See Twist OP quoted in SelfStorageFinder.com's recent blog post "Happy National Clean Off Your Desk Day" by  Stephanie Pasch


Messy desks cost money! Declutter your desk and increase your productivity with ideas and tips presented in this article from Constance Dunn,  Maeve Richmond and the DAFT Method from Mitzi Weinman.

Having your most used tools and references handy on your desk helps you work faster. Here are some ideas for fast and easy access to your most important reference information.

Follow these three principles for making your desktop an efficient work area: 
1. Make groups
2. Put in order
3. Keep close

Having things right at your fingertips makes you highly productive and feel totally in control. Use Colored SuperTab Folders in a desktop rack to hold frequently referenced material.

Make Groups
• Gather the materials that you refer to frequently throughout the day; phone directories, email addresses, lists, catalogs, schedules, prices.
• Group items by the way you will look for them, such as suppliers in one group, customers in another.
• Assign a different color SuperTab Folder to each group. 

Put in Order
• Place materials in SuperTab Folders using the appropriate category colors.
• Write the name of each type of reference on the oversized tab.
• Order the folders alphabetically within each color group.

Keep Close
• Put the folders in a desktop rack.
• Position the rack near your computer within easy reaching distance.

Order your Smead Colored SuperTab Folders today at www.twistop.com and your desktop will be efficient by the end of the work week.

The achievements of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln are legendary. A fearless general, the father of our country, against all odds, led his troops to victory over the British. Unpopular at the time, Lincoln is now considered among the greatest - if not the greatest - President of all time for ending slavery and forever uniting our land.  

Between Memorial Day, Flay Day and July 4th, summer is the time to pay tribute to their leadership, determination, and accomplishments, but let's also recognize another gift they demonstrated - their ability to effectively communicate.

While today's workplace "speech," looks a little different with presentation software, computers, and sophisticated audiovisual equipment, speech fundamentals remain the same. Here are four of their techniques that still work today.

1. Keep it short. No one ever complains that a speech is too short, but there's plenty of grumbling when it's too long. At 278 words, Lincoln's Gettysburg address lasted only two minutes, yet it's considered one of the most memorable, effective speeches ever delivered. At just 135 words and six sentences long, Washington's second inaugural address is the shortest in history, but it's sufficient time to accept the honor, reconfirm his commitment, and get back to business.

The bottom line: Avoid information overload. At most, your audience can retain three or four important points about your topic. Use up any extra time with a Question and Answer session where you can continue to reinforce your main ideas.

2. Know your topic, not just your slides. Our Presidents knew their topic well because they were personally involved in the events that were occurring. You, however, may need to present information that you're not as familiar with. Don't let it show. Study your topic. Learn everything you can. Ask others. If you only memorize your slides, you'll panic when someone throws you a curve ball question. Knowing your content gives you authority, credibility, and confidence.

3. Use language your audience will understand. Blame it on the internet and short attention spans, but it's more important than ever to use simple language with short sentences and phrases. Don't try to impress with over-complicated language or technical terminology. You'll alienate your audience.

4. Prepare. While Washington and Lincoln prepared with paper and pen, we have more tools at our disposal with PowerPoint slides, microphones, laser pointers, and various pieces of equipment. A great aid for creating and delivering your message, these tools can also trip you up during the presentation if you're uncomfortable with them. When a speaker fumbles with their equipment or it fails completely, everyone in the room feels the awkwardness. Avoid this with a day-before rehearsal to test everything out, create a back-up plan, and fine tune your talking points.

For more information on how to create a greater impact at your next presentation or wedding, talk to Twist OP.   

That handy paperclip in your office drawer enjoys its own special holiday on May 29.  Paper Clip Day.  The origins of this simple invention are a matter of debate.  Some contend that Johan Vaaler, a Norweigan, invented the first clip in 1899.  Unknown to Vaaler, the Gem Company in England was already producing the double-looped paperclip recognized by us today.

Even more marvelous than the origins of this ubiquitous device is the story of Kyle MacDonald and his one red paperclip.  In less than one year, MacDonald traded his red paperclip for a variety of random things until he ended up with a house!  Included in his swaps were a pen, a hand-sculpted doorknob, a snowmobile, a van, an afternoon with rock and roll singer Alice Cooper and a roll in a movie.  This all started in 2005.  At last he ended up with a small house on Main Street in Kipling, Saskatchewan in Canada in 2006.   Imagine what he could have ended up with if he had started with a stapler. 

For those of you who work out of a home office, now's the time to get clean.  With June bearing down, take a weekend or more to streamline your home office so there will be more time for summer fun. 

1.  Start with your papers - you really don't need all of it.  Figure out what needs to be saved for tax time and for how long.  Shred anything that is linked to your identity and recycle the rest.  File folders will make finding things a snap.

2.  De-clutter - remove everything that doesn't belong in your office.  Clothes, toys, photos - return it to the right place or owner. 

3.  Empty your drawers and files - shred, recycle and start a pile for duplicates.  Do you really need three staplers?

4.  Storage - if you don't have enough drawers or files make your own.  Cups are great for pencils and pens.  Clipboards can make great use of wall space - time to get creative.

5.  Clean - yes from the ceiling to the floor.  Amazing how much space there is when your desk and chairs are not covered in paper. 

6.  The proper chair - yes, if you are spending any amount of time in there you must think about comfort.  How's your lighting?  Think about what you need so you can be more productive. 

7.  Add a personal touch - family pictures, calendars are what makes it a home office.

Want Better Relationships with Co-Workers? Greater Productivity? A Promotion? Then Listen Up!

"Most people do not listen with the intent to understand; they listen with the intent to reply." - Stephen R. Covey, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People: Powerful Lessons in Personal Change

If the Covey quote hits home, you're certainly not alone. Research suggests that we remember only between 25 and 50 percent of what we hear, mainly because we're mentally formulating our rebuttal while the other person's speaking. This means when you're talking to your manager, colleagues, or customers, they're not hearing what you're saying...and unless you're a skilled listener yourself, you're not hearing them either.

Listening has a major impact on your effectiveness at work and on the quality of your relationships. While many of us receive professional training on speaking, few of us receive training on listening.

Becoming a better listener takes a concerted effort but it will improve your productivity, your ability to influence others, and help avoid misunderstandings, often a major source of workplace conflict. Here are the top six ways to demonstrate good listening skills. How many do you practice?

1. Maintain eye contact. You've probably had a conversation with someone who keeps looking around or becomes distracted while you're speaking. Did you rush through to finish your thoughts? Feel frustrated? Ignored? A good listener will maintain eye contact, only looking away to prevent uncomfortable staring. When someone stays focused on you, you feel more relaxed and able to fully and completely express your thoughts.

2. Provide feedback. A good listener stays mentally engaged by providing verbal and non-verbal feedback. Looking thoughtful, smiling if appropriate, nodding, or saying ?uh-huh? show you're following what's being said, not necessarily agreeing. Sometimes, especially during large and lengthy meetings, it's easy to lose focus. In that case try silently repeating the speaker's words. It reinforces what they're saying and helps you pay attention.

3. Encourage the speaker to continue. Reflect on what's been said by either paraphrasing with? "What I'm hearing is," or "It sounds like you're suggesting," to make sure you've understood correctly. Encourage the speaker to further open up by saying things like, "That's really interesting," or "Tell me more."

4. Wait before responding. Give no sign you're ready to respond. Don't raise your hand, wave, open your mouth, or finish the speaker's sentence. When they speaker pauses, practice counting two full seconds to make sure they are not just gathering their thoughts, but are actually finished making their point before you respond.

5. Don't interrupt. Not interrupting others is something we learn at our mother's knee, but it can be difficult to hold back when emotions run high or you want to debate an issue. You may even have an answer to a question that was raised, but show restraint and respect. If you don't want to lose your thought, discreetly jot it down and return your focus to the speaker. A good listener always keeps emotions in check and remains open to new ideas.

6. Stay focused on the conversation at hand. Avoid a sudden switch of topic. If you change the subject prematurely, you demonstrate lack of interest in the discussion and indicate that what you have to say is more important than the current conversation. Likewise don?t start a sidebar conversation. Even if the speaker is not making eye contact with you, you are still part of the general conversation and sidebars distract others. Finally, if you want to illustrate a point using yourself as an example, keep the story brief, then return to the original conversation.

There's a lot more to listening than simply hearing the words. With a little practice you too can master the art of listening and enjoy better relationships and greater productivity at work. The rewards - maybe even a promotion - are well worth it!        

It's time to get motivated to clean up and get organized. The problem is, once you purge everything, what are some of the products that will help you get things back in order and keep them that way.

Here's a list of some of the top organizing products for every room in your life.

Garage Hooks.
The key to any organization is to use the vertical space; so as much as possible, get things up on the wall. This means buying the racks that are specially made to hold shovels, rakes and the like, as well as the gadgets found in a hardware or home center store that will hold bikes on the wall and a multitude of other paraphernalia all of us store in the garage or basement.

Box Bottom Hanging Files.
If your hanging folders are bulging with paper or you have many folders within a category in your hanging folder, consider using a box-bottom hanging folder. They have flat bottoms (cardboard at the bottom keeps them flat) and come in 1-inch, 2-inch and larger widths. Using these prevents folders and papers from spilling out of the top of their hanging folder.

Drawer Dividers.
Yes, we all need junk drawers, but they don't have to look that way. Keep your junk drawer and any other drawer, including sock and underwear drawers and desk drawers, looking neat with drawer dividers. There are two different types of drawer dividers. One is an 'Expand-a-Drawer' which is a one-piece item that expands to fit most kitchen-sized drawers. The other type comes in individual pieces that usually come in combinations of three-inch sizes. Drawer organizers with compartments make it easy to stash paper clips, rubber bands and the like in a tidy, self-contained area.

Bins.
When you hear the word bin, you think of the large plastic tubs that can store seasonal decorations. And yes, those are great to keep the basement and closets organized. In fact, they can be purchased in colors specially geared to the season for easy identification. But don't let your imagination stop there. There are leather-covered bins and linen-covered bins that come in a variety of colors and are ideal for keeping magazines tidy on a coffee table or even for storing folded shirts in a closet. Plastic bins are equally as good for storing potatoes and onions in the pantry as they are for storing CDs and DV Ds in the office. When it comes to bins, they may be among the handiest organizational products out there.

Shredders.
If you're in the middle of purging and are throwing out old tax returns or cancelled checks, consider using a shredder to protect your identity and minimize the paper that ends up in a landfill and protect your identity. If your needs are minimal, a small portable shredder may do the trick. If you need to shred volumes on a daily basis, go for the larger, high-capacity machines.

Calendar/PDA (Personal Digital Assistant).
To keep track of appointments, birthdays, and everyday tasks, a calendar or PDA is a must. Or, if you prefer to handwrite your reminders, purchase an appointment calendar that gives you the space you need. Choose from versions that show a day, week or month at a time. Many also come with address pages so that you can keep your contact information right with your calendar.

Label Maker.
Label a bin and for some mystical reason it tends to be used for what it was intended for. Somehow a label makes everything official, from a new set of file folders to boxes storing old photographs. Make it a practice to label everything from the get-go. When you start a new file, put an official label on it instead of handwriting one. It will look neater and soon, you'll want everything in your life to be labeled.

Tax time doesn't have to bring on the blues. Think about all the green you could be saving, yes, saving. Follow these steps from Turbo Tax to put more money back in your pocket.

1. Organize Your Records

Good organization may not cut your taxes but it can help you save money in the long-term. Keep all the information that comes in the mail in January, such as W-2s, 1099s, and mortgage interest statements.

Collect receipts and information that you have accumulated during the year.

Enter the amounts from all these documents into a computer program like Quicken or total them by hand and give the list to your tax preparer.

Make sure you know the price you paid for any stocks or funds you have sold. Know the details on income from rental properties.

You could save $300 to $400 with your tax preparer plus plenty of your time. In the event of an audit, you could save on assessments and penalties because you'll have all your back-up on hand.

2. Find the Right Forms

The library won't always have all the forms you need. Go online to view and download a large catalog of forms and publications at the Internal Revenue Service's Web site, www.irs.gov, or call 1-800-829-3676 to have them sent to you by mail.

Need a state form or publications? Visit www.taxadmin.org/fta/link/forms.html.

3. Itemize

It's easier to take the standard deduction, but you may save a bundle if you itemize, especially if you are self-employed, own a home or live in a high-tax area.

4. Contribute to Retirement Accounts

If you haven't already funded your retirement account, do so by April 15. That's the deadline for any kind of IRA, deductible or not. If you have a Keogh or SEP, though, and you get an extension, you can wait until your extension deadline to put money into those accounts.

5. Consider a Home-Office Deduction

In the past, many taxpayers have avoided the home-office deduction because it has been regarded as a red flag for an audit. If you legitimately qualify for the deduction, however, there should be no problem. Check with your tax advisor. You could save thousands of dollars.

6. Provide Dependent Taxpayer IDs on Your Return

Be sure to include the Taxpayer Identification Numbers (tax lingo for social security numbers) for your children and other dependents. Otherwise, the IRS can deny the personal exemption for each dependent and the child tax credit for each child under age 17

After you have a baby, be sure to file for a social security card right away so that you have the number at tax time.

You could save hundreds or thousands of dollars, depending on the number of dependents and your income.

7. Pay on Time

Pay on time and you can avoid interest and penalties. The IRS doesn't really care when you file, as long as you request an extension using Form 4868. 

Tired of rooting through your desk drawers to find that old business card or a decent working pen? If your desk drawers look more like junk drawers overflowing with sticky notes, hand sanitizers, ketchup packets, and tangles of paperclips, it's time to get organized. Orderly drawers make it easy to find exactly what you need when you need it, making the day run smoother. Best of all it takes just a few simple steps to de-clutter.

Step One: Empty

What You Need: Cleaning Solution, Paper Towels, Drawer Liners
Remove the entire contents of each drawer one at a time onto your desktop, table or floor. Every random staple, crumpled shred of paper and file must come out. This is the only way you can see exactly what's in there and assess how much the drawer can hold. Now clean them completely with cleaning spray and a towel. Replace ripped drawer liners with nonslip liners to keep items in place once finished.

Step Two: Purge
What You Need: Trash Can, Storage Containers
Now's the time to be ruthless. Toss anything that doesn't work like dried up markers and pens. Can't bear to part with some things? Put them in storage containers and stash on a high shelf or closet for later use. If after six months you haven't used them, toss, recycle or donate.

Step Three: Plan
What You Need: A Small Box
There's no "one right" way to organize, so first plan your drawers based on how you use them. Keep items you need regular, quick access within close reach, typically your top desk drawer. To help determine what those items are, empty the drawer and place the contents in a small box. When you need an item, remove it from the box and place it in your top desk drawer. At the end of the week review the items placed in the drawer and organize them in a way that works best for you.

Sort through the items that remain in the box and store in a lower drawer those things you still need but use infrequently. Toss, recycle, or pass along to a co-worker any leftovers.

Step Four: Organize
What You Need: Drawer Organizers of Various Sizes
Once you've got your plan in mind, now you can make the arrangement permanent and neat. Choose drawer trays, organizers, and small boxes in various sizes so you can change up the configuration as your needs change.  Twist OP specializes in offering an enormous variety of organization tools for your drawers. With lots of colors, shape and sizes to choose from, you're sure to find just the thing that strikes your fancy.

The more appealing your drawers, the more likely you'll be able to maintain them and you can find what you need at a glance. A little time spent today means a less stressful day tomorrow. Organize now!      

Tired of rooting through your desk drawers to find that old business card or a decent working pen? If your desk drawers look more like junk drawers overflowing with sticky notes, hand sanitizers, ketchup packets, and tangles of paperclips, it's time to get organized. Orderly drawers make it easy to find exactly what you need when you need it, making the day run smoother. Best of all it takes just a few simple steps to de-clutter.

Step One: Empty
What You Need: Cleaning Solution, Paper Towels, Drawer Liners
Remove the entire contents of each drawer one at a time onto your desktop, table or floor. Every random staple, crumpled shred of paper and file must come out. This is the only way you can see exactly what's in there and assess how much the drawer can hold. Now clean them completely with cleaning spray and a towel. Replace ripped drawer liners with nonslip liners to keep items in place once finished.

Step Two: Purge
What You Need: Trash Can, Storage Containers
Now's the time to be ruthless. Toss anything that doesn't work like dried up markers and pens. Can't bear to part with some things? Put them in storage containers and stash on a high shelf or closet for later use. If after six months you haven't used them, toss, recycle or donate.

Step Three: Plan
What You Need: A Small Box
There's no one "right" way to organize, so first plan your drawers based on how you use them. Keep items you need regular, quick access within close reach, typically your top desk drawer. To help determine what those items are, empty the drawer and place the contents in a small box. When you need an item, remove it from the box and place it in your top desk drawer. At the end of the week review the items placed in the drawer and organize them in a way that works best for you.

Sort through the items that remain in the box and store in a lower drawer those things you still need but use infrequently. Toss, recycle, or pass along to a co-worker any leftovers.

Step Four: Organize
What You Need: Drawer Organizers of Various Sizes
Once you've got your plan in mind, now you can make the arrangement permanent and neat. Choose drawer trays, organizers, and small boxes in various sizes so you can change up the configuration as your needs change.  Twist OP specializes in offering an enormous variety of organization tools for your drawers. With lots of colors, shape and sizes to choose from, you're sure to find just the thing that strikes your fancy.

The more appealing your drawers, the more likely you'll be able to maintain them and you can find what you need at a glance. A little time spent today means a less stressful day tomorrow. Organize now!