Seven Minute Solutions--Closet Solution #2

Now that you have categorized your shirts, pants, skirts, etc and
grouped them all together, I want you to again set the timer for
seven minutes.

Start with your shirts (you can start with either your short sleeved
or your long sleeved)and go thru them and eliminate any shirts that
no longer fit you, eliminate any shirts that have stains on them
that won't come out, and eliminate any shirts that you know you
wouldn't be caught dead in public wearing. :)

That's it for now. What these closet solutions are doing is taking
a potentially overwhelming task-clearing out your closet-and turning
it into a few small tasks that take no more than seven minute out of
your day. If you are feeling particularly motivated, over the
course of the next week, try this same exercise with all the other
clothes in your closet-seven minutes for pants, seven minutes for
skirts and so on... You can also move on to your dresser drawers.

As I've said before, every little bit you do will get you closer to
your goal of being organized.

A great organzing idea!

I found a wonderful organizing idea at "I'm an Organizng Junkie" blog on how to repurpose a dish rack to use as a storage solution for your child's coloring books and crayons. What a fantastic idea-one that I've never thought of before. (Picture taken from "I'm an Organizing Junkie")

Feel free to share your own "repurposed" organizing solutions!

Seven Minute Solutions--Closet Solution #1

When was the last time you went thru the clothes in your closet? Do
you have clothes that you haven't worn in a DECADE?

Take a kitchen timer and set it for 7 minutes.

All I want you to do is to put all your pants together, all
your long sleeve shirts together, all your short sleeved shirts
together, and so on. That's it! Don't start eliminating anything
yet. Just sort the clothes by category and you are done for the day.

Whew! Wasn't that quick and fairly easy? :)

Just remember: Every little bit counts to get you where you want to
be. Clutter didn't happen overnite and neither will the new,
organized you. Every little bit you do will get you closer to your
goal. There isn't anyone out there who can't spare 7 minutes a day
to get themselves nearer their organized goal.

BootCamp PGH

Over the weekend (April 21, 2007), I went to something called BootCamp PGH which was a full day of break-out sessions discussing everything from blogging to podcasting to social networking and everything in-between. It was a fantastic experience. I learned a lot about new media and how it relates to my business. Justin Kownacki was the mastermind behind this event. They are having another event some time in August of 2007 and I can't wait for it.

There is so much going on with new media in Pittsburgh and until Saturday, I didn't know that world existed. I'm so excited to have found so many resources that I never knew existed. Groups that get together to discuss blogging, podcasting, you name it. Can't wait to join them!

I'll be honest, I am certainly not a "techie" but I do enjoy learning about new ways to connect to people as well as new ways to promote my business. Until I went to BootCamp, I was never really sure if I was on the right track or not. I learned more about MySpace, about Flickr, about WordPress (oops, probably shouldn't mention that one on here). I also learned to integrate my blog along with my podcasts so that they work in conjunction with one another. This whole Web 2.0 is pretty interesting.

I have a new found energy to really start doing a lot more blogging and podcasting now that I see the social and business power that this new media has. My eyes were opened up to a whole new world this weekend.

TalkShoe Talkcasts-Podcasts that are Organized to Save You Time

For the past few months, I have been using a wonderful Pittsburgh, PA based company called TalkShoe to do MAKK Strategies TalkCasts about productivity issues such as Organization and Time Management. The MAKK Strategies TalkCasts can be listened to directly on TalkShoe.com or you can find them on iTunes. These TalkCasts have been a great tool to get the word out about productivity. TalkShoe TalkCasts, in general, can be used not only as a training tool but also as a great marketing venue. It is like having your own Talk Show on the internet. I invite everyone who has an interest in productivity to check out any/all of my TalkCasts. Listen to previous recordings or join me live. Check out the dates and times for each live show below. I would love the "Juggling" TalkCasts in particular to be more interactive. Please join me with questions, comments, situations...anything you want to talk about regarding Productivity. I have listed my shows below. It is very easy (and free)to sign-up.

Click on the link to go to our "Juggling the Demands of Your Business" Talkcasts: (Mondays, 1pm EST) http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=2239

Click on the link to go to our "Juggling the Demands of Your Life" (Mondays, 9pm EST) Talkcasts: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=2238

Click on the link to go to our "The Organizing Minute" (Each Weekday, 8am EST) Talkcasts: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=13385

Click on the link to go to our "The Time Management Minute" (Each Weekday, 8:05am EST) Talkcasts: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=13386

Click on the link to go to our "Entrepreneurial Evolution" (Mondays, 8:30am EST) Talkcasts: http://www.talkshoe.com/talkshoe/web/talkCast.jsp?masterId=25616

How do I talk or listen to a Talkcast?

First, in order to talk or listen, you will need a user name and PIN. Sign up on the TalkShoe Home Page.

Go to www.talkshoe.com. You can listen live or download the recorded shows.

If you know the Talkcast ID (see above), use your phone to call 724-444-7444

and follow the audio instructions. (*Phone Charges may apply.)

I got the most wonderful email from a new client of mine recently. I asked her if I could share it and she agreed. Please read below...

Deirdra,

I think of you when....

I know where to find the return address labels with both our names, (hers and her husband's)

I know where to find the "cushy" pillow to put behind my back when I sit in the desk chair in my really, really clean and organized office,

I send photos to my blog (client asked to have blog address deleted-for personal use only),

Tell my cousin the story about Aunt Evy's bells,

The cat sits on my desk and has nothing to lie on top of and to push off the desk,

My next door neighbor who is worried about how to organize a move to a new home "oooo'd and ahhhhh'd" at my organized office and closet and asked me for your contact information,

I can sit at my desk and do my reading instead of having to go into the dining room,

I watched the garbage men pick up the many, many bags of trash this morning,

Put paid bills away in the box that is no longer precariously perched and ready to tumble out of the hutch over my desk,

I had just the right spot to put a CD of photos that I received from a friend in the mail,

Needed to find the warrantee information on a piece of office equipment and knew just where it was.........

And that's just 2 days since I last saw you. So I think of you a whole lot.

Carol Rose

When I got this email, it almost brought tears to my eyes. It is so nice to see the true impact that my personal productivity training has on my clients. This is what it is all about-knowing you have made a difference and made that person's life just a little easier.

I am looking to have this site be a resource for anyone who has questions or problems with personal productivity. Anyone should feel free to post any questions or their own tips for how they have become more productive through organization and time management.