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Home & Garden Show
Office News!
Card Control
How Does Organization Happen?
Quick Links
It's Almost That Time!
Once again, we will be the featured Professional Organizers of the Collin County Home & Garden Show at the Allen Events Center February 7-9! 

As always, we will have free admission tickets available. Email us with the number of tickets you would like. We will fill as many request as we are able on a first-come, first-served basis.

On the 8th and 9th, Pam will be speaking on the main stage. This year's program is "Organization With a Side of Sanity: Removing Stressful Clutter From Your Life Once and For All!"

We hope to see you at the Show! 
Contest
Office News!

The change in seasons has also brought a change to Organized Chaos. 

Karey Hellyer,

a subcontracted administrative support person with strong organization skills, is now assisting us in all areas. You may hear Karey's voice confirming appointments or meet her on future projects with us. You will also have the opportunity to meet Karey at our booth at the Collin County Home & Garden Show!

Conquering the

Chaos

Dear  ,

 

As we "wrap" up holiday celebrations and head into 2014, many people make resolutions for the new year. Included in the top 3 resolutions people make is "to get organized." It's part of why this is our crazy time of year. Evidence of this is the fact that we already have appointments booked in March! There are some open dates in January and February. Potential clients who would like to schedule a Needs Assessment can do so by using this link; existing clients who would like to get on our calendar can schedule can use this link. If you prefer, you can always call us and we'll get you scheduled!

 

The last newsletter generated a few responses with which we were quite pleased. In addition to a few people taking advantage of our holiday packages, we had requests for newsletter topics: ways to get control of business cards, and the "flow" for getting organized. In this issue of Conquering the Chaos, we will attempt to address both topics.

 
 
  1. Old School: Rolodex systems still exist believe it or not. If you are going to use this system, we recommend the pictured style which requires alphabetizing business cards based on how you would search for them. You can find more information on this product on their website.
  2. Old Technology: Scanners are a great way to store business card information digitally. Scanners such as NeatReceipts will also organize the cards once they are scanned. If you are someone who will access the information on the go, "cloud" systems can usually make it possible to do so.
  3. New Technology: An excellent way to solve the business card dilemma is through an app. Using your phone or tablet, take a photo of the card and the app will do the rest of the work. (We discovered that you can take a picture of letterhead and it recognizes that information in the same fashion as a business card.) We use CardMunch. This app not only makes the business card information fully searchable (name, company, even items in notes), it also syncs the card with your LinkedIn contacts. Because the information is backed up to a web account, the contact information is always obtainable in the event your phone meets an early demise. Search the app center of your device to find the business card app available to you.
How Does Organization Happen?
 
What is the proper process or "flow" to getting organized? We at Organized Chaos follow these steps:
  • Sort--We lovingly refer to this time as the "storm before the calm." You need to have everything out and sorted to truly know how much of something you have and to select adequate storage solutions. Be sure to set up bins/boxes to sort items into:
    • Donate
    • Trash
    • Shred (when sorting papers)
    • Keep--once you know what is keep, sort by item.
  • Plan--Ask yourself:
    • Where will the items be stored?
    • Keep like things together. (Nails and screws do not go with cups and plates.)
    • How often do you access the items? For example, Grandma's china that you are keeping as memorabilia should not be kept in the already-bulging kitchen cabinets. They can be stored in an attic or even under a bed if contained properly.
    • What type of containers/supplies are needed, if any?
  • Home--put things in their designated locations.
  • Label--You may not feel you need labels to remember where you decided to store your items. However, labels really do save time and also make it easier for other members of your household to follow the system established. Even if you live alone, a friend may visit for dinner and offer to help with dishes. Proper labeling helps them know right where things belong.
We hope you've enjoyed this issue of Conquering the Chaos! If there's something you'd like addressed in a future issue, please let us know!
 
Thank you for being a valued friend of Organized Chaos!
 
Sincerely,
DSOfficeAfter
Pamela Bowers
Organized Chaos
 
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OfferStart earning your rewards today by spreading the word about Organized Chaos!
  • Bronze Level--Refer 1-2 clients and receive a $25 Starbucks Gift Card per referral!
  • Silver Level--Refer 3-4 clients and receive
    • A $50 Visa Gift Card, AND
    • 5% off of organization services for life*!
  • Gold Level--Refer 5 or more clients and receive:
    • A $100 Gift Card to your favorite restaurant, AND
    • 10% off of organization services for life*!
*Discount will be applied to rates current at time of billing.