Organized Travel for Summer

Elfreth's Alley

It’s summer and vacation time.  On a recent business trip to Philadelphia, I enjoyed a day to myself sight seeing the historic area of the city.  The week before I was working in the picturesque beach community of Newport  Beach in California featuring scenic views reminiscent of the Italian coast.  Now I was back in time at Elfreth’s Alley.  This neighborhood has the distinction of being the oldest residential community in our nation.  The homes have been occupied since the early 18th century.

As someone who appreciates colonial architecture, loves history, and is a professional organizer I can’t help but apprecite how our ancestors lived 250 years ago.  Then beauty was appreciated along with simplicity.  Walk-in closets, let alone most any closets, were not even in these homes.  It’s a good thing Costco was not around in 1776.

A few organizing tips for your next business/pleasure trip:

1. Plan your time off.
2. Research the city’s website before the trip.
3. Keep travels to a limited area.
4. Walk and take in the city.
5. During lunch ask the wait staff what is not to be missed in the area.

Don’t forget to use a Travel Checklist to keep from forgetting power chargers, reservation information, and other essential needs.  For a complimentary checklist from Get It Together LA! click here and write Travel Checklist in the subject line.

Now enjoy your next trip.

Multitasking Is Not the Best Use of Time

This weekend I enjoyed going to the movies and seeing Star Trek.  It seems others thought it would be a good place to send text messages and check e-mails.  Even the week before the person next to me was continually using his Blackberry during the first act of a play.

During the ”Time Management at the Age of Speed” session at the NAPO Conference in Orlando last month, Harlod Taylor shared that the fast devours the slow.  Think about it, we have more information to manage than ever before.  Not so long ago, we became overwhelmed by the fax machine.  Now we are averaging over 190 message a day because of the phone, email, Facebook, Twitter and more.

Need to See Time?

Time is essential to staying organized.  Do you find it is difficult to see time as it passes each hour?  Are you constantly running in circles to meet deadlines?

Visit TimeTimer.com and check out their products available to actually show time as it passes.  This especially helpful to those with ADD.

If we don’t respond to an inquiry quickly we stand the chance of loosing an opportunity.  But how is clutter effecting your schedule by multitasking throughout the day?  As the saying goes, “stop and smell the roses”.  The same can be said for enjoying the movie or texting your friends.  Don’t dilute your activies and productivity by not focusing on one project at a time.

Check out our latest “O-Tips” for more information to make your life easy. 

Business Dreams Revealed at Conference

The National Associationof Professional Organizers (NAPO)  just completed their 21st annual conference and it was rejuvenating, inspiring, and motivating.  The theme was “Making Business Dreams Come True” and Orlando was the setting.  

Lorie Marreo of The Clutter Diet and me at the NAPO Conference

 The education was only equalled by the networking with my peers.  Time spent in the hallways, at the lounge, or around a restaurant table was as beneficial as learning a new technology. 

The keynote by Scott McKain focused on the importance of making your business stand out from the competition.  He shared the principles outlined in his book Collapse of Distinction.  He encouraged us to live in the moment and not wait to enjoy the simple things in life; the ocean view, a mountain breeze or even just a clear sunset.  How fitting we stayed a extra day for down time and visit EPCOT.

 If you have never attended a conference or convention for your business or industry I suggest you plan to check one out this year.  The investment just might help set you apart from others not sharing your dedication to professional excellence.  And take time to enjoy the journey.

Chris

Making Time in Your Schedule

Great questions came from the audience at the Small Business Seminar I led this week at the West Hollywood Chamber.  One participant asked “what do I do as  I never have time to follow up with committee members who do not reply if they are attending meetings?”   What a great question.  This is something probably most of us experience.

During the “Time Management” portion of the program I shared that using a calendar correctly will help set necessary boundaries on time.  Time is probably the most difficult area for us to organize since we can see or touch it like physical clutter.

As the “follow up” problem occurs before each meeting the answer is to schedule time in your calendar to make the needed calls.  If an appointment is in your calendar, and the calendar is referenced throughout the day, there will be enough time for all the tasks at hand.

If you are not currently using a calendar, check out Franklin Covey for products that will fit your needs.

Chris

What were people saying about Chris’ program: 
“I really enjoyed your presentation yesterday at the WeHo chamber.  I have already started using some of the techniques with my paperwork and time management.”  -R.H.

“I really enjoyed your presentation and focusing on organization – both mentally and physically.  You motivated me to be more aware about decisions or procrastination regarding new information and records.” -J.B.