'The average person spends 150 hours per year
'almost one month!'
just looking for lost information.'
' Barbara Hemphill

Is a tiger roaring on your desktop?

Have you done something halfway, hoping the effort would be enough to get you by? When it comes to getting organized, I'm guilty of the half-hearted effort. Let me be the first to tell you that halfway doesn't cut it.

About two years ago I discovered a book by Barbara Hemphill, Taming the Paper Tiger at Work (1998, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc., http://www.thepapertiger.com). Hemphill offers practical, common sense ways to deal with the mountains of paper threatening us daily.

We're all bombarded with information. Even though we're solidly in the 'Computer Age,' the promise of a 'paperless office' has fallen flat. . . Instead of freeing us from paper's clutches, modern office equipment has become a kind of enabler, allowing many of us to turn into our own quick-print outlet.

Hemphill continues to describe scenes with which we are all familiar: the daily deluge of office junk mail, memos, professional publications, announcements, reports, and information we print out in reams from our computers, including e-mail correspondence.

No matter what the situation, we might want the information 'someday.' But until someday comes, all that stuff sits in heaps on our desks, around our workstations, and in our files' What you're experiencing is the roar of the 'Paper Tiger.' Perhaps it's only toying with you, but you know it's got you by the tail when your office is overflowing, you spend hours looking for information, and sometimes can't find it at all.

When I first read her book, I tried to cut corners'to save time, of course. Then I gave the book away, thinking I had gleaned enough tips to get me by. Well, here I am again. The challenge to effectively organize all the information in my life has been ongoing. And frankly, I'm tired of having to deal with the constant roar. I should have taken the time to learn how to tame this tiger once and for all.

Ready to tackle the jungle.

On a particularly desperate day in October, I made a commitment to get organized. I went to Barbara Hemphill's Web site, http://www.ProductivityConsultants.com, read archived newsletter articles full of good tips and once again realized the benefits of organizing the paper in my life (as well as computer files, disks, CDs, etc.) far outweigh the initial time it will take to learn.

You know how a person is often encouraged to stand up and publicly declare a commitment to 'really make it stick?' That's what I'm doing now. I decided if I share this goal with you, I would be sure to follow through. And hopefully, you would also benefit and be inspired. There is hope for all who face the roaring paper tiger!

There is no right or wrong in organization'there's only what works for you.

One of the first things I learned is that there are many ways to be organized. I've just tapped into one method that makes sense to me and has 20 years of success behind it. If you have used another system that works well, please share it with us. My purpose is to share keys to successful organization, not to just endorse a particular system.

Just what IS organization?

Here's what I've learned about organization:

• Organization in and of itself has no value, says Barbara Hemphill. 'Its only 'value' is that it helps you accomplish something important to you or your employer: The task itself is boring, but unless you do it, getting what you want, when you want it, becomes very difficult.'
• Organization does not necessarily mean being neat. (That's a relief!) Do you realize that stress doesn't come from clutter? According to Hemphill, it comes from not knowing what to do with the clutter.
• Organization that works at some point in time may not work later. A system may need to be revised because of new responsibilities, technologies, work spaces, or even work relationships. Organization is not the end product.
• Organization is effectiveness, not always efficiency. This concept is a revelation to me. I always thought that being organized meant being efficient. Hemphill explains that 'Efficiency refers to the mechanics of a task'the quickest way to get from here to there. But, it can be a dangerous trap to spend time being efficient about things that don't matter.' We have to establish our priorities about what needs doing, first, second, last. Effective organization asks, 'Should I be doing this at all?'

Here's a key to being organized: It doesn't matter what you do, but that you do it consistently! I hope I've given you some helpful thoughts about getting organized. In the next issue I'll tell you how I'm doing, and if my paper tiger is tamer. Some parting thoughts: 'Are you disorganized because you don't have time, or are you short on time because you're disorganized?' According to Hemphill, 'Clutter is postponed decisions.'