RUN YOUR BUSINESS LIKE A BUSINESS NOT LIKE A HOBBY

I think that it’s really important to support small businesses. Having a sense of community and knowing the people that own the business makes you feel like you are getting superior customer service. Or at least it should. Everyone likes feeling special. When you need a referral for a specific project or problem you ask your friends and colleagues and they give you the names of businesses that they have dealt with and are happy with.

Word of mouth is great advertising and you know that it comes with a built in recommendation.

But what happens when a small business falls short on customer service? You tend to get very angry and badmouth that business to everyone that you know.

Not exactly the “word of mouth” advertising that any business wants.

At the end of June we had a water tank explode at one of our rental properties. Since it was on the other side of town we didn’t use our regular plumber but called a plumber out of the yellow pages. We were desperate and in a huge bind. A very nice plumber agreed to help us out and was there to fix the problem within a few hours. We were very happy and very grateful. We immediately paid him by credit card and were promised that a receipt would be mailed to us immediately.

Since it’s rental property we needed that receipt for our accountant and for tax purposes.

It’s now September. And you guessed it. No receipt.

I have called and spoken with the owner of the business at least six (6) times now.

His excuses were:

1) “I was busy”
2) “We were on vacation”
3) “I forgot”
4) “I really did mail it myself personally, just wait a few days and it will show up” (that was 5 weeks ago).
5) “I’ll send you another copy” and “I’ll email you a copy”
6) “We were out of town over the weekend, then I came home Sunday and had to do work around the house”.
7) “I really did mail it, you will be surprised at the date when it shows up” (what about the copy you supposedly sent? Or the email you supposedly sent?”
8) “I’ll have my wife email it to you” then it was “I’ll email it myself when I get home”

We need that receipt for our taxes. Are we really asking for too much?

If you run a business, paperwork comes with the territory. It you can’t handle the paperwork get an assistant to help you so that your customers aren’t inconvenienced and annoyed. If your wife is too busy with the kids then don’t expect her to help with your business.

It’s your business. Run it like one. Not like a hobby.

Being organized. Calling your clients back in a timely manner. Handling any problems or concerns that your clients have in a timely manner. Those are all part of being in business.

If you can’t handle it…. Hire someone that can or go work for someone else.

Don’t run your business like a hobby or you won’t be in business long.

If you need advice on how to run a business there are consultants out there that can help you with everything from advice on employees, workflow analysis, marketing, your business image, organizing your business and anything else that you can think of.

Small businesses are essential. Don’t give them a bad name by providing bad customer service.



Organizational Consulting Services

www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

ARE YOU READY FOR A DISASTER ?

If you only had a few minutes to get out of your house for a disaster (such as a hurricane) would you be prepared for an emergency? Would you be able to grab your important papers and things you must have and be out of your house in minutes?

Do you know where all of your important papers are? Are they all in one central spot for quick and easy access in case of emergency?

Things such as:

* Drivers License (or other identification)
* Passport
* Birth Certificate
* Social Security Card
* House Insurance papers (or contact info)
* Life Insurance papers (or contact info)
* Marriage License
* Financial Info
* Money


What about some of your favorite possessions? Things that you can’t replace, such as photo albums?

Since most people keep a lot of information on their computer or laptop, do you have backups and are they up to date and in a spot that you can easily access?

Do you know what you would take in an emergency? Have you ever thought about it?

I’ve never been in situation where my home had to be evacuated, though I have been in a hurricane with no place to go (a very frightening experience).

If you are evacuated from your home and your home is destroyed you will have to deal with a variety of issues, including insurance issues, where you will have to prove your identity. Can you?

In an emergency people tend to grab the strangest things. Not always the most practical things.

So think about what you would do in an emergency situation where you had to evacuate (especially if you live in high hurricane areas).

Prioritize your possessions and what you really need to get back on your feet.

Get yourself organized before disaster strikes. And then hope that you never have to put your plan into place.

It’s better to be prepared for a disaster than to have to go through the trauma of dealing with things that you are unprepared to handle.



Organizational Consulting Services

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National Preparedness Month

Being prepared goes hand-in-hand with being organized, and it is fitting that NAPO would be part of a nationwide event aimed at better emergency preparedness. NAPO has again joined forces with the Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign for the seventh annual National Preparedness Month (NPM), held during September. As a national coalition member for the fifth consecutive year, NAPO strives to educate the public through individual member and chapter informational events held during National Preparedness Month.

This year, NPM will focus on changing perceptions about emergency preparedness and will help Americans understand what it truly means to be ready for emergencies that may arise at home, at work, or in the world. Preparedness goes beyond fire alarms, smoke detectors, dead-bolt locks, and extra food in the pantry. Being Ready includes: preparing an emergency supply kit, making a family emergency plan, being informed about emergencies and their appropriate responses, and getting involved in community efforts. (reprinted from http://www.napo.net/)


Re-read our BLOG post from April on “Emergency Preparedness”.

http://professionalorganizer4u.blogspot.com/search?q=emergency+preparedness


Be safe - Be prepared.


Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

Seniors and Downsizing - Moving to a Smaller Home

Downsizing can be a tough process for anyone, but especially for seniors who find themselves with a large home. More and more are tackling the huge job of downsizing their living spaces. In fact, about six percent of Americans between the ages of 55 and 64 move each year, according to the Over-50 Council of the National Association of Home Builders. As seniors reach the time to downsize belongings and move into smaller, more manageable homes, many have a hard time figuring out what to do with all of the “stuff ” they’ve accumulated over the years.

To have a more simplified lifestyle many seniors decide to move to a smaller, more manageable home.

Following are some tips for seniors downsizing:

• Get rid of the guilt factor — Many seniors feel they are the “keepers” of their family heirlooms and have a hard time getting rid of items for which they no longer have room. And even adult “children” have a hard time with their parents leaving the “family home” thinking that their childhood memories will be gone forever.

Instead of waiting to give your children some of your possessions that you would most likely leave them anyway….give them these pieces now, especially if they are not being used on a regular basis. They will be able to enjoy them now and you will be able to watch them enjoy them!

If younger family members are not interested in taking the items then consider donating them to a worthy cause. Some organizations purchase furniture, high-end clothing, and porcelain, and then sell those items to raise money for specific causes or charities.

Professional organizers can help seniors sort through household items to strategically figure out what will work in their new space. They also can help seniors identify which organizations to turn to that are best at finding new homes for family heirlooms.

• Find movers specializing in senior needs — Moving is stressful for everyone, but some moving companies specialize in making the transition easier for seniors, and professional organizers can help find the perfect “mover match” for a client. A professional organizer can help pare down items before the move and make the process easier at moving time.

Some professional organizers will also help with things such as helping the clients hang pictures on the walls for clients unable to do so themselves, handling the change of address and utilities, setting up electronics at a new home, and much more.

• Have a professional organizer reassess every five to ten years — As seniors get older, modern appliances or high shelving can become more difficult to use or simply unnecessary considering their lifestyle changes. Hire a professional organizer to evaluate and reassess your needs every five to ten years to make sure your home is still working for you.

For example, seniors who usually eat dinner alone should bring two to three sets of dinnerware to their level instead of keeping everything in out-of-reach cabinetry. Sometimes seniors don’t realize everyday activities and household chores can be made easier just by adjusting the setup in their homes. Professional organizers are great resources to help identify easy ways seniors can simplify to improve their overall quality of life.


Organizational Consulting Services

www.organizationalconsultingservices.com

INFORMATION ORGANIZING - MEDICAL AND LIFE

Most people don’t think about dying….or becoming seriously ill. It’s just too “real. Or “morbid”

But if you have kids…thinking about protecting them with a “will” is not only important…it’s down right necessary !!!!

Maybe you are only 22 or 28 or 35…and will live to be 80 ! Maybe you are in “perfect” health. But what if another driver falls asleep at the wheel and runs a red light and totals your car?

What if ???

What if you aren’t as lucky as I was and you don’t make it? And I had my baby daughter I the car.

We were beyond lucky. I saw the car…I had the right of way. I knew they weren’t going to stop. But I couldn’t do anything…. There was oncoming traffic in the other lane and I had nowhere to go.

I was lucky. My daughter and I survived. With no injuries.

But what if you aren’t so lucky. And your child is left with no parent?

Do you have a "wil"l ?

Do you have a “health care proxy” ?

Do you have a “living will” ?

Do you have a “power of attorney” ?

Does anyone know where these documents are ?

Do you have your medical history documented somewhere?

Do you have a list of your doctors ?

Do you have a list of your surgeries ?

Of your medications ?

Of your allergies ?

Stuff happens……

Are you ready ?

Do you really want to take that chance ?

If you have a family….is it fair to them ?

Be organized… get your affairs in order….. and go about your life knowing that if anything happened to you, your family would know what you wanted and your kids would be protected.

It’s time to be a “grown up”.


Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

ORGANIZING FOR DIFFERENT TYPES OF PEOPLE

Most people don’t understand that organizing isn’t a “one size fits all” type of business.

Each client is different… in what they want, how they want it done, what they need to have done and how we teach them to become organized.

As a “Professional Organizer” I belong to numerous organizations, including NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers and NGGCD (National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization). I take my job and my “organizing” passion very seriously.

Most people don’t realize that organizers have certification programs and attend numerous seminars on various topics.

I have a “Certificate of Study in Chronic Disorganization”. Which means that I passed an exam and am serious about my “profession” and learning everything that I can about the subject.

When most people think about “professional organizers” they think about “closets”. Or now they might think about “hoarders”. Both of which I do.

But organizing is more than that.

Let’s just talk about closets for a minute. Think about “kids” ….those short people. They can’t reach very high. So when we are organizing a closet for a child we need to think about them being “vertically challenged”. But we also need to think about the future and the fact that someday … they will be taller and can reach higher.

Now let’s think about “seniors”. . Maybe they can’t reach very high because of arthritis. So the closet rods should be lower. And they can’t do a lot of physical labor for long periods of time… so your organizing sessions might need to be shorter.

See how closets aren’t just “standard” ?

Or what about people with ADD ? They don’t see things the way the rest of the world does. They might not “learn” the same. They might be “visual” people. So if you are talking about filing or organizing…they might not “get” the logic behind what you say. Or their attention span might be a lot shorter.

So you have to think of “different” ways to get your point across to them.

Or people that are in a “life changing circumstance” ? It could be someone that just lost a spouse or someone that is going through a “life altering” experience. They might not be able to make those “organizing” decisions as easily as they did before their life changing circumstance.

Or “hoarders” …… they aren’t just “messy”. They have a whole lot of “psychological problems” that you need to deal with or at least acknowledge.

“Organizing” isn’t a cut and dried service.

Organizers use different techniques for each different type of client.

And as an organizer it’s important to be continuously learning about the varying needs of our clients.

And as a client you should be able to depend on your organizer to acknowledge your varying needs and come up with solutions for “you” …. Not their “last” client.

The world of “professional organizing” is ever evolving. And we have to keep up.

Not only do we teach our clients about being organized…. but they teach us about “life”.


Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/

ORGANIZING YOUR LIFE

Being “organized” isn’t just about clearing out the clutter in your closet. It’s about everyday life.

Being organized is a life style. It’s a life “choice”.

People can walk through life aimlessly. Going from one crisis to another with no plan. Or they can have a “life plan” and know what they want and how they are going to get there.

Don’t get me wrong… it’s not always easy. Even if you have a “plan” the road can be very rocky if not impossible.

But without a plan… a course of action… you will never get there and never achieve your goals.

It’s sort of like building a house. You have to decide what “kind” of house you want to build. What style? What do you want it to look like? How many bedrooms? Where are you going to put the windows and doors? What type of flooring? Who is going to build it? Who is going to do the electrical and the plumbing?

Lots of questions.

And you have to have answers.

The house won’t get built without your input and answers.

And after you make the decisions…. You have to live with the consequences.

So if you haven’t thought things out carefully you might end up with a window in your closet but no door to get in. Or the kitchen is not big enough for the subzero refrigerator that you wanted.

If you know your end goal and you have a plan for what you need to do to get there you can just check off each step as you go.

But if you skip ahead to the end….without a plan… you might be very disappointed with the end result.

Even with a plan you will need to be flexible and have “alternative” options. Because if you don’t and life throws you a curveball you might get too rattled to continue the game.

Life is a challenge. And sometimes you will need to ask directions.

Be prepared. Have a map. And a compass.

You never know when you’ll learn something new.

Organizational Consulting Services

http://www.organizationalconsultingservices.com/