In this Issue:

Success Quote:
The wise man bridges the gap by laying out the path...

Special Promotions

B2B Article:
Get the Cow off Your Desk And the Monkey off Your Back- Part six of eight-Keep the Cow from returning

B2B Article 2:
Easier Organizing for Your New Year

Improve Productivity In Less Than An Hour

What's New:
Links to Resources and Additional Event Listings
Five New organizing team members

Testimonials:
great enthusiasm, ideas, patience and a respectful manner

Featured Business
Anti-Aging House

Holidays and Important Dates

Sponsors

Joke of the month:
Happy New Year! Resolutions You Can Actually Keep...

Workshops, seminars etc..

Organizing  Products
Priority Folders
Basic Residential Filing System
Ultimate Business Filing System
Ultimate Residential Filing System 
Vital Business Information
Vital Family Information

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Click on the graphic to vote for this page as a Hot Site.

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Tell us YOUR story!
Tell us about your organizing challenges, how being disorganized affects you, or any organizing issues that stops you from living the lifestyle you deserve. P. O. Box 16283 Phoenix, AZ  85011

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FREE on-line META Tag Analyzer

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Ask A Question
**Send the best organizing challenge/question of the month and we’ll issue you or a friend an organizing gift  (Prizes are issued monthly.)

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$50 paid to you for qualified referrals
Do you know of companies that are in need of a powerful, motivating, and humorous speaker for an upcoming program? A to Z Organizing Pros® is  currently paying $50 for any referrals that turn into paid speaking engagements. Simply contact us with your information. All we need is a  contact name, name of the organization or company, phone number, and any details about them you can provide and we'll do the rest.

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Holidays and Important Dates January 2007
January Monthly Observances

Book Blitz Month
Celebration of Life Month
Cervical Cancer Screening Month
Coffee Gourmet International Month
Family Fit Lifestyle Month
Financial Wellness Month
International Creativity Month
International Life Balance Month
International New Year's Resolutions Month for Businesses
International Quality of Life Month
International Wealth Mentality Month
Jump Out of Bed Month
Learn Spanish Month
National Be On-Purpose Month
National Clean Up Your Computer Month
National Get Organized Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Lose Weight, Feel Great Month
National Mail Order Gardening Month
National Mentoring Month
National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month
National Poverty in America Awareness Month
National Radon Action Month
National Returns Month
National Skating Month
Oatmeal Month

January Weekly Observances

Diet Resolution Week: 1-7
New Year's Resolutions Week: 1-7
Silent Record Week: 1-7
Women's Self Empowerment Week: 1-7
Someday We'll Laugh About This Week: 2-6
Celebrate the Circus Week: 7-13
Home Office Safety and Security Week: 7-13
National Thank-Your-Customers Week: 8-12
National No Tillage Week: 10-13
Cuckoo Dancing Week: 11-17
National Skating Week: 14-22
International Printing Week: 14-20
National Fresh Squeezed Juice Week: 15-19
Week of Christian Unity: 18-25
Healthy Weight Week: 21-27
Hunt For Happiness Week: 21-27
Bald Eagle Appreciation Days: 20-21
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Week: 27-2/3
National Creative Frugality Week: 21-27
National Handwriting Analysis Week: 21-27
National Nurse Anesthetists Week: 21-27
National Take Back Your Time Week:21-27
Women in Blue Jeans Week: 21-27
National Medical Group Practice Week: 22-26
No Name Calling Week: 22-26 Link
Catholic Schools Week: 28-2/3
Groundhog Days: 31-2/4

January Daily Observances

January 1 New Years Day
January 1 New Year's Dishonor List Day
January 1 Universal Hour of Peace
January 1 Z Day
January 2 Happy Mew Year for Cats Day
January 2 55-MPH Speed Limit Day
January 2 National Personal Trainer Day
January 3 Earth at Perihelion
January 3 Memento Mori "Remember You Die" Day
January 3 National Write to Congress Day
January 3 National Chocolete Covered Cherry Day
January 3 Tolkien Day
January 4 Dimpled Chad Day
January 4 Trivia Day
January 5 National Second Hand Wardrobe Day
January 5 Epiphany or Twelfth Night
January 6 Fruitcake Toss Day
January 7 I'm Not Going To Take It Anymore Day
January 8 Jackson Day
January 8 Midwife or Women's Day
January 8 National Clean Off Your Desk Day
January 8 National English Toffee Day
January 8 National Joy Germ Day
January 8 Organize Your Home Day
January 8 Show and Tell Day at Work
January 8 Thank God It's Monday Day
January 8 The King's Birthday (ELVIS)
January 9 Balloon Ascension Day
January 10 National Cut Your Energy Costs Day
January 12 National Pharmacist Day
January 12 Stephen Foster Memorial Day
January 12-13 Eagle Days
January 13 Penguin Awareness Day
January 14 Ratification Day
January 15 Champion of the Month Day
January 15 Humanitarian Day
January 15 Martin Luther King Jr. (1929-1968)
January 16 Appreciate A Dragon Day
January 16 Nothing Day
January 16 Prohibition Remembrance Day
January 16 Religious Freedom Day
January 17 Valerie Simpson's Birthday (Founder, A to Z Organizing Pros®)
January 17 Customer Service Day
January 17 Judgment Day
January 18 Get to Know Your Customers Day
January 18 Maintenance Day
January 18 Pooh (Winnie The) Day
January 20 Fancy Rat and Mouse Day
January 20 Inauguration Day
January 20 Islamic New Year Day
January 20-21 RV Workers and Workampers Days
January 21 National Disc Jockey Day
January 21 National Hugging Day
January 21 Squirrel Appreciation Day
January 21 World Religion Day
January 22 Answer Your Cats Questions Day
January 22 Better Business Communication Day
January 22 Celebration of Life Day
January 23 National Handwriting Day
January 23 National Pie Day
January 23 National Speak Up and Succeed Day
January 23 Rid The World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day
January 23 Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day
January 24 Belly Laugh Day
January 24 National Compliment Day
January 25 A Room of One's Own Day
January 25 Women's Healthy Weight Day
January 26 Fun at Work Day
January 26 National Peanut Brittle Day
January 26 Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement
January 27 Holocaust Memorial Day
January 27 National Activity Professionals Day
January 27 Thomas Crapper Day
January 29 Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day
January 29 Freethinkers Day
January 30 Inane Answering Message Day
January 31 Inspire Your Heart with Art Day

Holidays are listed at:
http://www.earthcalendar.net/  and  http://www.brownielocks.com

Success Quote
"The wise man bridges the gap by laying out the path by means of which he can get from where he is to where he wants to go."  John Pierpont Morgan

Special Promotion National Get Organized Month (1/3 OFF your organizing session scheduled for any day this month) It's time to get uncluttered and organize your spaces. Start by donating anything that you don't REALLY love, need or find of high value. You must mention this promotion when scheduling. Call NOW 602-674-2649 (*Valid in the Phoenix Metro Area Only)

Special Promotion January 2-6 Someday We'll Laugh About This Week (Because we care just ask and we'll do a complimentary organizing and efficiency presentation for group of 25 or more booked this week) Learning to prioritize and how to use the right tools for you will allow you more freedom to do what you love and gain peace of mind.  By working effectively you can have confidence in your future profits and still have time to do what you desire and deserve.  Learn ways to effectively deal with and significantly reduce stress and minutiae. A $300.00 savings, call now 602-674-2649  (*Valid in the Phoenix Metro Area Only)

Special Promotion January 8 National Clean Off Your Desk Day  (FREE file system for session booked this day!) It's time to clean out all that paper that you really don't need. Remember, if it's not auditable you can throw it out. You must mention this promotion when scheduling.  (*Valid in the Phoenix Metro Area Only)

F R E E  Gift Certificate for Everyone
What? A Gift Certificate at no charge? YES, that's right
A to Z Organizing Pros® will provide you with a gift certificate in your choice of any denomination. A to Z Organizing Pros® retains the right to change the services offered and the gift certificate format at anytime. Your credit card will not be billed until the gift certificate is presented and used for products and/or services. (Only valid within the continental United States.) Please visit our web site to request yours TODAY!
www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/form_contact_ou.htm  

Testimonial
"Danielle has brought a great enthusiasm, ideas, patience and a respectful manner to a great variety of organizing tasks I have asked of her. she is terrific in both the office and the home environment." Monica A. - Philadelphia, PA

"I especially appreciated Valerie's sensitivity to my emotions and patience with my indecisiveness! Valerie listened, truly listened, and heard! She was most helpful in keeping me focused. What incredible nudging!" I will definitely refer her to others." Jacqueline D. - Librarian in Phoenix, Arizona

"Michelle was very professional, quick and the results were incredible. I had so many paper clutter issues and Michelle was able to teach me how to accomplish my goals by showing me quick and easy solutions while taking huge piles of papers and sorting through them, organizing them and having a system to keep it that way with little or no effort." Kristine J.  - Long Beach, CA

B2B Article
Get the Cow off Your Desk And the Monkey off Your Back- Part Six of Eight
It’s all about paper flow and time management

Keep the Cow from returning
Of course, it’s easy for that belligerent bovine to climb back up on your desk. All you have to do is let the paper start to accumulate again, without handling it and moving it along. So at least once a week, take all the paper you have and file it again.

Time and motion experts say we handle a typical piece of paper eight to ten times before we finish dealing with it. The ultimate goal is to handle everything just once, but of course that’s not always possible. When you ask the right question, you’ll probably cut the number of times you handle paper in half. Your paper should flow across your desk.

In order to flow, it has to move. So here’s the question to ask, each time you pick something up: “What can I do with this paper to keep it flowing across my desk?” You’ll find a number of options spring to mind.

I recommend that you use the OHIO and D-FAT systems regularly. Remember to keep the paperwork flowing, always in motion.

You can also use a set of “active” desk files for the most critical things. I call this “The Priority Folder System (The solution to your Inbox nightmare)” They’re brightly colored vinyl, guaranteed to last on the job as long as you do (even longer!), and you can create a system to make active files easily accessible.

I labeled them (on the front side, of course, using the Simpson Shuffle) To File, To Do, Bills Due, Urgent, Pending and To Read. You may create your own or purchase a set from our Web site. They are vinyl, already labeled and built to last.

Keep these files in an easily accessible location. You may decide to put them in an incline desktop file rack on your desktop, or in the front of a nearby file drawer in a hanging folder. Then when something arrives on your desk, you have an easy system for prioritizing and just place it in the appropriate folder.

The durability of these folders makes them portable, too! If you’re headed out to a meeting, or leaving town and going to the airport, grab the folders you need and put them in your briefcase. I particularly like taking the To Read file with me when I travel or go on appointments. Too often, we neglect the part of the job that requires us to stay informed and current.

How many times have you been waiting for someone or something and there you are reading a magazine that has no interest or value? Wouldn’t it be nice to have your reading materials with you so that you can utilize that “down time” for something useful to you or your career?

continued next month....look for part seven.  NOTE* Would you like to have the entire chapter in book form including other chapters from other Executive coaches? (Click here for more information on the Power Tools Book and how to order.)

B2B Article 2
Easier Organizing for Your New Year

Use these New Years organizing tips whether you have a file 'system' - or not!

In January set up a Tax Box to hold all your 2006 tax documentation. Set up an archive box (for a lot) or a file tray (for a little) marked Taxes 2006. While sorting your mail put all 1099's, W-2's, business related receipts and any tax-related material in it.

You can set up file pocket folders in your Tax Box for Forms, and Personal, Business/Employer, or Investment/Real Estate documentation. Many people create His, Hers, Ours, and IRS folders in addition to their financial files.

If you have a filing system, but, you're bogged down in old records: Pull last year's financial files (e.g., bank statements) and business or employment expenses (e.g., receipts) and income (e.g., invoices) or any tax-related item. Sort prior years' tax and legal or financial documents into boxes marked by year.

As you are taking 2006 files out of your office system, make the replacement 2007 file folders for all of your regular home and personal business or financial (e.g., credit cards) and legal (e.g., insurance) documents.

Now, you have separate files for current financial documents in the New Year and a working Tax Box for April 15th that will become your Tax Archives.

If you do not have a working file system for your Home, Small Business, or Business with Employees, let me recommend the shortest distance between chaos and a fully indexed color-coded file system.

75 % of all home and small business filing systems are the same. Look online for a pre-designed file system. You'll spend more money driving to the store and buying blank labels and supplies than it costs you if you use the pre-designed file system that matches your needs.

I like quickly setting up the standard 75%, and then customizing the blank labels for new titles in my client's file system. Using these pre-designed file systems with (or without) a professional organizer makes it easy to save your time and money.

I recommend you select and set up files for 2007 that fit your needs. Then, follow the same tax and archiving tips above for the working file system - because now you have one.

Just setting up the Tax Box will help you start the New Year out right, but it's no substitute for an ongoing paper management system after April 15th.

By: Eve Abbott (edited)

Improve Your Level Of Efficiency & Productivity In Less Than An Hour
Schedule your company's Lunch 'n' Learn today! You provide the Lunch; she'll provide the Learn. A 45-minute presentation geared toward helping individuals to discover ways to be more efficient in their work environments.

A questionnaire is sent out 2-6 weeks in advance of the Lunch 'n' Learn for participants to complete. The seminar is then geared directly toward the needs of the group.  

We may present for groups of any size with pricing at $15-$30 per person with a minimum of 10 people (Travel and lodging may apply). Contact us at 602-ORGANIZE or 602-organize (602-674-2649)

What's New at A to Z Organizing Pros®
Five New Nationwide Organizing Team Member Joined Us In October
* * * Danielle O.  12/06 Conshohocken PA (Metro Area - Philadelphia, PA)
Residential organizing: offices, relocations, renovation/additions, party/holiday planning, schools, artist/crafters, retirees, greenhouses, students, physically challenged, space planning, accounts payable. Business organizing: offices, filing systems, accounts payable, scheduling/time management, contact management, paper management.
Professional Organizer since 2001
"Danielle has brought a great enthusiasm, ideas, patience and and a respectful manner to a great variety of organizing tasks I have asked of her. she is terrific in both the office and the home environment." Monica A. - Philadelphia, PA
Affiliations: National Association of Professional Organizers
Organizing in: Pennsylvania tri-state area, including East Earl, PA - Lititz, PA - Philadelphia, PA - Reading, PA

* * Lisa D.  12/06 Cosby, MO 64436 (Metro Area - Mo, St. Joseph)
Residential organizing: Attics/Basements/Garages/Storage, Bathroom Bedrooms/clothes drawers Car Clothes Closet Dining Room Electronic Filing Systems Entry/Front Hall Kid's Room Living/Family/Great Room Paper Filing Systems Closet Organizing Kitchen/Pantry Office (Non-Business) Other Rooms, please list INFORMATION- Electronic Only Household Papers Inventory Paper & Electronic SPACE- Closet Design and Installation Feng Shui SPECIAL- Author/Writer Collections/Memorabilia/Photographs Estate Organizing Estate Sales/Garages Group Training Moving/Relocation Personal Coach Public Speaking Time Management Coaching. Business organizing: full in home or out of home office organization, speaking, time management
Professional Organizer since March 2005
Affiliations: National Association of Professional Organizers American Business Women's Association Masters Degree in Community/Agency/School counseling. "Lisa is an exceptional and professional organizer. Her recommendations were appropriate for my needs. Additionally, her follow up and periodic check in's with me keeps me on task." Latriana R. - St. Joesph, MO
Organizing in: Lansing, KS - Lenexa, KS - Olathe, KS - Overland Park, KS - Blue Springs, MO - Excelsior Springs, MO - Gladstone, MO - Grandview, MO - Independence, MO - Lee's Summit, MO - Liberty, MO - Raytown, MO - Maryville, MO - North Kansas City, MO - Platte City, MO - Rockport, MO - Savannah, MO - Smithville, MO - St. Joseph, MO - Sugar Creek, MO

Our New Affiliates
* * Carole W.  12/06  Phila, PA (Metro Area - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
Residential organizing: Attics/Basements/Garages/Storage/Bedrooms/clothes drawers/Clothes Closet/Dining rooms/Entry/Front Hallway/Kids Rooms/Living Rooms/Home Offices/Kitchens/Pantries/Closet organizing/Collections. Business organizing: Home Offices
Organizing in: Ardmore, PA - Bala Cynwyn, PA - Cherry Hill, NJ - Elkins Park, PA - Glen Mills, PA - Havertown, PA - King of Prussia, PA - Lafayette Hills, PA - Lansdowne, PA - Marple, PA - Media, PA - Narberth, PA - Philadelphia, PA - Plymouth Meeting, PA

* * * Heidi G.  12/06  Portland, ME (Metro Area - Portland, ME)
Residential Organizing (Kitchen, Living room, Bedroom, etc.) - Home Office - Clutter Control - Paper Management - Work with individuals who have ADD/ or who are Chronically Disorganized
Professional Organizer since June 2005
Affiliations: NAPO-National Association of Professional Organizers NSGCD-National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization
"Heidi is quick to survey a situation accurately & respond to it appropriately. I have hired her for several organizational projects, the latest being the home office. She has guided my moving from an apt. to a house, found additional resources for me to use, outside, etc." Judith C. in South Portland, ME
Organizing in: Biddeford, ME-Cape Elizabeth, ME- Gorham, ME-Portland, ME-Scarborough, ME- South Portland, ME- Westbrook, ME-Windham, ME

Berwick, ME (Metro Area - Portland, ME)
 Residential organizing: Hands-On attics, basements, garages, storage---Hands-on bathrooms/clothes drawers, clothes closet, dining room, entry/front hall, kids' room, family/great room, paper filing systems, closet organizing, workshops and public speaking.
 Professional Organizer Since February 2006
 Affiliations: NAPO
"Maggie has an approach that is very patient and geared toward identifying the obstacles to being organized and making the new organization work in the long term." Dina C. - Chester, NH
 Organizing in: Alfred, ME - Berwick, ME - Biddeford, ME - Cape Neddick, ME - Kennebunk, ME - Kittery, ME - Kittery Point, ME - Moody, ME - North Berwick, ME - Ogunquit, ME - Portland, ME - Saco, ME - Sanford, ME - South Berwick, ME - South Portland, ME - Wells, ME - York, ME - York Beach, ME - York Harbor, ME - Barrington, NH - Bedford, NH - Candia, NH - Chester, NH - Dover, NH - Epping, NH - Exeter, NH - Greenland, NH - Hampton, NH - Hampton Falls, NH - Lee, NH - Madbury, NH - Manchester, NH - Newmarket, NH - Newington, NH-  Newmarket, NH - North Hampton, NH - Nottingham, NH - Portsmouth, NH - Raymond, NH - Rochester, NH - Rollinsford, NH - Rye, NH - Somersworth. NH - Stratham, NH

Links to Resources and Additional Event Listings
We recently added a new page to our web site to include some of the most sought after information for building your network of contacts. These resources can help you build your contacts for your family, business or just to get more involved in your community. Your feedback about these resources and the usefulness of this page is appreciated.
Links-SmallBusinessResources

Sponsors
A sponsor is a person or company that actively promotes or has assisted in building A to Z Organizing Pros® by giving a portion of their services to promote company growth.
      *Ellen Antill, life coach for women, Coaching for Authentic Life (602) 565-5151
      *Faith Pagdon, AZ Home Specialist, Rely On Faith!  More than just another real estate agent. Your agent in the east valley 602-790-1642
      *Caroline King, Personal & Professional Effectiveness with Strategic  (602) 242-5636
      *Phyllis Chunn, Independent Associate with Pre-paid Legal Services, Inc. Legal Empowerment for your life. (623) 695-1733
For information about contacting one of our sponsors, to become an A to Z Organizing Pros® sponsor or to advertise in our monthly “Organizing You eNews” please contact us at 602-674-2649. 

For information about becoming a preferred business or to advertise in our monthly “Organizing You eNews” please contact us at 602-674-2649. 

Joke of the month
Happy New Year! Resolutions You Can Actually Keep...

Are you sick of making the same resolutions year after year and yet you never keep them? Here are some resolutions that you can actually accomplish! Enjoy! :-)

10. Read less.

9. I want to gain weight. Put on at least 30 pounds.

8. Stop exercising. Waste of time.

7. Watch more TV. I've been missing some good stuff.

6. Procrastinate more.

5. Drink. Drink some more.

4. Start being superstitious.

3. Spend more time at work.

2. Stop bringing lunch from home: I should eat out more.

and last but not least...

1. Take up a new habit: maybe smoking!

Courtesy of friends of Organizing You News, www.jokes.com and www.ahajokes.com

Workshops, seminars & training services
visit: www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/Workshops_and_Seminars.htm
Learning to prioritize and how to use the right tools for you will allow you more freedom to do what you love and gain peace of mind.  By working effectively you can have confidence in your future profits and still have time to do what you desire and deserve.  Learn ways to effectively deal with and significantly reduce stress and minutiae.

Advertising with us
F R E E  Promotion of your business
A to Z Organizing Pros® is looking for helpful business-to-business success building information.   We would like to publish your business informational article in our monthly “Organizing You eNews”. 

Write and article - The type of article A to Z Organizing Pros® is looking for is information that is directed to and for business owners to use to improve their business operations.  Ideas for article may cover such topics as advertising, finance, health benefits, employee benefits, workplace efficiency, marketing, networking opportunity preparation, business secrets and any information that you have used in your business and believe will help another business to be successful.

Simply write an article of 300 words or less in your area of expertise.  Submit it to A to Z Organizing Pros®.  Place your article in the comments section. All articles will be reviewed for appropriate content.  Your name and company link to your web site or your name and telephone number will be displayed at the end of the article. Simply complete the online form at www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/form_contact_ou.htm .

Your business informational article may only be accepted in email form by our staff.  Articles must be submitted by the 15th of the month to be considered for the following months publication.

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“TOOT YOUR HORN” - FREE For Clients Of A to Z Organizing Pros® To Promote Business
Current and previous A to Z Organizing Pros® clients may be featured as the “Business of the Month” send in 300 words or less.  Submit information you would care to share with the “Organizing You News” Newsletter readers.  All information submitted will be reviewed for appropriate content.  Your name and your business name and contact information will be displayed at the beginning of your article.  Simply complete the online form at www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/form_contact_ou.htm

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Advertising in our Monthly eNewsletter and Online Marketing

The "Organizing You News" newsletter is distributed monthly to over 4,500 email subscribers and is printed quarterly and distributed to over 100 new businesses. The newsletters are all archived on the A to Z Organizing Pros® Web site for review at any time by our over 200,000 Web site visitors per year.

PLATINUM -  $400.00 Billed Annually  This package includes GOLD, SILVER and BRONZE. A $500.00 Billed Annually  value.  All advertising displayed is business card size. Your name and company link to your web site or your name and telephone number may be displayed in the ad.

GOLD - $300.00 Billed Annually  Posting in the "Organizing You News" monthly newsletter ONLY.

BRONZE - $100.00 Billed Annually  Posting of your Web site link and brief description (256 characters or less) of your business on the "Link-Exchange" page. PLEASE NOTE* Your link may be placed on this page FREE as an EXCHANGE when our link is on your Web site.

Our "Link Exchange" page has links from business we believe would benefit our clients.

Simply complete our "Contact Us" form.  In the comments section let us know the advertising plan of your choice. Once we receive your request we will contact you by email to confirm your information and have you send your logo as a GIF. We will then invoice you and publish your information once payment has been received. You may contact our advertising department at 602-674-2649 today for more information.