Ready to Grow Your Business?

The same words once came from my mouth, “I don’t have time to be on the NAPO-LA board or even a committee-I’m trying to build a business!” If you were competing in championship sports, would you only play against those at your skill level or surround yourself with experts and learn from the pros? Do you think the mavericks of industry rose to the top by never being exposed to opportunities they thought were out of their reach?

Statistics show many businesses do not make it past the first three years. To reach a plateau in any business requires making an investment. That investment comes in many forms. Certainly, capital is important. Money is required for marketing, networking, and to pay the bills between clients. Investing in education is also essential. Reading and attending seminars builds the professional tools needed to improve skills.

The most important investment for today’s successful entrepreneurs is leadership. The easiest way to develop a relationship with the leaders of NAPO-LA is by working together on a committee or serving on the board.

One of the biggest mistakes I made was not getting on the board after my first year in NAPO-LA. My business was still in a painful growing period when I joined the board two years ago. Since that time my business saw 65% growth the first year and increased by the same amount this past year. I know this would not have happened without the opportunity NAPO-LA provided.

So, you are trying to grow your business? Your chapter is here for YOU!

Everyone has something to offer. If you are not sure how your skills and interests can serve our chapter, email your interests and we will let you know what positions are best suited for you.

The chapter has two positions open on the current Board of Directors. The Director of Membership and Director of Finance. If you are interested in fulfilling the remaining term of either of these positions, send an email to Chris McKenry or call him at 323-525-0678.

National Conference Review

By John Trosko, OrganizingLA
NAPO Director of Professional Development

The NAPO National Conference in Boston ends just days before our chapter meeting and we are indeed planning to meet the Monday following Conference.

Please join us as we carry out a fun yet informal discussion touching on the conference workshops, speakers and programs. We will also discuss the organizing exposition, as well as the networking that took place in Boston. If you missed the conference, be sure to attend the chapter meeting on March 27th for valuable information. If you are attending the conference, we urge you to come to the meeting and share your experience (volunteers are needed to summarize the various aspects of conference week. Please send an email to John Trosko at
johntrosko@napola.org.)

Special thanks:

NAPO-LA would like to thank our NAPO National President, Barry Izsak, for scheduling a special visit to our Los Angeles Chapter in February. Barry’s tips for getting the most out of our NAPO association, along with Barry’s personal secrets to running an organizing business, were well-received by the membership.

Thanks, too, to Zip Fusion (www.zipfusion.com ) for hosting the after-chapter meeting get-together in honor of Barry. Despite the rain outside, two-dozen members networked while wining and dining on late-night sushi.

Finally, appreciation goes to Kristine Oller and Chris McKenry for handling the extensive multi-media presentations for the February meeting.

Bravo to all!

A Classy Event

The inaugural NAPO-LA Awards Ceremony was spectacular! People were all dressed up and it made for a gala event. The nominees and founders received a rosebud, which was a lovely start to such a festive evening. Everyone had a great time sipping on cocktails as we pondered the silent auction choices. The room was packed and the atmosphere was one of excitement. The master of ceremonies was amusing, the food was delicious, and the award winners were well chosen.

At my table were two representatives from the Container Store, which won an award, as well as a reporter from Los Angeles Magazine. Marlene Somsak, Vice President of Palm, traveled here from Northern California, and nominee Julie Morgenstern flew in from New York. There seemed to be someone representing just about every product nominated. NAPO is, after all, "The Organizing Authority." We spoke and people showed up.

Press coverage couldn't have been better. Karen Grigsby Bates' NPR report, quoting several NAPO members, aired nationally the next day and the L.A. Magazine article is expected to appear in their April issue.

John Trosko, chair of the event, and NAPO-LA Board Members put on a stellar, elegant, classy event. I thought the evening was a smashing success and a great way to promote our industry. I have a vision of the future that has organizing industry leaders on the national level hanging on our every word, having us on their radar as an organization they must keep up with, giving awards they will want to receive.

Web Team
Leading the Way

Web Team Moving Forward

With the launch of our new website (napola.org) successfully accomplished, your dedicated technology team believes we now have a vehicle that can take NAPO-LA to new levels of greatness. With the website humming along, it’s time to hit the accelerator and see what this shiny new site can do for both our chapter and the organizing industry. To lead us on that path, Susan Culligan is now serving as NAPO-LA’s Website Coordinator.

The goal of the web team is not only to continue to keep the content fresh but also to expand it to include such things as organizing statistics, before and after photos, educational information and much more. At the same time, the team is moving forward with site promotion and sponsor ad campaigns that will drive referrals to our members and generate revenue for the chapter. All this and more is possible only through the volunteer efforts of our members.

If you are looking for a way to get involved, as well as to learn or hone skills you can use in your own business, this is the perfect opportunity. Training is provided; however, those with desktop publishing, web design or image editing experience are especially encouraged to volunteer. There are a variety of ways to contribute, one of which is to sell ads (which does not require any technology skills other than email). You can make a difference not only to the success of your chapter, but also to the success of your business in as little as two hours per month. To join this enthusiastic team or submit updates or suggestions regarding the website content, please contact Susan Culligan at:
sculligan@napola.org.

Welcome to New Publisher

On the other technology front, we would like to introduce Linda Kodman as the new Publisher of the Los Angeles Organizer. Claire Flannery continues as Editor. Following in the footsteps of the website, watch for a new look for our chapter’s newsletter in the future.

By Dee Saar, Space Diviner
NAPO-LA Secretary

At the February 2006 NAPO-LA chapter meeting, Chris McKenry, our chapter President, surprised us when he announced that Barry Izsak, President of NAPO-National, was not only our featured speaker for the evening but was also chosen as NAPO-LA’s Volunteer of the Month.

As a veteran organizer in his second term as President of NAPO, Barry Izsak has a wealth of experience. He believes that NAPO’s mission,to develop, lead and promote the professional organizing industry, is occurring successfully. Barry detailed NAPO’s role in the future of our industry and talked about its phenomenal growth potential.

Barry then proceeded to share his 14 valuable “Secrets to Success.” They are repeated here practically verbatim for it may be that no one else will tell it to you like it is in just this way!

1. Just do it!
Dive in, give it your all, put your heart and soul into it and you will succeed.

2. Believe
Believe in what you are doing and in yourself.

3. Get involved in NAPO
Get involved in your chapter, GO month, a local or national committee. This is the best way to gain credibility, become known and make a name for yourself.

4. Tell everyone you know
Tell them exactly what you do. Just put it out there and it will come back to you.

5. Spend some money
Promote yourself. One of the major reasons new professional organizers fail is in their reluctance to spend capital on their businesses.

6. Charge enough money
You deserve to be paid what you are worth. You bring value to the marketplace. If you think you are worth a lot, you are. If you don’t, you’re not, and this reflects badly on other organizers.

7. Create a web site
Whatever it takes to get an internet presence, do it.

8. Keep a database
Create and maintain a database of all your clients, prospects and dead leads.

9. Keep it simple
Know what you are good at, what things must be done by you and what can be delegated. You don’t need to do it all.

10. Do what you say, when you said you would do it
This can make or break your business – have character, integrity and honesty.

11. Think like an entrepreneur and be professional
Have a professional message on your voicemail. Make sure your business materials are professional. Dress and behave professionally. Everything you do is a reflection on all of us.

12. Continue to educate yourself
Read, read, read. Take NAPO classes. Find a mentor. Prepare yourself for industry certification.

13. Establish common ground with clients
People do business with people they like and trust. Be happy, confident, ethical and trust yourself. When people like you, they want to do business with you.

14. Think big
Plan, strategize and shoot for the stars.

I would like to represent our chapter in not only thanking Barry for being an extraordinary example of leadership, vision and professionalism but also for being our guide into the organizing future.

Christine Reiter, founder of Time-Strategies, has a diverse background in the fields of design, education and technology.

As a Systems Engineer Office Automation Specialist with the IBM Corporation, Christine conducted productivity studies, provided project management, and facilitated technology implementation for small businesses as well as Fortune 500 companies. While with IBM, she taught supervisor and management training classes as well as technical seminars.

Christine's experiences in the highly-ordered corporate world uniquely qualify her to assist visually-oriented clients in developing skills for a structured work environment.

Christine is a Certified Seminar Leader and has spoken for organizations such as the U.S. Postal Service, Marketing Directors' Association, Secure Horizons, Office Depot, National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), and American Society of Trainers and Developers-Los Angeles Chapter (LA-ASTD).

She has served as an instructor for L.A. Mission College and has been a guest on talk radio shows throughout the nation. Christine's organizational techniques were featured on NBC TV's Today Show. She is the author of the handbook, "Smart Ways to Organize Your Life."

NOTE: The Silent Auction is a regular fundraiser for our NAPO-LA chapter and is held at most chapter meetings. During the meeting, the volunteer will be announced and a clipboard will be circulated. Anyone can bid by signing the sheet as it goes around. The highest bidder wins a one-hour in-person or telephone consultation, during which time he or she can ask anything regarding the professional organizing business.

Another Successful "Get Organized" Month Project

By Karen Stark
An Organized Life

This past January, NAPO-LA’s most dedicated came out in force for “Get Organized" Month (GO Month) They put their teamwork and their talents together to organize the Los Angeles offices of The National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW/LA).

Laurie Clarke, NAPO-LA’s Director of Marketing and "GO Month" Coordinator, led a team of about 20 organizers who worked in various areas of the building from the basement, which serves as a storage area for all of the offices, to the Thrift Department, and included areas dedicated to Women Helping Children/Publicity, Women Helping Women/Talkline and Reception.

The day began at 9 a.m. when NAPO-LA’s President Chris McKenry presented NCJW’s Executive Director Hillary Selvin with a framed certificate worth $12,000 in organizing services donated by NAPO-LA.

The organizers then convened to their assigned areas, took “before” pictures of their spaces, and organized their areas. In no time, the areas were cleaned up and in order!

Kristine Oller videographed the event, peering around every corner and documenting all the many activities (View the Video Here). John Trosko took newbie organizer Joanna Sletton under his wing and they worked their magic in the Women Helping Women area.

The most fun was probably had by Justine Miceli and her crew in the basement. They donned masks, swept dust, moved boxes, and sorted hundreds of books with lightening speed until everything was neatly in its place.

Fellow organizer Deborah Kawashima spoke for all of us by commenting, “What I love about these 'GO Month' events each year is that it gives us a great opportunity to get to know other organizers and learn new ways of doing things that is both meaningful and fun!”

By 3:00 pm we were finished and the day was capped off with a tour of the various areas while Sara Getzkin took pictures of the newly organized spaces. All in all, it was a great day to give the gift of organization to a great charity that has done so much for NAPO and our clients!

Hillary Selvin summed it up best when she said, “The difference that was made by the NAPO-LA organizing efforts in our offices has provided a better working environment and a desire by the staff to keep things organized.”

Thanks to all who shared in this wonderful day:

Team Leaders: Claire Flannery, Cindy Kamm, Robin Valdez, and Susan Culligan.

Volunteers: Justine Miceli, Deborah Kawashima, Toni Scharff, Chris McKenry, John Trosko, Naomi Altman, Tanya Whitford, Karen Stark, Sara Getzkin, Sttevenn Bennet, Denice Sealy, Esther Simon, Lenore Sokol, John Trosko, Susan Elefterakis, Judy Powell, Joanna Sletten.

Thanks to Barb Schmit of Esselte for their gift of supplies.

Sheila McCurdy Organizes ADD Clients

By Deborah Kawashima,
creativeOrganizer

Sheila McCurdy of clutter STOP specializes in working with clients who learn differently (labeled ADD and OCD) and who have mild brain disorders. An organizer for 13 years, Sheila forms a special bond with her clients. She herself has ADD and suffers short-term memory loss. “They know I understand the daily frustration they are going through,” explains Sheila.

There are a wide range of ADD traits.

The Daydreamer (low-end):

• Cannot stay focused.
• Needs constantly to be brought back to things.
• Zigzags back and forth to return things when sorting.
• Sheila's Tip: Put a chair in the doorway as a physcial block where the client can put things to return later. "This keeps the focus and process going and stops the zipzagging."

Hyper clients (high-end):

• Constantly in motion.
• Too easily distracted.
• Almost always late.
• Hard time remembering things.
• "Ususally these clients are combative when you suggest something," explains McCurdy. "I tried that and it didn't work!" they say, but what they really mean is that they are feeling challenged and frustrated."
• Sheila's Tip: Prompt them to come up with a variation on the same solution. "What part of this didn't work for you?"

Role of the Organizer:

• Counter the client's hyper state. Be consistent, calming and reassuring to help the client focus.
• The organizer sets the pace. The more hyper the clients, the slower you need to work with them.
• Switch to another area to keep the process in motion. "Okay, let's go to the kitchen!"
• Break down the organizing process into very small steps.

Sheila's Holdfast Rules:

• No phone calls. They stop the flow. You need their full attention.
• No breaks. This loses the momentum and focus.
• Work side by side with the client. Assures the process is understood and remembered.
• The floor is not an option! "Paper is the biggest issue for ADD clients," says McCurdy. "It is an overwhelming process and they don't know where to begin."

Sheila's Piles into Files:

• Gather paper piles from all around the house.
• Sort piles into four boxes: Financial (includes utilities), Personal, Things of interest. (Label A thru Z. Categories are too confusing here.), Warranties
• Label by category for Financial and Personal.
• Label manila file folders before sorting and filing. It's easier if file tabs are on the same side and hanging folder tabs are in another position.
• Purge papers from box as you directly file into folders. Piles are too distracting, so focus on the decision-making.
• Purge files on a day that's important to them: Birthday. Holiday. They'll remember and do it.

Why organizing as a second career? Sheila muses, "I think I got into this profession because I never got to play house growing up. Now I get to play house all day long!"

Priorities and
Pecan Rolls

By Nancy McGivney
Getting Things Done

Every January 1st, I do three things:

1. Watch the Tournament of Roses Parade while eating my husband’s homemade and sinfully delicious caramel pecan rolls
2. Do 50 sit ups in the hopes of warding off pecan roll “rolls”
3. Reread Ecclesiastes 3:1-22 which begins, “There is a time for everything; and a season for every activity under heaven.”

On January 2, I try to identify what My Main Things will be for this season of my life. I list three to five priorities that will govern how I spend my time. Creating a realistic and purposeful list takes a few hours of solitude and soul searching. The goal of the list is to keep life simple and satisfying. If you want to prepare a list, try the following steps.

Step One: Identify what you want to accomplish each day and who and what is important to you. Write down the action steps required to accomplish each goal. Allow for surprises, emergencies, and give yourself ten minute rest breaks. A good way to prioritize is to ask yourself what action steps, when completed, will help you sleep well at night.

Step Two: Once you are satisfied with your list, type it up, laminate it, and post it at all of your important locations. I post copies on my bathroom mirror, by my message phone, at my computer, on my car visor, and in my day planner.

When a request comes in for my time or talent that does not coincide with my list, I respond in the following way: “I am flattered that you thought of me for this position. However, I have made a list of goals and priorities for this year, and I can’t accommodate your request right now. You might want to ask (suggest a good candidate) or try me again next year.”

Some of the reactions I have had to my prepared response are, “Wow, that’s a great idea! Is it hard to do? Can you help me make a list?” (Organizer Opportunity!)

Caution: There will be times when you will consider straying from your list. Are you being tempted by fame or fortune? Is this opportunity compatible with the current season of your life? For example, a young Mom might say yes to being a classroom volunteer, and no to being the president of her college alumni group. The first request helps Mom fulfill her priority to spend more time with her children.

For helpful information on establishing Your Main Things, see Habit Two, in the best- seller, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.”

Writing this article has not only been intense and rewarding, it has made me very hungry! I wonder if I can persuade my husband to whip up a batch of his pecan rolls? I can smell the aroma of those nutty, buttery rolls right now! This task is complete, it’s reward time for me!

By Sara Getzkin
Hands On! Organizing Services

Most of us are familiar with Habitat for Humanity International. Their mission is to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world and to make decent shelter available to all. They not only work with hurricane and tsunami victims but also with families in our local area. Did you know they serve as a wonderful resource for charitable giving?

Recently, I’ve had a few clients that were left with excess building materials after a remodel. I’ve also found that some clients have good intentions to remodel or renovate, buy the materials, and never get to the actual projects. In both cases, I contacted Habitat for Humanity. Why not donate excess building materials and get a tax deduction at the same time? Habitat for Humanity has several Builders Surplus Stores (also called “ReStores”) all over California – retail thrift stores that sell new and used products relating to the restoration, construction or maintenance of a home at bargain prices. All the proceeds go to support Habitat for Humanity’s mission of eliminating poverty, one house at a time.

Habitat homes are sold at no profit and no interest and the mortgage payments are used to build more homes. If building materials are donated, their funds can be maximized to complete more housing projects and give more families a "hand-up" in obtaining a house of their own. All types of new construction materials are welcome donations -- especially lumber, plumbing supplies, electrical supplies, siding, and roofing.

On the other hand, if you or someone you know is looking to renovate on a budget, these stores have a huge inventory that changes daily. Bargain prices and great products with the proceeds going to charity - does it get any better than that?

For more information, contact the “ReStore” in your area:

Corona – Discount Home Improvement Store
(951) 256-4110

Gardena – Los Angeles HFH Home Store (Long Beach)
(866) 746-7434

Oxnard – Ventura County HFH ReStore
(805) 485-6065

Pasadena – Builders Surplus Store San Gabriel Valley
(626) 792-3838

Riverside – Riverside HFH ReStore
(909) 784-9474

Santa Ana – Orange County ReStore
(714) 434-6202

NOTE: Organized Karma is the third in an occasional series focusing on donation and recycling resources.

Enhance Your
Writing Skills

A project-basis reporter (or two) is needed for the newsletter. Claire Flannery, Editor of The Los Angeles Organizer, is looking for someone who would be willing to write an occasional story. These would include writing about personal experiences (i.e; your take of the January Awards Gala or your feelings about participating in the GO Month project). If interested, please email Claire at
claireflannery@napola.org.

Sara Getzkin of Hands On! Organizing Services was quoted in a February 28th Daily News article about organizing a move. Check out the article here.

By Marilyn Crouch
Avenues to Organization

The Mentoring, Education and Training (MET) program is offering a Q&A Conference Call for new and aspiring organizers to have their questions and concerns addressed and answered by two veteran NAPO members. The conference call will be held on Wednesday, April 27,
6 pm - 8 pm.

Here's what past participants have said about the call...

“The veteran organizers were fabulous - direct, candid, and full of great information. I feel I got a ‘leg up’ on some of the important issues for me."

"We had plenty of time to ask questions. It was fantastic for us because there were so few people and we could each ask a lot of questions. Also, the convenience of the conference call was enormous."

To register for the Q&A Conference Call visit the NAPO LA website at napola.org. Click on Events and Programs / MET Program / Q&A Night / Register for Q&A Night.

The chapter website has been updated with the MET Program Classifieds. The classifieds are an excellent opportunity for advertisers to share their knowledge and for others to investigate ways to move their businesses forward. If you would like to grow your business in 2006, check out the MET classifieds for an experienced organizer who can help you get to where you want to go. Just click here: MET Classified.