Professional Organizer Training Institute

The Professional Organizer Industry is Flourishing--Now is the time to start a Professional Organizer business.

2012-04-05T10:47:00.029-07:00

We have been training new Professional Organizers for over seven years. Throughout those years we have been tweaking and modifying our program to provide the best comprehensive training program as an affordable investment for a new professional organizer business owner and achievable in the shortest time possible. Beginning with our June 2012 Seminar our training program will provide three distinct layers of training education:

Layer 1 - YOUR LAUNCH of a Professional Organizer Business
Layer 2 - YOUR GROUNDWORK of focused and guided work on your business infrastructure and work with a real client
Layer 3 - YOUR GROWTH - a rewarding and on-going mentor relationship with Anne Blumer, CPO®.

With each layer of our training and education program you will build not only skills but confidence working with clients and managing a business. Layer by layer we will provide you with increased assurance that your business will thrive. There is not another professional organizer training program with our unique layered approach, comprehensiveness, and value.

If you have been considering starting a Professional Organizer business, now is the time.

"Beginning January 1st, 2011 every single day more than 10,000 Baby Boomers will reach the age of 65. That is going to keep happening every single day for the next 19 years."

As a result the Professional Organizer business industry is flourishing to help them downsize. This is just one client sample, there are dozens more to consider.

Don't wait, our seminars for 2012 are filling up and there are only a few seats available.

How to become a Certified Professional Oganizer®

2012-03-08T14:22:00.015-08:00

I am often asked, "After completing your training course will I be a Certified Professional Organizer®?" The short answer is no.

The long answer is, you will receive a “Certificate of Professional Development and Attendance”. Self-study participants receive the designation of Professional Organizer Training Institute™ trained. Seminar participants receive the designation of Professional Organizer Training Institute™ certified. However this does not give you the designation of Certified Professional Organizer® or CPO® (see below).

Professional Organizer Training Institute™ trained (self-study participants) or certified (seminar participants) are credentials and international brand for the professional organizer’s business launch through their first years and for those who want comprehensive training and certification on our methodologies, systems, and procedures. This also lets your clients know that you have taken an intensive training program.

There are specific requirements to become a Certified Professional Organizer® or CPO® and they are explained in the The Board of Certification for Professional Organizers (BCPO) Candidate's Handbook for the Certified Professional Organizer Credential.

You can find complete details for our seminar curriculum, self study curriculum and registration fees on our web site for both our seminar and self study programs.

When you compare the BCPO exam content with our curriculum you will find that our training program in combination with the 1,500 hours of paid client experience will give you a tremendous amount of information towards the BCPO certification.

Certification of any profession should never be as basic as completing a three-day seminar or self-study course. To quote the BCPO handbook, "From an industry perspective, by becoming certified, an organizer will validate his or her knowledge and experience, based on the highest industry, psychometric, and legal standards. From the perspective of individual business, preparing for the examination is an opportunity to stay current in an increasingly competitive job market. From a personal perspective, sitting for the examination provides a unique opportunity to demonstrate the candidate’s self-confidence, professional commitment, and personal initiative in a professional environment governed by rigorous standards. A Certified Professional Organizer® will exemplify the importance of professional standards, and contribute to evolving standards in the industry as a whole."

Seminar Client Practicum Experience

2012-03-07T10:43:00.008-08:00

These four brave women L-R Marcia (CO), Kelly (CO), Wendy (OR) and Cristin (WA) endured SNOW, RAIN, WIND, BITTER COLD to organize a garage for their client practicum project last week. The client made smart and courageous decisions and released 90% of what was on her garage floor and another 20% on the shelves (we didn't get to everything). Please welcome Marcia, Kelly, Wendy and Cristin to the Professional Organizer community!

Here's what Wendy had to say about her training experience this past week, "Anne, participating in the Professional Organizer Training Institute's program was very exciting for me. I came away with valuable information that I will be able to begin using right away and throughout my career as a Professional Organizer. Being able to work on an actual organizing project has provided skills that may not have been gained by just the classroom presentation. Even the snow, rain, wind and cold will not detour me from continuing to help clients with their organizing needs. Well done!"

Marcia commented, "The training experience was very eye opening. In learning how to deal with clients, the stages they go through, how to setup a system, to help the client. Learning how to setup your system to be able to clean out an area, the follow up with the client afterwards, and starting a business the correct way, legally."

And, the client had this to say about the practicum experience, "Totally awesome group of women. Everyone stayed so upbeat despite the cold. I'm so grateful and exhausted. I finally dealt with stuff that I had put off making decisions about for ten years. It is so freeing. Thank you!!"

NEW Training Program

2011-10-05T18:43:00.000-07:00

I'm very pleased to offer you our new 1 on 1 Personalized Training Program. Perhaps you are just starting or thinking about starting your Professional Organizer business. You have lots of questions or maybe you are not sure you are doing things quite right and need some guidance from an experienced mentor. You will be able to customize your own training program with this option.

Purchase a 60 minute one-on-one phone session with a Certified Professional Organizer® and NAPO Golden Circle member that will help you fast-track the introductory phase of setting up an organizing business effectively.

At a minimum you will

• Receive an Action Plan to effectively launch your business
• Learn options for setting your fees
• Become knowledgeable about industry certification
• Discover the key to successfully marketing your business
• Gain valuable industry resources
• Have answers to all of your questions that are asked during the session

All for only $89! Register and within 24 hours you will receive an email to arrange your one hour phone training session with Anne Blumer, CPO®.

A humorous song about clutter--enjoy!

2011-09-22T07:51:00.000-07:00

NAPO 2011 Conference - Taking Your Business to the Next Level

2011-04-23T13:03:00.001-07:00

A few weeks ago I spent five days in not so sunny San Diego for the annual NAPO conference. I thought I would share a few of my experiences with you in case you weren't able to attend...

I love, love, love attending conference. I love getting away for a week and totally immersing myself in the world of organizing with my colleagues, friends and participants of my training program. I leave energized and with a list of ideas to implement in my training program and my work with clients. This year was no different, except it was my first time as an exhibitor at the Expo. Instead of being a kid in my candy store, I was part of the candy store and that was very different.

It was exciting to be an exhibitor and also exhausting. I met so many people who had purchased my book Get Rich Organizing, attended a seminar or trained with my self-study program who shared with me how much I have helped them with the launch and success of their business. Their words were so affirming for me that what I do matters. I know I love to teach new Professional Organizers and it was heartwarming to know how much others learn from me.

On the flip side, standing for 12 hours three days in a row did not make my feet happy and I didn't have much time to interact with the other exhibitors, attend as many educational sessions or imbibe in happy hour with my fun roomies, Danielle Liu and Megan Spears.

I would like to share the exhibitors I did meet because they have fabulous products, educational courses, books or an opportunity for you to be an affiliate of their program who are ready to take your business to the next level.

Meet Megan McGlynn and Kathleen Cowley with KC Streamline Concepts: If you are tired of having to piece together a filing box system for each of your clients and spending an exorbitant amount of money on the various components then you will love the Alpha-Omega Organizer™! You can help your clients de-clutter their work and living spaces, reduce stress, and optimize their productivity with this portable, turnkey organizing system. It's completely customizable to fit their office or home decor, and even better - it's affordable! They offer their AOO Affiliate Sales Program to professional organizers and you will receive a 15% discount on all orders.

Meet Paris Love of Organize With Love who offers Professional Organizers Breakthrough Boot Camp - Insider Secrets to a Thriving Professional Organizing Business training course. Paris says, "after you have trained with Anne, come work with me to get to the next level of you business".

Denslow Brown, The Diva of Organizing! More importantly of the Coach Approach For Organizers. Do you want to improve your communication with your clients? Or, perhaps you want to add coaching to your repertoire of organizing services. Denslow will help you achieve those goals. Stay tuned, Denslow and I are talking about how we can collaborate to provide you with foundational coaching skills.

Casey Moore's new book Stop Organizing, Start Producing clearly explains how you can increase productivity and quality of life. Your bookshelf is not complete without Casey's book.

Elizabeth Hagen: If you are ready to stand out and accelerate your success as a woman entrepreneur, then Elizabeth is the person who will take you there with her business coaching services. Elizabeth is one of those rare authentic people you will be fortunate to meet.

Donna Smallin of Send Out Cards which is an easy way to keep in touch with clients throughout the year. Donna is also the author of several organizing books that would be excellent additions to your reference library.

Extraordinary Organizing: If you already have an organizing business, this is the perfect way to build your consulting business. People who attend shows often want personal service and you will be the one they want to hire!

This is just a sampling of the conference experience. The educational sessions are invaluable. The few I attended I walked away with inspiration and ideas I had not thought of. If you have never been, you are missing out. Make a plan now to invest in yourself and your business by attending the NAPO 2012 conference in Baltimore, Maryland March 21-24!

Do you have questions about becoming a Professional Organizer? Here are my top FAQs for 2010.

2010-12-22T14:37:00.001-08:00

I receive many inquiries about our Professional Organizer training and education programs and questions about how to get started in the field of Professional Organizing. Maybe you have questions too. If you do, than you might be interested in reading my top frequently asked questions and answers for 2010:

Hi Anne, I wanted to introduce myself - my present circumstances - and last but not least honor the gift I was born with; a skill that just came so naturally that I didn't see the value in it or myself (obviously). Nothing like a divorce - to motivate one to grow up, change, accept myself and transition gracefully into the next chapter. I am wondering whether or not I should take your class in person? Get your book? Write a business plan before your book? and...frankly...in this economic climate, is business good or even happening for professional organizers? Any suggestions you have for short term plans, (i.e., places to work and 'learn the business' while generating income and writing a biz plan) will be appreciated. Whatever wisdom you can impart will be appreciated.Sincerely, Sheila Ahh, you sound like you are in a life transition. What a great place to be! To be honest, if I had the choice when I started, I would have attended a seminar—especially one like we offer through the Professional Organizer Training Institute with the client practicum component. It really depends on the type of learner you are. Are you auditory?—then my self-study program. Are you visual?—then my book. Are you kinesthetic?—then my seminar will take you through creating your business plan, your marketing message, a process for working with client, and so much more. Whatever learner you are—I have the option. Let me know how I can help you.

Hi Anne,
I would like to inquire what is the cost of the self study program? Is there a certificate of completion? How many hours is the course (even though it is self study)? Thank you, Darci Hello Darci, Thank you for your interest in our training programs for Professional Organizers. The cost for our training programs is very affordable. I recently spoke with someone on the phone and when I told her it is $300 for all three units she couldn't believe it. She said all of NAPO's classes combined total over $3,000, they are tele-classes and you can't repeat the class, and it would take her years to complete all of them due to their schedule. I provide my participants a “Certified by” (27 hours—length of 3-day seminar) the Professional Organizer Training Institute™ certificate upon completion of the Seminar Program. I provide my participants a Certificate of Training (7 hours—length of videos for Units I and II and 3 hours length of Unit IV) by the Professional Organizer Training Institute™ upon completion of the Self-Study Programs.

I hope you can help me. I live in Sydney, Australia and I have found your training course on the net. In 2010 I would like to train to become a Professional Organiser and I have looked through your course and I am interested in completing it. However, I have a few questions to ask before I can register.
1. If I complete the self study course which includes the manual, is it a more comprehensive version of the Get Rich book for sale? Do I download the manual? The self-study program is more comprehensive than the book, plus you have the online videos. The materials are sent to you via e-mail once your payment is approved.
2. Are the self study lessons through email or sent in the post? E-mail.
3. Are there assignments to be submitted and what does a typical assignment involve? Do I complete the assignments from the information in the manual? No assignments; suggested actions.
4. The customised forms that are included in the course, can they be adapted for my business eg are electronic copies? Yes
5. The one hour phone call at the end of the course, does that include calling me in Australia? You call me :) or we can Skype.
6. How do I get the audio/visual recordings? on DVD (post) or download for my resource or stream it from the web? Stream it from the web with logon access.
7. How do I find out how much I need to pay in Australian dollars? What is your preferred method? Convert US Dollars to Australian dollars and payment is made via PayPal.
Thanks for your time. I look forward to hearing from you soon.
Thanks Emma Ray

Hi Anne,I would like to know if you have a Seminar in Boston or somewhere close to here??Thank you Monica Hello Monica, Thank you for your interest in our training program. Due to the client practicum we only offer the seminar in our local area where we have access to clients we know will be a good match with our client practicum. I hope you will consider making the trip to Oregon for this invaluable and irreplaceable training experience.

Hi Anne,I am interested in taking your home study course, but want to know what else will be required after that to actually obtain a certification. Hi Charlotte, Thank you for contacting me. These are the eligibility requirements to become a Certified Professional Organizer by the Board of Certified Professional Organizers. I hope that helps to answer your question.

Hi Anne, How do I get to be a CPO? Is the only way to go to the 3 days seminar? If I took all 5 training segments would that get me certified? Hi Carrie, Thank you for contacting me about how to become a Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO®).Are you familiar with the Board of Certified Professional Organizers? They are who “certify” Professional Organizers as a CPO®. Read their requirements page on their Web site for information about what you will need to achieve before certifying. I provide my participants a “Certified by” the Professional Organizer Training Institute ™certificate upon completion of the Seminar Program. I provide my participants a Certificate of Training by the Professional Organizer Training Institute™ upon completion of our Self-Study Program. A CEU for a Board of Certified Professional Organizers application must be attained through “live” or “recorded” training format so both our Seminar and Self-Study Program also qualifies for Board Certification.

Hello my name is Dawn and I was wondering if you had any kind of grants or loans to take the classes... Hello Dawn, Thank you for your inquiry. Because we are small business and want to keep our costs the lowest the industry offers, we do not offer grants or loans for our classes. If you are serious about pursuing this profession and starting your own business, you might apply for a small business loan with your bank to cover training/education expenses, marketing, equipment, etc. that you will need to be successful.

Hi Anne, I am interested in starting a career in the field of professional organizing. I have always enjoyed organizing and take great pride in it. Looking at the BCPO, it seems I need actual collage/class credit in order to do this. Is this what this institute offers? What else can you tell me about this school in order for me to better understand what I require to become a professional organizer? Hello Stephanie, Our training programs do provide CEU’s that may be eligible for BCPO CEU’s. For more information on what are eligible BCPO CEU’s visit their web site on this topic http://www.certifiedprofessionalorganizers.org/faq.php#CEU. There are no specific requirements to become a Professional Organizer. There are specific requirements to become a Certified Professional Organizer and they are explained on the BCPO web site here http://www.certifiedprofessionalorganizers.org/eligibility-requirements.php and here http://www.certifiedprofessionalorganizers.org/faq.php#eligibilityReg.

Hello Anne, My name is Mark and I have read with rapt interest, the information pertinent to organizing. I have had personal experience with clearing out my parents' home after they passed away, and they had lots of stuff!! I have a couple of questions. Are most Certified Professional Organizers women? How long does it typically take to get a business off the ground after taking your classes in Portland, Oregon?I feel that being male may be in my favor but, I don't know. I thoroughly enjoyed cleaning my home after my father passed away and was amazed at how big the apartment really was!! Any information you can provide will be greatly appreciated. Hello Mark, Thank you for contacting me regarding your Professional Organizer career. To answer your questions: Are most Certified Professional Organizers women? Yes, they are. However the male population is growing. There was a gentleman in my training seminar this week. How long does it typically take to get a business off the ground after taking your classes in Portland, Oregon? That depends a lot on you. There are many other steps to complete setting up your business that I teach on day one of the seminar, but you can get it off the ground in one day by registering your business with your state online, obtaining your federal tax id (again online), and opening a business checking account (also can be done online with many banks).

Hello Anne,I work full time but want to change careers. I am very interested in professional organizing. With a 80/wk work schedule and family...what is the best way to go? Hi Tammy, I highly recommend training. Not because I am a trainer, but because I wish I had the opportunity when I started my business. It took me months to get my business up and generating clients, because I wasn’t sure of the steps to take. Now I do know what it takes to launch and grow a professional organizer business and that is what I teach, along with techniques and skills for working with a variety of client types. That said, I think the best way to go is complete my self-study training program or attend a seminar.

Hello, I have recently retired from many years as a Flight Attendant and was look for a second career. I would like your direction in what is needed to become a professional residential organizer. Where do I start. I will look forward to your input. Karen Hello Karen, Thank you for contacting me. Friends kept telling me this is the right career for me, and they were right! I left corporate America after 20+ years, I’ve been a Professional Organizer for almost eight years and I absolutely love it. It is a great “second career”. What I love more is training and educating new Professional Organizers so they can have a successful business too. There are no specific qualifications for our training programs or to become a professional organizer (at this time). If you answer yes to all of these questions, you are ready to learn more about becoming a professional organizer and I would love to assist you with your training and education:
1.Do you have a sense of humor?
2.Are you non-judgmental?
3.Do you like to teach others?
4.Are you a good listener?
5.Can you visually measure space and approximate how furniture and items will fit?
6.Does the idea of cleaning out your closet excite you?
7.Does the idea of cleaning out someone else’s closet excite you?
8.Have you ever organized someone else’s stuff?
9.Do you get excited when you see a messy or disorganized space?
10.If someone doesn’t agree with your approach to organizing are you okay with that?
11.Are you self disciplined, self-motivated and a self-starter?
12.Are you good at managing finances?
13.Are you comfortable selling yourself?
14.Are you comfortable working with all types of personalities? If not, which ones are you not comfortable with?
15.Are you comfortable meeting people for the first time?

If you have questions about becoming a Professional Organizer, please post them here and I will gladly answer them.

Is a Professional Organizer Career in Your Future?

2010-12-13T15:49:00.000-08:00

Before becoming a Certified Professional Organizer, my friends kept telling me this is the right career for me, and they were right! I’ve been a Professional Organizer for almost eight years and certified for almost four years. I absolutely love this career. What I love more is training and educating new Professional Organizers so they can have a successful business too.

There are no specific qualifications for our training programs. To help you decide if you are ready, answer these questions:

1. Do you have a sense of humor?
2. Are you non-judgmental?
3. Do you like to teach others?
4. Are you a good listener?
5. Can you visually measure space and approximate how furniture and items will fit?
6. Does the idea of cleaning out your closet excite you?
7. Does the idea of cleaning out someone else’s closet excite you?
8. Have you ever organized someone else’s stuff?
9. Do you get excited when you see a messy or disorganized space?
10. If someone doesn’t agree with your approach to organizing are you okay with that?
11. Are you self disciplined, self-motivated and a self-starter?
12. Are you good at managing finances?
13. Are you comfortable selling yourself?
14. Are you comfortable working with all types of personalities? If not, which ones are you not comfortable with?
15. Are you comfortable meeting people for the first time?

If you answer yes to all of these questions then you are ready to learn more about becoming a Professional Organizer and I would love to assist you with your training and education with our self-study programs or seminars.

So Excited to Receive this News...

2010-11-04T07:57:00.000-07:00

"CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE A FINALIST!

On behalf of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO-LA), we are very pleased to inform you that you are an official finalist for the upcoming 2011 Los Angeles Organizing Awards!

Nominations made by members of the professional organizing industry and the public earlier this year recognized you and/or your company as being one of the best in your field (Most Valuable Educational Resource).

Please see the complete list of finalists in all twenty-four categories and vote now for the winners."

I'm the underdog and up against some heavy-weight competition (large organizations such as NAPO and NSGCD). Your vote for me, Professional Organizer Training Institute, under the category MOST VALUABLE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE will make all the difference.

Thank you,
Anne

Checkout Five New Professional Organizers

2010-11-02T10:14:00.001-07:00

Wrapped up our 2010 training on September 29th by launching five new professional organizers. Meet from left Linda, Denise, Gordon, Susan, Sandy.

View their exciting and awesome client practicum organizing project here.

I'm looking forward to launching more professional organizers in 2011. I hope you will join me for one of our seminars or self-study programs.

Are you thinking about becoming a Professional Organizer?

2010-08-02T15:17:00.000-07:00

If you have been thinking about entering the field of Professional Organizing but have no idea how to get started or are not sure if you are doing what you need to be doing to be successful, it’s time for you to get serious and educate yourself.

Begin by reading my book Get Rich Organizing to verify this is the right profession for you. You might be able to organize anything, but can you organize someone else? You may have worked for a business, but can you manage your own? These are just a few of the questions that I will review with you.

Next get in-depth training, education, resources, forms and other essential materials to launch, manage and grow your business by enrolling in our Self Study program.

For the richest learning experience and to achieve your potential in the shortest period of time, attend our live 3-day seminar where you will work hands-on with a real client. Our next seminar is September 27-29, 2010 and it is already rapidly filling up.

I’m looking forward to working with you to become a Professional Organizer and show you the way to a rewarding career.

Expect success!

NAPO Conference - Video

2010-04-25T14:17:00.000-07:00

I had a fabulous time at the NAPO conference in Columbus, Ohio. It was fun to take my flip camera and capture some events and highlights.

Here's a video of Gabriel Fishman of Gabriel Organizes demonstrating what to include in your travel backpack for conference using the Eagle Creek Universal Backpack. I'm ordering mine now for future conference travels.

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Learn How to Organize an Entire Home

2010-03-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

Professional Organizer Training™ program provides you with a 5 part series on Room-by-Room Residential Organizing.

This series will educate you on the basics of organizing each room of a home including:
*How to apply my 5 Steps to Organizing® process
*Keep-let go criteria to help your clients through difficult decisions
*6 challenging stumbling blocks to letting go and how to overcome them
*For each room the typical problems (habits) that cause disorganization, how to create zones, product solutions from budget to extreme, new organizing habits to establish, estimated time for organizing, before/after visuals, and a basic maintenance plan to keep your clients organized.

Order now and earn 5 hours of CEU towards certification with our self study program. Only $75 now through March 31, 2010. That's only $15/CEU hour!

March Madness

2010-03-14T18:48:00.000-07:00

Launch your Professional Organizer business or learn more about how to become a Professional Organizer now at a very affordable price.

Through March 31, 2010 our Self Study Program is half price!! That's right, 50% off the regular price. Act now and save $$$$.

Units I, II, and IV only $200
Units I and II only $125
Unit IV only $75

What are you waiting for? Get started now!

Big Changes for Professional Organizer Certification CEU Eligibility

2010-03-05T10:41:00.000-08:00

The Board of Certified Professional Organizers (BCPO) announced this week that Continuing Education Unit (CEU) eligibility requirements have been revised to include some online and recorded courses. The revised CEU eligibility requirements are as follows:
1. Classes must be at least 60 minutes long.
2. Classes must provide skills and knowledge that allow you to better serve your clients.
3. Classes must be live, web-based, or recorded.
4. For initial certification, at least 70% of the CEUs claimed as substitute hours must be for live classes; up to 30% may be for web-based or recorded classes.
5. For re-certification, of the 45 required CEUs, at least 30 must be for live classes; up to 15 may be for web-based or recorded classes.

We offer online and recorded courses that are eligible for certification CEU's that you can attend by online live Webinar or recorded Self-Study Program options. Unit I is primarily focused on forming your business. Unit II, Unit IV and our new GO System training provide you with skills and knowledge that allow you to better serve your clients.

All of our courses are the most comprehensive and at a very lowest cost comparable to other programs in the market. And, remember professional development is a deductible business expense.

Don't wait until the last minute to realize you don't have the CEU's you need to certify or recertify. Continue your education throughout the course of your profession to stay on top of the latest industry information and knowledge.

Register and join me for your continuing education and start earning your CEU's toward certification or recertification now.

What people are saying about our GO System Training

2010-02-20T16:06:00.001-08:00

Here's what people are saying about our GO System training:

I thoroughly enjoyed the training and felt that Anne was clear and concise with the information.

I am a new organizer and really appreciated the depth and scope of information presented in the webinar. Having an understanding of underlying issues with clients is essential in providing excellent service. Signe Hill

I highly recommend the Go System as a set of tools to work with in order to become more productive, have more clarity and work more efficiently.

The Go System course was both enlightening and educational. It is unlike any other organizing course I have taken. Knowing why things instead of just knowing that they happen will make me both a better Professional Organizer and a better business owner. I highly recommend this course to anyone that would like some specific actions to take to improve their productivity. Cindy Vanhoff Professional Organizer Reclaimed Spaces, LLC Spokane, Washington

I really liked the multi-tasking exercise! It was a real eye opener.

I set up the file system and did the prioritizing. It felt FABULOUS! Thanks Anne!

I've been using the FOCUS method to get some major projects done.

Register for our next Webinar series starting March 5, 2010.

NAPO Oregon Presents: 2010 Pacific Northwest Organizing Expo

2010-01-28T09:14:00.001-08:00

This is a free event, so come join us! Stop by and see me at the Professional Organizer Training Institute booth. Great door prizes!

For more information visit their website .

NAPO Oregon Presents: 2010 Pacific Northwest Organizing Expo
January 30, 2010, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m.
Montgomery Park, 2701 NW Vaughn Street, Portland Oregon

Thank you!

2009-12-15T10:16:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the over 125 people who participated in the Professional Organizer Training Institute™ training programs this past year. It was my extreme pleasure to inspire, educate, and train you to launch your own Professional Organizing business.

If you are planning to launch your business in 2010 we have upcoming training opportunities to get you started on a successful and profitable business:

Webinar Units I, II, and IV: January 12-March 4, 2010; 5:00-6:00 p.m. Pacific Time; Tuesdays/Thursdays. Registration deadline is December 29, 2009.

Seminar February 8-10, 2010 early bird registration deadline is January 18, 2010. This seminar is already half full.

To say informed about future training opportunities and the organizing industry you are invited to become a fan of the Professional Organizer Training Institute™ Facebook page.

Last, but not least, I am offering FREE shipping on my book Get Rich Organizing through December 24, 2009. After you submit your order, send me an e-mail (anne@solutionsforyou.com) and mention this offer and I will immediately refund the shipping charges.

Again, thank you for your participation and interest in the Professional Organizer Training Institute™.

Ask the Organizer Panel

2009-11-27T12:56:00.000-08:00

Last month I was invited to be on the NAPO Oregon Golden Circle Member panel at our monthly meeting. I thought it might be insightful to those who are interested in becoming a professional organizer and to those already in the business to read the questions they asked me and my responses:

How has your business evolved since you first started as a professional organizer? (Include when you started your business.)
I officially started my business SolutionsForYou, Inc. in January 2003 and joined NAPO and NAPO Oregon the same month. I was asked to be the NAPO Oregon board secretary in April 2003 and remained on the board until May 2009—acting as Secretary, Vice President/Director of Membership, President, and Immediate Past President.

I loved all aspects of launching a business. After six months of business launching activities, my husband—who was working from home at the time, turned to me kicked the chair that I was sitting and said, “Don’t you think it’s time to find a client?” To which I replied, “Oh right, a client.”

I worked with almost any client who came along and didn’t have a specific niche. I quickly learned I don’t like organizing garages or basements because they seem to be the purgatory of stuff. I also learned quickly that I love working with clients and their paper.

From there I started mentoring new professional organizers helping them to start their business and work with clients that lead to my professional organizer training seminar program, webinar program, self-study program, and most recently writing and publishing my book.

How do you set expectations with new clients?
Simply by asking them what they expect from me and clearly identifying their goals and vision. Before we start we identify clear criteria for what will be kept and what the client is willing to let go of. I’m clear with my clients that change needs to happen internally with them for there to be a complete transformation.

What has been your biggest surprise or learning as a professional organizer?
My biggest surprise has been that I am teaching others how to launch and manage their own professional organizer business. That I would be training my competition. And, that I wrote book—that was a huge surprise!

What is your best piece of advice for a new organizer? What do you wish you had known when you started your business?
Training and education; not only about how to work with clients but how to run a business. I wish I had known anything about CD, ADD, and people who hoard before I met them!

What was your biggest mistake as an organizer and what did you learn from it?
Installing (i.e. drilling) shelving. I learned to identify my limitations and have resources available who are better skilled at doing things I’m not trained or skilled at.

What are the pros and cons of choosing a specialty area? How did you choose yours? How long did it take you to determine your specialty?
Pros: You are working with the clients who make your heart sing. You get really good at what the service and expertise you provide your clients. You can probably command a higher rate if you are the “expert”.
Cons: You might limit your income.
I chose mine based on it is what I truly love to do.
A couple of years

What do you recommend about carrying liability insurance?
Well, since I was raised by an attorney I learned very early on you don’t take risks that can cause a law suit, so I recommend that you do carry liability insurance. If you have any question about whether or not you should watch the video on NAPO’s website.

What has been your biggest challenge and how have you handled or overcome it?
My biggest challenge is my perfectionism personality and I haven’t overcome it, I handle it with wine and cheese!

What marketing strategies have you found to be the most helpful? How long did it take for your marketing strategies to pay off?
My Web site is my #1 marketing strategy and it has paid off since it was launched. I obtain 90% of my clients through my Web site.
Networking is my #2 marketing strategy and it is slower to pay off, but it does.

Have you ever turned down a job? If so, what were the reasons?
Of course I have! Not a good match either personality or specialty.

What was the single most helpful book to you as an organizer?
Judith Kohlberg’s book What Every Professional Organizer Should Know about Chronic Disorganization.

What class if any has been the most helpful to you as an organizer?
The Coach Approach to Organizing with Denslow Brown.

How important is it to become a Certified Professional Organizer®?
From a business perspective, it was important for me because of my training program—I felt participants would think it is important to learn from someone who has been through the certification process.

From a personal perspective, it was important for me because becoming certified signifies my commitment to education, dedication, and professionalism for the professional organizer industry.

How did you pick your business model (sole proprietor, LLC, etc)?
My business is incorporated because my husband and I formed SolutionsForYou together for both his consulting business and my organizing business. It was tax advantageous for us to be incorporated.

What has been your most challenging job?
I spent most of one summer 6 hours a day 5 days a week working with a family to remove an enormous amount of clutter from a 6500 sq. ft. home. It was challenging because of the amount of clutter, the number of family members and their emotional attachments, and it was physically exhausting moving large garbage bags of stuff from the upstairs to the main floor and then out to the garage for pickup by Dough Nation.

What job has been the most fun for you?
Working with a family to set-up systems and I’m their in-home Organizer working with them 2x a month for 3 years now.

What struggles do you still face in your business?
Marketing my training program world-wide.

What has been the hardest organizing-related skill for you to develop?
Body doubling—it’s really hard for me to sit still.

What business-related skills has been the most difficult for you to develop?
Payroll, it rates right up there with tax preparation!

What still surprises you about your work as a professional organizer?
How many people are chronically disorganized.

What professional development resources are available?
My training programs
Denslow Brown’s A Coach Approach to Organizing
NAPO
NSGCD
NASSM
BCPO book list

How can your expertise help NAPO Oregon chapter members?
My expertise can help members learn how to launch, manage, and grow a profitable business.

What else would you like to know? Send me your questions.

So Thrilled...We've been nominated!!!

2009-10-16T08:29:00.000-07:00

I just learned the Professional Organizer Training Institute™ has been nominated as the Most Valuable Educational Resource for the 2010 NAPO LA Organizing Awards.

This is THE AWARD EVENT for the professional organizing industry!!! PLEASE VOTE for me--the Professional Organizer Training Institute™! Go to http://www.NAPOLA.org.

First feedback on my book...

2009-09-08T08:13:00.000-07:00

I received my first feedback on my book, Get Rich Organizing: The Professional Organizer Survival Guide to Launch, Manage, and Grow a Profitable Business.

Here's what Julia says...

Hi Anne,
"We originally connected on LinkedIn. I received an email from your website when Get Rich Organizing was released.

I LOVE the book! Last night, I wrote out answers for the questions in the first two chapters. The book is really helping me focus on specialization as an organizer and where I need to apply more focus as a business owner. I'll definitely write a review when I'm finished. And I know that I'll be constantly using it as a resource!"

Here's what Cindy says...
"Got my book! How exciting for you to have your name on the spine of a book. I love books! I am enjoying reading bits and pieces of it. I have been reading about the different clients you have come across. congratulations - and thank you for the note and the autograph.
Cindy"

Time to vote for the 2010 NAPO-LA Organizing Awards

2009-09-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

Vote For the Professional Organizer Training Institute by September 30th

From the Professional Organizer Training Institute™, Anne Blumer

It’s that time of year again--Time to vote for the 2010 NAPO-LA Organizing Awards. It's easy. Here's how:

Visit the NAPO LA Organizing Awards website
On the right side click on “Awards 2010 Nomination Form”
Enter your password or create a password.
Find the category for Most Valuable Educational Resource.
Enter Professional Organizer Training Institute™ Information:

Nominee: Professional Organizer Training Institute™
Contact/Position: Anne Blumer
Address: 7220 SW Burlingame Avenue, Portland,OR 97219
Phone: 503.246.0710
Email: anne@professionalorganizertraininginstitute.com
Website: www.professionalorganizertraininginstitute.com
Years in business: 6
Type of business/product/service: Service
Reason for nomination: Say what you wish!

Thank you so much for taking a few minutes to do this. I truly appreciate your vote and love training and educating Professional Organizers!!

The Professional Organizer Training Institute™ is the leading global provider of both business development and professional organizer client engagement training and education. We have trained and educated participants the world over with our highly successful and proven training and education program for Professional Organizer business owners.

My Book is Published!

2009-08-19T08:00:00.000-07:00

Get Rich Organizing: The Professional Organizer Survival Guide to Launch, Manage, and Grow a Profitable Business

Order your signed copy now!

Listen to my book interview with Susan Creal
www.freeconferencecall.com
Login:
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phone 6054754875
subscriber pin 401106

August Seminar

2009-08-13T10:02:00.001-07:00

I just completed a three-day training program and launched three new professional organizers. Meet (from left to right) Tonya, Sharon, and Tami.

I love, love, love to train new organizers!! See Sharon, Tonya and Tami in action at their client practicum.

If you are interested in becoming a Professional Organizer or know of someone who would be a great Professional Organizer we have another seminar in November. Or if you prefer distance learning we are starting our webinar series in September.

My book, Get Rich Organizing: The Professional Organizer Survival Guide to Launch, Manage, and Grow a Profitable Business is now available. Order your copy now!

Communicating Your Value

2009-07-06T08:20:00.000-07:00

If you have attended my Professional Organizer Training and Education Program webinar or seminar you know the underlying message I repeat over and over is the importance and impact of communicating your value to your client.

I came across this video of Don Hutson on the subject of selling your value. It reiterates what I say and more. Bottom line, if you clearly communicate your value, your client will pay your price.

Your client's perceived value of your service must be equal to or greater than your price. For example here is what a client of mine said after working with me,

"It’s amazing; my desk is no longer a catchall. Nobody touches this space except me now—before I was the only one who didn’t use this space. I can find any piece of paper I am looking for and I know where to file paper when I receive it. I am so appreciative of Anne, I can’t say that enough. She coached me through the entire process. I feel so much calmer now that I can make decisions and manage my paper. I am in control and can navigate our “command central” with ease and confidence. You, Anne, not only cleared the clutter from my home, you cleared the clutter in my head. I have ADD and this is a freedom I’ve never felt. Thanks a million for your help Anne, you have made me so happy and you are worth every penny and much more!"Angela Coel