Newsletter – August 2009
Click on this link to access the Organizing Tips: Organizing Goals – August 2009 newsletter.
Drop-front Secretary Desk
It doesn’t have to hold envelopes…
Is the desk in the dining room where you don’t need a
place for envelopes but do need a place for teacups?
Here is a solution…put your teacups, saucers,
cutlery box, and coasters here. The point is – you can
use a piece of furniture for anything that makes sense
for your situation.
Sheet Organization
Here is an easy way to keep track of your sheets.
Take the bottom and top sheet and put them inside
the matching pillow case. Now you are ready to store
(and easily retrieve) them. *This idea comes from my
friend Liz who I think read about it in Martha Stewart.
Storage Box Series
Box with Velcro
The velcro - Put a piece of hooked velcro on one door and a piece of looped velcro on the other door. One of the pieces should be longer and stuck to the outside of the door then doubled back on itself and stuck to the inside of the door. This provides a pull mechanism which is used to open up the door.
Open Box
Before – After
Kitchen Cabinet
This project involved sorting then making the spices easily accessible.
Family Room
The key to organizing this space was coming up with a system for paper.
Closet
Much of the organizing in this closet had to do with identifying the purpose of the
closet then putting like things together.
Home Office
A number of solutions were developed:
a filing system was created for paper,
a basket was established for recycling, and
homes were found for office supplies.
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About
I wasn’t always an organizer, but I’ve always enjoyed organization. My first career was as an elementary school teacher for 13 years in Chicago. I loved thinking about how people learn and I especially loved creating spaces for that. Parents would say to me, ”your classroom is very organized, it is very reassuring, my children understand what is going on in here”.
While finishing my Masters in Integrated Teaching and Learning—the study of created culture—it struck me. I didn’t want to return to the classroom. Fortunately, I was about to see another door open, and about to find out that my new degree was perfect for what was behind that door.
One day my mother told me a story about a friend with a career I had never heard of—a professional organizer.
My jaw dropped. “That’s what I want to do”, I said.
In 2007 I started my second career as owner of Strategize Organize LLC with the same passion, interest in individual learning styles, and commitment that I had in my first. I am professionally trained, learn from other organizers, and have a vision of who I can help and how.
Since my business began, I’ve helped teachers, professors, graduate students, homeowners, apartment residents, small business owners, parents, and kids organize their spaces. The common trait that all my clients share is that they either feel stressed, frustrated, overwhelmed, or at their wits end.
My teaching background seeps in to my organizing practice in ways that absorb me and enrich my clients. Professors and teachers are a specialty—I know how teachers are continually strapped for cash, so I specialize in utilizing materials that clients already have-no need to spend money on products.
Most importantly, I realize how uncomfortable it might be for clients to have an organizer in their space. Teaching taught me to listen in a nonjudgmental way, which I aim to do in my work as an organizer.
Yes, people come to me overwhelmed, with papers askew, tasks unaccomplished. This fear or frustration isn’t a problem—I can be hopeful for them when they cannot. I believe in my clients, and our ability to make change happen.
My clients can trust me to be a kind and caring professional. I arrive on time and bring my own indoor shoes to wear in their house so that their carpet stays clean. I’ll never insist that they throw something out…I help them make that decision. They keep their self-respect, but let go of the stuff that is keeping them from meeting their goals.
Clients see results—an office where you can find your papers, a classroom that students love to come in to, and a closet that works. My clients experience change for the better, and watching that change in their lives is energizing and exciting.
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FAQ
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
1. What are the benefits of hiring an organizer?
They help you….
- be efficient – find things when you need them.
- save money and the environment – know what you have so you don’t have to buy it again.
- live or work in a peaceful space – know where things go and where to find things.
- feel less stressed – create an environment that meets your needs.
- pay bills on time – develop systems that work for you.
2. What should I expect when you come to my space?
A Professional Organizer is like any other professional working in your space in that you are not expected to fix the problem before the hired professional gets there. You are paying the professional to know and understand their job in order to help you with your situation.
3. Will you make me throw away my things?
You make decisions about your things. I will help you with this process by asking a variety of questions. A professional organizer’s job is to help the client achieve their organizing goals.
4. Do you work with people who have problems such as these…YES, I certainly do!
- My table is always covered with paper: school stuff, bills, invitations, and junk mail. I don’t know what to do with it all.
- My basement has become a place to pile stuff. I don’t even know what’s down there anymore.
- My living room is such a wreck that I don’t feel comfortable inviting people over.
- My dressers are so full that they don’t really shut and I don’t have a place to put my wallet because the tops of my dresser are covered.
- My kitchen cupboards are so disorganized that I really don’t enjoy cooking.
- I don’t have room in my closet for all my clothes.
5. What about these concerns…I CAN help you .
- I used to be organized. I don’t know what happened.
- I just need a few new organizing ideas for this room.
- I’m not sure how to organize this space.
- I know I need to get rid of some things but I’m not sure what.
- I’m wasting too much money by purchasing duplicate items.
- I spend too much time looking for things.
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Fees
FEES ARE BASED ON A VARIETY OF FACTORS:
•Time it takes client to make purging decisions.
•Amount of “homework” completed between sessions.
•Length of project and involvement of organizer.
•Type of organizing work. The organizer consults, presents, and organizes.
•Location of client. The organizer lives in ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN but also works in surrounding communities.
The organizer works in areas outside of Michigan.
LOCATIONS IN OHIO:
-Bluffton, Pandora, Lima, Findlay, Columbus Grove, Ada, and Bowling Green.
LOCATIONS IN ILLINOIS:
-Chicago.
*If a client is located in an area that is not mentioned, the organizer is open to considering other locations.
GETTING STARTED
•There is a free initial assessment.
•The client and organizer agree upon an initial set of organizing hours.
ASK ABOUT PACKAGE DEALS
• The 11-20 hour package
• The 20 plus hour package
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Testimonials
CLIENTS
“Hey susan, I just want to tell you how much I enjoy your emails (newsletters). I always read them and find them really helpful.
Many of the strategies we put into place last year are still functioning. I no longer lose checks and I’m paying all my bills on time. Thanks for helping me in a long term way.”
LH
“Yesterday was the first day of school and I can’t remember when I felt more relaxed at the beginning of the school year. I have told *everyone* about you and what a difference this has made for me. Thank you for spending the time helping me in the classroom. You truly make a difference in people’s lives.”
Teacher
“Susan brings a wealth of knowledge, a high level of integrity, and a very careful and thoughtful approach to any project. Not only is her knowledge base as a professional organizer superb, her creativity and gentle yet highly efficient coaching is effective and will make me call her again. I highly recommend Susan and her work.”
Director of Career Development
“Susan helped our team at Quest Martial Arts to tame our clutter problems and manage our systems better. She consulted with us and her suggestions proved priceless as we implemented them in a three-day cleaning rampage. We constantly heard Susan’s voice “keep things together that you do together” or “make sure everything has a home.” Susan also assisted our four-person team in making decisions and strategizing our plan. It took a daunting task and made it bite-size and successful. In fact, it was so successful, our cleaning company called us to congratulate us on our results and told us they were able to clean spaces they had previously not been able to get to. Thanks Susan!”
Donna Copeland, Owner and Instructor at Quest Martial Arts
“As a result of consultation with Susan Hunsberger, professional organizer through Strategize Organize, I developed several helpful strategies for evaluating ‘place and space’ and made appropriate changes for efficiency and appearance. Appropriate consideration was given to the value of past, present and future developments as I continue to utilize the knowledge and experience gained from Susan to provide valuable programs and resources in a welcoming center. I am reminded almost daily of our conversations as I continue to ‘embrace my space’ and ‘strategize and organize.’”
Director, Program Resource Centre
“We had experienced many trials and successes growing a company over the course of 20 years, when we looked up one day and found ourselves totally disorganized, wading through piles of paperwork, books, audios, videos, electronic files, and all kinds of stuff that didn’t have a proper place to live. We knew we needed help getting things in order so we looked online for a professional organizer in the Lima area, we found Susan, and we set up a free consultation appointment.
From the moment we met her, we liked her and knew she could help us. She is calm, collected, rational, logical, orderly, focused and very knowledgeable about organization and creating storage and file management systems. As our company was in the middle of a difficult transition period, we ended up bringing many things to our meetings with Susan that stretched beyond the boundaries of organizing a space, and Susan handled it all with grace and professionalism. She had quite a challenge working with us and she has delivered far beyond our expectations. She is heaven sent!”
Chastity
cbutterfield@thinandhealthy.com
“I asked Susan to come for a consultation to help me deal with an avalanche of papers on my desk, which included the kids’ school papers, junk mail, magazines, and bills. It was Susan’s expertise and ability to work with my unique situation that gave me the tools I needed to get started.”
M. Harnish
“There were several areas (kitchen, back-porch, kid’s bedroom, & closets) in my house that needed organizational help. Susan has a wonderful attitude that puts you at ease amidst your clutter! I learned a lot and I highly recommend her services.”
Colleen Weinberger
Chicago, Illinois
“I got married over a year ago and moved into my husband’s home and still had boxes from three previous moves that I’d never even opened! Thanks to Susan’s very patient, nonjudgmental coaching and laying out of various options, I was able to go through all of those boxes and make decisions on what to do with the items. I feel like a huge weight has been lifted from me. I also spent time asking Susan to help me have a strategy for tackling some other storage issues, and it’s spurred me on to use it at my office at work as well. Thanks a million, Susan!”
Julia Friesen
Glen Ellyn, Illinois
PROGRAM ATTENDEES-
“The examples you gave were interesting and practical. I liked your non-threatening manner of presentation.”
Joanne Niswander
“Lots of great new ideas and processes that can be easily put to use.”
Erin Wooden-Nagy
“I liked that you make flexible suggestions and seem to understand that households function differently.”
Jennifer Stewart
I liked “how we told our own organizational problems and she addressed them.”
Kristy Vondran
“You gave me some great ideas for tweaking my current organizational systems and for the “problem” areas!”
Julie McKinley
“Very personable speaker with presentation appropriate to our MOMS group.”
Carol Meyer
“I loved your style and humor in the presentation. It’s amazing how you can make a talk about organizing pretty fun.”
“Well done, informative, fun as well.”
PROGRAM COORDINATOR
“I cannot express enough how pleased we were with the service she provided the community. Susan was a pleasure to deal with in planning the program, and her orderly mindset assured me that the presentation would go smoothly.
Susan’s knowledge paired with her humor and public speaking skills made for one of the best programs we have had here at the library. We had a very good turnout, and in speaking with patrons who attended the event afterwards, it was clear that everyone had a great time and learned much more than they expected. I strongly recommend Susan to anyone that needs a professional organizer or an entertaining presenter.”
Jason Cox, PR/Programming Coordinator
Bluffton Public Library
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Services
SERVICES PROVIDED
•CONSULTING
in spaces or by phone
•SORTING and ORGANIZING
paper, things, and space
•TEACHING ORGANIZING SKILLS
during a job and for the future
•DEVELOPING ORGANIZING SYSTEMS
that work for each unique situation
•PRESENTING
30-60 minutes with time for questions
CLIENTS
- teachers
- professors
- individuals
- couples with different organizing styles
- parents
- kids
- small business owners
ORGANIZING POSSIBILITIES
Organizing systems are created to fit client needs.
Confidentiality is part of every organizing project.
•The chart below shows spaces where the organizer works and project possibilities.
| SPACES where organizer works | examples of MATERIALS to organize | project AREAS in which the items can be organized |
| elementary classrooms | math manipulative, science equipment, writing material, books, papers, files | classroom floor plan (furniture, learning centers) |
| universities | course material, notes, files, objects | professors’ offices, welcome centers |
| homes | memorabilia, tableware, cookware, laundry, clothes, boxes, toys, kids’ paper, sports equipment, decorations, mail | playrooms, closets, living rooms, kitchens, pantries, bedrooms, porches, basements, home offices |
| offices | papers, files, projects, supplies | home and small business |
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