Brandes Sari - Organizing outside the box: conquer clutter using your natural learning style

Everybody needs a little organizing! No matter what your learning style, here is a book that nails the basics and delivers the goods. Its great!

Peter Walsh, professional organizer from TLCs Clean Sweep
and New York Times bestselling author

Organizing Outside the Box can help save marriages, disarm angry bosses, validate teenagers, teach toddlers, and solidify your own self-esteem. This book is masterful, delivering the exact organizing steps you need based on your own learning style. Bravo, Hellen and Sari, for designing such a book.

Dorothy Breininger, organizing expert, The Doctor Phil Show,
and author, Chicken Soup for the Soul series

Finally an organizing book that considers an individuals learning style. This book is brilliant and well organized with easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions a book that offers hope for anyone who struggles to find ways to overcome their organizational challenges.

Margaret Miller, CEC, Past President,
Professional Organizers in Canada, and
President, TERAGRAM Coaching & Consulting Group

A simple and understandable approach to the organizing process. Hellen and Sari help you discover your unique learning style and the organizing approach thats right for you. If your previous attempts to get organized have proved futile, this book is for you.

Barry Iszak, CPO, CRTS, Past President of
National Association of Professional Organizers,
and author, Organize Your Garage in No Time

Organizing Outside the Box is a great addition to the professional organizers toolkit and a must read for those who have found that nothing seems to work.

Harold Taylor, bestselling author, Making Time Work for You

Hellen is a master at helping people declutter their lives and become happier and more successful. Buy this book and see how great you can be.

Grace Cirocco, author, Take the Step, the Bridge Will Be There

This small book delivers big with practical organizing methods that suit you best. It is fast-paced, compelling, and comprehensive.

Bill Roebuck, Editor-in-Chief, Home Digest Magazine

This simple, practical, and effective book guides readers through the chaos of clutter to take charge of their world.

George Torok, co-author of Secrets of Power Marketing
and radio host of Business in Motion

Organizing Outside the Box gave me tools and techniques specific to my learning style, bringing more organization and energy into my daily life.

Natasha Maciel, busy wife, mother of two, and Business Coach

Conquer Clutter
Using
Your Natural
Learning
Style

HELLEN BUTTIGIEG
CPO

SARI BRANDES
M.Ed.

Copyright 2009 by Hellen Buttigieg and Sari Brandes

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or any information and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Although every precaution has been taken in the preparation of this book, the publisher and authors assume no responsibility for errors or omissions. Nor is any liability assumed for any loss or damages resulting from the use of the information contained in this book.

Published in 2009 by BPS Books Toronto, Canada

www.bpsbooks.com

A division of Bastian Publishing Services Ltd.

ISBN 978-1-926645-09-4

Canadian Cataloguing in Publication Data available from Library and Archives Canada

Cover design: Gnibel

Text design and typesetting: Kinetics Design www.kdbooks.ca

Cover photo: Tim Leyes

Mind Map diagram created in Inspiration (Kidspiration or InspireData) by Inspiration Software, Inc. Pendaflex and Pendaflex PileSmart are registered trademarks of Esselte Corporation.

Publishers Note

Any mention in this book of a brand name product or company should not be considered an endorsement. The names of any clients mentioned in this book are fictional.

Printed by Lightning Source, Tennessee. Lightning Source paper, as used in this book, does not come from endangered old growth forests or forests of exceptional conservation value. It is acid free, lignin free, and meets all ANSI standards for archival-quality paper. The print-on-demand process used to produce this book protects the environment by printing only the number of copies that are purchased.

Dedicated to anyone who
has ever felt overwhelmed
by chaos in their lives.

May you be inspired by a
fresh approach to life balance
that celebrates who you are.

A big thank-you to:

My husband, Victor. If it were not for your belief in me and your constant encouragement, this book would not exist.

My children, Sarah and Michelle. You have taught me that we are all unique in our own way and that this is a good thing.

My parents, Mike and Anastasia. You were my first teachers and excellent role models for living an organized life.

My first coach, my mentor, and my friend, Margaret Miller, for helping me find the courage to take the leap and start my business.

My agent, Lilana Novakovich, for putting me in front of the best audiences in the world.

My production crew on the show neat, for making it fun to go to work every day, despite the long hours.

HGTV Canada, for believing in the show and giving us three successful seasons.

All of the fans of the show, for letting me into your living room and making the show such a success.

Professional Organizers in Canada, for the lifelong friendships Ive made with the most compassionate, yet efficient, people in the world.

City Centre Toastmasters in Mississauga, for taking a stay-at-home mom seriously when I said I wanted to be a speaker.

The members of the Toronto chapter of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers, for generously sharing your expertise with me.

All of my clients, for bravely allowing me and my associates into your homes, in the process motivating us to find better solutions for your organizing challenges.

Last but not least, I wish to thank all my friends, who have had to put up with me talking about this book for years before I finally put pen to paper. Ive always felt that success is nothing unless you have someone to share it with, and all of you were there for me.

My warmest thanks to:

Pearl, for being my inspiration. You have shown me time and time again that with hard work and creativity a person can do anything.

Marshal and Lisa, for helping me to get started on this wild ride and always cheering me on. You were and are always there with support, creative problem solving, and advice.

Hyim and Dahnie, for teaching me patience, for helping me to build my business, and for all your love, assistance, and encouragement.

Bobby, for your advice and your special way of always being there when I need you.