Dont Get Lost In The Shuffle

I have a good friend whom (also being in the same business) I often compare notes with.

One of the things that I always give him a hard time about is the fact that even though he has one of the biggest desks I have ever seen I have never actually seen the desks surface.

It is always covered from corner to corner with stacks of paperwork, trade magazines, client files and little scraps of paper with hand-written notes all over them.

Now, right now, stop and look at your desk and tell me what you see. If you can't remember what color the top of your desk is, you may need some help.

Life is simpler, less stressful and more profitable when you're organized. If you cringe at the thought of digging out -- take heart. The following are several helpful tips by Wanda Phillips in Success Insight Magazine (and a few of my own) on getting rid of the clutter.

- Begin with your desk. Mentally divide it into 4 sections, then start in one corner and don't move to the next section until you see the bottom! Next, tackle the drawers. Then arrange your desk so that it is user friendly. Put your most used items in immediately accessible space.

- Trash it! Keep the waste basket handy. Go through everything. If you don't absolutely need it or haven't used it in a long time get rid of it. If it's just too difficult to decide, get a box to put the questionable items in. You can then shove the box in a closet knowing that if you really need a certain item you can go through the box and find it. If you are only keeping an item because you think so-and-so needs it then give it to them! Mail it to them if you have to.

- Use your computer. Create a phone, address and pertinent info file. Take all those papers, magazines, etc. and record the phone, address, web address and any other important info. Then toss the paper! Be sure, of course, to backup you computer files regularly.

- Make a calendar. Record all important events and times in one place. No more memos stuck all over! If you need a reminder, send yourself an e-mail.

- File it! If you have to keep it, then put it in a folder, label it plainly and file it alphabetically.

- In/Out Box Use an inbox and and outbox. Only allow one project or file on your desk at a time and finish it before you start on something else. Keep all other items filed or in the inbox, even if it is stacked three feet high.

- Return things. Put files back in the cabinet, books back on the shelf, extra supplies back in the closet. Rewrite loose jotted memos in a notebook or the proper file and toss the original.

I know it may be really hard but you will thank me when it you see the benefits.

Shawn Meldrum has spent the last two decades marketing everything from almonds to landscape lighting. He currently specializes in marketing for mortgage brokers, loan officers and real estate agents. For free mortgage marketing articles and much more visit: http://www.mortgagemarketingtips.com/

---

Google News Updated : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 05:55:52 GMT Same-Sex Marriage and the Rights of Citizenship - New York Times ABC News Same-Sex Marriage and the Rights of Citizenship New York Times - 1 hour ago The Connecticut Supreme Court deserves praise for acknowledging, as other states that allow same-sex marriage have not, the constitutional principles that compelled the justices to guarantee all consenting adult Americans the right to enjoy the ... Gays rush to wed ahead of election Washington Times Comment by Evan Wolfson Executive Director, Freedom to Marry National Review Online Blogs - News10.net - WCAX - Catholic Weekly all 1,913 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:41:27 GMT Wildfires threaten LA homes; two people dead - Reuters CBC.ca Wildfires threaten LA homes; two people dead Reuters - 4 hours ago By Steve Gorman and Alex Dobuzinskis LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Deadly wind-driven brush fires roared out of the foothills and canyons on the northern fringe of Los Angeles on Monday, destroying dozens of homes and threatening hundreds more dwellings. Video: LA Fire Officials Try to Get Ahead of Blazes AssociatedPress REGION: Fire alert remains in effect North County Times New York Times - BBC News - AFP - The Associated Press all 3,443 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 01:27:17 GMT Canada's Harper May Face Similar Gridlock After Today's Vote - Bloomberg Voice of America Canada's Harper May Face Similar Gridlock After Today's Vote Bloomberg - 1 hour ago By Theophilos Argitis and Alexandre Deslongchamps Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- When Canadian Prime Minister Stephen Harper called today's election six weeks ago, he complained that opposition calls for more spending were putting the economy at risk, ... Rivals crisscross Canada ahead of elections Los Angeles Times Global turmoil dominates Canada election Financial Times AFP - Voice of America - Crosscut - Aljazeera.net all 951 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:37:49 GMT Excess Drinking Shrinks the Brain - Washington Post Canada.com Excess Drinking Shrinks the Brain Washington Post - 8 hours ago By Amanda Gardner MONDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- The more alcohol you drink, the more your brain shrinks, a new study has found. Study: Drinking alcohol associated with smaller brain volume Xinhua Alcohol Consumption Can Shrink Your Brain WCTV Inventorspot - Telegraph.co.uk - MedPage Today - Canada.com all 51 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 21:09:07 GMT Vitamin D Supplementation Guidelines for Youngsters Doubled - Washington Post ABC News Vitamin D Supplementation Guidelines for Youngsters Doubled Washington Post - 9 hours ago By Amanda Gardner MONDAY, Oct. 13 (HealthDay News) -- The leading children's medical organization in the United States on Monday announced that it has doubled the amount of vitamin D recommended for infants, children and adolescents. Video: HealthWatch CBS Vitamin D recommendation for kids is doubled Los Angeles Times WebMD - ABC News - New York Times - KEYC all 609 news articles Publ.Date : Mon, 13 Oct 2008 20:11:02 GMT Michigan: Ruling on Voting Rights - New York Times Michigan: Ruling on Voting Rights New York Times - 1 hour ago By AP A judge has ordered state election officials to stop automatically canceling a voter’s registration if the card is returned as undeliverable. Federal judge orders 1438 names restored to Michigan voter rolls Detroit Free Press Judge Says Mich. Policy Violated Voting Law Washington Post Connecticut Post - The Standard - DetNews.com - The Associated Press all 68 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 04:05:24 GMT Morgan Stanley Can't Please Everyone - Forbes Wall Street Journal Morgan Stanley Can't Please Everyone Forbes - 2 hours ago Morgan Stanley and Mitsubishi UFJ Financial may have pleased investors, but they failed to reassure the ratings services. Morgan Stanley (nyse: MS - news - people ) shares surged more than 85.0% Monday after it received a $9.0 billion investment from ... Mitsubishi UFJ Gets Better Terms From Morgan Stanley (Update1) Bloomberg Fitch cuts Morgan Stanley's default ratings to 'A/F1' MarketWatch New York Times - Reuters - Washington Post - St. Louis Post-Dispatch all 1,706 news articles Publ.Date : Tue, 14 Oct 2008 03:40:53 GMT Make Money Online Add RSS Feeds To My Web Pages

PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts, Websites, and more...

Adsense websites

Family Management Tip #2: Choosing the Right Organizer for Your Family

What method do you currently use to organize your family?... Read More

Choose Spice Racks That Help You Organize Your Home

Today you have almost as many choices of spice racks... Read More

Digging out of Paper Clutter - part 1

Digging out from under stacks of paper might seem like... Read More

Calendars and Personality Type

I recently conducted a survey to look at the relationship... Read More

Spring Cleaning

Spring is such a refreshing time- we are filled with... Read More

10 Tips to Get Organized and Clutter-Free- Now!

1. THE LOVE IT OR LOSE IT PRINCIPLE: Every item... Read More

Lightening The Load

When I tell people what a FREEING experience moving is,... Read More

10 Easy Tips for Digging Out Your Desk Today

Has your polished mahogany (or modular plastic) desk been buried... Read More

Feng Shui Guidlines for Storage Spaces

Professional organizers and helpful-hint sources often recommend storage solutions such... Read More

Change the Way You Think and Change Your Life

Dennis is working as a factory worker during the day... Read More

9 Simple Strategies for Home Organization

Home organization means being able to find your stuff when... Read More

Clutter Crisis?

Clutter costs you time, money, space, and peace of mind.... Read More

Clutter-Clearing and Your Authentic Self

Have you ever felt so discouraged, your life so out-of-control,... Read More

5 Steps From Clutter To Control

Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More

How to Prevent Piles of Paper!

If you have piles of paper all over your desk,... Read More

To Make a Change -- Take a Chance

Life is really all about CHANGE. In order to make... Read More

Your Organizing DNA

Do you like storing your papers on top of your... Read More

3 Simple Filing Guidelines

One of the most basic ways to find papers when... Read More

The Five Ways To Ease The Process Of Eliminating Clutter

I recently had a conversation with a friend about clutter.... Read More

Stress Management: 10 Universal Laws to Get and Stay Organized

1. The Law of the 1st StepA good first step... Read More

Clutter Campaign - Commit Your Time

Decide When And Where To StartDecide when and where to... Read More

What Momma Never Told Me About Housekeeping

A lot of us grew up with Mom taking care... Read More

How Long Do I Need to Keep This? - A Guide to Receipts, Statements and Financial Clutter at Home

In most homes, paper causes clutter. And it seems to... Read More

Sticking to Your New Years Resolutions: Ten Tips for a More Organized Life

1. A calendar is an essential organizing tool ? start... Read More

Does Your Storage Make Sense?

What do your storage spaces look like? Do you know... Read More