| |
| |
|
Organizing Information |
|
|
|
Organizing Lessons from a Bookstore
The store reminded me of a well-worn slipper - tattered and dusty, but obviously used and loved. I toured the aisles and backrooms with storeowner and publisher Britton Trice. Celebrity book signings and individualized customer service are obviously major factors in the success of the store. File after file with details of book parties past. They mail out about 200 autographed Anne Rice books everyday! Piles of papers, some of them back to 1984, and announcements of summer reading programs and travel opportunities for the summer past told the tale that getting rid of things was obviously not his forte! The front counter and the shelves beneath were covered with bits of paper, containers of various sizes containing a variety of items - most of them identifiable. In addition to books for sale, there were books to be signed by frequently appearing authors, books to be returned because of damage, books being held for customers, unwanted or old editions of books to be donated to charity, and various other items to be returned to their rightful owners. Walls were lined with posters - signed and unsigned. Tired and unused display cases were scattered throughout - they might be useful someday? 1. Put like items together - e.g., office supplies (organized by type), forms, take-out menus, tourist information, first-aid supplies, party supplies, tools, etc. 2. Find a container or space (shelf, file) that will hold the largest amount of each item to be kept. 3. Choose a container that is easy to use - e.g., no lid, easy to open. 4. Locate the container where people are most likely to use the items. 5. Label the container clearly. 6. If the container becomes too full, clean it out, or get a larger container. A "place for everything" is the key to organization in a busy environment such as this bookstore. Then "everything in its place" can happen from time to time with relative ease. Identifying routine things easily delegated, such as checking for outdated signs, updating photo albums, and posting cartoons and other items of interest, will simplify the maintenance of the shop. A card table sitting in front of two bookshelves positioned at right angles created a bottleneck for postponed or ignored decisions. Replacing it with a circular table in the middle of the room could improve flow of traffic, eliminate unnecessary clutter, and perhaps invite customers to browse longer. Six boxes for required tax records will make "one in, one out" a simple transition, and will streamline the beginning of the New Year. Finally, remember that clutter is postponed decisions - you have only three choices: File, Act, or Toss! © Barbara Hemphill is the author of Kiplinger's Taming the Paper Tiger at Work and Taming the Paper Tiger at Home and co-author of Love It or Lose It: Living Clutter-Free Forever. The mission of Hemphill Productivity Institute is to help individuals and organizations create and sustain a productive environment so they can accomplish their work and enjoy their lives. We do this by organizing space, information, and time. We can be reached at 800-427-0237 or at www.ProductiveEnvironment.com
MORE RESOURCES:
Google News |
 |
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
Clutter Campaign - Commit Your Time Decide When And Where To StartDecide when and where to start. You have the same amount of time each day as did Thomas Jefferson, Einstein, and Mae West. 1-2-3 Sort Article excerpted from the new book, "How to Do Space Age Work with a Stone Age Brain" by Eve Abbott1 - 2 - 3-SORT!Every time you start to clean up your office so you can work better instead of harder-that big backlog of information is just too overwhelming. Sorting can actually put you into a better working space in very short time!The good news is you don't have to do it all at once. Have an Ugly Day "Do something every day that you don't want to-do; this is the golden rule for acquiring the habit of doing your duty without pain." --Mark TwainHave you ever had one of those days (or weeks) where everything on your plate was something you didn't look forward to-doing? I faced such a week this past summer. How To Organize Your Paperwork Many people have a huge challenge coping with the incoming paperwork. (Whatever happened to the paperless office?). After the Clutter: 5 Steps to a New Daily Routine I've noticed that in the two years since the major de-cluttering of my apartment, clutter has been creeping back in.So what DO you do after you've cleared the clutter? If your day-to-day routines are continuing to create clutter, then you'll always be one step behind it. Are You A Collector? Collections are the outward manifestation of a deeply-felt principle or emotion, and are quite different than ordinary garden-variety "clutter." One man has a love of photography and takes pictures of everything. Just How Organized Are You? Take This Quiz For Individuals The Productive Environment Scorecard?Read the statements below and rate your reactions to each pair of phrases. Decide where you rate on the scale from 1 (You rate yourself low) to 10 (You rate yourself high). Balance- What Does It Really Mean? Balance- what a popular topic these days! Finding a work-life balance, being balanced in body, mind and soul, eating a balanced meal, balancing work, play and learning. But what does it really mean? When I ask my clients what balance means to them, most have no idea initially, and find it a good exercise to reflect on. The Balance of Balance Life is about maintaining a balance of all aspects. At times some areas might receive more focus than others, but remember we're always undergoing constant change. 5 Reasons to Organize Your Home Today Home organization isn't just for neat-nicks or those drawn toward organized living. Even if you don't fall into those two stereotypes, you should consider learning and implementing some home organizing techniques. Spring Cleaning Spring is such a refreshing time- we are filled with the hope and promise of the seasons ahead. The flowers blossom, our spirits lift. Tired of Endless Chores and To-Dos? Stop Running Around in Circles and Enjoy Life Again Do you feel like you are running around in circles, completing one task after the next only to find there are 20 chores you have not done yet? I am not even talking about the constants such as grocery shopping, returns, doctor appointments, clients, and carpool!If you are tired of fighting this endless battle, stop fighting and start winning. I have come to the realization that I will ALWAYS be able to think of something else that needs to be done-even after completing my long to-do list!Tired of my endless pursuit of checking off my to-do list and interested in silencing my mental clutter, I made a conscious decision to give up the frustrating goal of "getting it ALL done" and instead have regular achievable goals that fit into my larger life path. Organize Your Children & Save Your Sanity It may be difficult to relate saving money with organization but the two terms really go hand in hand. If you are able to organize right down to the smallest detail, then not only will you save yourself countless panic headaches, but you will have more time on your hands allowing yourself to be more productive and get more accomplished. The Love It Or Lose It Principle: One Simple Key to Living Clutter-Free Forever It wasn't long ago that you spent an entire weekend "decluttering" - and now you are expecting guests in two days, and the guestroom is full of "stuff" again!According to a study by the U.S. Letting Go Of Your Excuses At this point, you have probably run across some belongings that don't exactly serve a practical purpose in your life. Some items simply cannot be judged according to their function alone. The Magnificent 7: Tips for Cleaning Up Clutter Clutter is postponed decisions®. Here are some suggestions to simplify the task of controlling clutter:1. 5 Easy Steps to Making Housework More Manageable Sometimes the task of keeping a clean, tidy house just seems overwhelming. Why is that? Because it never ends! You never get done! In order to make the task more manageable and give you the feeling that you have accomplished something. Can Someone Step Into Your Job Or Role And Function Effectively? Working for one of the top Marketers online (David Ledoux) I've been lucky to learn many tips and tricks that can be used in cases of emergency. Like today when I still have the remnants of the flu. 5 Easy Tips on Light that You Can Use to Improve Your Day Light, Work, and YouWinter is here-and with it, short days, long nights, and Seasonal Affective Disorder. It is scientifically proven that the quantity and quality of light plays a significant role in mood and work performance. Effective Closet Cleaning Tips - Let Go of More Than Skeletons I know I have a problem when I have to battle with the overflow every time I try to shut my closet door. Well, okay, it's not really a closet, more like an overgrown cupboard, but as it's all I have something's got to give.
|
| home | site map |
| © 2007 |
