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Ask the Professional Business Organizer:

I'm dreading my upcoming Trade Show       (300 words)

Question:
We have a trade show coming up and I'm dreading it.  I'm already fully busy doing my regular work, but most of the organization is falling on my shoulders.

How can I organize my time better to fit this all in?  Plus I might have to help out at the booth - there aren't enough salesmen.  Any suggestions would be great.

Answer:
Trade shows can often disrupt the daily operations of any business.  The first word that comes to my mind is 'delegate.'  Whenever you can - give clear, well-defined tasks away.

If tradeshows are a regular event then a whole process needs to be established.  Start systemizing as soon as possible; even if this is your first, they have a habit of coming around again.  Record the processes you used for every step and try to make notes about what did and didn't work.  Create a section in your filing system for all the steps, i.e., Registration, Supplies, Delivery, Literature, Display material. 

Define the steps as you think of them.

Meet with stakeholders
Check assumptions
Create an action plan - note the person responsible for each task
Try to take on the support role instead of leadership, if appropriate.  And coordinate the completion of the details.
Put things in writing as much as possible.
To answer your question - set a specific amount of time each day until the event.  Try to deal with the show details only during that time.  You can accomplish so much by focusing on one topic at a time.

Have you considered hiring temporary help to assist with this process?
Did you know that can hire trained trade show booth help?  Many professional organizers can help you with this.

I hope this helps.  Please let me know how the show went and there were items that made the whole process easier for you.

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Ask the Professional Business Organizer:

No matter what I do - I'm overwhelmed with Chaos (200 words)

Question: Why can't I get organized?!!!  I plan it out, I buy the stuff - still chaos!  Help!

Answer:     Many people think they should be able to fix the organizational challenges they now face. That they must be doing something wrong.  Relax.  

   We’re going to look at this issue from two directions you may not have thought of:
a. You may not have the necessary skills -– don'’t worry they’'re learnable  - you can't be good at everything!
b. The system needs to grow from your unique needs - – it doesn'’t work the same for everyone.  Good systems are custom designed.

   Simple systems are learnable and can be designed to fit your needs. Organization is a group of technical skills to be learned to an acceptable, functional level. There are workable resources that will create storage systems that work for you.

   The way you work needs to be addressed for you to adapt and keep a system for the long term.  We all have individual ways of doing things.  Organization ultimately needs to feed into your needs – not the other way around.

   Two things to consider: There are simple, learnable skills to gain.  Any system has to adjust to your individual needs to be truly embraced.