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Articles from Lisa Montanaro | Selfgrowth.com
- Who is There to Pull You Up By Your Boots in Business? - by Submitted on Mar 23, 2012 from Lisa Montanaro"None of us got where we are solely by pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. We got here because somebody -- a parent, a teacher, an Ivy League crony or a few nuns -- bent down and helped pick us up by our boots." ~ Thurgood Marshall In the quote above, Justice Marshall was onto something ...
Views: 78 - Done is Better Than Perfect! - by Submitted on Mar 18, 2012 from Lisa MontanaroSo, 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 ...
Views: 66 - Finding the Healthy Balance of "Control" - by Submitted on Jan 18, 2012 from Lisa MontanaroAs 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 ...
Views: 71 - Organize to Minimize Holiday Chaos - by Submitted on Dec 16, 2011 from Lisa MontanaroOverwhelmed 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 ...
Views: 59 - Communication is Key to Financial Wellness in a Relationship - by Submitted on Nov 17, 2011 from Lisa MontanaroYou 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 ...
Views: 75 - Harness the Power of Technology to Boost Productivity - by Submitted on Sep 20, 2011 from Lisa MontanaroPowerful 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 ...
Views: 70 - Procrastination: Time Management’s Enemy - by Submitted on Jul 15, 2011 from Lisa MontanaroAh, 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 ...
Views: 183 - Repeat After Me: "I Resolve to Take Action on my New Year's Resolutions" - by Submitted on Dec 23, 2010 from Lisa MontanaroAh, 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 ...
Views: 185 - Do You Suffer From Temporary Organizing Paralysis? - by Submitted on Sep 21, 2010 from Lisa MontanaroAs you start the organizing journey, you may suffer from what I like to call, Temporary Organizing Paralysis. This is when you start organizing, freeze up, stare at all of the stuff and think, "Where do I begin?" "What am I going to do with all of this stuff?" Realize that it will get worse ...
Views: 341 - Do You Understand Your Own Business Agreement? - by Submitted on Jul 30, 2010 from Lisa MontanaroWhen you agree to perform services for a client, and the client agrees to pay you for such services, you and your client have entered into a legal contract, often referred to as an agreement. The terms of the agreement, however, are difficult to recall and prove unless in writing. A written ...
Views: 288(5 votes) - Organizing After the Loss of a Loved One - by Submitted on May 12, 2010 from Lisa MontanaroI 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 ...
Views: 435(1 vote) - Organizing & Marriage: 'Til Death (or Disorganization!) Do You Part - by Submitted on Apr 14, 2010 from Lisa MontanaroI'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 ...
Views: 346(3 votes) - Drowning in Paper Clutter? Grab a RAFT & Sail to an Organized Shore! - by Submitted on Mar 12, 2010 from Lisa MontanaroPaper. It should be a benign part of our lives. It means no harm, really. But somehow, when it piles up and has a paper party with its friends, it becomes dreaded clutter! What to do? Grab a RAFT and sail to an organized shore! (Okay, technically, it should be RAFTS, plural, but that just ...
Views: 424(1 vote) - Don’t Fall Into the Trap of the Shoemaker’s Shoes: Benefit From Your Own Expertise! - by Submitted on Mar 12, 2010 from Lisa MontanaroHow 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 ...
Views: 255 - What the St. Lucians Can Teach Us About Running a Successful Business - by Submitted on Mar 05, 2010 from Lisa MontanaroI 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, ...
Views: 269 - Stop the Madness: Get Off of Junk Mail Lists! - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2010 from Lisa MontanaroA 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 ...
Views: 288(2 votes) - Organizing Tips for the Entryway - by Submitted on Feb 09, 2010 from Lisa MontanaroThe 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 ...
Views: 288 - Want to Get Organized? Take a Page Out of Harry Potter - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroI 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. ...
Views: 297(1 vote) - Want to Avoid Getting Sidetracked? Own Your Interruptions! - by Submitted on Dec 20, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroImagine 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 ...
Views: 532(3 votes) - How to Survive the Daily E-Mail Attack - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroFor 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 ...
Views: 330(1 vote) - Attempting to Get Organized? Take it 'bird by Bird' - by Submitted on Dec 06, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroOne 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 ...
Views: 303(1 vote) - Know Your Limits When Taking on Volunteer Leadership Roles - Just Say No! - by Submitted on Oct 29, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroAs 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 ...
Views: 552(5 votes) - Time Management Tips: Small Steps Can Make a Big Difference - by Submitted on Oct 28, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroTime 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 ...
Views: 315(4 votes) - The Power of the Pareto Principle (aka the 80/20 Rule) - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroWhen 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 ...
Views: 471(3 votes) - To-Do Lists: You Gotta Keep 'em Separated - by Submitted on Oct 05, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroTo-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 ...
Views: 313(1 vote) - Time: The Great Equalizer - by Submitted on Sep 18, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroThe 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. ...
Views: 250(1 vote) - Multi-Tasking Decreases Productivity: Fact or Myth? - by Submitted on Sep 18, 2009 from Lisa Montanaro"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 ...
Views: 816(6 votes) - When Organizing, Trust Your Instincts! - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroI 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 ...
Views: 295(3 votes) - Coopetition: A Fantastic Way to Boost Your Business - by Submitted on Sep 07, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroBy 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 ...
Views: 410(3 votes) - Blueprint Your Business By Creating An Operations Manual - by Submitted on Aug 05, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroCan 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 ...
Views: 574(2 votes) - 11 Tips to an Organized Job Search - by Submitted on Aug 05, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroSo, 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. ...
Views: 282 - Going Legal: How to Find & Work with an Attorney for Your Small Business - by Submitted on Jul 17, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroDeciding Whether to Go Legal As a former full-time practicing attorney 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 attorney for ...
Views: 398(4 votes) - Bon Voyage: Organized Travel Planning - by Submitted on Jul 17, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroWell, 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 ...
Views: 359(2 votes) - Time is on Your Side: 10 Ways to Reinvest in Your Business During a Slow Economy - by Submitted on May 28, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroWhen 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 ...
Views: 301(1 vote) - Got Clutter? Do the Spring Fling! - by Submitted on May 28, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroSpring marks the transition from winter into summer. It is a time that most of us equate with renewal, increasing day length, and a symbolic changing of the seasons. Spring is seen as a time of growth, when new life (both plant and animal) are born. The term is also used more generally as a ...
Views: 324 - Don’t Go It Alone: It Takes a Village to Run a Successful Business - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroMeet 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 ...
Views: 219 - The Law as a Shield: Protect Yourself and Your Business - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroIs the Threat of a Lawsuit a Real Fear? As a small business owner, you may be one of the 48% concerned 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 ...
Views: 311 - 10 Ways to Protect Your Small Business - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroRegardless of what stage your business is in, chances are you can use some reminders of vital ways to protect your business. The following is a list of 10 ways to protect your business regardless of size, location, or stage of your business. Use it as a checklist to measure your business ...
Views: 293(2 votes) - “Green” Organizing: An Earth-Friendly Combination - by Submitted on Apr 23, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroWhile “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 ...
Views: 347 - Mixing Business with Pleasure: Professional Organizer + Disorganized Friend = Valuable Lessons - by Submitted on Mar 26, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroFirst, 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 ...
Views: 940(1 vote) - A Tale of Two College Roommates -- Living Together in an Organized State - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2009 from Lisa MontanaroIt 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, ...
Views: 671 - DECIDE™ to Be Organized: An Empowering Process of Change - by Submitted on Mar 22, 2009 from Lisa Montanaro“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 ...
Views: 262(1 vote) - Decide to Be Organized: An Empowering Process for Change - by Submitted on Mar 17, 2009 from Lisa Montanaro“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 ...
Views: 286(1 vote)