Get
Organized by George, Inc. featured in the
May 27, 2008 Wall Street Journal
Wall Street Journal CAREERS
Pay Grade Helping Clients End Chaos
By SARAH E. NEEDLEMAN
(Click
for before & after photos and additional information)
The job:
Professional organizer
Nature of the work:
Organizers help clients identify and purge unwanted items and rearrange
spaces in their homes. Many also work with commercial properties.
Organizers say they often must also help clients cope with the emotional
challenges that come with making lifestyle changes. Many clients are in
desperate need of aid. "Imagine walking into a home where every single
surface is covered with something," says Monica Ricci, an Atlanta-based
organizer. "It creates a constant stress, all that visual chaos."
The pay:
Assistants and contract workers are typically paid a percentage of a
project's total earnings, says Standolyn Robertson, president of the
National Association of Professional Organizers, an international trade
group based in Mount Laurel, N.J., with around 4,200 members.
Independent professionals earn on average between $50 and $150 per hour
per assignment, which may include time spent designing layouts and
shopping for clients, she says.
The
hours: Schedules tend to fluctuate according to the scope of
assignments and clients' availability, and often include evenings and
weekends. Projects can last from a few hours to several days or weeks.
Self-employed organizers also need to spend time marketing their
services and managing administrative tasks -- meaning a 40-hour week
isn't entirely billable.
Benefits:
Professionals who work for themselves or on a contract basis are
responsible for their own health-care packages and retirement plans,
says Ms. Robertson. They also must provide their own liability
insurance, an expense that can range from $500 to $1,000 a year, she
adds. For organizers employed at corporations—and there are very
few—such benefits are typically included in their job contracts.
Career path:
A college degree or professional certification isn't required, though
Ms. Robertson says the latter credential can be helpful for establishing
credibility. Strong problem-solving and listening skills are critical,
she adds, as is the ability to work well with people and withhold
judgment. "A lot of times the client will be apprehensive about letting
someone into their space, let alone working in it," says Elizabeth
Langtry, an organizer in Hillsborough, N.J. "Part of my job is to put
them at ease."
Other incentives:
Seasoned organizers say they're sometimes tapped for public-speaking
engagements and media stints. For example, Ms. Ricci says she speaks
regularly at corporate events and has been featured in episodes of HGTV
show, "Mission: Organization."
Best part of the job:
"Knowing that you've made such a huge difference in people's lives,"
says Brian Saipe, an organizer with clients in cities across the
country. For Ms. Langtry, the opportunity to donate clients' unwanted
goods to charitable organizations is a plus.
Worst part of the job:
"It's frustrating when people say they're ready to make a change, but
they really aren't," says Linette George, an organizer in Lombard, Ill.
Adds Ms. Ricci: "After a while, you get a little bit burned out
on...immersing yourself in chaos."
Hiring:
Many professionals start by doing organizing work for family and
friends. Ms. Langtry built her portfolio that way, then worked as an
aide to experienced organizers before going out on her own. Organizers
say networking is the best way to secure clients. Many professionals
maintain Web sites and blogs to generate buzz about their services.
Is keeping your place organized
as elusive as, say, a proper British accent? Fret not, m’fair lady -
Linette George is
up to the challenge. Her Lombard-based Get Organized by George
service will tidy up your pad without inconveniencing you or the
earth. After rooms and closets are shipshape, Linette handles the
heavy lifting. Old catalogs and electronics? Recycled, of course.
Unwanted clothing and furniture? Properly donated. Pricing is on a
case-by-case basis, but we’d pay more than a tuppence for one of her
signature “personalized recycling centers,” a designated spot with
discreet bins for max efficiency. From mess (see “before” photo) to
success…even Henry Higgins would approve.
If
10,000 Chicago Biters donate used electronics instead of trashing
them, we'll avoid sending 134,000 lb of waste to landfills each
year.
June 25, 2007
For Immediate Release
Linette
George Among First in Nation with CPO®
Designation
Linette George,
owner of Get
Organized by George, Inc., has earned the
Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO®)
designation. George sat for the inaugural CPO® examination in April
at the national conference of the National Association
of Professional Organizers (NAPO). She
has earned a unique distinction in the history of the organizing
industry, one that only a handful of other professional organizers
around the country can claim.
“The professional organizing industry has
matured to the point that potential clients ask about my credentials
and experience and what makes me uniquely qualified to do the work I
do. Becoming a Certified Professional Organizer® means that I’m up
to date on the latest techniques and research,” says George. “Being
a CPO® sets me apart from my competition.”
Get Organized by George, Inc. helps business
clients create better functionality through improved filing systems
and supply cabinets, work area and equipment placement and process
improvement. Residential customers benefit from her skills, whether
they are faced with a disorganized home office, an overstocked
kitchen pantry, or a cluttered basement, attic, or garage. George
specializes in eco-organizing services, including the donation of
unwanted items, repurposing, recycling and junk mail reduction, and
safe, non-toxic cleaning options.
George is a member of NAPO and Vice President
of the NAPO-Chicago Chapter. She is also a member of the Wheaton and
Carol Stream Chambers of Commerce, ASSP (Association of Senior
Service Providers), and SCSCC (Senior Citizens’ Services
Coordinating Council). George is a national speaker and teaches
public and private organizing classes.
Organizer
helps you contain the clutter By Diane Dassow Daily Herald Correspondent
According to
professional organizer Linette George, the more stuff you have, the more you
have on your mind.
Now that the new year has come and gone, there's no better time to tackle what
George calls "visual chaos" than right now.
"A lot of people resolve to get organized," said George, owner of Get Organized
by George and secretary of Chicago's chapter of the National Association of
Professional Organizers.
As a member of the professional organization, George must abide by a code of
ethics. She also has the opportunity to attend professional seminars and courses
to keep up in this growing field.
Her background, too, suits her well for her home-based business.
"My psychology major comes in very handy," George said. "It helps (me) to walk
people through their psychological hold on material possessions."
Her past jobs have included administrative assistant positions, which tend to
require a high level of organizational skill. She was also a public school
teacher and corporate trainer, giving her the ability and the patience to teach
clients how to maintain their newfound neatness.
George said many people buy because they think it will make them happy. Others
have trouble letting go of memories that are associated with their possessions.
Her role is like trying to solve a puzzle, she said.
The first step in most organizing projects is to pare down the client's stuff to
the essentials. But don't expect the high drama shown on television organizing
shows.
"I'm not going to make you throw your stuff on the lawn," George said with a
smile. "Maybe you're not ready to give it up. That's where the psychology comes
in."
After paring down the possessions to a manageable amount, George can help her
clients place things where they would logically use them.
Only then do they consider buying accessories and organizational tools.
"A lot of times people can re-purpose what they have," George said. "Resist the
urge to go out and buy a lot of things, because they just become part of the
clutter."
George tries to keep her fees manageable, too. She offers a free telephone
consultation to determine the size of the job and to estimate its cost.
But, she adds, her services are sure to save people money in the end. Organized
people don't tend to buy duplicate items, because they know what they have in
stock. And they don't waste time searching for things.
What's more, in her experience, every client has found lost or forgotten money
during the process of clearing out.
As an added bonus, during last month and part of February, George is donating 10
percent of her professional fees, in her clients' names, to the tsunami relief
effort.
George knows firsthand how good it feels to be organized. But she also knows the
toll that clutter takes on people.
She and her husband are in the middle of a lengthy remodeling project in their
Lombard house.
"I can totally empathize with my clients," she said. "There is no area of peace.
If people can have at least one place in their home that is clutter-free, they
can have more peace and tranquility in life."
George loves her job because she can help give people a new start.
"They can breathe again. It's very satisfying," she said.
George also offers help with corporate organization and efficiency, preparing
houses for the real estate market, senior downsizing and move coordination. She
also helps people live more simply on the earth by showing them
environmentally-friendly solutions.
For details
about all of these services, call Linette George at (630) 276-8600 or visit
www.getorganizedbygeorge.com.
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