Innovatively Organized | Productivity. Organization. Results.

Before and After of the Week

09.30.2011

View Image Details]" class="imagefield imagefield-lightbox2 imagefield-lightbox2-blog_header_image imagefield-field_article_header_image imagecache imagecache-field_article_header_image imagecache-blog_header_image imagecache-field_article_header_image-blog_header_image">

Service: Business Organizing

Challenge:
The challenge for this client was finding a way to manage the volume of incoming and outgoing paper and electronic information. He needed help setting up a file management system, advice on how to handle reference material, and some guidance on time/task management to help him prioritize his day.

Solution:
We sorted through the piles on and around his desk, purged anything that was not essential, and created an easy-to-use and maintain file management system. We provided organizing and productivity tips for him to manage the information being received via email. We helped set up a task list and provided him with techniques to prioritize to-dos.

Result:
He now has the tools to help him get through his work day without frustration. He has a clear system for processing incoming and outgoing paper and electronic files, and knows exactly where all categories of information should go. He can efficiently manage his emails and make sure his inbox is empty at the end of every day.

For even more Innovatively Organized before and after photos, visit our Facebook album!

So you’ve got all these purses in your closet (or scattered around your house!) that you just don’t know what to do with… The moment you no longer love a purse, it becomes clutter. There is no good way to store the various shapes and sizes, so purses easily stack up. Here’s an idea: swap your purse for a gorgeous new bag that you’ll actually use!

Purses of Interest is a purse swap fundraiser to benefit Rise n’ Shine. The event is next Thursday, October 6th at 6 pm at PNK Ultra Lounge in Pacific Place. You can register online for $20 before October 1st or for $25 after.

Upon arrival, you will be checked in and given a ticket in exchange for your gently used purse (cough- clutter). For the purse swap portion, numbers will be drawn at random to invite guests to pick out their new purse. And the best part- all purses include goodies, discounts, or gift certificates hidden inside! Not only will you be getting rid of “extra baggage” in your home, you’ll be returning with an awesome new bag already filled with goodies!

There will also be a small silent auction for wines, chocolates, a boat tour, a L’Occitane gift box, and gift certificates to local Seattle Restaurants! All of the evening's proceeds go in support of Rise n’ Shine, which supports children and teens affected by HIV/AIDS.

Bring all of your friends- especially the ones with purses you envy! You can also check out their Facebook event to learn more!

Description:
Rather than manually entering in all of your contacts, Connected “hooks into nearly every social network, contact database and calendar repository on the web to automatically build out a comprehensive contact and company database, free of duplicate entries.” You can create comprehensive profiles for each contact, including recent conversation streams, tags, descriptions, and photos. We love that you can create daily agendas, complete with brief bios of everyone you are meeting with, as well as their latest company news.

You’ll love it for:

Integrating all of your accounts (Gmail, Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Outlook, Mac Adress Book, Google contacts, Google calendar, Google Voice, Evernote)
Merging contacts to avoid duplicate entries
Staying informed about contacts before meeting with them

Cost: $9.99/month

Available at: Connected

Description:
From the makers of 2Do (one of our favorite mobile to-do apps!), comes a mobile Rolodex. Organize all of your contacts in one place and create groups. You can even save searches!

Abilities:
• Drag and drop single or multiple contacts into our out of groups
• Send mass mail to subsets of groups
• Merge duplicate contacts

Great for:
• Visually organizing your different groups (work, family, restaurants, shops)
• Quickly creating groups of contacts
• Sending mass mail (texts, emails)

Cost: $2.99

We’ve been discussing the importance of contact management this month for improving business and customer relationships. But it’s important to note: CRM isn’t just for doing business. Contact management is for everyone.

If you’re the CEO of your household, contact management is great for planning play dates (ie. make note of whose kids have what food allergies). You can store information about all of your family’s doctors, favorite restaurants, and preferred stores. Make a contact for each family member, including not just their phone numbers, but also their clothing sizes, favorite foods, and schedules. Add the contact information of your children’s best friends and teachers, in case you ever need to get in touch with them.

If you’re a student, start creating a comprehensive contact management system for everyone you meet, especially your professors, career mentors, and school alumni. Adding someone on Facebook is not enough- you need to start storing contact information like where people work, new networking contacts, and important job references. Make note of birthdays and addresses, so when you go to school, you won’t miss special occasions and you’ll know where to mail cards. Start updating all of your contacts to include your friends’ Skype usernames, blog addresses, and Twitter handles. Then sync your devises, so you can always contact people wherever you are.

And no matter who you are, what you do, or how old you are, start organizing all of your contacts better. We all have different tiers of relationships- our family members, our close friends, our colleagues/associates, our acquaintances, and everyone else. The sooner you start sorting these relationships into categories, and tracking these relationships (like the last time you connected), the more productive you will be. Capture every type of information you can- their current employer, their LinkedIn profile, their food preference. In the long run, this will help you network, expand your relationships, and stay connected.

Whether you are using your phone address book, your Gmail address book, or a simple Excel spreadsheet, it’s important that you’re managing your contacts.

Description:
For most of us, the essentials when leaving the house come down to our phone, money, and keys. Why not save space, time, and efficiency by storing your money in your iPhone case? Rather than fumble for your wallet to grab your credit card, just grab it quickly from your phone (which is most likely always accessible). There are a variety of cases to choose from, but we love the sleekness of the Credit Card Cases and the functionality of the Flip Wallet Cases. They can securely hold two credit cards, or your driver’s license and dollar bills, or your business cards. And if you need just a little bit more space with you, check out the Universal Kayla Combo Clutch.

You’ll love it for:
• Concerts, events
• Going for a run
• College students carrying school IDs
• Traveling
• Minimizing “stuff”

Cost: $29.99- $49.99

Available at: Case-mate

Before and After of the Week

0 comments

09.18.2011

Service: Residential Organizing

Challenge:
This client sought us out based on the fact that we specialize in working with people with ADD and know how to organize their spaces in a way that functions for them, making them more productive. She had the bones for a great office space; however, the systems needed to make her successful were not in place, including a way to process paper. She had paper covering every horizontal surface, including a majority of the floor.

Solution:
We sorted through every item in her office, decided if it needed to be kept and where the appropriate home was for each item. We implemented a paper management system for her to effectively process her paper, and also identified a more effective storage solution for her active projects.

Result:
Our client now has an office in which she can feel comfortable and be productive. She can walk into the space without stepping on paper and being distracted by all the clutter in the room. The space now feels, looks, and functions like an office- designed and organized for her and her needs.

For even more Innovatively Organized before and after photos, visit our Facebook album!

Are you trying to lose weight? Do you rush through the grocery store and end up bringing home junk food? Do you want to try eating more whole grains, lean meat, and protein? Simply bring this grocery list with you next time you go shopping and you’ll be sure to come home with healthful, energizing, nutrient-rich foods. You can record the quantity of each item you want, and also include other things you need to pick up while at the store, like toiletries.

Get organized now with our Balanced Diet Grocery List!

And for more Innovatively Organized checklists, visit our page of Organizing Checklists!

Description:
Recommended by Wall Street Journal for all professionals, WorldCard Mobile is a great app for contact management. Simply scan business cards into your iPhone and it transfers the contact’s information into your contacts. This app is so smart it even auto-rotates the business card image when scanned sideways.

Abilities:
• Create groups of contacts (work, school, family)
• Merge new data into existing contacts
• Export information to Gmail/CSV/Excel file
• Recognizes seven languages

Great for:
• International business professionals
• Networking
• Streamlining contact management

Cost: $5.99

Do you have a long list of favorite websites that you check daily? Do you wish they were more organized than an alphabetical listing in your bookmarks tab? A great trick is to make your own personal homepage, complete with all of your favorite websites. To create your own homepage, use your Gmail account to make a Google sites page. Google sites allows you to create websites, which you can personalize, make private, or share publicly.

Simply choose your layout, fonts, and color schemes. Then type the names of your favorite websites, organizing them into categories like email accounts, news sources, favorite blogs, important accounts, etc. After you’ve listed them all, hyperlink the names with the actual web addresses.

Once you’ve saved the site and made it your homepage, it will open every time on your browser. Then all of your favorite websites are visible and accessible, just a click away! You can even add fun pictures to spruce it up.

What are your thoughts? What sites will you include in yours?

Before and After of the Week

One Woman’s Clutter is Another Woman’s Treasure!

Product Spotlight: Connected

App of the Week: Groups

Thought: CRM isn’t just for business

Product Spotlight: iPhone cases

Before and After of the Week

Checklist: Balanced Diet Grocery List

App of the Week: WorldCard Mobile

Innovative Idea: Personal Homepage

Subscribe to the iOrganized Blog

Monthly archive

Recent posts

Recent comments