at you fast and being organized can make the difference in how you handle it. Case in point, my husband went to the hospital for a stress test on Wednesday morning and before you know it, they were whisking him off for a heart catheterization because they thought they saw some blockage. While they were in there, they found a need for a stent since one main artery was almost completely blocked. He is like a new man!
Needless to say, my schedule fell apart like a house of cards. Being prepared made all the difference in the world. This situation was far from predictable but I was sure to have all the details for the day in my Blackberry. I was able to calmly access their information easily and contact everyone in a timely manner. Stress happens without our assistance so the more you can be “buttoned up”, the better your day will go.
Are you ready for life’s “stress test”?
Patty Kreamer, CPO®
Certified Professional Organizer®
Filed under: General Info | Leave a comment »
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