If Your Desk is Messy, It Means You Can Fly!

So recently I read this article about if your desk is messy it means you're a genius. I agree that many people who have messy desks are really deep thinkers.  I mean, who has time to file when you're solving impossible math equations, like Sir Andrew Wiles (pictured below). But there has to be some sort of system to the chaos.  The less likely you are to be able to locate a needed or wanted item in your office the less you can describe yourself as organized.  Nobody is 100% organized, because we are imperfect humans.  But what we can do is put in systems that defray the lack of perfect we have in our brains and our chaotic lives.

I AM in total agreement with Author and Speaker Lee Silber in his book Organizing from the Right Side of the Brain: A Creative Approach to Getting Organized:

The truest definition of organizing is this: if you can find what you need when you need it, then you are organized. If it doesn't look organized to others, it doesn't matter.  If it works for you, that's what matters most. It's about function more than it is about form. It's creative, colorful, and comfortable, and not necessarily neat and perfect with everything put away. It isn't a cold, clinical environment devoid of any sign of life. It's more about controlled chaos. It's cozy and personal. It's also clean. There is a place for everything (even if it's a pile by the door) and everything is at least near that place. Things move and flow in and out of your life and your space based on need, want, and room.

So can you find what you need when you need it? Comment in the section below I want to know if you're a creative and messy or if you are a creative that is impeccably neat.

Inspiration & Motivation! Winners Never Quit by Eric Friedman

We have all had those moments where we just feel like throwing our hands in the air and giving up. It’s almost inevitable to feel that way sometimes, especially in the human resources field, where you are required to be on top of so many things, yet the majority of what you do depends on someone else to be considered a success. It can be a high-pressure, low recognition job, since you are really a behind-the-scenes power that makes so many things run smoothly, but may only be noticed when things go wrong. It’s an industry where your feet aren’t held to the fire for sales numbers or high efficiency, but instead for retention rates, the time it takes to hire, and employee engagement. Sometimes the pressure can become too much for HR professionals, causing them to leave the job or even the industry.

HOW TO AVOID GETTING TO “I QUIT!”

So what’s the difference between the professionals who get burned out and the ones who are still going strong? In my opinion, it has a lot to do with perspective, as well as a few extenuating circumstances. Although it can be a tough job, leaders in HR also know how exciting, innovative, engaging, and diverse the job can be. Just as with any other industry, there are positive and negative aspects, so when you focus only on the stressors and not on the personal rewards of being great at your job, you can get to “I quit!” very quickly.

One of the things that make HR jobs overwhelming is the fact that you have to rely on so many other parties in order to be successful. Your department heads must decide what they’re looking for in an employee before you can really recruit, potential candidates must decide they’re interested in your organization before you can have a purposeful conversation with them, managers must then decide whether or not they like the candidates you present, and then the chosen candidate must determine whether or not he or she will take the job.

That’s a lot of effort, pushing, and motivating, and a significant time investment in something that you can’t make happen without all of the other people complying. To keep from becoming a burned out middleman, think about how you can make a difference. It can be frustrating to feel overlooked, but before you decide that the job is not for you, consider what you can improve upon. Would it help if you gained project management or motivational skills? Perhaps it’s just a matter of developing a better relationship with your internal managers, so your recommendations are accepted and even requested, or of building stronger connections to potential candidates, so that you’re more aware of their decision-making processes and outside influencers.

Extenuating Circumstances – The Things We Can’t Control

While we can alter the perspective we choose to take, there are some things we cannot control, and they can mean the difference between loving your job and dreading Monday morning. These factors can be specific to the organization, such as having to continually deliver bad news to the employees, or they can be confined to one person, like a boss who makes your life a living hell. I too have been guilty of hating my job because of a boss, and I knew that in order to not say “I quit!” to the industry, I had to say it to that specific job. If you’re in a negative environment with no sign of possible changes, sometimes you must cut your losses and move on before you become burned out. While it’s always a good idea to stick things out and learn along the way, occasionally there are those situations where it’s better for your long-term career, not to mention your sanity, to separate yourself.

How do you keep from getting burned out in your job? Let us know in the comments section below.

Eric Friedman is the founder and CEO of eSkill Corporation, a leading provider of online skills testing for pre-employment assessment and benchmarking. Eric has degrees in Psychology and Business, and a fascination with matching people with roles they're best at, and that they enjoy. 

A company built on exceptional talent from Internet technology, test development, and iterative product development, eSkill leads as an independent assessment company helping HR departments with relevant and accurate job-based tests.

To learn more about Eric and eSkill, visit the company website at www.eskill.com , or contact him on LinkedIn.

Get ready for Spring Clean-out for the DIY!

You know who you are. When you want something you want it done yesterday.  But did you know in order to get a free donation pick up from +DCGoodwill you need to schedule it about 8 weeks out?  So you know what that means?

Imagine this scenario: It's mid-April and weather starts to break, the sun shines and you want to get started on planting your spring perennials.  But you notice your garage is cluttered and so is your basement. The itch has begun.  The Spring-cleaning itch. Suddenly you decide you have a ton of donate; a sofa, 8 bags of clothes, a box of old electronics, and who-knows-what-else but you drive a two-door sedan.  Yikes. So you call up Goodwill and they tell you that you can get a free pick up and they are booking for June.  Are you serious?! But it's April! you reply.  Yep. They're serious.  So avoid any @!#&* on your part!

If you're looking for a free option to haul away your junk and you know you're gonna get the itch.  You better book your Goodwill pick up like...(looks at watch) NOW!  Here are 5 easy steps:

1. Fill out the form
2. Check out the things Goodwill won't take
3. Sit and wait.  Goodwill will call you in about 5 business days to set up your pick up.
4. Let the Spring Clearing itch hit; or better yet put a couple dates on your calendar to go through the back of the closet and the untouched places of your house and car and start labeling what's donate.  If you need help with the sort, schedule an appointment with us.
5. Make sure you set your donate in one central location for the day of pick up.  Generally in the driveway, garage, or somewhere on the first level of your home. 

If you're into convenience however you can pay. Goodwill DC has partnered with a junk hauling company that will remove your junk future treasures, out but for a fee.

You can of course hire Dexterous Organizing and not only will you have a partner to help you get your spring-clean out itch stretched but we'll bring our team of experts, from organizer and junk hauler to handyman and closet systems, to help you every step of the way so you'll not only clean out but maybe even implement a new system and get a great deal on a garage system installed so next spring's clean out might not be so daunting!

What are some things you plan on getting started on for a spring clean out? Share your ideas below in the comment section.  If you know of someone who is in need of a kick-start to spring cleaning please share with them or your audience on social media!

TEDxSoMa - Leah Busque - From Social Networking to Service Networking

Need a small task done and done quickly?



Connect with me on TaskRabbit.  Instead of adding a concierge side to Dexterous Organizing (or at least not in the foreseeable future), I thought I'd just work as a TaskRabbit.  So far, so good.  Here is Leah talking about why she started TaskRabbit and it's success.  I love being a TaskRabbit in addition to my running Dexterous Organizing and Designing for ShelfGenie.  I get to do what I do best (helping people in the lives and businesses) and meet some really cool folks (I love networking and sharing).



If you need a task done, you can hire me directly!