Groundhogs, Love, and Presidents
Organizing Lessons from the Month of February
"One down, eleven to go!" This reference wasn't made about a football game but to the passage of time. Yes, it is the middle of the second month of 2009. But instead of thinking about each day as something to "check off" as you make your way toward another New Year's Eve, perhaps consider the organizing lessons that abound in February which can help you change how you view time as well as to improve how you run your business.
Every February 2nd, Punxsutawney Phil emerges from his burrow and predicts six more weeks of winter or an early spring, depending on whether or not he sees his shadow.
Every February 14th, people around the country exchange valentines, candy, and flowers as an expression of their love for each other.
Every third Monday in February, Americans reflect upon the history, contributions, and leadership of our past presidents.
"What organizing lessons can I take from these events?" you might be asking. Here are some things to think about and act on:
1) Instead of relying on some external agent to forecast how "hot" or "cold" your business will be in the next two months, identify your goals, prioritize them, schedule tasks to complete each goal, and review your progress regularly.
2) As time passes and you get caught up in the day-to-day details of running your business, it can be easy to forget why you're doing what you're doing. Just as you take time to tell those close to you what you love about them, consider doing the same thing for yourself and your business.
Take an executive "time-out" and ask yourself a few questions like "Why did I start this business in the first place?" "What do I love about it?" Reacquaint yourself with the passion you have for your what you do, and be sure to make time to appreciate the important people in your business life. You just might refresh and renew relationships with your customers, employees, and vendors which, in turn, can contribute to #1 above.
3) Leadership requires vision, communication, follow-through, and discipline. But it's hard to be an effective leader when you're constantly wasting time searching for misplaced information you need to make smart decisions, or doing tasks that you should be delegating to others.
Having an organized office and efficient work flow patterns allow you to focus on the big picture and guide your business from where it is to where you want it to be. Why not get organized in February so you can soar through the rest of the year?
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Earth-Friendly Organizing
"Green" Events
"Save the date" for these events which foster environmental responsibility, re-using and recycling, a sense of community, and promotion of local businesses. . .
Join the UPG Campus Chapter of Habitat for Humanity for award-winning ice skaters, an hour of Free Skate, a bake sale, and a Chinese Auction at Kirk Nevin Ice Arena on February 15, 2009.
Enjoy a variety of dishes prepared by Westmoreland County's signature restaurants on March 14, 2009.
If you want to sell or to buy high quality, gently used children's and infant's clothing, accessories, and more, check out this week-long event from March 14 - 21, 2009.
Register yourself or a team, collect contributions, and head to Twin Lakes for a morning of fun on March 28, 2009.
Click here for more recycling and donation resources.
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What Do I Do With. . . ?
In Its Place answers your questions about organizing and storing kids' games and toys.
Q: My children's rooms are cluttered with toys and games they received during the holidays, and half of the boxes are barely intact. How can we regain control of their rooms and store the games so pieces don't get lost?
A: 1) Gather all of their games, toys, and puzzles and make sure each individual game has all of its pieces and parts. If missing pieces are nowhere to be found and you are unable to get replacements, then dispose of or recycle the incomplete games. Note: This is also a good time to gather all the games the kids have outgrown or no longer play with and donate them.
2) Once all the games are sorted and you've identified which playthings no longer have a viable box, determine the best storage container for each game based on size and number of pieces and the age of the child playing with them. Storage options can include sandwich, quart, and gallon resealable bags, cardboard or plastic shoe boxes, open or lidded plastic bins of varying sizes, and Game Savers.
3) After all the toys and games are in their containers, make sure that you have shelving and storage holders that are age and height appropriate for your children. When each toy has a home and your children can actually reach each shelf and easily grab what they need, it's also much easier for them to put things away.
Click here to send us a question about your organizing challenge. |
| Do You Know These People In Your Neighborhood?
The folks at these companies offer products and services that can come in handy as you're getting organized.
If you struggle with making time to prepare delicious and nutritious meals, consider "outsourcing" this important function to Kira who uses fresh ingredients and customizes your menu to fit your dietary needs and tastes.
If you're organizing a trip abroad, a wedding, shower, or other gathering, Bob Weaver can take your passport photo and handle all the photography needs for your upcoming special event. (Cross this item off your list!)
Celebrate the life of someone special or any meaningful event with beautiful, personalized framed gifts. (Bonus: by utilizing wall space, you eliminate clutter on shelves and surfaces).
If you find yourself staring at shelves full of books that you were "going to read someday" but never got to, then why not get a little cash for the books you're not using and make them available to someone who will.
Whether your business has a fleet of one vehicle or one hundred, you can streamline your schedule by delegating your repair and auto body needs to this customer-friendly one-stop Service Center. (Ask for Valerie!)
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