What does a professional organizer do?
Millions of people struggle with chaos from a lack of organization in their homes, their office, and their various systems of life. A professional organizer is a an individual who helps people organize the various areas of everyday life by coaching, training, and offering tips to help control clutter and chaos. Much like a personal trainer helps people with their weight and health goals, a professional organizer helps people organize both their physical surroundings and their lifestyles when they have become too overwhelmed to tackle the job themselves. As a business concept, professional organizing is fairly new. The National Association of Professional Organizers was formed in 1985 and serves as a professional organization that serves its members by offering networking, business solutions, and training through seminars. Many people now choose to become professional organizers as a full-time career. An individual who becomes a professional organizer is often drawn to the idea through
A Professional Organizer uses his/her organizing skills to help organize your environment. Some of the areas that a Professional Organizer may specialize in include: Residential Organizing, Office Organizing, Time Management, Filing Systems, Personal Assistant, Events Planner, Decorating/Staging, Money Mangement, Relocation, Seminars, etc.
A Professional Organizer (PO) assists people and organizations to improve their unique situations, as defined by their specific needs. We create customized solutions to increase the efficiency of any home, office or individual. POs help clients find balance, restore order and maximize their time and resources.
I would like to dispel some of the myths about professional organizers. We are all neat freaks! We are not! I can attest to that fact. Organized is not always neat and neat is not always organized. What I mean by that is if you can find what you want when you need it, does it matter if it’s pretty? As long as it works for you – that’s what counts. The 2nd myth is that we will judge you! You think we are like your mother-in-law coming through with the white gloves and thinking to ourselves “how do people live like this?” The opposite is true for me. I know people today are overwhelmed as many are two income families with children and pets and after school activities etc. What makes Time to Get Organized different is that we relate to our clients and make them feel at ease. The 3rd myth is that we tell all our friends and neighbours about your clutter and your business. As professional organizers, being a member of POC (Professional Organizers in Canada) – we are bound by a code of ethic
Lately, I have been answering that question a lot as I renew acquaintances with folks that I have not seen in a number of years. One acerbic fellow said, AI have seen those TV shows. I know what you do. You go in to somebody=s home and bully them into getting rid of things. You move a few things around and then you leave. I bet the place goes back to the same mess it was to begin with.@ I could only reply, AThat=s not what we do.@ It is not what any good professional organizer does. The TV shows are encapsulated sound bites and snapshots of the process that give a brief look at the beginning and the end of what can be a sometimes tedious operation. Recording every hour of work wouldn=t make for very good television. Consequently, some people have skewed ideas about professional organizing. What does a professional organizer really do? The quick answer is that he assesses, plans, implements and evaluates systems that promote an organized lifestyle. While he is doing that he communicates
