National Association of Professional Organizers
Washington, DC

The September NAPO-WDC chapter meeting was held on Monday, September 10, 2012, in Bethesda, MD. There were 41 members and 9 guests in attendance.

The meeting started with active networking as members got reacquainted after a summer off.

Janet Schiesl welcomed everyone.

Our 2012-13 Community Partner, Building Better Futures (BBF), was introduced.  Krishna Leyva spoke about the program.  Our first activity with BBF is to collect school supplies at MARCPO.

Kimberly Gleason introduced our 9 guests.

Terri Fischer announced our three Corporate Partner guests: Shelly Able from Nova Gold, Sharon Bliss from Book Bliss On-line, Daniel Sanders from Four Sales.

She then introduced Corporate Partners in attendance: Ron Goodes from Resale Solutions, Helen Long from Partners Estate Sales, Joe Johnson from Shelf Genie, Jeff Cohn from Address Our Mess.

Educational Program

Pierrette Ashcroft introduced the educational program: Be Prepared: Streamlining Personal Records by Kay Bransford, founder of MemoryBanc.

Kay Bransford discussed the various types of information that is helpful to have and know the location of in case you or a loved one becomes ill.  Putting information such as birth certificates, account numbers, on-line passwords, medical documents, wills, and auto titles in a central location before they are needed can reduce frustration and make a tough time easier.  It is also important to communicate the location to trusted family members or friends.

Chapter Business Meeting

Membership renewal drive goes through September 30th – renew now!  New members should wait to join until October 1st.

There’s a CPO study group forming.  Contact Katie Mazzocco if interested.

Our door prize winner was Melanie Patt-Corner. Shelf Genie also gave away several tickets to the Capital Home Show on September 21-23, 2012.

The next meeting will be October 1, 2012, in Fairfax, VA.

Monday, September 10, 2012 @ 6:30pm

Rock Creek Mansion

5417 West Cedar Lane

Bethesda, MD 20814

Be Prepared: Streamlining Personal Records

Every:

• 45 seconds someone in the U.S. has a stroke
• 20 seconds someone in the U.S. has a heart attack
• 4 seconds someone is diagnosed with dementia

If someone needed to step in and help one of your clients, could they?

In addition to wills, power of attorneys and medical directives, the number of personal contacts, banking, financial, medical, online and household accounts, usernames and passwords is overwhelming to even the most organized.

In this session we will cover the major categories of information and discuss those items that need to be collected and documented in one place to assist a loved one in the event they need to step in and help – even if only temporarily.

Kay Bransford is the founder of MemoryBanc. Several years ago, her mom called to ask how to get money into their bank account. That call started a six month odyssey. The result was an organizational system that she and her siblings use to help support and care for their parents and their assets.

When colleagues and friends saw what Kay had developed, they asked for their own versions. Kay launched MemoryBanc in 2011 and with the MemoryBanc Register, a 3-ring binder in which users collect and store information and details on personal, financial, medical, online and household accounts.

Before launching MemoryBanc, Kay spent more than 20 years in a variety of sales, marketing and business development positions to include Best, ACA, SIIA, Vocus, Global Secure and Washington Speakers Bureau.

Connect with her on Twitter @Kay_Bransford and on Facebook.

Yahoo Discussion Group and NAPO-WDC Blog

Have you ever wondered who is the perfect contractor for one of your clients, what’s the best company to design your new logo or where to buy acid free photo storage boxes? Well, our members have the answers and you can ask them on our Yahoo Discussion Board. We have moved into the 21st century and that means our newsletter has been replaced by a blog that you can receive by email. Prior to the chapter meeting, you will have an opportunity to sign up for both our Yahoo Discussion Group and our new Blog.

Membership Renewal and MARCPO Registration

It’s one stop shopping before our meeting. You can quickly renew your membership and sign up for MARCPO. Bring your credit card and our helpful assistants will be of service so you can quickly complete the process.

6:30-7pm – Ask the Expert” Focus Group

If you are new to organizing, attend the “Ask the Expert” session. It is an informal gathering where new organizers can receive free advice on owning an organizing business from members of the Golden Circle, a prestigious designation within NAPO for experienced organizers.

It’s that time of year. Whether you have children who are returning to school or not, when you turn the calendar to September, I think we all get that “back-to-school” feeling. It’s a time of new beginnings, of reassessing your goals or making new ones.

As my summer ends, I tend to refocus on business and recommit to my goals. Exploring the possibilities is always exciting (and a little scary). How do you challenge yourself to move forward in your business? Everyone does it differently. It’s one of the great things about being a business owner – you do want you want. That’s also one of the more difficult things about being a business owner – nobody is there to tell you what to do. So how do you create your own personal business goals?

1. Brainstorm the possibilities. Open yourself up to different options; find new resources and tools that can help you on your way to success.
2. Commit to a goal. Own it! Let other people know what it is. Write it down. Whatever you have to do to keep yourself moving towards the goal.
3. Have a realistic time frame. Finding the time could be the hardest part of achieving your goals. If it’s important enough, you’ll schedule bits of time to progress.
4. Break it down into mini goals. The same skills you use with your clients can be applied to your business.
5. Get support. At times “it takes a village.” Find people that will cheer you on and keep you accountable.
6. Get ready for setbacks. Progress never travels in a straight line. Riding the roller coaster can be scary and fun. It’s all in how you look at it.
7. Believe you can do it. The confidence that “you can” is essential.

As the chapter reconvenes after the summer break, this is a great time to try something new. Attend a chapter meeting with the resolve to connect with someone new. Find a more established organizer who you can learn from, or meet a new member you can mentor. Get to know our Corporate Partners and learn what they can offer you and your clients. Commit to broadening your education by attending the Mid-Atlantic Regional Conference for Professional Organizers in October. There are so many opportunities to spark your thinking. How will you recommit to your business goals in this autumn of possibilities?

If you’d like to contact our President, you can email her at president@dcorganizers.org.

Professional organizers love to talk about what is in their organizing toolkit: the best items to take to client appointments, the hot new organizing products, new apps to show clients.  But what about our business toolkit?  What do we have in that?

The first tool in my business toolkit is NAPO; it was essential in starting my business and learning about the organizing industry.  Another important tool is the support of my friends and family.

A crucial tool many professional organizers may not know about are Small Business Development Centers or SBDCs.  I wouldn’t have gotten my business off the ground without my local SBDCs.  They are a great connection to the business world; my SBDCs gave me an introduction to owning a business, helped me with my business plan, and provided one-on-one counseling sessions and various business classes.

SBDCs offer a number of different categories of tools:

Category “S” – Start-Up Resources

Starting a business can be very overwhelming, but my SBDCs helped calm my nerves by getting me off on the right path.  I used the SBDCs to find information on registering my business with the federal, state, and local governments.  Once my business was set up, I used a free counseling session to make sure I hadn’t missed an important step.  The SBDC websites are also filled with start-up information and other resources.

Category “B” – Build Your Network

NAPO and NAPO-WDC provide a great network within the organizing industry, but professional organizers also need to build a network within the business world.  Your SBDC can help connect you with the small business network in your area.  I used my SBDCs as a starting point when looking for a graphic designer, website developer, and insurance agent.  It is also a great way to make contacts to add to your referral list.

Category “D” – Develop Your Business

Interested in growing your business?  Counselors and classes at SBDCs can give you an outside perspective.  As my business grows and changes, I will use the counselors to get a reality check on my plans.

Category “C” – Classes!

Many SBDCs offer inexpensive or free classes and seminars, both at their offices and on-line.  Classes cover a variety of topics such as marketing, social media, accounting, legal requirements, government contracting, and sales.  SBDCs offer an easy way to keep developing both business skills and knowledge.

No matter how long you’ve been in business, your local SBDC should be in your toolkit!

Links for finding your local Small Business Development Center:

 U.S. Small Business Administration

 Virginia Small Business Development Centers

 Maryland Small Business Development Center Network

 Washington, D.C. Small Business Development Center

Tiffany Mensing is a Professional Organizer and owner of Space and Serenity, an organizing company specializing in creating sustainable organizing solutions for families adjusting to life with kids.  When switching careers from chemical engineering to professional organizing, Tiffany relied on the  Community Business Partnership in Springfield, VA, the  Alexandria Small Business Development Center, and  BizLaunch in Arlington, VA.  She was the winner of the Community Business Partnership’s 2012 Business Plan Contest.

The September NAPO-WDC chapter meeting was held on Monday, September 12, 2011 at Rock Creek Mansion in Bethesda. There were 46 members in attendance and 11 guests.

Susan Kousek hosted the “Ask the Expert” table during the meeting registration. The Partners and Promotions table, and the Lending Library table were both very busy!

President Janet Schiesl welcomed everyone and Vice President Alisa Levy opened the meeting with the ice breaker, “How I Spent My Summer Vacation.” Director of Membership Maria White introduced our new members and guests.

We had two Corporate Partner presentations. Matt Murley of Shred Ace and Helen Long of Partners Estate Sales briefed the crowd on the features and benefits of their respective companies.

The educational program of the evening was “Overcome Objections and Close the Sale” presented by Michael Charest of Business Growth Solutions. Michael gave a great presentation and his enthusiasm was infectious! Maria White was the lucky winner of his doorprize of a personal consultation about building your business.

The business meeting included Janet outlining all the volunteer opportunities currently open in the chapter. Upcoming events were reviewed including neighborhood meetings, book club and MARCPO. Scott Roewer gave an update on the Soles 4 Souls project.

The meeting closed after a lively networking session.

The next meeting will be held at Kena Shriners in Fairfax, Virginia on Monday, October 3.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Rock Creek Mansion

5417 West Cedar Lane

Bethesda, MD 20814

Overcome Objections & Close the Sale

Please join us for the first meeting of the chapter year. Michael Charest will teach you specific, well-defined and proven steps to practice and become a master at closing the sale!

He is a 12-year veteran business coach, consultant, author and speaker. His company, Business Growth Solutions, specializes in helping solo and micropreneurs attract more clients and grow their business.

Membership Renewal and MARCPO Registration

It’s one stop shopping before our meeting. You can quickly renew your membership and sign up for MARCPO. Bring your credit card and our helpful assistants will be of service so you can quickly complete the process.

Ask the Expert Focus Group

If you are new to organizing, attend the “Ask the Expert” session. It is an informal gathering where new organizers can receive free advice on owning an organizing business from members of the Golden Circle, a prestigious designation within NAPO for experienced organizers.

I feel lucky! I have worked hard to achieve the level of luck I enjoy. Feeling lucky doesn’t mean my success has come easy. It means that I have worked for it and succeeded.

Being lucky in business is an outcome of preparation and taking reasonable chances. Being lucky is about not quitting and always trying again.  It’s making one more sales call, testing a new product, or trying a new business idea. Being lucky is a function of doing things: not just talking about doing, but actually picking up the shovel to start digging, or picking up the pen to start writing, or stepping forward and volunteering in your professional organization. Being lucky is not about chance. It’s about giving yourself a chance to succeed and also giving colleagues that same chance to succeed. I have long attributed much of my business success to the learning and support that I have received from the members of the NAPO-WDC chapter. Some of my learning has been formal, but most of the support I have received has been a direct result of my stepping up to the plate and getting involved.

When a baseball player steps up to the plate, he knows luck is involved with getting a hit. However, the player wants to get a hit and he intends to get a hit. He has worked hard to prepare for this moment and he knows that without swinging the bat he won’t get a hit. He swings the bat with skill, but what’s really important is that he actually steps up to the plate and swings. That’s how he gets lucky.

Being lucky is a product of hard work, preparation and determination. I got lucky by stepping up and volunteering within NAPO-WDC. I participated by using skills I already had. While doing so, I have met and learned from so many members.  At first, I was gaining the confidence I needed to move my business forward. Later, I was able to speak my mind by enjoying a leadership position on the chapter board.  It has been a win-win situation for me. I encourage you to consider getting involved in NAPO-WDC. Meet some new people, learn some new things and give yourself and others a chance at being lucky.

To contact our President, email president@dcorganizers.org.