Women's Business
October 2000

Did you know that October 1-7 is National Get Organized Week? Getting organized is a high interest topic these days. This is not surprising, because getting organized helps people lead better lives, with less chaos and more time to enjoy life. What may be surprising to most South Floridians is the relatively unknown industry of Professional Organizing.

Background
As with many trends, it comes to us via the progressive state of California. The National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), celebrating its 15th year in Los Angeles, is currently 1,300 members strong. California has four chapters with 30 to120 members in each. Other chapters are thriving in Austin, TX, Chicago, IL, Atlanta, GA, Philadelphia, PA, Washington, DC, New York, Minnesota and Oregon. Although no chapter exists in Florida, there are approximately 50 NAPO members statewide.

Definition
NAPO defines a professional organizer as "a person who provides ideas, information, structure, solutions and systems to increase productivity, reduce stress, save time and energy, and lead to more control over space and time." Services run the gamut from residential organizing including kitchens, closets, drawers and garages, to business organizing including desks, offices, filing systems and time management. Other services include wardrobe consulting, project management, records management, packing/unpacking and move organizing, space planning, computer consulting, errands and shopping and insurance organizing. Some organizers are now specializing in the newly popular Feng Shui, a facet of interior decorating, which embraces prosperity, success happiness and organization.

Training
Although there is no formal course work, professional organizers are trained through workshops at the dynamic annual NAPO conference, books, courses, seminars, tapes, other organizers, and basically a natural tendency toward being organized. NAPO is working on a certification for experienced organizers which will provide a professional designation, but will not be a requirement.

The National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization consists of organizers with a specific interest in studying and researching related organizational issues such as Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD), Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), hoarding, and chronic disorganization. Knowledge of the effects of these psychological factors on disorganization, helps professional organizers serve their clients more effectively.

Professional vs. Self-Help
If disorganization is causing you feelings of overwhelm, embarrassment, frustration or your disorganization is effecting others, professional assistance can be a benefit. Ironically, organizers hear people say that ‘their spouse, or friend or co-worker is very organized and can help them, so they don't need a professional.' In some cases, this may be an option.

However, be aware of the drawbacks. There is an old saying, "You don't know what you don't know." We all know about the father who tries to teach his daughter to drive, or the spouse who tries to teach the other spouse how to play tennis, with disastrous results. Criticism, misunderstandings, opinions and judgments can be devastating to the already emotional, disorganized person.

Book stores are stocked with organizing books that can provide great ideas. However, as with most self-help books, results may be limited. Results indicate that people tend to benefit more quickly and successfully when working with a professional.

A good P.O. is non-judgmental, encouraging, motivating, helps the client stay focused and establishes simplified systems customized to meet his/her style and needs. The ultimate outcome is intended to assist the client in remaining organized. By offering alternative systems, the P.O. is not imposing "his/her own" will on the client, and the emotional aspect is removed.

Scope
Job sizes vary in scope. A housewife needs help dealing with the inevitable piles of mail that seem to magically mount up covering the kitchen table. A salesman's filing system has no rhyme or reason to it and he misses deadlines. A successful professional woman has areas of her home so full of clutter that overwhelm, embarrassment, frustration and depression are triggered at the sight. The partners in a firm are very organized, but frustrated at the inefficiency of their staff. These are all actual situations remedied by P.Os.

Fees
Fees vary from city to city, type of job and with the organizers themselves. In Florida, fees can range from $20-125 per hour, with one to four- hour minimums. Many offer seminars.

Time for Action
If you feel hesitant about contacting an organizer, ask yourself these questions to identify what is holding you back: Am I hesitant about someone seeing my personal papers? Do I fear criticism? Am I embarrassed for anyone to see my mess? Am I thinking that I should be able to do this myself? How committed am I to getting organized? These are typically the type of things that keep people from scheduling an organizing appointment.

When choosing an organizer, ask questions. Are they licensed and insured? Do they have references? Do they keep their clients' names confidential? Are they members of NAPO? Do they sound professional? Are they good listeners? Are your personalities compatible?

Investigate the web
Check out informative sites that offer great tips to get you started and help you locate an organizer in your area. Some recommended sites are: www.organizerswebring.com, www.123sortit.com, www.organizeyourworld.com, www.orgcoach.net, and www.napo.net.

There is hope
Do you think you are beyond help? Some people's brains literally work against being organized, so the systems they develop themselves serve to complicate rather than simplify, thus draining more of their time and work against accomplishing their goals. Organizers assure us that anyone can learn to be organized when taught by a professional.

Generally, your disorganization can be attributed to one of several factors: mistakes in your organizing system that can be easily remedied; external forces beyond your control; or hidden internal forces. Hiring a professional to identify the actual causes of your condition and help you implement an effective, lasting solution that can be easily maintained yourself, can be a liberating experience. There really is no better time than now to get organized!

Diane Hatcher is a Professional Organizer and owner of Timesavers Services in Cooper City. She can be reached at 954-252-7511 or by logging on to the web at www.timesaversUSA.com.