THE POWER OF AN ORGANIZED DESK: 3 Reasons You Can’t Live Without One (and how to get it!)

Apr1

A cluttered desk is a cluttered mind.

Did you know that the above is the full version of the often used quote, “a cluttered desk is a cluttered mind”?  How you answer Mr. Einstein’s question?  I would answer, “An empty desk is a sign of someone ready to get something done!”  Are you that someone who is ready to get something done?  How about starting with organizing the hub of your business: your desk?  Desks seem to become cluttered right before our eyes with all of the paper, electronics and office paraphanelia that land on it every day.  You can easily organize that clutter by understanding why a clear desk matters and learning the 6 easy steps to clear it out.  Let’s get started by talking about the importance of a clear desk.

3 Reasons Why a Clear Desk Matters

Cluttered desks often thwart the productivity in an office and create unnecessary anxiety and stress.  Uncluttering a desk will not only unclutter one’s mind, it will also

  1. minimize resistance so you can focus on getting your work done
  2. help you work more efficiently (and you will get more done)
  3. help you free up time, energy, concentration and creativity

Overall, a clear desk can make your work more enjoyable and that gives you a productivity edge that makes work feel less like work.  Let’s move on to explore what supplies are needed to begin clearing the clutter.

Items Needed to Clear the Clutter

  • A large waste receptacle or plastic bags
  • Boxes with lids (Banker Boxes are ideal, but clear plastic bins with lids will work; in a pinch you can use laundry baskets or grocery/office supply boxes too)
  • Sticky notes (or paper & tape)
  • Writing Utensil

Steps to Clear the Clutter

  1. CLEAR A HOLDING AREA to house to where your removed items can be stored temporarily while you work on organizing your desk (can be a closet, wall/floor space, under the desk or area near office).
  2. LABEL, LABEL, LABEL: Label the boxes/bins in the following manner and place in the holding area:
    • Keep: all things that will stay in your office
    • Donate: anything that no longer has a use (or you don’t love) and is still in good working condition
    • Distribute: all things that have migrated to your desk, but belong in another room.
  3. SORT/PURGE or PURGE/SORT: Start at one end of the desk and remove each item: ask yourself what category should it go into: Keep, Toss, Donate, Distribute.  Place in appropriate box (or wastebasket/plastic bag if to be Tossed)
    NOTE: Minimize the number of things you keep on your desk; this is the optimal time to get rid of anything that will not support your goal towards efficient workflow.  Remember: simplicity will make your workspace feel less cluttered, thus making it easier to work freely and accomplish more.
  4. CATEGORIZE AS YOU GO: Group like items with like to make the categorizing stage go quicker and easier. (i.e., loose papers in one box, necessary items for daily workflow in another, items used on occassion, office supplies, notebooks, etc.)
  5. REMOVE EVERYTHING: Continue removing, purging and sorting until NOTHING is left on your desk.
  6. EMPTY THE BOXES & CLEAN IT OFF: Empty the boxes appropriately then clean the surface of your desk and any equipment left.

Fingers holding stop signTake a step back and look at what you have just accomplished.  YOU HAVE REACHED a clear desk.  Sit in your chair and revel in how it feels.  Stretch your arms out over your desk and touch the emptiness; breathe the space.  It’s pretty awesome, isn’t it?

When you are saturated with the feeling of accomplishment, SEND ME A COMMENT about how it feels – I’d love to hear your feedback.  If you have any questions, as always, feel free to drop me a direct note.

Check back for the next post in this organizing series that will help you understand the mindset shift needed to organize your desk and teach you about the categories needed to continue the process.

AN ORGANIZED OFFICE: Banish These 4 Stumbling Blocks to Clear the Way

Mar12

Character adding a blockIn the organizing world, March has been tagged as Organize your Office month and today is National Organize Your Office Day.  This day focuses on organizing one of the most stressful areas in a home or business: the office. 

What is your office like today – is it a jumbled mess that seems to grow exponentially while you sleep? Have you not even tried to tackle organizing it because you have found too many stumbling blocks preventing you from even getting started?  Be assured, you are not the only one experiencing this problem.Today, on this national day of recognition, let’s explore some of the stumbling blocks that are holding you back and banish them forever. 

I find the four most common blocks are: indecision about taking action, not having enough time, uncertainty about where to start and not knowing how to start.  Have you experienced any of these stumbling blocks?  The only way to overcome them is to work through each one, one block at a time.  Here’s what you can do.

DECIDE TO TAKE ACTION: Concentrate on the benefits

The hardest step to take is deciding to take action; living in indecision can be quite paralyzing.  This is what I remind people who are stuck at this stumbling block:  your indecision is costing you valuable time, energy, money and creating high stress levels.  Is that how you want to live your life?  Concentrate on the benefits you will receive with an organized office and you will be able move past the stumbling block as soon as you decide to take action.

DON’T HAVE ENOUGH TIME: Block out smaller chunks of time

You don’t need large blocks of time, but you DO have to commit to SOME blocks of time.  If you truly wish to move away from a disorganized space, commit to working on the project by blocking off time on your calendar.  You can block off 15 minutes a day, 30 minutes three times a week, a few hours once a week or a full day over the weekend. Make a commitment to improve your space using calendared blocks of time.

DON’T KNOW WHERE TO START: Break the project into small chunks

If this is a stumbling block for you, I recommend that you sit at a central point of the room (usually the desk) and look around.  Think about what areas cause the most inefficiency in your day (or what bothers you the most) and make a list of 4 areas that need work (prioritize them from worst to least).  This will break the BIG task down into smaller chunks, making it feel more manageable and will give you a focal point to get started.

DON’T KNOW HOW TO START: Follow our lead

You’ve already started by reading this blog post and our 3 week series on Organizing Your Office will guide you the rest of the way.  During the month of March, you will learn how to:

  • Clear out the Clutter (from your desk)
  • Set up a Paper Processing System
  • Choose a Desk that Meshes with Your Personal Working Style

So I challenge you:  Decide to take action today by remembering the benefits of organizing, make a commitment by blocking out time on your calendar and break the project into smaller chunks with a priority list.  Once you begin using these tools, you will quickly overcome your stumbling blocks, clear the way to an organized office and within a few, short weeks bring efficiency and productivity into your world.  

What will be the stumbling block YOU overcome today?  Leave us a reply and share your discovery with our readers.

 

Celebration of International Women’s Day

Mar8

International Women's Day LogoToday is International Women’s Day

Did you know that today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day.  I just recently learned how this special day came about and, through that learning, wholeheartedly embrace everything it stands for. I’d like to share what I’ve learned with you and invite you to embrace its meaning also.

What is International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day is a global day celebrating the economic, political and social achievements of women past, present and future. It started in the United States in 1909, in accordance with a declaration by the Socialist Party of America, and was celebrated for the first time on February 28th.  Later in 1910, Clara Zetkin, who was the Leader of the Women’s Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, proposed a NATIONAL Women’s Day (which was adopted) and the observance was moved from February to March 8 in 1913.  It quickly was embraced by the women’s community worldwide and, subsequently, adopted as International Women’s Day.

What it Has Become Today

It has grown to become a global day of recognition and celebration across countries and is regarded as a national holiday in many.  However the work of those before us is not completed.  Although great strides have been made for women’s equality, many more are still necessary and the tone of this movement continues to evolve.  The tone and nature of the current International Women’s Day has also shifted to keep up with the times; it has moved from a reminder of negatives to a celebration of positives for women worldwide.

We Honor Those who Came Before Us

As an honor and tribute to the women who have come before us to make the world a better place and what it is today, I invite you to join me in thanking our inspirational leaders who came before us.  Those leaders who were trailblazers, cleared the path and empowered us to become the new leaders of today.  They have opened the door for us to be who we are, starting in:

1840: where more men than women graduated from
Harvard Medical School;

TODAY, there are more women than men in
several graduating classes.

1850: where half the working women in the UK were
domestic servants and men held the most of high
status jobs;

TODAY, there are more female lawyers,
doctors & architects in the UK than male.

1914: when Madame CJ Walker became the 1st female
self-made millionaire;

TODAY, there are 14 female self-made
BILLIONAIRES with 7 residing in China.

1960: when Serimavo Bandaranaike (of Sri Lanka)
became the world’s 1st female elected head of state;

TODAY, there are 29 female world
leaders in power.

1972: when men owned 96% of the biz in the US;

TODAY, 1 in 3 business owners are women.

1990: when 32% of women were active in the workforce
in Latin America & the Caribbean;

TODAY, 53% of women are part of their workforce.

LET US SAY THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO HAVE
BLAZED THE TRAIL BEFORE US.

I challenge you to think about what will you do to contribute to the next generation of women trailblazers; what path will you clear to pave the way and who will you inspire to follow in your footsteps?

Join with us in celebrating each other’s achievements: TELL US what ideas you have to make the world a better place for women of the future and and how you will inspire others to become the powerful women leaders of tomorrow as did our foremothers?  WRITE US a COMMENT below.

Don’t just be one, join with the many women who are making a difference for the next generation.  Set the tone for the future of the women of our world and inspire others to blaze a new trail like those before us.

Click Here to read more about International Women’s Day’s history.

4 Helpful Hints to Holiday Shopping Happiness, Not Madness!

Dec14

Gifts in Shopping CartAs the end of December draws closer, most of us find ourselves  knee-deep in the myriad of holiday preparations and maybe even succumbing to the madness of the holiday season.  Gift shopping can be a big contributor to that madness.  I’ve experienced that myself this week! The two shopping forays I’ve had so far this season have been vastly different from each other.  The first: a relaxed and enjoyable stroll through the mall with a few easy purchases – leaving me with a satisfied feeling; the second: a marathon affair, bumping elbows with lots of shoppers and not finding what I was looking for – leaving me grumpy and tired.

So what was it about that second trip that made it so miserable?  I’ve thought about that question all week (especially since I have to shop again THIS weekend); the answer finally came to me after many cups of warm tea and lots of rocking in my favorite chair!  There were 4 things I did differently on the first trip that I did not repeat on the second; I am sure if I had, the second would have been much easier and more successful.  Read on to find out more about them…

4 HELPFUL HINTS TO HOLIDAY SHOPPING HAPPINESS

(not madness)!

NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT

making a list (and checking it twice).  Put all of your ideas into one place so that you have a clear plan and can stay focused on what you need to purchase. Take advantage of modern technology by using a List App on your smartphone.  Be sure to include sizes & color preferences to minimize returns.  Remember to stay flexible and have a backup choice ready in case things are not available.

CHECK OUT THE SALES

Before heading out to the stores, check websites for online coupons or deals, download them to your smartphone or print out coupons.  Computer not your thing?  Collect the flyers before your shopping date and clip coupons for the items on your list.  Save yourself both time AND money by preparing ahead of time.

EAT, DRINK & BE MERRY

Shopping is exercise in itself and to stay strong during a marathon shop, you will need food and drink.
    • Eat a healthy & filling meal/snack before you leave to shop
    • Take a break midway to refuel yourself
    • Make sure you drink a good amount of fluids throughout the day
    • Munch on a healthy snack on the way home

It’s important to fuel your body to keep both your sugar AND stress levels low.

GIVE YOURSELF A BREAK

Shopping is hard work and takes a toll on your feet and your back.  (It’s not easy to carry all those bags of goodies!) If you’re doing a marathon shop, make sure to take frequent breaks just to sit and relax.  Use the time to

    • regroup your strategy
    • adjust your purchase ideas or
    • drop off the packages to your car

While you’re resting, take a little time to people watch and enjoy the atmosphere!

One would think that knowing something as simple as these hints would help defray the stress, aggravation and chaos that can arise during holiday shopping.  Remember, though, it’s not what you know that will make you successful in your endeavors, it’s what you implement that will make the difference.  Take the time to implement these helpful hints and set yourself up to succeed during your next holiday shopping trip; ease your stress and minimize the holiday madness this year so that you may enjoy this part of the holiday to its fullest. Happy Shopping!

Now I ask you this, HOW WAS YOUR LAST SHOPPING TRIP: easy and relaxed or crazy and nerve-wracking?  Drop us a comment below and let us know what your shopping trips have been like and how you’ve turned them into enjoyable experiences.  We’d love to share your feedback so that our fans can learn from those experiences and have an enjoyable holiday shopping trip (or two) as well!

WISHING YOU ALL A HAPPY HOLIDAY!

TAME THE HOLIDAY MADNESS

Nov19

Tame the Madness and Enjoy the Holiday

The American holiday of Thanksgiving is only 3 days away….what are your plans?  Chances are that they will center around preparing, traveling, visiting and, of course, the inevitable EATING. Somehow this day seems to have become the biggest eating day of the year! If just thinking about all the things you have to do to get ready makes you stressed out before you even begin, take heart….it truly can be a relaxing and enjoyable time if you set it up to be.

For many years I started preparing for Thanksgiving Day several weeks in advance; lists of menu options, guest lists, preparation timelines and such overflowed my desk starting from the beginning of the month.  Then one year, I had surgery the week before and found myself without the normal lag time to prepare;  I was released from the hospital only a few days before and had been so sick prior, that my desk was devoid of my typical planning lists; I actually thought we’d have to cancel the “big feast”.

It was that year that I realized that you don’t NEED to take weeks to prepare; with some careful planning, a little preparation and keeping yourself focused, one really only needs a short period of time to prepare for the wonderful holiday of Thanksgiving (or any other for that matter) wherever you are.  I still use lists to get ready, but they are in a much more streamlined fashion to getting everything accomplished where the timeframe can be changed to even prepping the day of if need be.  I’d like to share the Ready, Set, Go! method I use to tame the holiday madness so that you, too, can enjoy ANY holiday in the truest spirit it is intended!

Click Here for the 3 Step Approach to Taming the Holiday Madness.

The year that I was recovering and learned my valuable lesson was the time that the turkey wasn’t the most beautifully dressed and the table wasn’t expertly decorated, but a memorable holiday meal and Thanksgiving was forever etched in our memory banks with the helping hands of many.  It turned out to be one of the most rewarding days my family ever spent together because we set it up to be by staying focused on what it was all about and who we were with rather than what it looked like or tasted like (even though that was great too)!

So to you and yours, wishing you a wonderful, and meaningful holiday!

 

 

TOGETHER WE CAN CLIMB A MOUNTAIN

Nov5

MAKE A DIFFERENCE – HELP US HELP OTHERS

Our thoughts and prayers go out to those who are still suffering the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. Our blog has been quiet during this week and we have not posted a great deal as we’ve been working through our own issues with the storm. However, we have not encountered anything that was not easily solved within a short period of time; it’s quite humbling.

It saddened us to watch the news and see that those in our extended community did not fare as well and we have been thinking all week how we, as a company, can do our part to help those who are in need of what we have in abundance. The answer came when we read on Facebook that members of our local fire department were collecting donations that they would personally deliver to dropoff points in Queens and Staten Island, NY. Our company, along with my family members, quickly decided to take action and contribute to this local effort.

Together, we created 25 personal hygiene bags which were dropped off to the local fire department for delivery tomorrow. What an awesome feeling to think that somewhere someone will be able to brush their teeth and feel clean for the first time in a week or more because of our care package! We truly are proud to be a part of our local community’s relief efforts.

Check out our pictorial below where you can see how we created our donation packages. Several of us worked together to shop, assemble and deliver the packages; with many hands the work was light and the time was short. Our company, family and generous benefactors pooled resources to pay for the products and packaging; a donation was even received from Walmart! Combining all of our efforts eliminated one person/business having to bear the brunt of the expense. We hope the simplicity of how one small act from each of us will inspire you to do the same!

Packages of Travel Sized Products

Purchased travel sized personal hygiene products for the packages.

Gallon & quart sized zippered plastic bags

Used gallon & quart sized, zippered, plastic bags as the “package container”.

Assembly line of products

Organized the products into a production line for quicker assembly of packages.

Final product

Created personalized hygiene care packages customized for men and women.

As a small company, we’ve done what we could afford, but we do not want to stop here.  We would like to continue our efforts to help those in need, especially our canine and feline friends who also may be without life necessities or displaced and separated from their families; they are tired, hungry and alone – THEY NEED OUR HELP!

“Animals are such agreeable friends — they ask no questions, they pass no criticisms.” — George Eliot

 JOIN OUR RELIEF EFFORTS TO HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE
FOR A HUMAN, CANINE OR FELINE FRIEND IN NEED.

Alone we can only climb a small hill, but
TOGETHER we can climb an entire mountain!

5 Simple Steps to Organize Your Shed

Oct21

 

What does your shed look like right now?

If you were to open the doors to your shed, what would you find?  Would you be able to find things quickly and easily?  Are all of your tools/equipment in good working order?  Are you ready to put away your outdoor items and get ready for the upcoming season?  Chances are that is not what you can do, but you are not alone!  My shed was once like that, too, and so are many of my clients.  In just one day and 5 SIMPLE STEPS, I was able to organize mine so that now I CAN do the above things, quickly and easily.  You can too!

I’ve created a short (just 8 minutes) slide presentation detailing the 5 Simple Steps that you can take to create the shed of your dreams! So,



STOP jumping over piles to find what you need,

 

digging deep for what you want

or buying unnecessary items because you can’t remember what you have! 

 

 

END THE FRUSTRATION & OVERWHELM TODAY

AND CREATE THE SHED OF YOUR DREAMS!

Organized, Efficient & Easy to Use

CLICK HERE

 to view the slide presentation.

 

Inspiration to Fall into Organizing

Oct14

 

Fall has officially descended upon us here in the northeast part of the United States.  It has brought the gloriously warm, sunny days and envelopes us with its crisp mornings and cool nights.  This season always provides such great joy and inspiration!   As the days begin to shorten and the thermometer falls, we are reminded that the cold weather is not far away.  What better way to get ready for it than to organize some of your outside areas?  Let the fall season provide the inspiration and motivation to conquer those outside areas!  HERE ARE SOME PROJECT IDEAS TO CONSIDER TACKLING.

ORGANIZE YOUR GARAGE:  Has your garage become a dumping ground and you don’t even remember what its intended purpose is?  Have you thought about organizing it, but quickly gave up the idea because it was too overwhelming? You’re not alone. There is a way to tackle the project easily – break it down into manageable steps and work on them one by one.  We’ve posted 8 Simple Steps to Organize a Garage on our Blog to find out how. Click Here to read it.

HAVE A YARD SALE:  Cleaned out the garage or basement recently and have a lot of stuff to get rid of?  Want to make a little extra cash while having someone else take away your junk?  Remember…”One man’s trash is another’s man’s treasure”, so why not have a yard sale!  Do you think there’s no time for one or does the thought of all the work freak you out?  Visit our Blog for the Recipe for a Successful Yard Sale and you’ll get great tips on cooking up an awesome event. Click Here to read it.

CLEAN OUT THE SHED: Has your garden or storage shed become overloaded or too hard to maneuver around in during the past summer?  Have you put off organizing it all because you’d rather play in the warm weather or has it been too hot to drag all that equipment outside and clean it off?  The weather is now cooler and there’s no time like the fall to close up shop before winter sets in.  We’ll be posting a great slide presentation with easy tips to close up your shed on our blog.  Check back on the weekend of Oct. 19th to read it;  getting it ready for winter will be a piece of cake once you view our presentation!

Don’t let the winter catch you off guard.  Clean out the garage and organize it so you can maximize that real estate, maybe even bring in the car this winter.  Have a yard sale so someone else can take away your junk while you make a little extra cash and get ready for the winter by cleaning all your equipment and organizing your shed.  There’s still plenty of time to conquer all of these organizing projects AND  enjoy the fall.  Visit the links listed in this post so you can get out there and tackle it!  If you need a helping hand, contact us, we’ll be happy to help get you on your way to a war. 

 

THE NEXT BIG THING

Oct6

A SNEAK PEAK AT MY NEXT PROJECT!

My friend, Dorothy Wills-Raftery, recently invited me to join in a writing project called “The Next Big Thing”.  Dorothy is an author, photojournalist and owner of five, adorable Siberian Huskies, one of whom has epilepsy.  She has written the book What’s Wrong with Gibson and her blog at FiveSibes blog is all about the life of her beautiful “children” to help raise awareness for canine epilepsy.  This project is all about finding out what the next big thing writers/bloggers are working on and is passed by torch to others each week.  I was honored that Dorothy “tagged” me and thrilled to participate.  Here is a sneak peak of my next project!    

What is the working title of your book?  A Guide to the Jewish Holidays: Honoring the Special Times at Home with Simplicity & Ease.  Completely a “working” title as the concept is just beginning to evolve.

Where did the idea come from for the book?  During the last Jewish holidays, I was chatting with a group who were lamenting about how much work it was to celebrate holidays at home, specifically the Jewish ones.  Many stopped having home celebrations because their family had scattered, they were alone and it was easier to go to gatherings elsewhere.  I could relate to this lament as my children have grown older and moved out and my extended family is scattered as they spend holidays in their own childrens’ home.  I recognize that this mindset often happens as we grow older and our families disperse.  

Following that conversation, a friend and I were chatting and she complimented me on the wonderful events I had created; she even suggested I get back into event planning because I did such a nice job.  What a nice compliment, but been there, done that!  I worked for a synagogue for 11 years and planned upwards of 35 major events a year and didn’t want to make it my primary focus again.  I have to acknowledge that she was right, though… I do love creating special gatherings and am very good at it. 

I felt there was a hidden message in the fact that these two incidents happened back to back.  Was fate trying to enlighten me about something?  I think so, for after further consideration, the idea to create this book was formed. 

What genre does your book fall under?  It’s definitely a “How To” guide.

Which actors would you choose to play your characters in a movie rendition?  I don’t foresee this type of book moving towards a movie script as it is a How To guide, but one never knows!

What is the one-sentence synopsis of your book?  I would sum up this book as “a guide to honoring the Jewish holidays at home with simplicity, style and ease”.

Will your book be self-published or represented by an agency?  The literary world is a foreign territory for me, so I am going to create this in an EBook format and see where it goes.  In the future, maybe it can be turned into an agency published book.

How long did it take you to write the first draft of your manuscript?  My first draft is currently under construction.  I’m looking to collaborate with a few other individuals and I haven’t worked out the details just yet.  My target date for first draft completion is by January 15, 2013.  A good way to start the New Year, don’t you think?

What other books would you compare this story to within your genre?  I’m a firm believer in not comparing things as everyone’s own work holds its own merit and is unique in itself.  There is one book, though (which I refer to at every holiday) that I would like mine to be modeled after: Jewish Holiday Style by Rita Milos Brownstein.  It is a visually stimulating book with wonderful ideas for celebrating Jewish Holidays.

Who or what inspired you to write this book?  My love of Judaism, writing and organizing is the fire of the concept; my friend, Colleen is the ignitor.  It was what she said to me after the first incident that prompted me to develop the concept that I think has been inside of me for many years.  It was just waiting for the right opportunity to pop out! 

I consider this project as a way for me to channel all the wonderful things I’ve learned about Judaism over the years, combine it with my talent for organizing and create a meaningful piece of writing that others can enjoy.  I also look at it as an opportunity to help others learn that honoring or celebrating Jewish holidays can be easy and fun at home.

What else about your book might pique the reader’s interest?  I’m sure that with 11 years of planning Jewish lifecycle and religious events, numerous years of teaching young children about Judaism and a lifetime of my own family experiences, there will be some humorous (and maybe not so) escapades sprinkled throughout the book!  The intent in including those embarrassing moments would be to share the human element of entertaining so readers will understand that perfection is not the goal, enjoyment is!

Now that you’ve learned of my next project, here are some others I know who are working on special things to come:

Christina Workman Johnstone: Christina is a wonderful web developer who has started her own company looking to help others develop their websites.  She brings to her clients a wealth of knowledge in a quiet, but intuitive manner (and many times quite funny).  I am always amazed at her ability to think what I’m thinking, sometimes before I even think it!  Visit her website at Amethyst Answers to find out what will be her “Next Big Thing”.

Please check back for more torch bearers and find out what will be their “Next Big Thing”!

 

RECIPE for a Successful Yard Sale

Oct1

Have you seen all the yard sale signs lately and thought you’d love to have one, but just don’t know how to get started?  Yard sales are a great way to dispose of items you no longer use AND make some extra cash.  The fall is a wonderful time of year to have a yard sale since the weather is cooler and it’s so nice to be outside.  Gather the ingredients listed here and read on for instructions on how to cook up a great yard sale!  Remember…

“One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”

INGREDIENTS:

  • All the junk that can fit in your home/garage
  • Sprinkling of creative writing
  • Small amount of organization
  • A little bit of elbow grease
  • Strategic setup
  • and a Bucketful of patience

INSTRUCTIONS:

PICK A DATE:  The fall brings an increase in community activities and you don’t want to compete with those events. Check out the community calendar for your area in advance as well as the local upcoming forecast to set a great date.

WHAT’S IN A DAY: Yard sales used to be held primarily on weekends, but times have changed.  Try scheduling your sale for a Friday (all day) to attract veteran sale goers and half day Saturday (starting early) to draw in the working crowd.  Skip Sunday altogether – people are usually attending church or other family activities.

GETTING THE WORD OUT:  Advertising might seem like an extra expense at first, but it is worth it in the end.    Contact your local newspaper at least two weeks in advance to find out their deadline and guidelines.  Keep your ad short and to the point by using simple & straightforward language.

A NEW WORD OF MOUTH: Incorporate online avenues for advertising your sale.  Advertise the sale AND large ticket items (furniture/equipment) on Craigslist or Ebay. Pass the word along social media sites such as Facebook or Twitter.  Enlist your friends to help you; they can be a great sales force!

CHOOSE WISELY:  Not all items in a yard sale will generate revenue. Items that can’t be washed or are outdated won’t sell quickly or for a good price.  Stick with popular selling items like knick-knacks, dishware, books, clothing, small appliances and children’s clothing or toys.

You gotten a good start to making your yard sale recipe: you’ve decided when to have it, assembled your ingredients and are working on the prep.  Now it’s time to cook up your ingredients and prepare it for its final presentation.

TO FINISH READING THIS RECIPE…. 

Click Here 

Complete the prompts and you will receive access to the final steps.