Latest Blog Posts
There are many networking groups available to business people to make connections with potential clients and businesses. Groups meet for breakfast, lunch or supper. Some groups have an educational component. Most networking groups are based on building relationships with the members of the group so to be successful choose a group that you can attend regularly for two years. If you are looking for a networking group go to the Meetup.com site to find a group in your area.
Some people do find that they don’t have enough time in their day to exercise. Here are 2 ways to combine networking and exercise.
1. Netwalking – Instead of meeting for a coffee, meet while walking. During the good weather walk outside during cooler weather, walk inside on a track, at a mall or along hallways. Most malls open early and have mall walking programs.
2. Sweatworking – Fitness clubs are starting networking groups. In this environment, you naturally have a common interest, health and exercise. This is a more relaxed atmosphere to build relationships with other networkers. Here is a great article describing sweat working. http://www.forbes.com/sites/learnvest/2015/06/01/sweatworking-the-new-way-to-advance-your-career/2/
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
You may remember that in April I joined the Ultimate Blogging Challenge where you blog every day for a month. I started out great for the first 10 days feeling like I had some fun content. The suggestions they sent as part of the resources were somewhat helpful. I had forgotten about blogging about books. They suggested blogging about fun days and so I talked about the world figure skating championships. However, as time went on my business got very busy and I felt like I didn’t have interesting content so I blogged less. I am glad I tried this experiment because:
1. It is not for me, once a week is a good time frame for me. I can keep up with the schedule and I have content I am proud to share
2. I discovered that my new blog had not been set up the way I thought and articles were not being shared with my social media sites. Since I was blogging regularly I noticed the change and got it corrected.
3. I received 30 different ideas for blogging. Most were personal rather than business topics but they are excellent for brainstorming new ideas and new approaches to blogging.
So overall I think the experiment was valuable. Give it a try, it starts again on July 1, 2015 and let me know how it went for you.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
At the National Home Show in Toronto I learned about this great product for the do-it-yourself photo people. Oceans Sales Ltd is based in Calgary, Alberta sells a box that contains 3 frames, 3 4A letter printable canvas, canvas tape and instructions. You take the picture, print the picture and mount it in the frame. In just a short time you can have your pictures hanging on your wall. The product is called photo2canvas http://www.oceansales.ca/our-products/wellness-leisure/smart-living-photo-gallery-kit.html
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
On April 10, 2015 I had the opportunity to attend the World Championship Synchronized Skating Championships in Hamilton, ON Canada. It was an event that I just decided to go to a the last minute. It was a fantastic evening. There were 25 teams of 16 skaters, females and males, from 20 countries . Canada, Finland, Russia and Sweden were represented by 2 teams each. Two surprising countries in the competition where Mexico and Turkey.
I watched the short program for each of the 25 teams. A routine may consist of:
- straight line sequences,
- wheels,
- block pattern where they travel in a square or diamond pattern across the ice ,
- circle step sequences,
- spins in unison,
- pass through where 1 lines pass through the other line and
- many of the skating elements you have seen in other skating competitions.
It very exciting to be part of the crowd when the Canadian teams entered the arena and the crowd went wild. If you have a chance to go to a World Championship Competition for any sport go out and support the participants. I knew nothing about Synchronized Skating, I learned a lot and had a great time. The Pan Am games are coming Toronto Canada you have a chance to learn a lot and have a great time too.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
When I was at the National Home show in Toronto last month I stopped by the Straga Products booth. www.stragaproducts.com They make lovely wooden cutting boards that can be personalized. They make great presents for weddings, birthdays, client appreciation, etc. What would you have written on your cutting board?
If you are interested in starting your own home based business, how to start a home-based…. is a great series of books. They contain information about the field of business, clients and practical materials such as forms. Some of the books in this series are Computer Repair Business, Personal Chef Business, Interior Design Business and Professional Organizing Business.
how to start a home-based Professional Organizing Business has sections on:
- helping you to decide if Professional Organizing is for you,
- setting up your office,
- finding and working with clients,
- products and
- forms
For approximately $20.00 you will have enough information to confidently start your business. The book contains a script for the first phone conversation with a new client. This is very helpful, especially with your very first client. It has sections on setting your rate and a number of different ways to charge along with the pros and cons of each way. The book lists a number of ways to market your business.
Chapters on skills to be a competent organizer.
Along with the business side of professional organizing, half the book contains skills and information a person needs to be a competent organizer. It teaches the psychology of clutter, why areas become disorganized, how to declutter a space and products to use to organize a client.
Forms
The section containing forms is very helpful and they are easy to customize to your own business. There are assessment forms, invoices, mileage records, marketing planning sheets etc.
This book is written by Professional Organizer Dawn Noble. It is easy to read and use.
If you want to start a business see if this series contains a book that could help you be successful.
If you want to talk about becoming a Professional Organizer contact me, I would love to chat with you.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of physical activity to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
I recently attended the National Home Show in Toronto, Canada. As an organizer, I was looking for new and exciting ideas for organizing your home. Many people are choosing to live in small spaces. If your home is small then everything needs to have more than one function.
There were many different companies with beds that folded into the wall. Some beds are desks until they were moved into a position to be a bed,
and a bed in a cabinet. The bed also has a drawer for storing bedding and other items.
Depending on the shape of your space one type of unit may be better than another. The selling feature of the bed in a cabinet is it doesn’t need to be attached to the wall and seems to be the design that it could be easily moved around within a home or to a new home.
Buying a bed that allows you to have great storage options can solve some problems. This bed has drawers for storage, on the end and the side as well as under the mattress.
What is the most versatile piece of furniture you have seen or purchased?
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, coaching you virtually using Zoom. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of teaching to reduce clutter, in your home, office, mind and time. She guides and supports you to be accountable for your time, to complete projects and to reach your goals. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Online courses are available to help instruct, coach and support your organizing projects. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space
I participate in Professional Organizers Blog Carnival along with many other organizers. Janet Barclay has developed this site to help people get a lot of ideas on many organizing topics. This month the blog site is about everything related to the holiday season and gift giving. I hope you enjoy reading it. Read my submission on Clutter free Gift giving. https://organizedassistant.com/holiday-gift-giving-pobc/
For children of parents with hoarding disorder, the mess remains after their parents pass away.
Newsweek By Hannah R Buchdahl Jan 26, 2011
Greg Martin wasn’t sure what to expect when his mother died last May, forcing him to return to his childhood home for the first time in nearly 18 years. The house, located on a pleasant block in San Diego, had always been cluttered, but now it was virtually uninhabitable. “There were piles as tall as me, six feet or so,” Greg said. “Where there used to be floor, there were trails—a foot and a half high, so you’d be walking on stuff.” Greg was forced to navigate through piles of magazines, papers, and books, plastic bags filled with thrift-store purchases, expired medicine bottles and literally tons of clothes. The only “living space” was a small pocket by the front door, where his mother, a colorful and fiercely independent woman, had collapsed shortly before her death at the age of 83. Greg, who has taken a leave of absence from his job, expected that cleaning out the house would take six months. It’s now been eight—and counting.
It’s a scenario that’s all too familiar to children of hoarders, who are burdened with far more than funeral arrangements, probate, and grief. They must also deal with the overwhelming piles of stuff that a parent with hoarding disorder accumulated over the years—in apartments, in houses, in storage facilities, and in garages. The items themselves may vary, but for many children of parents with hoarding disorder, the result is the same: the unwanted inheritance of a whole lot of nothing.
Greg Martin’s mother lived in this home until her death last year. (milbetweenus.blogspot.com)
The inclination to hoard typically begins in the teenage years, but experts say it can also be triggered—or made worse—by brain damage, a traumatic life event, or depression. As the people with hoarding disorder age, the piles grow, gradually eclipsing everything else in their lives.
“I’m dreading the day when the house needs to be cleaned out, more than I dread the day that they leave us,” laments Teresa C. of Winnipeg, Canada. Teresa, like several others interviewed for this story, did not want to give her last name because the hoarding is a source of tension in her family. For Teresa, inheriting her ageing parents’ hoard is a worry for the future.
Hoarding is an extremely complicated mental disorder that generally involves the acquisition of too many items, difficulty getting rid of items, and problems with organization and prioritization. Few statistics exist related to hoarding, because people with hoarding disorder rarely seek or accept treatment. But shows like Hoarders have certainly raised awareness and triggered a tidal wave of anecdotal evidence to suggest the illness, often associated with obsessive compulsive disorder, affects millions—either directly or indirectly. Support groups and message boards are flooded with stories about the once-secret life of a person with hoarding disorder and their families, and the constant battles to get the person to understand the impact their illness is having on their loved ones. That impact doesn’t end with their passing.
“Nine times out of 10, it’s not the person with hoarding disorder who suffers; it’s whoever comes after them to clean up,” says a very frustrated Bill L. of Colorado, who’s been working to clean his mother’s home, located in a different state, for almost five years. (She suffered a stroke and has since moved into assisted living.) It took a dozen people, and eight Dumpsters, to clear out the first floor. Still to go: the second floor, a large attic, a basement, a garage, and a storage locker that Bill says should be easy, but may not be.
Often, people with hoarding disorder are the only ones who know or understand their system of “organization,” keeping stock certificates amid expired receipts or diamonds amid a pile of junk jewelry. For survivors, the stress and strain related to the search itself may simply outweigh the potential of finding any objects with financial or sentimental value. Bill plans to return to his mother’s house soon with a professional cleanout crew. “That will mean forgetting about recovering anything of value,” he says, “including possible family heirlooms. If we tried to continue sifting the hoard, we’d still be at it 10 years later [and] we’d be jobless, homeless, and insane.”
Cory Chalmers, owner of California-based Steri-Clean, which provides help finding hoarding-remediation specialists around the globe, estimates a typical clean-up can range from $5,000 to $20,000 and beyond depending on the severity of the hoard, conditions inside the home, and regulations relating to the disposal of electronics and hazardous materials. His crews occasionally recover items of value that may help offset the cost of the cleanup. But more often than not, it’s a simple, yet massive case of quantity over quality. “Most of the elderly people with hoarding disorder we work with all say the same thing: they’re saving this because it all has use, ‘I want to give this to my son, and this to my daughter, and this to my grandchild. [But] no one wants that crap,” he says, not without sympathy. “What they see as this big investment to pass on is really a big stress on families and not even worth it. A lot of them don’t want it. They’d rather just walk away.”
Share where you found your best information on hoarding disorder.
Julie Stobbe is a Trained Professional Organizer and Lifestyle Organizing Coach who brings happiness to homes and organization to offices, in person and virtually. She has been working with clients since 2006 to provide customized organizing solutions to suit their individual needs and situations. She uses her love of physical activity to reduce clutter, in your home and office. She guides and supports you in managing your time. If you’re in a difficult transition Julie can coach you to break-free of emotional clutter constraining you from living life on your terms. Get started by downloading Tips for Reorganizing 9 Rooms.
Contact her at julie@mindoverclutter.ca
Twitter – Facebook – Facebook group Organizing Mind and Space