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Articles by Lisa Montanaro

Browse every published article connected to Lisa Montanaro, with exact attribution and full-archive search.

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65 articles by Lisa Montanaro · showing 15

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

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

11 Tips to an Organized Job Search

So, you are searching for a new job? Perhaps you are making a voluntary career transition. Maybe you have been laid off, or worse, fired. Regardless of the reason for your career move, one fact remains true: if you are conducting a job search, it is vital that you take an organized approach. Managing this search is just like managing any other major project. You must create an infrastructure that allows you to operate in an efficient and productive manner. A successful job search requires forethought and action.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

1,661 views

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Multi-Tasking Decreases Productivity: Fact or Myth?

"To do two things at once – is to do neither." ~ Roman philosopher Publilius Syrus, 100 A.D. When we need to accomplish many tasks, we do 2-3 things at once, sometimes more. We do this in order to be more productive. Multi-tasking has basically become the American way. In fact, employers often include "multi-tasking" as one of the desirable traits they look for in job descriptions. But is multi-tasking really leading to increased productivity? According to some experts, the answer is no. Multi-tasking is generally less efficient than focusing on one thing at a time.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

2,822 views4.2/5 (6)

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

When Organizing, Trust Your Instincts!

I was working with a client recently to organize her home papers. We were purging papers that were no longer needed, and sorting the keepers into categories so that we could put them into files for future retrieval. So far, so good. My client confided that she considers herself organized at work, and actually likes a fairly clutter-free environment. She shared that at home, however, she has a really hard time dealing with paper. This is not uncommon. Some clients can maintain organizing systems at work, and not at home, while others can keep it together at home, but things fall apart at work.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

1,669 views3.3/5 (3)

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Cinderella Actually Had 3 Ugly Step Sisters: The 3 Blocks to Success

If you ask most people want they want for their career, business or life, often the word Success comes up at some point. Indeed, many of us want to be successful. So what stops some people from being successful but not others? A whole host of things. It is often said that success leaves footprints. I do believe that there are certain patterns that successful people follow -- taking action, being focused, making bold but calculated risks, finding a support system, and staying positive to name a few. But there are also some serious saboteurs that often get in the way of success.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

1,318 views

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

“Green” Organizing: An Earth-Friendly Combination

While “green” and organizing may sound unrelated, promoting green consciousness is a natural extension of the organizing process. Professional organizers enter homes and businesses on a regular basis, and armed with proper knowledge, a professional organizer can assist clients in becoming more ...

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

1,500 views

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

The Law as a Shield: Protect Yourself and Your Business

Is the Threat of a Lawsuit a Real Fear? As a small business owner, you may be one of the 48% conce ed about frivolous or unfair lawsuits. According to the U.S. Chamber Institute for Legal Reform, actual lawsuits and the fear of lawsuits cost U.S. small businesses $98 million in 2005. That ...

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

1,390 views

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Mixing Business with Pleasure: Professional Organizer + Disorganized Friend = Valuable Lessons

First, let me start by saying that, if it weren’t for my friend, Tracy, I probably would not even be a professional organizer, or at least, it would have taken longer to find the profession that is my true calling. Tracy, demonstrating the intuitiveness that I have come to know is her classic ...

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

2,674 views5/5 (1)

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

DECIDE™ to Be Organized: An Empowering Process of 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

1,027 views5/5 (1)

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Change is Good: I’ll Go First!

The only constant thing in our lives is change. However, few people like -- much less love -- changing. There are many famous quotes about change, all conveying the same general message: that change is inevitable and scary, but good. Any time we make a change in life, whether we initiated that change or it was forced upon us, we have a choice to make: to embrace it, or fight it. But what about the process that’s involved in making that choice? The change process can be extremely difficult so here are some ideas to help you through it.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

1,462 views

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Harness the Power of Technology to Boost Productivity

Powerful smart phones, computers, tablets, websites, software, blogs and social media. There are so many technology tools and gadgets these days that it is hard to keep up! On the other end of the spectrum are people that are glued to their devices, addicted to their "Crackberry." Indeed, for many people, technology has become the master. However, true technology was designed to be our servant. The following tools (some are "apps," which is short for applications for those of you that have are not as familiar with smart phone lingo) will help you harness technology to boost your productivity.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

1,504 views

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Repeat After Me: "I Resolve to Take Action on my New Year's Resolutions"

Ah, New Year's Resolutions. They come but once per year, and cause quite a stir. Indeed, people talk about their New Year's Resolutions quite freely. A small portion of people even write them down. But how many truly achieve them? The number is probably dismally small. Why? Because most people do a great job of talking about their resolutions, but don't do such a great job of taking action on them. They often set themselves up for failure by biting off more than they can chew!

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

1,498 views

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

The Power of Unscheduling Your Calendar: Giving Priority to Typically Unstructured Activities

There is a practice that I have been using for years when it comes to my schedule and how I allocate my time. It is a habit I started doing years ago because I am very calendar-focused. I pretty much put everything on my calendar. And by everything, I mean even activities that most people wouldn’t think belong on a calendar. Most people schedule in appointments and planned phone calls, both personal and professional. They also layer on social events, such as parties to attend.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

1,151 views

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Effectively Dealing with Interruptions: Don’t Break the "Flow"!

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 text message is coming through on your smart phone, etc. Ah, interruptions. If you didn’t define all of those as an interruption, think again.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

1,284 views

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

How to Maximize Your Time: 5 Powerful Tips to Become a Super Achiever

One of the greatest challenges for busy, successful and creative people juggling several projects, talents and ideas is to live a well-balanced life. If only we could do all that is on our personal and professional 'to do' lists while simultaneously attending to our health, nurturing our important relationships and taking good care of our responsibilities.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

2,080 views

By Lisa MontanaroRecently published1 topic

Want to Be More Focused & Productive? Take a Bite Out of a Tomato... Introducing The Pomodoro Technique

Most of us want to be more productive and focused. We want to get more done in less time, and work smarter, as opposed to harder. But we also live in the real world, where we have responsibilities, to-do's piling up, people relying on us, and a laundry list of tasks that we want to get to.

Primary topic: Organizing and Learning How to Organize

Organizing and Learning How to Organize

1,262 views

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