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World
Without Borders main>Archives>Chris McKenry transcript
Welcome
to WWB Live!
Our guest today is Chris McKenry,
Professional Organizer!
You heard the buzz and want to make the
switch. You're in good company! And here
to prove it is Lord of the Files, Chris
McKenry! When papers are taking over your
office, it is possible to regain control.
Join us as Chris helps you to get into the
closet and organize. After all, an
organized Holiday creates and enjoyable
season.
Chris McKenry is a professional organizer
specializing in residential and office
organizing. His services and company can
be found at GetItTogerherLA.com
We welcome Chris McKenry!
Chris McKenry: Hello everyone, glad
to be here with you. Let's Get
Organized!
GCS Cys: To start with, tell us a
little bit about the path you took towards
becoming a professional organizer.
Chris McKenry: I am a lazy person.
I always have wanted things to be simple.
And so I have been organized in work
before I moved to California Also, I enjoy
helping others.
GCS Cys: Chris, Help! My desk is
drowning in papers, there's no room for
the car in the garage, and Santa is still
sitting on the roof in May. Where do I
start?
Chris McKenry: Never overwhelm
yourself. Start in the area you most want
relief. Just concentrate for instance at
your desk. Do not worry about the drawers,
filing cabinet etc. Get the Desk top
organized then move on to the next
area.
GCS Cys: Wow, just like with our
computers!
GCS Cys: If you had your choice,
what one incorrect assumption that folks
may have about being organized would you
wish to change overnight?
Chris McKenry: Probably, that a
container is the answer. Containers are
great, but everyone needs to examine
themself, and how they are working at the
office, or living at home. And along the
same lines, we need to purge our stuff
everyday!
Bethie: What is your impression of
all those cute little baskets women just
love to buy? Is it clutter or clutter
helper?
Chris McKenry: Martha Steward is
GREAT....I love for areas to be attractive
as well as organized. BUT, baskets and
anything else need to be functional. When
you are getting any container always
remember it is hip to be square. Square or
rectangular shapes do not waste space like
round.
GCS Cys: What are some of the ways
we can prevent organizational problems
before they start?
Chris McKenry: It sounds silly, but
plan. If you are moving, building, or
remodeling think about what you want to do
in the space. The same is true in your
current home. Many times we just place
things where our Mother had them. We do
not think about the here and now. To
answer that question more directly, do not
be a creature of habit!
craig1: What are some of the most
common mistakes or things you see people
over looking each day?
Chris McKenry: Clutter. By that I
mean, we get the mail but do not throw
away the junk and envelopes. Even if your
closet is packed, we do not want to take
the time to throw out our old clothes.
Organizers, basically claim the clutter is
postponed decisions!
Boardtrvlr: Chris what was the
strangest thing someone asked you to come
in and organize for them ... human toes or
anything?
Chris McKenry: Once I was
organizing a doctors home office and
organizng his photographs. The photos were
from med school. Halfway through, the pics
were cadavers, dead people! GCSTrish: The
kitchen is the heart of the home.
GCS Cys: What happens after you
leave and the dust settles? How can we
avoid going back to our bad habits?
hris McKenry: Professional
Organziers do not just arrange things
pretty for clients. We also serve as coach
and teacher. This way clients are able to
discover what they were doing to get in
the shape that caused them to need help.
Then, most of the time they are on course.
Sometimes it is not uncommon to to
maintainence check ups.
Bear: What criteria do you use for
sorting things to get rid of or to keep?
In other words, how do you decide?
Chris McKenry: Have you use the
item in the past year? Do you have plans
for using the item in the next year? If
not, the clutter in our space also is
clutter in our mind. Productivity and
enjoyment of life is increased by asking
this questions and not being afraid to let
go.
DaveR: Chris, I am moving soon and
will place a row of cabinets along one
wall of my yet unbuilt home office. I am
lucky enough to be able to hide this
behind a wall if I chose. In your opinion,
should these cabinets have doors or be
openly viewable. And does that really make
a difference?
Chris McKenry: If you are the out
of site out of mind person, doors might
let you forget what is there. But if you
will not use the excuse of hiding your
clutter behind doors, I have no problem
with them. Many times doors are on
cabinets, but there is not enought room to
open them. This is one example of space
planning in organizing.
GCS Cys: Our teams work in shifts
so that a work station may have two people
who never meet sharing them. To avoid
problems we don't let anyone settle in to
one work station. I dislike this and feel
everyone should have a work space they
call their own. Is it possible that an
Oscar Madison and a Felix can co-exist in
the same workspace? If so, how?
Chris McKenry: Good question, Sure
is it is possible. Both parties need to
respect the others space. Since they are
sharing desks, I would try to designate an
area, or container, for each person. Even
working different shifts, they need to
communicate with each other.
GCS Cys: Could you share with us
your worst case senario and a few of the
steps you took to resolve it please?
Chris McKenry: Not to sound pc, but
I try not to use terms like worst, etc. As
an organizer, I help clients, and many are
so embarrased about there situation. Even
the most cronic organizational problem has
hope. I have seen clutter covering every
area of a home. And again, we just started
in one area and went from there. When I am
working with that type of client, we do a
lot of talking. Sometimes, people just do
not disipline the kids. Some times people
do not discipline themselves.
GCS Cys: What one tip can you give
us today that could possibly take us a
little closer to the next step of being an
uber organized person?
Chris McKenry: I have talked alot
about throwng stuff away. Do you have a
trash can in every room of your home or
office?
GCS Cys: What are some of the the
do's and don'ts regarding clutter we
should learn?
Chris McKenry: The best tip for
organizng is to always try to perform
every task in one motion. Do you have to
move a stack of cookbooks, before you open
your cabinet? Then move more items before
you reach the bowls you need? That is
wasting time.
Admin4u: My boss tells me to use
staples and never paperclips. I saw the
same thing on your site... can you explain
what the difference is please?
Chris McKenry: Filing---Papers are
necessary, not fun. Paper clips are fine
for certain applications, but in file
folders, paper can get hung up on the
clips if you are incerting a sheet with
out removing the file.
GCS Cys: What's next on the horizon
for you?
Chris McKenry: Tomorrow, I am
leading a networking seminar for the West
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. At the end
of this month, I have an "Organizing for
the New Year" segment on WBIR-TV 10's
Style program in Tennessee. Also, I am
leading a class at the Winter Workshop for
the National Association of Professional
Organizers, Los Angeles chapter. Other
than that, kitchens, closets, filing
systems, gift rooms, linen closets, moving
clients and such...
Cys: Unfortunately, we are almost
out of time. Do you have any final
comments or insights for our audience
before we wrap up?
Chris McKenry: Thank you Cys for
inviting me, it has been a pleasure
chatting with everyone. No matter how
organized or organizationally challanged
you are...just spend a few minute a day
and you will be supprised of the results!
Thanks.
GCS Cys: Thank you Chris McKenry!
This was great fun and informative. I am
so glad you could join us today here at
WWB Live!
Chris McKenry: Have an organized
holiday season.
The
kitchen is the heart of the home. For a
helpful grocery list visit:
http://www.getittogetherla.com/services_kitchen.htm
For more information about our guest,
Chris McKenry of GetItTogetherLA!, please
visit: http://GetItTogetherLA.com/
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