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Articles by Lisa Montanaro

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65 articles by Lisa Montanaro · showing 50

Browse every published article connected to Lisa Montanaro, or search within this exact expert archive.

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Going Legal: How to Find & Work with an Atto ey for Your Small Business

Deciding Whether to Go Legal As a former full-time practicing atto ey and now a small business owner, I have been on both sides of the fence when it comes to the legal issues a business owner may face. This provides me with the distinct advantage of knowing when to call in an atto ey for assistance, as opposed to using another professional, such as an accountant, financial planner, insurance agent, or business coach -- or perhaps handling the matter myself. In addition, my background helps me to select an atto ey that is the best fit for the business matter at hand.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
2,500 views3/5 (4)
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

An Alte ative New Year's Ritual – The One Word Theme

Around this time of year when we flip the calendar from one year to the next, most people make a long list of New Year's Resolutions. It is a noble idea in theory, but often in practice, doesn't amount to much. Resolutions often get cast aside and discarded, making their creators feel inadequate and unproductive. So why not skip the New Year's Resolutions altogether this time and opt for an alte ative New Year's ritual: the One-Word Theme!

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Done is Better Than Perfect!

So, you are a perfectionist. And proud of it! And in some ways, that serves you really well. You maintain high standards, delivery quality, and people value your level of expertise. But sometimes, that perfectionism is causing you stress, procrastination, and depriving the world of receiving your great ideas and content. So what to do?

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Crazy-Busy Is Not a Badge of Honor!

Do you ever wake up feeling stressed just thinking about your day? Phone calls, emails, errands, and appointments. These days it doesn’t matter how early you wake up, the fact is you will already be behind schedule. Because time in our culture is moving so fast. It's like a race to get to the end of the day so you can look back, and say “Look at all those things that I did. Now that was a busy day.” Staying busy, but not productive, is the curse of our times. As the actress Lily Tomlin so eloquently put it, "The trouble with the rat race is that even if you win, you’re still a rat."

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Blueprint Your Business By Creating An Operations Manual

Can Your Business Run Without You? What would happen to your business if you became ill for an extended period of time? Could someone else man the shop for you easily? Would you be more relaxed on vacation (or at the very least, take a vacation!) if you knew that the business could be better taken care of while you are away? Have you ever thought about hiring an employee or assistant, but are overwhelmed with the thought of training someone in all of your business systems and processes?

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Coopetition: A Fantastic Way to Boost Your Business

By now, you have probably heard the term "Coopetition." Coopetition is a contraction of the words cooperation and competition, meaning essentially cooperative competition. In the business world, coopetition means collaborating or partnering with your competitors in an innovative way so that both parties benefit. The most successful entrepreneurs realize early on that the old military adage, "To know your enemy, you must become your enemy ... Keep your friends close and your enemies even closer" applies just as well to the business world.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Time Management in a Bucket: A Creative Way to Manage Your Time

Time management has become one of those over-used terms, in my opinion, and has lost its luster. Many people think that time management an ever-elusive skill or concept that they will never master, and have just sort of given up (kind of like life-work balance, but I will save that for another article!). I think one reason for this is that time management can seem so structured and constrictive, and that can be a real turn off for people. But it doesn't have to be that way. Time management can be a bit more creative and loose, and yet still powerful and effective. Enter the Bucket Method.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Decide to Be Organized: An Empowering Process for Change

“There is no more miserable human being than one in whom nothing is habitual but indecision.” ~ Psychologist William James In my years of experience working with clients to improve their organizing systems, I have noticed a trend. Disorganized people and organizations often have difficulty ...

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Basking in the Valley of Your New Normal

There's a concept that keeps coming up lately when I'm doing coaching and consulting with my clients. It's the concept of experiencing the valley of your "new normal." It could be a huge change that you're making to your business, like adding on a new income stream, or closing down a division that no longer gets you jazzed. Or maybe it's changing careers or getting a promotion that you’ve been dying for, but are scared to death of now that you've been handed it. Maybe you're relocating, starting a new relationship, getting organized, or working on a health and fitness plan.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Stop the Madness: Get Off of Junk Mail Lists!

A large percentage of my clients face paper clutter challenges. Despite visions of a paperless society when the computer was invented, we are still inundated with paper at home and at work. One of the biggest culprits is “junk mail” — those credit card solicitations, catalogs, circulars, and the like that you don’t want or need, but that still keep coming. Experts estimate that the average person receives 41 pounds of junk mail per year. How to stop the madness?

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Time: The Great Equalizer

The phrase 'time management' has become one of the most oft-repeated phrases of our society. Almost everyone thinks they need to improve their time management skills. The problem is that most people aren't even examining what the real issue is. Instead, the average person will blame time itself. Think I am kidding? Let me demonstrate.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Organizing Tips for the Entryway

The entryway. Depending on your home, it can be an entire mud room with lots of space, a formal foyer at the front of your house, a breezeway from the garage, or a portion of a hall in a small apartment. Regardless of where it is, or its size, if it is organized, your homecoming will always be less stressful, not to mention that you may actually want to have visitors over! The following are some tips to help make your entryway more organized: - If you have a front or back hall closet, use it for everyday outer wear for the current season only.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

What Does it Mean to "Be Productive?" Different Strokes for Different Folks

Recently, I posted the following series of questions on my Facebook business page: How do you define being "productive"? Do you think of it as literally producing more? Or is it about helping you feel more in control or "balanced"? Do you tie it into impacting your bottom line and making more money? Or is that less important to you than its affect on your peace of mind?

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Time is on Your Side: 10 Ways to Reinvest in Your Business During a Slow Economy

When the economy is slow, many business owners tend to pull back. Some even throw in the towel. But what if you change your mindset, and look at this recession as an opportunity to "reinvest" in your business? If you have funds set aside for slow periods, good for you. If not, then all you have ...

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Want to Avoid Getting Sidetracked? Own Your Interruptions!

Imagine you are on a roll, engrossed in a project, in the "flow." All of a sudden, the phone rings, an e-mail alarm goes off, a colleague is standing in your doorway, a fax is coming over the machine, etc. Ah, interruptions. If you didn't define all of those as an interruption, think again. Experts estimate that the average American is interrupted 73 times per day. Some people find this number to be high, others find it extremely low. It depends on what your definition of an interruption is. My definition is anything that you didn't want to, or expect to, happen at that time.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Communication is Key to Financial Wellness in a Relationship

You often hear that money is one of the biggest reasons why people get divorced. Likewise, in business, differences over money cause many partnerships to split up. But money itself it not the problem. The problem is the lack of communication and differences in opinion as to the role that money and finances should play in a marriage, relationship, or partnership.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Bon Voyage: Organized Travel Planning

Well, summer is finally here, and for many people, that means vacation time! Whether you plan to drive, fly, or travel by other means (a cruise, perhaps?), planning ahead will help your travel experience go off without a hitch. I not only love to travel, I love to plan to travel. I can spend hours researching locales and lodging choices, preparing itineraries, packing, etc. Therefore, it seems only fitting to share some of my well-honed travel planning tips so that you can benefit from my travel planning addiction, and enjoy an organized travel experience.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Don’t Go It Alone: It Takes a Village to Run a Successful Business

Meet Your Board of Advisors Imagine a group of people that are available to bounce business ideas off of, to help you make pivotal business decisions, and to serve as a sounding board. Major corporations have a Board of Directors. Non-profits have a Board of Trustees. Why can’t the ...

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Creating an "Absolute Yes List" and "Just Say No List:" A Worthwhile Exercise for Achieving Success in Your Life, Career & Business

We all have goals -- or in New Year's parlance, resolutions. We all have visions of what we'd like our lives, careers, and business to be. For many people, thinking about what you would like to change and transform is the easy part. The tough part is actually turning those goals and visions into reality.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Organize to Minimize Holiday Chaos

Overwhelmed just thinking about the upcoming holiday season? Relax. If you take a little time to plan your holiday season, it will be more enjoyable for you and your family! Focus on practicing good organizational techniques and time management principles. Here are some tips to make the holidays enjoyable and the New Year start off in a positive manner. Set Goals

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Procrastination: Time Management’s Enemy

Ah, procrastination. Most people experience it at one time or another. Procrastination can be a deep-seated problem involving fear of failure or success, or a natural result of overload. Regardless of why you are experiencing procrastination, there are ways to overcome it! How you choose to overcome procrastination depends on the task involved, the people involved, and the underlying reason for the procrastination. Take a look at the following strategies, and see which help conquer your procrastination the next time it rears its ugly head. Get Started

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

A Tale of Two College Roommates -- Living Together in an Organized State

It is difficult enough for one person to be organized and maintain that state of organization on a daily basis. Now imagine being thrust into a living situation with a person you have never met before, who is not a relative or even a friend. A person with different sleeping, grooming, eating, ...

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Finding the Healthy Balance of "Control"

As a productivity consultant whose business is founded on the idea of making people's lives easier and more manageable, I spend nearly every day thinking about control in some sense. Control is strange when you stop to really think about it. Is it a concept? An idea? Or a goal? And is it inherently good or bad? My answer is... it depends.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

A Rare, But Powerful, Time Management Treat: Honor Appointments With Yourself!

In the world of time management, we give a lot of weight to appointments that we set with other people, or events and meetings that we have to attend. We block them out on our calendar and then we make a commitment to show up unless there is a true emergency. And that is certainly a good thing. One would say we are practicing good time management techniques.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

A Year in Review: How Do You Measure Success?

So we are coming to the end of another year. And a particularly popular exercise that a lot of people do at the end of the year is to look back and reflect on their activities, goals, and achievements to determine if the year has been a successful one. But this begs the question: How do you measure success? It seems to me that it's important to have metrics in order to measure success. But these metrics are going to be very different from person-to-person, and from business-to-business.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

The Wisdom of Creating a Not-To-Do List

As a productivity consultant, success coach, and business strategist, it is my "job" to ensure that my clients are being the most productive they can be in order to be successful. Or is it? It may come as a surprise that many of my clients seek me out not to be more productive, but to actually slow down and do less. So, does being more productive mean you have to do more, but being less productive means you are doing less?

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Organizing After the Loss of a Loved One

I have worked with many clients over the years to organize after the loss of a loved one. Living in the greater NY metropolitan area, I helped many 9-11 widows and widowers organize after losing a loved one in the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. It is an emotionally draining process. My best advice is to take it slow and go at your own pace. After the death of a loved one, some people are tempted to sift through belongings and make decisions quickly. If this feels natural to you, fine (consider checking with a grief counselor before moving too quickly through the process).

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Organizing & Marriage: 'Til Death (or Disorganization!) Do You Part

I've worked with many couples as a professional organizer over the last 7 years. Many of them are married, some are domestic partners, others just roommates, etc. My background as a trained mediator often comes in handy during these client sessions. Often, during an organizing assessment, a client will mention that another user in the home cannot maintain an organizing system (or that the other user IS the organizing problem!). When I inquire as to whether the system was created with the other user in mind, the client usually responds in the negative. Therein lies the problem.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Don’t Fall Into the Trap of the Shoemaker’s Shoes: Benefit From Your Own Expertise!

How many of us have heard the old familiar phrase, "The shoemaker's children always go without shoes?" This phrase has become synonymous with almost anyone neglecting his or her own business. We are all guilty of it now and again. We get so busy working in the business that we forget to 'mind the shop' in meaningful ways. Unfortunately, in the process, we wind up losing one of the best experts we have on staff – ourselves! So, take a step back, and hire someone with superb expertise – you. Let's say, for example, you are a financial planner, but your finances have become a mess.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

What's Your "Art"? Make Sure You Let It Out Personally or Professionally

In the amazing book The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron, she discusses the concept that all of us have an "art" that runs deep within us yearning to break out. This art can literally be an artistic talent like painting, writing, or performing, but it could also be something else entirely. It can be connecting, teaching, being funny, etc. For some people, they find this art at a very young age, and they build a career and a life around it. For others, they may find this art, but decide not to do anything with it, or fight it tooth and nail.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Still Don’t Know What You Want To Be When You Grow Up? It Ain’t Over Just Yet!

Think back to when you were just a wee little boy or girl. Do you remember the question people used to ask all of the time? “What do you want to be when you grow up?” I was thinking about that question today and realized that on so many levels, it is totally unfair! First, how in the world do we expect such a young little one to have any idea what he or she may do for a living when they grow up? Heck, most people I know, regardless of age, still have things they want to do and try in their lifetime. Lots of unfinished business, dreams, hopes, and goals floating around regardless of age.r

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

What the St. Lucians Can Teach Us About Running a Successful Business

I am always amazed at how travel can improve your business and your life. Recently, my husband and I visited the beautiful Caribbean island of St. Lucia. It was a fantastic vacation by all accounts. The island is a marvel of nature with soaring peaks, an active volcano, lush rainforests, volcanic sand beaches, etc. We stayed at a really special place called Ti Kaye Village Resort and booked through a wonderful local company named Serenity Tours. I was able to unplug from my busy life back home, and truly enjoy a tropical escape.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Know Your Limits When Taking on Volunteer Leadership Roles - Just Say No!

As an entrepreneur or any other type of business professional, you are probably often asked to take on volunteer leadership positions, such as a Board member, a committee chair, etc. These roles can be incredibly satisfying from a personal and professional standpoint. However, it is often difficult to know when to say "no" when faced with too many opportunities and too little time with regard to volunteer leadership roles. Recently, I was asked to take on two separate leadership positions for two different organizations that I am a member of.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

To-Do Lists: You Gotta Keep 'em Separated

To-do lists. Just the name of them sounds exhausting. They have become the thorn in many of my client's side. Whether they are written in long form on paper, or maintained electronically on a computer or handheld device, they cause much stress. And here's one reason why. Most people unknowingly combine their master to-do list and daily to-do list together. This one act causes the list to become lengthy and overwhelming, which in turn almost guarantees failure.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

The Power of the Pareto Principle (aka the 80/20 Rule)

When I am conducting an organizing, time management or business related workshop, I often ask if anyone has heard of the Pareto Principle. I usually get a room full of blank stares. However, if I ask if anyone has heard of the 80/20 Rule, many people nod their heads yes, and have a better idea what I am talking about. The Pareto Principle takes its name from a 19th century Italian economist named Vilfredo Pareto. In the late 1940s, business management guru Joseph M.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Attempting to Get Organized? Take it 'bird by Bird'

One of the best books on writing - and life itself for that matter - is Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott. Among the pearls of wisdom she offers in her funny, witty style, is to take baby steps. Apparently, when she was a child, her brother was facing writer's block as he attempted to write a book report on various species of birds. He was overwhelmed, realizing there was so much to do, and didn't know where to start. Her father advised her then 10-year-old brother to, "Just take it bird by bird." Wiser words were never spoken, and not just about overcoming writer's block.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Time Management Tips: Small Steps Can Make a Big Difference

Time management is a major issue for many people. And it's not getting any better. Experts estimate that during the last 25 years, our leisure time has declined by 37% while our workweek has increased by a full day. The American's Use of Time Project at the University of Maryland revealed that the average American spends more than 20 hours per week on housework. Even if you are an otherwise excellent time manager, a disorganized physical environment will steal a large amount of time and energy from your day.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

How to Survive the Daily E-Mail Attack

For most people these days, keeping up with the daily onslaught of email is a major challenge. In fact, experts estimate that e-mail has added an extra 1.23 hours to the average person's workday (E-Writing: 21st Century Tools for Effective Communication by Diana Booher; Managing Your E-Mail by Christina Cavanagh). If you multiply 1.23 hours by 5 days for 52 weeks, the average person is spending 320 hours per year of extra time handling e-mail. Wow! That is a lot of time spent on email.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Change Is Not a One Night Stand! Transformation Takes Time and Attention

I am noticing a pattern or theme that keeps coming up for many of my clients lately. They express their strong desire for change (whether it be to grow their business or improve or change something in their life or career), but that they don't "have the time" to devote to the change process. They are basically treating change like a one night stand! They will get excited about it, maybe take it out for a drink and even take it home for the night, but then in the morning, poof! They lose interest, turn their attention elsewhere, and lose change’s number.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Want to Get Organized? Take a Page Out of Harry Potter

I am a big fan of J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books. I have read all seven of them, and each time a new movie version premieres, I make it a point to re-read that book before seeing the accompanying movie. I recently re-read the sixth book in the series, Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. In Half-Blood Prince, the sixth-year students at Hogwarts are taking lessons in apparition. Apparition is a magical form of teleportation, through which a witch or wizard can disappear ("disapparate") from one location and reappear ("apparate") in another.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Consistency Trumps Commitment: Focus on Loving the Results, Not The Activity

Recently, I was preparing the garbage and recycling to bring to the curb for pick up, and my husband was watching me and chuckled "It's so funny. You really like doing the recycling, don't you?" I stopped and thought about it, and then replied, "I don't necessarily like the activity, but I love the results." And then it hit me like a ton of bricks! This simple statement can be applied to so many things! Whether it is getting organized, doing chores around the house, working on a big business or work project… you name it!

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize
Organizing and Learning How to Organize
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