What motivates us to act?

It is amazing what can be organised, depending on the reward and motivation.

Yesterday it was an absolute pleasure and privilege to work with 60+ volunteers and declutter the silt, liquefaction and other related earthquake debris from Christchurch's eastern suburbs. We did it because we could. We made a difference and many people who benefitted from the day of shoveling, digging, clearing and moving. For some it was as simple as opening a cupboard for the 1st time since February and others making a path so they can hang their clothes to dry.
This event was all done by volunteers and organised over a period of 5 weeks. We had folks from all walks of life arrive ready to get down and dirty from Tom who is 8, to John in his 70's and everyone in between. One of the local radio stations 91ZM arrived at lunch time to cook up a BBQ and we all sat and chatted before heading of to do some more work. We had equipment donated by companies such as Fonterra, whittakers and Coldstore, and a happy base at the Waimari Methodist Church.
Everyone went home, tired and sore but totally satisfied at the positive action and organising that had taken place. All volunteers saying they were keen to do it again.
I am also keen to work with the amazing crew of Deon, Ali, Ben, Mark, Betty and Others to organise another "Lets get it done" Event. We called it "Lets get it Done" because we are about action, doing, being positive and getting things done. Next time I want at least 300 Volunteers and we will be getting loads done.
In contrast today there is a Rally (Protest variety) in roughly the same area of Christchurch, I was dismayed to see a picture of this rally and the turn out was huge by the look of the image I saw. I know people are hurting and angry, and this post is likely to piss a few people off, but why cant the energy be turned into POSITIVE ACTION as opposed to negative placard waving and words. There is a veritable community army protesting about land values and payouts, when in reality the Government were not obliged to step in and do the insurance negotiating on their behalf, and the residents to are not obliged to accept the offers made to them and they can negotiate themselves. However still the Community came together to Rally their feelings.
My question is "How do we get the same number of people to come together for a positive event, like "Lets get it Done"?" I know of one volunteer yesterday who is from a RED ZONE home, the others I believe are from parts of Christchurch not effected in the same way as the Eastern Suburbs. It was not an exclusively Eastern Suburbs event as help was sent to Tai Tapu and Lyttelton, however we did the majority of the work within the Eastern Suburbs.
I want to know where the residents who are protesting today, were yesterday? Is one of them the man who expected our volunteers to move car bodies and tyres in his yard (not earthquake related, just junk)? How many of them could have helped the elderly get to their mailboxes, clothes lines or even open their back doors by shoveling some silt and liquefaction? How do we get them to take positive community action instead of protesting?
I would love to hear any solutions or suggestions to this. As I know the reward for positive action is longer lasting and far reaching in comparison to the negative energy and resentment that can come from protest.
So look at what you organise and the implications, make it positive and long lasting, oh and spread the word so others can benefit from helping others and growing positive community

A Brilliant tip from a New Client.

I love it when  I get new clients, it is a privilege to be invited into someones home and help them get it organised. For many clients it can be a scary and intimidating experience, however they very quickly learn that here at Totally Organised we get it, and it is OK!
Asking for help is often the hardest part, soon followed by letting a stranger (albeit a friendly one) into your space and to handle your stuff. Fortunately the experience ends in a great, fun, positive and upbeat manner.

It is always an experience when I also learn new things and add ideas to my plethora of tips and ideas. Yesterday was one of those days when I was shown the most fantastic idea that my New client had developed and put together since the earthquake. She has said it is OK to share it with you.

We all talk about our disaster kits and grab and go bags etc, everyone has differing ideas and thoughts. Much of the time the question of where to keep your kit is a biggie, and there are various ideas. However "Mary"* (Name changed to protect the brilliant), has hit the nail on the head.

THE WHEELIE BIN:

 Yes, brilliant I know and so, so simple and now we see it obvious as well. Mary has purchased a Wheelie bin that is a different color from the ones used for Rubbish collection (hers is red), and it is stored outside her home.

The wheelie bin is weather proof, large and on wheels. perfect for a disaster kit. In her wheelie bin Mary has, large water containers full with fresh water, first aid kit, blankets, gumboots (anyone who has experienced liquefaction will know why), shovel, torches, batteries, blankets.
Here is a list of other items that will fit:
* Blankets
* Sleeping bag
* Small tent
* Non Perishable food
* Solar Shower
* Wet Weather Gear
* Small gas bottle and cooker

The possibilities are endless.
It is perfect for the following reasons:
* Being able to store outside allows for the event of your home collapsing and your kit not being stuck inside.
* Does not take up valuable storage space inside your home
* Portable, regardless of how heavy it may be - water containers weigh a lot- you can still roll it.
* Large in size so you CAN store a lot in it.

So I am heading to the nearest storage shop and getting me one of those wheelie bins. I will store it close to the home, and fill it with the necessary items that we have come to know and love here in Christchurch, following our recent Earthquakes. I suggest you should go and do the same. Because you just never know when you may needs it.

A huge thanks to MARY* as well for your brilliance and ingenuity.

My, How time flies!!!

Wow, I am amazed at how slack I have been in the blogging department of late, apologies to my regular readers for my

tardiness. It has been an incredibly rewarding, busy, tiring and fabulous couple of weeks. 

Please indulge me while I share. We always often forget to celebrate our success and I am going to do that here.

Over the past few weeks my publisher "Longacre Press" here in NZ have lined up some wonderful media appearance 

for me to promote my first book "The Accidental Organiser". 

They have been:

* "Campbell Live" - TV3

* Radio National - Kim Hill Program

* Newstalk ZB with Ali Jones

* Newstalk ZB Tauranga.

* KIWI FM - Breakfast with Whammo

* Newstalk ZB Wellington

* Plains FM - Canterbury

* CTV - Good Living Program

* "Otago Daily Times" feature

* "The Press" - At Home section (coming up)

* TVNZ - TVOne - "Good Morning" interview with Brendan Pongia

I think that is all of them, it has been a whirlwind of interviews and meeting people and travel. All really exciting

and hopefully going some way to selling millions of copies of "The Accidental Organiser".

It has taken some great scheduling in the family department to do this. As we are also in the midst of a major

renovation at home. My boys are squished into one small room while we have demolished their old bedroom, 

to make room for a new purpose built library/study and bedroom. We have also celebrate two Birthday's in our 

family, mine and Ben's 9th. So all in all a busy time. However not once did any of this become overwhelming. 

HOW? I hear you ask.

Organisation, communication and cooperation has been the key. So remember if you have busy and 

challenging times ahead take a leaf out of my book and thing "ORGANISE, COMMUNICATE & COOPERATE".

Remember if you have not got your copy of "The Accidental Organiser" yet, CLICK HERE or buy at your local NZ bookseller.

Ladies who Lunch

I took the opportunity today to attend the "Next" magazine lunch at Peppers Clearwater resort here in Christchurch. there would have been 100 or so ladies from various walks of life who were there to listen to some speakers and enjoy a great lunch.
Unfortunately due to previous arrangements I only go to hear 1 speaker Dr Libby Ellis, www.drlibby.co.nz she gave one of the most succinct talks on Hormone levels and their effect on stress mood and food I have heard for a long time. I will certainly make an effort to visit her when I am next in Auckland for a consult.

One thing that struck me though was the level of interest my fellow lunching ladies had in what it is I do as a Professional Organiser. One even made the comment "You should be up there speaking to all of us today", I would have loved to, however alas as an industry Professional Organisers are still very young and unknown. So until people hear us talk the talk then of course walk the talk, they do not get the value of what we can offer.

So a challenge for me over the next 12 months or so is to get on the next "Next" speaking lunch tour and spread the word about getting organised, how you can do it without too much stress and it's benefits. One thing that will help me with that is my book, due for release in the last quarter of 2008.

I am fast learning that speaking is my passion and speaking about getting organised is way up there on my topic of choice, so keep your eyes peeled for my name out there on the speaking circuit.

As a guest at today's one thing was clear and that is in order to be a memorable speaker you need to have passion for what it is you are speaking about, people know when you are passionate, it shows in your face and your voice and in the words you share. Dr Libby certainly had the passion and it resonated with me in a great way as it did with the other ladies at my table.

For me being able to share my passion through my blog, website, consults and speaking truly makes everyday a great one for me.

My Business wish list

I spent a few hours this morning with one of my favorite "Life Assets". Her name is Jennifer and she is extraordinary, every time I visit her we get such as buzz of motivation and creativity. We were discussing what it is we really want from our lives and our business's. As we both know that we can have and do anything we put our minds to.
Jennifer remind me that, I rarely write things down. Which is true, I hold things in my head. It works for me and I have forgotten one thing in about 10 years. However Jennifer reminded me that, if I write it down it becomes concrete, tangible and most importantly achievable. So I figured if it goes in my blog I can add accountable to that list. As if it is here every time I blog, I will see my list. So here goes:

I WANT

* 5 Organising Consultation clients per week.

* Be the Presenter on one Television series about being Organised.

* Have 1 Totally Organised Seminar per month - 100 participants @ $75 per head for a 3 hour seminar.

* Regular Paid speaker engagement from clients (minimum 2 x per month)

* Publish my 1st book (Title is a secret), and then have a series of books published.

* The Number 1 ranked Professional Organising Website in Australasia.

This list is by no means finished and at present focuses purely on my business. So I also have a personal list that I need to write down. I may share that with the blog later.

Now the fun begins, I need to put those words into action and make the plan to reach these goals that I have set.

This is where the organising comes in. These things will only happen if I put them out there and then follow the path to reach them. As a Professional Organiser some say I should find this easy, so I will. I will do this by planning my strategy, surrounding my self with the right people and energy, "Just do it", love my family and myself, and model my actions on those who are already achieving great things.

From the practical side this means:

* Scheduling my life accordingly - make appointments with myself to do the things that I need to do.

* Network - Get out there and blow my own trumpet.

* Plan my Website and find a creative like minded developer to implement it, and SOE.

* Find suitable venues for my Seminars and book them for 1 session per month for the next 12 months.

See even the organiser needs to be organised. I will be sharing with you the stories of my 5+ clients a week and how we solve their organising issues. Also I will let you know the publication date of my book, which at the moment is in concept stage, I have a title and Chapters sorted, not I need to fill the blanks.

So I will see you all soon as I head off to start my I WANT LIST becoming my I HAVE list.

Cheers

Welcome to the Organising Guru Blog

Welcome to you all, this is the first post from "the Organising Guru".

I have a wonderful job where I get to help all kinds of people get their lives in order either at home or at work. My Business is called Totally Organised, you can find it at www.totallyorganised.co.nz

I plan to share with you some of my more interesting Organising Challenges and how I helped my clients come to a solution.

Sometimes simplicity is the key, and a solution is never far away.

Getting this Blog up and running is exciting for me as I cannot wait to share with youways to become more organised in your lives.

Just so you don't think you are dealing with a Martha Stewart clone, I am not naturally organised and sometimes find being organised quiet a challenge myself.

I have a busy household with kids, pets and a husband all who at times seem to be conspiring to make being organised impossible. So I take it to mean it is OK to not be perfect, not everything will run smoothly and who cares if your beds are not made first thing in the morning.

My type of being organised is about, having time to do what really matters. Like spending time for yourself or with your family. Catching up with friends being social and not freaking out if your home does not step out of the pages of "House & Garden".

My home rarely looks perfect (I'm not sure if it ever has) but it is always open to friends and family, who can come in and feel at home. A friend once told me if your welcome is warm and loving, who cares if their are dishes in the sink. Life is more important than that.

So welcome to my Blog, and also my journey, make yourself at home and enjoy the adventure, join in of you wish and most of all dont stress about getting organised.

http://www.totallyorganised.co.nz