Hogan Organized Living

In The News

Lake County Women’s Journal, February/March 2005

It’s Not Too Late! Resolve to Get Organized in 2005

By Marge Hogan Mackey

President, Hogan Organized Living

Tell me if I’m right. On New Year’s Day, you made your resolutions. Get fit, eat right, and reduce the stress in your life. Oh yeah, and one more: get organized at home and in the office.

So, one month into 2005, how’s it going? If you’re like most people, you’ve started slowly on this last resolution. The “stuff” in your life is still there. Towers of paperwork make your desk at work look like the Cleveland skyline. And — gasp! — don’t even think about opening that overflowing hall closet with anyone else around.

But don’t feel bad and — please, please, please — don’t give up on that resolution. Organizing around the holidays is a difficult task. You were busy and overextended. But now — yes, now — is a great time to start organizing your life.

And, trust me, organizing is well worth the effort. You’ll see changes in your life that you didn’t know were possible: you’ll be more effective and efficient at the office, more decisive and creative in your personal and professional life, and have more time to enjoy with family and friends. In other words, you’ll enhance the quality of your life. When you can stop asking yourself, “where does all my time go?” — that’s when you know that organizing has really paid off.

Undoubtedly, the next question on your mind is: where do I start? That’s a great question. And the answer depends on who you are and what you’re trying to accomplish. Certain techniques work for some, but not for others. You need to set up an organizing program that is tailored to you and your schedule.

Here’s how to start. Take a sheet of paper and identify three things. First, write down your organizing goals and be as specific as possible. For example, mark down “organize rolodex at work” or “organize front hall closet.” Limit the list to your top five priorities. Next, in your mind, go through a typical week and identify pockets of free time (or time that you can set aside) to work on these projects. For instance, mark down “Saturday mornings, 9 to 10 a.m.” or “the last 10 minutes of work before I go home each day.” Now, take a calendar and write down which tasks you’ll take care of and when. Limit yourself to scheduling this week and next.

So, will you stick to this schedule? Of course! Well… maybe! We all know that things come up, and that’s OK. But, through this little exercise, you’ve at least come to some important realizations: you know what you’d like to accomplish and how to tailor a plan that will fit your routine and work habits.

Of course, a professional organizer can help you get the best results by personally guiding you through the process and providing you with specific strategies — learned through experience — on how to get organized at the office and at home. It’s a worthy investment to hire a pro.

Speaking of strategies, here are a few things to keep in mind in 2005 when organizing your office and home. Good luck!

• Visualize the end result. Imagine what your desk will look like once it is organized. Imagine a new layout for your office that will help with workflow. When you have a vision, you can act on it.

• Work with a team. In the office, recruit your co-workers. At home, get the spouse and kids involved. When working with others, you’re more likely to get things done and meet each other’s expectations.

• Do one thing at a time. Trying to accomplish too much, too fast is a common mistake. When you try to do too much, you usually end up frustrated. Concentrate on one project and tackle that job in a task-by-task approach. Also, don’t work for too long during any one stretch. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. In the office: devote the final 10 to 15 minutes before heading home to organizing your desk. At home: pick up five loose items — no more than five — each day and put them in their proper place. You’ll be amazed after a week or two how much better things look.

• Categorize. Make it easy. Divide things — not people! — in your life (such as paperwork and mail) into three categories: immediate action; review; and trash. Once things are divided, go to work and either put it in its place, decide what to do with it, or throw it out!

• Delegate. Don’t try to do everything by yourself. When appropriate, pass the job on to others. In the office, if you have someone designated to help out, let them take over on an organizing project — and trust them to do it right! Don’t waste your time hovering over them. At home, make sure your spouse and kids chip in. Try setting aside an hour on a weekend morning for family chore time.

* * *

Hogan Organized Living is a full-service professional organizing firm serving businesses and individuals in Northeast Ohio and beyond. The company helps clients get a handle on things at home and in the office by physically organizing “stuff” and teaching effective strategies and methods for staying organized. Hogan Organized Living is dedicated to providing organizational solutions that help people lead better lives.

Marge Hogan Mackey is president of Hogan Organized Living. Organization is a natural talent that she has applied on a daily basis during her 30-year career with Fortune 500 companies and small businesses. Marge has supervised training and development at United Airlines; organized an engineering department at Rockwell Automation; managed a travel agency; and owned and operated a women’s retail clothing shop. Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Marge works with a personal network of proven tradesmen and business associates.

For more information, please call Hogan Organized Living at 216-381-5957 or e-mail mackeymm@aol.com. Visit us online at www.hoganorganizedliving.com.

* * *

“We used Hogan Organized Living to manage our interoffice moves. Ms. Mackey has been most successful in organizing work space to achieve maximum efficiency and comfort for our employees.”

Karen O’Neill

O’Neill & Associates

Chagrin Falls, Ohio

“After our recent marriage, we hired Marge to merge our two households. With great efficiency and perfection, she made what seemed an impossible task easy. We highly recommend Hogan Organized Living.”

Mike and Sallie Lewin

Beachwood, Ohio










		In The News FEATURE STORY It’s Not Too Late! Resolve to Get Organized in 2005 Lake County Women’s Journal, February/March 2005 It’s Not Too Late! Resolve to Get Organized in 2005 By Marge Hogan Mackey President, Hogan Organized Living Tell me if I’m right. On New Year’s Day, you made your resolutions. Get fit, eat right, and reduce the stress in your life. Oh yeah, and one more: get organized at home and in the office. So, one month into 2005, how’s it going? If you’re like most people, you’ve started slowly on this last resolution. The “stuff” in your life is still there. Towers of paperwork make your desk at work look like the Cleveland skyline. And — gasp! — don’t even think about opening that overflowing hall closet with anyone else around. But don’t feel bad and — please, please, please — don’t give up on that resolution. Organizing around the holidays is a difficult task. You were busy and overextended. But now — yes, now — is a great time to start organizing your life. And, trust me, organizing is well worth the effort. You’ll see changes in your life that you didn’t know were possible: you’ll be more effective and efficient at the office, more decisive and creative in your personal and professional life, and have more time to enjoy with family and friends. In other words, you’ll enhance the quality of your life. When you can stop asking yourself, “where does all my time go?” — that’s when you know that organizing has really paid off. Undoubtedly, the next question on your mind is: where do I start? That’s a great question. And the answer depends on who you are and what you’re trying to accomplish. Certain techniques work for some, but not for others. You need to set up an organizing program that is tailored to you and your schedule. Here’s how to start. Take a sheet of paper and identify three things. First, write down your organizing goals and be as specific as possible. For example, mark down “organize rolodex at work” or “organize front hall closet.” Limit the list to your top five priorities. Next, in your mind, go through a typical week and identify pockets of free time (or time that you can set aside) to work on these projects. For instance, mark down “Saturday mornings, 9 to 10 a.m.” or “the last 10 minutes of work before I go home each day.” Now, take a calendar and write down which tasks you’ll take care of and when. Limit yourself to scheduling this week and next. So, will you stick to this schedule? Of course! Well… maybe! We all know that things come up, and that’s OK. But, through this little exercise, you’ve at least come to some important realizations: you know what you’d like to accomplish and how to tailor a plan that will fit your routine and work habits. Of course, a professional organizer can help you get the best results by personally guiding you through the process and providing you with specific strategies — learned through experience — on how to get organized at the office and at home. It’s a worthy investment to hire a pro. Speaking of strategies, here are a few things to keep in mind in 2005 when organizing your office and home. Good luck! • Visualize the end result. Imagine what your desk will look like once it is organized. Imagine a new layout for your office that will help with workflow. When you have a vision, you can act on it. • Work with a team. In the office, recruit your co-workers. At home, get the spouse and kids involved. When working with others, you’re more likely to get things done and meet each other’s expectations. • Do one thing at a time. Trying to accomplish too much, too fast is a common mistake. When you try to do too much, you usually end up frustrated. Concentrate on one project and tackle that job in a task-by-task approach. Also, don’t work for too long during any one stretch. Remember, slow and steady wins the race. In the office: devote the final 10 to 15 minutes before heading home to organizing your desk. At home: pick up five loose items — no more than five — each day and put them in their proper place. You’ll be amazed after a week or two how much better things look. • Categorize. Make it easy. Divide things — not people! — in your life (such as paperwork and mail) into three categories: immediate action; review; and trash. Once things are divided, go to work and either put it in its place, decide what to do with it, or throw it out! • Delegate. Don’t try to do everything by yourself. When appropriate, pass the job on to others. In the office, if you have someone designated to help out, let them take over on an organizing project — and trust them to do it right! Don’t waste your time hovering over them. At home, make sure your spouse and kids chip in. Try setting aside an hour on a weekend morning for family chore time. * * * Hogan Organized Living is a full-service professional organizing firm serving businesses and individuals in Northeast Ohio and beyond. The company helps clients get a handle on things at home and in the office by physically organizing “stuff” and teaching effective strategies and methods for staying organized. Hogan Organized Living is dedicated to providing organizational solutions that help people lead better lives. Marge Hogan Mackey is president of Hogan Organized Living. Organization is a natural talent that she has applied on a daily basis during her 30-year career with Fortune 500 companies and small businesses. Marge has supervised training and development at United Airlines; organized an engineering department at Rockwell Automation; managed a travel agency; and owned and operated a women’s retail clothing shop. Born and raised in Northeast Ohio, Marge works with a personal network of proven tradesmen and business associates. For more information, please call Hogan Organized Living at 216-381-5957 or e-mail mackeymm@aol.com. Visit us online at www.hoganorganizedliving.com. * * * “We used Hogan Organized Living to manage our interoffice moves. Ms. Mackey has been most successful in organizing work space to achieve maximum efficiency and comfort for our employees.” Karen O’Neill O’Neill & Associates Chagrin Falls, Ohio “After our recent marriage, we hired Marge to merge our two households. With great efficiency and perfection, she made what seemed an impossible task easy. We highly recommend Hogan Organized Living.” Mike and Sallie Lewin Beachwood, Ohio

	Marge Hogan Mackey and Hogan Organized Living were featured in the Lake County Women’s Journal’s February/March 2005 issue. The Journal is published bimonthly and available throughout Lake County, Ohio.


For all of your home and office organization needs, contact Marge Hogan Mackey Phone: 216-381-5957 • E-mail: mackeymm@aol.com