OrganizingLA Blog

Do You Really Accomplish Anything Putzing Around The House?

 

My wonderful father is a big "putzer." He can spend the entire day in the garage doing what seems to amount to nothing. He can rinse and repeat the putzing in his large garden, the shed, the long driveway up to our rural family home, not to mention his hobby of learning computers.

But I am not really making fun of Dad (seriously, nor do I dare, he's a amazing man), because I think on a smaller scale, I do the same. I don't know if putzing means you just want to be by yourself, it feels therapeutic, or maybe in my case, you feel great satisfaction from doing little things that amount to something. I've never asked Dad why he does it, nor would he care to discuss it, seriously.

For those that do not know, Urban Dictionary defines "putzing" as fooling about, tinkering, messing with, tooling around and dabbling. Some people claim that nothing would ever get done if it were not for putzing.

Experts that specialize in time management say you cannot accomplish anything if you don't concentrate on specific project chunks. Another words, nothing gets finished if you're tinkering. We're not so sure of that.

So are you a putzing kind of person? Is putzing a waste of time? Or do you contribute to the greater good? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

Image above of Runyon Canyon Los Angelees courtesy Alex de Cordoba and Flickr

Related Posts:

My Father's Secret Garden

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New York Magazine Presents John Trosko!

 

As part of his book launch, John was featured in the September 29th issue of New York Magazine.

This has been awesome and phenomenal!

In Space Efficient, Experts' Guide To Doing Things Faster creator Samantha Ettus mentioned us when she curated the "Best Best" section for the popular magazine.

Here's what they printed:

"Maybe you’ve been working at home for years. Or maybe just since last Monday..."

"Either way, you want a handsome and efficient workspace..."

"I heard about these Perf Boxes from organizational guru John Trosko.  They come premade and rotate independently of one another."

Link to the 9/29 New York Magazine table of contents

Link to the Best Bests column

Link to John's mention on page 66

Check out the mention in it's entirety on The Experts' Media site

Buy the Experts' book on Amazon.com

Perf Boxes image courtesy Design Public

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Want To Get Organized? Eat Chocolate And Chicken

Can eating certain foods really help you get organized?  It is possible?

Getting (and staying) organized is about decision making.  When you're holding an item in your hands, you take responsibility for the care and feeding of that item, just like a pet.  You also choose to put it down right in front of you, or put it back in its proper place.

Studies are showing that running low on the neurotransmitter that controls your mood (serotonin) contributes to "low energy, lack of enthusiasm, and regulating emotions."  That's one of the reasons why someone who is depressed actually feel better when they eat, or at least less cranky.  Now that's a simplistic solution, but you get the point.

Do you feel more motivated to tackle your desk paperwork after you've had a meal?  Or a piece of chocolate?  Try it and share your "scientific" experience.

images above courtesy of our friends Celine Soprano and Bruno Marcy at 'C' is for Chocolate

Source:  Whole Life Times, August 2008 issue

 

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Basic Systems Can Make Your Business Swim Like An Olympian

What makes a business work?

My professional organizing colleague Lorie Marrero and I were emailing back and forth today about businesses that run smoothly and businesses that run amock.

Today, I brought my Mercedes ML320 to the dealer in Beverly Hills to run some diagnostic work.  You can see a picture of my car above right, along with my new nifty *vanity* license plates that were a gift three weeks ago.

Since my problem wasn't requiring an appointment (or so I thought) I talked to a service tech on the phone and he said to just bring the car down.  Computer diagnostics are best handled by the dealer and not your local neighborhood mechanic, so I was worried.  This was my first experience with the dealership (new car for me).  Well oh my gosh, what a sight—I pulled up to the service center at the dealer and that location was like a well-run factory, with gleaming white floors, music, palm trees and kind courteous employees everywhere, including the hurried customers.  All those Beverly Hills housewives getting their oil changed demand all this attention I guess.  Well, heck, I appreciate all this attention!

Because this was my first time I was so surprised on how fast I got in and got out.  How the service tech got my name on the second time, along with the way I like it pronounced.  I was able to rent a car on the spot without having to leave the building.  The service department is so big, they have their own Enterprise Rent A Car on site, in their own spacious glass office, with SIX people behind the counter renting out cars.  I think I am in the wrong business!

Well, I just wish every business ran like this.  I know modern adult life is about finding value and the cost of that value.  And this got me thinking.  What make a business work?  What makes a business swim like an Olympian?  Here's what Lorie had to say in her e-mail this afternoon:

"Don’t you love seeing a thing of beauty in motion? A well-running business with real systems is getting more rare all the time.  It really frustrates me when I go into many businesses and in about 5 minutes I can see about 10 things they could improve easily with basic systems."

So, what makes a place of business a place you'd want to do business with?  And do you pay more for convenience, professionalism and knowledge?

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Los Angeles USPS Heads Sexy Pilot Program For Recycling Electronics

Could recycling ever become a day at the beach?

The United States Postal Service last month began a pilot program for USPS customers to recycle their small small electronics and inkjet cartridges by mailing them free of charge.

Los Angeles is on the short list of cities participating in the program called "Mail Back."  Designed to help consumers make more environmentally friendly choices, the mail back program includes free envelopes inside Post Offices to mail back inkjet cartridges, PDAs, Blackberries, digital cameras, iPods and MP3 players, free of charge with no postage due.

Clover Technologies Group is paying for the postage, and re-manufacturing the products, including refurbishing, reselling or breaking them down further for recycling. It all depends on the type of part, quality and age.

In addition to Los Angeles, the program is set for Washington, D.C., Chicago and San Diego.  More cities to follow in the fall of 2008 if success is met.

Could this be a big break for the American consumer wanting to recycle but finds it too difficult?  Will the infamous USPS, known for its award-winning customer service, be diligent in stocking the supply cabinets inside each and every store?  Sometimes we can't even find envelopes for Express Mail.  Well, we'll all soon find out.

What do you think of this program?  Would you drop by your local post office to mail ink jet cartridges?

Source:  Shredstation, USPS

Santa Monica Beach Image:  Faris on Flickr

OrganzingLA Interviews Brandie Kajino, The Home Office Organizer

At the NAPO National Conference earlier this month, we had an opportunity to interview a few movers and shakers in the professional organizing industry.

Meet Brandie Kajino, The Home Office Organizer of Portland, Oregon, Vancouver and Washington Metro areas.  Brandie specializes in working with home-based businesses, performing on-site consultations, teleclasses and virtual activities.  She helps her clients increase productivity, reduce stress and love where they work.

Please forgive the camera shaking, it's tough to balance a camera while you're on crutches.

Brandie will be available for a limited time on our blog to address your home office organizing questions.  Feel free to post them using the comment section and Brandie will address your concerns.

Brandie Kajino, The Home Office Organizer

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Win a Beverly Hills Lunch With A Brady - If You've Got the Messiest Cable Clutter in the Nation

Win lunch in Beverly Hills with green advocates Christopher Knight and Adrianne Curry, co-hosts of the VH-1 reality show, “My Fair Brady.”

The folks at Green Plug are sponsoring a nationwide photo contest for the messiest cable clutter, and just in time for spring cleaning.

Tuesday is the Most Productive Day of the Week

What day of the week is your most productive day?

According to an Accountemps nationwide survey of 150 senior executives, 57% said Tuesday is the most productive day of the week.  Do you agree?

Coming in a distant second (12%) was Monday.  Max Messner, a representative for Menlo Park, Calif. Accountemps said Monday is a catch-up day-- following the weekend.  Many regularly scheduled meetings also take place on Monday which can decrease the time open to complete tasks the incoming week.

These results seem to mirror the same number in 2002, 1998 and 1987 surveys.

Accountemps offers the following advise for getting organized:

• Make a plan
• Sharpen your focus
• Limit distractions
• Don’t delay
• Recharge

What day of the week do you feel you are most productive?

• source:  Accountemps press release
• image: Virtual Assistant

NorthStar Moving Unveils Star-Studded Moving Services

Thinking about moving?  Want the celebrity relocation treatment?

North star Moving, a leading residential and commercial mover in California, has announced luxury partnerships with celebrity pet care provider and Oprah's personal dog coach Tamar Geller; child care provider to the stars Nurture and Nanny and Operation Organization, a professional organizing company in Los Angeles.

Check out these cool red carpet moving services for celebrities and non-celebs alike:

• The Paris - Celebrity pet care providers pamper your pooch leaving you to sit poolside as muscle-bound men ensure that your hair extensions are packed to perfection. This luxury package addresses all your moving needs while protecting you and your four-legged friends from any unnecessary stresses.
• The Angelina - For the busy family that likes to hit the road, this service takes the kids right out from underfoot and keeps the little darlings safe, happy and entertained under the watchful eye of a modern day Mary Poppins, freeing up mom and dad to focus on moving and/or saving the world.
• The Britney - Designed for the customer looking for a little order and direction in their life. NorthStar Moving delivers professional organizers right to your doorstep and makes sure you can easily find your undergarments even in the midst of a move!

Now this is fun marketing!  Our favorite concept is "photo perfect packing" sock drawers.  Northstar also "handles paparazzi and security with decoy trucks."  Decoy trucks?  We love it.  Will you?

• Source:  Earth Times, PR Newswire
• Image:  Chemosphere House (on Mulholland Drive near Laurel Canyon, in L.A.) - Kim DeMarco's Blog

CreditCards.com - How to Organize Gift Cards - With Advice from John Trosko

Inspired by our post on marking your current balances on gift cards with a Sharpie, we were asked to participate in an article on managing and organizing credit, debit and gift cards for Creditcards.com.

After all, a card is only useful when you can find it when you need it, right?

To our amazement the article not only appeared on the CreditCards.com website, but also on the RSS feeds on Yahoo Shopping.  All the participating experts really taught us a thing or two.  See that list below and read the full article.

"If you have gift cards stashed in your junk drawer, wallet and desk drawer, it's time to consolidate.  "Cards should be gathered in a central location," says John Trosko, President of the Los Angeles Chapter of the Association of Professional Organizers and author of the OrganizingLA Blog."

"It's best if you keep them in the car so you've got them with you when you go shopping." His clients often use small plastic accordion folders to keep the cards organized. Some of his most stylish clients have used Kate Spade pencil cases to keep their cards together."

6 Tips for Organizing Your Gift, Debit and Credit Cards.

1. Keep them together
2. Write it down
3. Use a spreadsheet
4. Track them online
5. Make a trade
6. Dump them

• CreditCards.com - Erin Peterson's article has all the can't miss details.  With advise from professional organizer John Trosko, Scott Bilker (creator, DebtSmart.com), Kara McGuire (personal finance columnist, Minneapolis Star Tribune), Jonathan (author, MyMoneyBlog), Mark Edward Roberts (CEO/founder, LeverageCard.com), as well as CardAvenue.com, CertificateSwap.com, and SwapACard.com.

CreditCards.com is a leading online credit card marketplace, bringing consumers and card issuers together. The site is a free online resource where consumers can compare hundreds of credit card offers by category, including low interest credit cards, credit cards with rewards programs, airline credit cards, cash back credit cards, small business credit cards, student credit cards, instant approval credit cards as well as prepaid debit cards. Over one million unique users access their website each month.

Related Posts:

• The $10,000 Magic Marker
• Polypropylene envelopes can get your gift cards organized