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Tiger Taming
Tiger Taming
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<h1><font size="4" face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><b>Tiger Taming
</b></font></h1>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><i>by Ruth Book</i></font></p>
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<p align="center"> <font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"><b>'The
average person spends 150 hours per year<br>
'almost one month!'<br>
just looking for lost information.'<br>
</b><i>' Barbara Hemphill </i></font></p>
<h1><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Is a tiger roaring
on your desktop?</font></h1>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">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.</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">About two years ago
I discovered a book by Barbara Hemphill, Taming the Paper Tiger at Work
(1998, Kiplinger Washington Editors, Inc., <a href="http://www.thepapertiger.com" target="_blank">http://www.thepapertiger.com</a>).
Hemphill offers practical, common sense ways to deal with the mountains
of paper threatening us daily.</font></p>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">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.</font></p>
</blockquote>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> 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.</font></p>
<blockquote>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">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.</font></p>
</blockquote>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2"> 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.</font></p>
<h1><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Ready to tackle the
jungle.</font></h1>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">On a particularly
desperate day in October, I made a commitment to get organized. I went
to Barbara Hemphill's Web site, <a href="http://www.ProductivityConsultants.com">http://www.ProductivityConsultants.com</a>,
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.
</font></p>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">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!</font></p>
<h1><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">There is no right
or wrong in organization'there's only what works for you.</font></h1>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">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.</font></p>
<h1><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Just what IS organization?
</font></h1>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Here's what I've learned
about organization:</font></p>
<ul>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">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.'</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">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 <i>do</i> with the clutter.</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">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 <i>not</i> the end product.
</font></li>
<li><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Organization is
<i>effectiveness</i>, 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?'</font></li>
</ul>
<p><font face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Here's a key to being
organized: <b>It doesn't matter what you do, but that you do it consistently!
</b>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.'</font></p>
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2011 Meet and Greet