Network of Productive Environment Specialists

All Blog Posts (31)

I Object!

The Productive Environment Process is becoming a focal point as I go through my day. Not just with my big goals, either; but whatever my current work is, if I get “stuck”, I reach for the Process. It starts, of course, with the vision. What would success look like in the particular instance of that task? The next step is to… Continue

Added by Brenda Spandrio on November 13, 2009 at 5:00pm — No Comments

"Low Tech" Solution Still Works For Me

The other day I was having coffee with a colleague, and before we left we decided to schedule another time to meet. She pulled out her electronic calendar, and I pulled out my wire bound paper calendar. I couldn’t help but notice her surprise that I was still using a paper calendar. I was caught! I must confess when it comes to the calendar I take with me, I am still very much “low tech”. Let’s be honest, there are still many things we use that are “low tech”, but work way too well to give up. M… Continue

Added by Jill B Ferguson on November 8, 2009 at 1:36pm — 1 Comment

Take That Leap

There were three frogs sitting on a log in a pond. One frog decided to jump in the water. How many were left on the log? Answer: Three. That frog had only DECIDED to jump in; he didn't actually do so. This is true of many of us. We come up to a crisis point. We DECIDE that something must change; things can't go on like this. The problem is that we just don't know where to start. There are too many things that have been left alone too long and now we are overwhelmed. And,… Continue

Added by Brenda Spandrio on November 3, 2009 at 11:07am — 3 Comments

Two iPEP Specialists write for NAPO News

Check out the articles in the October/November digital issues of NAPO News for articles written by two of our specialists, Brenda Spandrio, and Barbara Boone. Continue

Added by Barbara Boone on October 29, 2009 at 12:56pm — No Comments

The Breaking Point: What Will It Take for You to Get Organized?

What type of loss will be the catalyst for you to finally get organized? Will it be misplacing a $500 gift certificate with a known expiration date? Paying a $150 surcharge to replace a lost airline ticket? Or perhaps not being able to find theater tickets you’ve paid scalper prices for online. Yes, there are treasures lost in piles of clutter; things of value hiding in your space that you’ve long since forgotten. What have you misplaced? While you're thinking, allow me to tell you about my br… Continue

Added by Cheryl Vargas, CPO on October 24, 2009 at 2:43am — No Comments

The Advantages of Clutter

If clutter is such a bad thing, why do we have so much of it? There must be some benefit derived from being surrounded by stuff that’s out of place. So what are some of the “perks” of clutter? • We can see where stuff is – sort of…Anyway, it’s here somewhere, right? • We want to remember something…We just can’t think what it is right now. • We want to show others how busy we are…How can we possibly do something someone else wants us to do when we have all this to c… Continue

Added by Brenda Spandrio on October 16, 2009 at 4:35pm — 1 Comment

Don't Be Gross

There is a BIG (pardon the pun) difference between "gross" and "net". If we are not aware of the distinction, we find ourselves in a lot of trouble financially! But the focus on gross is not just an issue with our paycheck. Gross is not only defined as "whole; entire; total", but also "undiscriminating". So often we approach our productivity issues focused on "gross" -- in other words, the whole thing. We decide that we are going to "organize the office" or "clean up my computer". There is no b… Continue

Added by Brenda Spandrio on October 7, 2009 at 5:51pm — 1 Comment

Barbara Boone featured on National Association of Baby Boomer Women

I have been featured on the website for the National Association of Baby Boomer Women. Dotsie Bregel, the woman who started the site several years ago, lives in Baltimore, not far from me. Her site is #1 in the country for baby boomer women. I have mentioned my new certification in the blog. Check it out. http://www.nabbw.com/blog/ Continue

Added by Barbara Boone on October 5, 2009 at 2:30pm — 2 Comments

The "Cost" of Disorganization Part I

"The average American burns 55 minutes a day roughly 12 weeks per year looking for things they know they own but can't find" Newsweek 6/09 Lets review some symptoms of disorganization: . Stress at work leads to physical illness, which leads to time off work, which leads to lost productivity, which means a loss of revenue. . Inadequate paper or electronic trail systems lead to poor follow through and communication with customers, which leads to lost business. . Poor productivity from over… Continue

Added by Brenda Martinez on October 4, 2009 at 1:54pm — No Comments

Organizing Your Workplace with Your BrainInMind!

Research shows that each person has a preferred way of learning. Most people are unaware of this preference and the importance of working in a workplace where work flow matches their brain's most efficient way of learning. In my initial Productive Environment Audit TM, I include an assessment that helps you to understand your brain's most efficient way of learning and we then work together to design a Productive EnvironmentTM that allows you to function efficiently and easily, reducing stress an… Continue

Added by Alita Marlowe Bluford on October 2, 2009 at 10:00am — No Comments

Exciting Press Release!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Productive Environment Institute "A Productive Environment is a Profitable Environment™" 260 Carolina Beach Ave. S. Suite 200, Carolina Beach, NC 28428 888-380-6799 www.ProductiveEnvironment.com BARBARA HEMPHILL CHANGES COMPANY NAME, LAUNCHES NEW WEB-BASED 'FINDING SYSTEM' AND CERTIFIES PRODUCTIVE ENVIRONMENT SPECIALISTS™ WORLDWIDE October, 2009, Carolina Beach NC- With a committed focus to delivering a suite of quality products and services based on Barbara Hemp… Continue

Added by Andrea Anderson on October 1, 2009 at 3:30pm — No Comments

Book Publication in Process

Hooray! I have finished my book and sent it off to the publisher. It is about how good employees often work in a business with less than 'good' systems. I'm so excited. The target date for publication on Amazon is Thanksgiving! Continue

Added by Alita Marlowe Bluford on October 1, 2009 at 1:27pm — 1 Comment

Setting Boundaries in the Home Office

Having a home based business is a challenge. How do you successfully give your business the attention and nurturing that it deserves, while managing the day-to-day issues of your home? This is a challenge faced by anyone who works from home. It's easy to get distracted by chores at home, especially when it's time to do a business task that's less than exciting (like bookkeeping for example). Or your friends and family automatically assume your have time to talk, run errands or baby sit.… Continue

Added by Nicole Chamblin on October 1, 2009 at 11:51am — No Comments

Please welcome our newest Productive Environment Specialists!

Our most recent Certified Productive Environment Specialists will be featured on the left side of this page for the next 30 days. Feel free to review their profiles and visit their websites to make contact if you'd like to inquire about their services. Please also review our full list of Certified Productive Environment Specialists by clicking the iPEP Specialists link at the top of the page. Thank you!

… Continue

Added by Andrea Anderson on September 29, 2009 at 2:30pm — No Comments

Paperless office

Recently published article: "Does Paperless mean less paper?" check it out at the link. This helps people define a process to convert to a 'less paper' office. Does less paper mean paperless the series (1 of 12).pdf Continue

Added by Alita Marlowe Bluford on August 13, 2009 at 5:06pm — No Comments

Efficient@Time

Alita just published the second in the "Efficient@" series. "The Ultimate Guide on How to be Efficient @Time...and end your day with time to spare." The booklet is packed with powerful tips on how to manage your tasks and time. Available at www.efficiencyconsultants.com/order.html. Continue

Added by Alita Marlowe Bluford on August 13, 2009 at 4:48pm — No Comments

Incoming Items Can Make You Crazy....If You Let Them

Do you ever wonder why you feel crazy when you look at your inbox or check your phone messages or mail? Well, it's easy to understand when you consider that the average person today receives more information on a daily basis, than anyone received in a lifetime in 1900. Staggering but true. It actually gets worse...the average person sends and receives over 190 messages each day and on average we spend a total of 8 hours per week in paper document management The unf… Continue

Added by Nicole Chamblin on July 29, 2009 at 12:00am — No Comments

Time flies...do you know where it is going?

Do you seem busier than ever, but feel like you can't get anything accomplished? This problem seems exaggerated by all of these high tech communication tools we use every day. Personally, I struggle with getting my “real work” accomplished while I respond to emails, phone calls, Internet research, and now social media. Even though I know how to manage it, I find it hard to have the discipline needed to spend time working on the "real work" instead of spending time on the “fun stuff”. Get… Continue

Added by Tamara Meyer on July 9, 2009 at 8:28am — No Comments

Social Networking in 15 Minutes a Day

1. If you have to, set a timer. 2. Create folders for the emails you’ll receive from Facebook and LinkedIn, and then create rules that automatically direct any incoming mail into these folders. Open these folders no more than once a day. In Facebook 1. For the first four or six weeks, Facebook can be worse than kudzu. Most people get past this phase. Some do not. 2. Use lists to organize your friends. Go to Friends / All Friends / Create new list. Friends and Family. Business. High School. Co-… Continue

Added by Karen Tiede on July 2, 2009 at 5:26pm — No Comments

Business Emergency Planning with iPEP

As I sit here through yet another rainy day in NY, it reminds me that rain as necessary as it is, can in very large quantities, wreak havoc. National Disaster Preparedness month is September, but don't wait until then to get planning. The prospect of preparing for a business-halting event is daunting, but necessary. Not being prepared to react quickly in an emergency can lead to loss of business. iPEP can make it easy. Small and large businesses alike share some common business issues:… Continue

Added by Nicole Chamblin on June 18, 2009 at 2:15pm — No Comments