What's Your Best Organization Tip?

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Discussion Overview

This thread explores various organization tips shared by participants, focusing on methods for managing paperwork, recipes, and digital tools. Participants express their personal experiences and preferences regarding organization strategies.

Discussion Character

  • Anecdotal
  • Opinion-based

Main Points Raised

  • One participant, identifying as a consultant, emphasizes the importance of keeping notes in a consistent place, suggesting that writing things down is crucial.
  • Another participant shares their experience of organizing paperwork with a color-coded filing system, noting the challenge of managing paperwork but finding satisfaction in having a more organized space.
  • Several users mention the benefits of going electronic, with one participant highlighting the efficiency of syncing devices like the iPhone with their calendar and contacts.
  • One participant discusses their struggle with organizing recipes, mentioning various methods such as binders and recipe boxes, and the practice of dating new recipes to manage their collection.
  • Another participant expresses frustration with their previous Blackberry, indicating that the costs associated with using its features were not worth it for their needs.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Views differ on the best methods for organization, particularly regarding digital versus physical systems. Some participants advocate for electronic solutions, while others prefer traditional methods like binders and filing systems. No clear consensus emerges on a single best approach.

Contextual Notes

Participants share personal anecdotes and experiences, reflecting a range of organizational challenges and solutions within their roles as Pampered Chef consultants.

Who May Find This Useful

Consultants looking for diverse perspectives on organization strategies may find this discussion helpful as they navigate their own methods for managing business-related tasks and materials.

twinkie10
Gold Member
Messages
468
What's your best Organization tip?
 
Re: OrganizationI'm sorry... can you speak English please? I don't understand that long, funny looking word that starts with "O"....
 
Re: Organization1. Keep it simple.

2. Make sure you have a consistent place (online notepad, calendar, notebook, etc...) where you jot down all your notes.
NEVER THINK YOU WILL REMEMBER IT, WRITE IT DOWN

Great chinese saying:
The palest ink is better than the sharpest memory!

Debbie :D
 
Re: OrganizationOne word: Jilleysue
LOL
 
Re: OrganizationGet your paperwork organized with a good filing system. If you like, I can post my filing list that I use. I have my PC stuff in orange folders and they are in one drawer of my filing cabinet and all my other stuff is in boring brown folders and in another drawer of my filing cabinet.

I have found that organizing my paperwork was the most challenging. There is still more that I have to do, but at least it is down to just a small pile! It's nice to be able to go to a folder and find exactly what I need in a few short seconds! :)
 
Re: OrganizationHAHAHAHA. Tooo Funny
1. Label Everything
2. Keep as much Electronic as you can. You don't need 100 copies of every single thing.
3. On that note, keep your folders on your computer organized and back up, back up, back up. I do this daily.
4. Every 6 months, do a clean sweep. Out with the old, in with the new. Like season cleaning.
5. Use an online calendar. I use my iphone or ipod and sync it every day to my computer. Greatest invention ever. Going more electronic has saved literally hours of searching for things from my day. You have no idea.
6. Keep your desk free of paperwork. Mine has none on it. Everything is in a file drawer and I pull it out as I work on it. I'll take a picture of my work desk for you guys. I learned this tip from a Japanese book I was reading on organization.


Here are my top 6 tips. I'll try to think of more but these really make a difference.
 
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Re: OrganizationHere are the pictures of my office with the no paper on desk unless you use it approach. :chef:
 

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Re: OrganizationHi Jilleysue!

Nice to see you this morning!
 
Re: Organization
KellyTheChef said:
Hi Jilleysue!

Nice to see you this morning!

Nice to see all of you. I knew conference just came up, so I had to see how much fun everyone had...LOL. :)
 
Re: OrganizationWow, Jillysue! I love your office!!! :love: I have a question for you. I have been debating going electronic (I love gadgets!) but just can't quite get there....still a little nervous. What would be your suggestion for making the "plunge"?

Oh, sorry for the hijack! :o

hehe...notice only 50 more posts 'til I get my star!! :D
 
Re: OrganizationGreat question! I would to hear the answer as well.
 
Re: OrganizationWell I have been the gadget queen and my problem is I have to have every gadget and then it has sooo much software and things you have to install or sync or do that I lose interest or patience. I really can't answer with the idea that I have tried every PDA, but the one thing that I absolutely love is my IPHONE. It was the easiest thing to install and I sync it every day to my microsoft outlook. Greatest thing ever. There is no entering contacts anymore, they all sync. All my appointments sync. Everything is done. If I ever lose my phone, all my information is in my outlook. My google mail, aol mail and work mail is all in one place. The internet is there. I see a lot of vendors at work using blackberries etc, but the buttons are just too small for me. I love the iphone. I love having my music, camera and work all in one place. I dont have to carry around 6 electronics. If I go on vacation of course I bring my good camera, but if I need my camera in a hurry, its right there and it syncs the next time, I hook to my computer. AWESOME. Organization at its best!!!
 
Re: OrganizationAwww, I didn't even notice, you guys were typing in purple...LOL
 
Re: OrganizationI'm a little jealous about the iPhone. Just got it here in Canada, but it's pretty expensive and the plan offered by Rogers is not great at all. So, no iPhone for me....for now. Been looking at the blackberry pearl though, but would cost too much to buy, 'cause I'm not getting a great deal from my service provider if I do the switch over. I guess one of these days, I'll just bite the bullet!! :)
 
Re: OrganizationI am still trying to figure out how to organize my recipes...other and PC. Any ideas?
 
Re: OrganizationI thought I loved my Blackberry. Until the other day when I realized to actually use the features that I wanted to use just once in a while (I don't need to check e-mail or the internet on my phone since I'm home all day) I had to have a $30 per month blackberry package on top of my cell service. I was so ticked. Dropped that phone like a hot potato. :)
 
Re: Organization
pkd09 said:
I am still trying to figure out how to organize my recipes...other and PC. Any ideas?

Yep, that's been a struggle for me too. One day I put them all in a binder, the next, I decide to put them in a recipe box! Ah, the dilema (sp?)!!

For the PC recipes that come with the products, I have them all in a file box. I usually rip off the care instructions and put them in a seperate box, alphabetized by product name.

The rest of my recipes are between books, binders and I have a recipe box for recipes I use more often.

One tip I learned is, when I cut a recipe out of a magazine or something, I put today's date on it. When I'm cleaning up my recipe collection, if I haven't tried the recipe in say 6 months or a year, I throw it out, 'cause chances are I'll never make it!
 
Re: Organization
crystalscookingnow said:
I thought I loved my Blackberry. Until the other day when I realized to actually use the features that I wanted to use just once in a while (I don't need to check e-mail or the internet on my phone since I'm home all day) I had to have a $30 per month blackberry package on top of my cell service. I was so ticked. Dropped that phone like a hot potato. :)

Yeah, I keep asking myself if I would really need to check my email that bad! Probably not!! I'd be better off getting iPod Touch and accessing WiFi to do that.
 
Re: Organization
PChefPEI said:
Yep, that's been a struggle for me too. One day I put them all in a binder, the next, I decide to put them in a recipe box! Ah, the dilema (sp?)!!

For the PC recipes that come with the products, I have them all in a file box. I usually rip off the care instructions and put them in a seperate box, alphabetized by product name.

The rest of my recipes are between books, binders and I have a recipe box for recipes I use more often.

One tip I learned is, when I cut a recipe out of a magazine or something, I put today's date on it. When I'm cleaning up my recipe collection, if I haven't tried the recipe in say 6 months or a year, I throw it out, 'cause chances are I'll never make it!


I used to do this....but after a while, that too got to be overwhelming - so many products!

Now, after reading them, I just toss them - all of the info is on the website.
 
Re: Organization
ChefBeckyD said:
I used to do this....but after a while, that too got to be overwhelming - so many products!

Now, after reading them, I just toss them - all of the info is on the website.

Good point Becky! Could be one other little thing for me to "declutter"! :)
 
Re: Organization
PChefPEI said:
Good point Becky! Could be one other little thing for me to "declutter"! :)

Yeah, I need all of the help I can get...I live in a constant state of clutter.:o
 
Re: OrganizationI have all recipes in a file folder electronically alphabetized. I either typed them or scan them in. All the recipes that came with product, I scanned and saved under recipes. Hit organize by name and there they are...all in order. You can even save them by main dish, dessert or appetizer.
 
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Re: Organization
PChefPEI said:
I'm a little jealous about the iPhone. Just got it here in Canada, but it's pretty expensive and the plan offered by Rogers is not great at all. So, no iPhone for me....for now. Been looking at the blackberry pearl though, but would cost too much to buy, 'cause I'm not getting a great deal from my service provider if I do the switch over. I guess one of these days, I'll just bite the bullet!! :)

What about the Samsung BlackJack. Do yall have it? It is very similar to the Blackberry and was much cheaper for me.

I LOVE it! I do not pay for the internet and email stuff b/c I do not need that but that still does not keep me from loving and using the phone daily.
 
Re: OrganizationI hate online/electronic calendars of any kind. I can never keep them updated. I would much rather write it on my calendar where I can look at it anytime I'm at my desk/ in my kitchen (since my desk is in my kitchen). I write appointments down as I make them, etc. The only thing different is that I put all my bookings into P3 automatically, then I write them on the calendar when I get home.

I can do electronic anything else, just not my calendar, even though everyone tells me it really is the way to go. I just forget so many things if I can't see them on a constant basis.
 
Re: Organization
missmindym said:
I hate online/electronic calendars of any kind. I can never keep them updated. I would much rather write it on my calendar where I can look at it anytime I'm at my desk/ in my kitchen (since my desk is in my kitchen). I write appointments down as I make them, etc. The only thing different is that I put all my bookings into P3 automatically, then I write them on the calendar when I get home.

I can do electronic anything else, just not my calendar, even though everyone tells me it really is the way to go. I just forget so many things if I can't see them on a constant basis.

Really? I actually use to feel the same way, but microsoft outlook is the easier and most user friendly. I have everything on there now. I love it.:thumbup:
 
Re: Organization
jrstephens said:
What about the Samsung BlackJack. Do yall have it? It is very similar to the Blackberry and was much cheaper for me.

I LOVE it! I do not pay for the internet and email stuff b/c I do not need that but that still does not keep me from loving and using the phone daily.

I did hear of the BlackJack, but never looked into it. Will have to do that....thanks! :)

Just had a thought....wouldn't it be cool if I could do PP on iPod Touch or whatever??
 
Re: Organization
PChefPEI said:
I did hear of the BlackJack, but never looked into it. Will have to do that....thanks! :)

Just had a thought....wouldn't it be cool if I could do PP on iPod Touch or whatever??


I would be in heaven!!:)
 
Re: OrganizationJilleysue, do you take a laptop to shows? I'm assuming you don't keep any show paperwork of any kind, correct? I'm considering keeping show paperwork only until the show is received and orders delivered - then shred 'em.

If you can give any tips on how to organize your computer files, that would be great....maybe screenshots of your folders????? :D Is that too much to ask? :angel:
 
Re: Organization
Winnipegk said:
Jilleysue, do you take a laptop to shows? I'm assuming you don't keep any show paperwork of any kind, correct? I'm considering keeping show paperwork only until the show is received and orders delivered - then shred 'em.

If you can give any tips on how to organize your computer files, that would be great....maybe screenshots of your folders????? :D Is that too much to ask? :angel:

I second that idea! :)
 

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