In this Issue:

Success Quote:
intensity of purpose

Special Promotions
Day - Free Filing System
Week - 25% off Evaluation/Session
Month - Complimentary presentation

B2B Article:
The Cozy Security Blanket of “Back Up” – Will It Keep You Warm?

B2B Article 2:
Improve Productivity In Less Than An Hour

What's New:
New organizing team members
New Affiliates

Testimonials:
I enjoy seeing the improvements like that!

Featured Business
ACDSee

Sponsors

Joke of the month:
Work vs Prison

Workshops, seminars etc..

Organizing  Products
Priority Folders
Basic Residential Filing System
Ultimate Business Filing System
Ultimate Residential Filing System 
Vital Business Information
Vital Family Information

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Click on the graphic to vote for this page as a GreatSite.

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Tell us YOUR story!
Tell us about your organizing challenges, how being disorganized affects you, or any organizing issues that stops you from living the lifestyle you deserve. P. O. Box 16283 Phoenix, AZ  85011

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FREE on-line META Tag Analyzer

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Ask A Question
**Send the best organizing challenge/question of the month and we’ll issue you or a friend an organizing gift  (Prizes are issued monthly.)

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$25.00 ~ 50.00 paid to you for qualified referrals!
Do you know of companies that are in need of a powerful, motivating, and humorous speaker for an upcoming program? A to Z Organizing Pros® is  currently paying $50 for any referrals that turn into paid speaking engagements. Simply contact us with your information. All we need is a  contact name, name of the organization or company, phone number, and any details about them you can provide and we'll do the rest.

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Important Dates January 2008
January Monthly Observances
Book Blitz Month
Birth Defects Month Link
California Dried Plum Digestive Month
Celebration of Life Month
Cervical Cancer Screening Month
Coffee Gourmet International Month
Family Fit Lifestyle Month
Financial Wellness Month
International Change Your Stars Month
International Creativity Month
International New Year's Resolutions Month for Businesses
International Quality of Life Month
International Wayfinding Month
International Wealth Mentality Month
National Be On-Purpose Month
National Clean Up Your Computer Month
National Get Organized Month
National Glaucoma Awareness Month
National Hot Tea Month
National Lose Weight, Feel Great Month
National Mail Order Gardening Month
National Mentoring Month
National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month
National Poverty in America Awareness Month
National Radon Action Month
National Skating Month
National Volunteer Blood Donor Month
Oatmeal Month
Resolve to Eat Breakfast Month
Thyroid Awareness Month

January Weekly Observances
Diet Resolution Week: 1-7
National Lose Weight/Feel Great Week: 1-7
New Year's Resolutions Week: 1-7
Silent Record Week: 1-7
Women's Self Empowerment Week: 1-7
Someday We'll Laugh About This Week: 2-5
National Thank-Your-Customers Week: 7-11
National No Tillage Week: 9-12
Cuckoo Dancing Week: 11-17
Home Office Safety and Security Week: 13-19
International Printing Week: 13-19
Sundance Film Festival: 17-27
Healthy Weight Week: 20-26
Hunt For Happiness Week: 20-26
National Activity Professional Week: 20-25
National Handwriting Analysis Week: 20-26
National Take Back Your Time Week:20-26
National Medical Group Practice Week: 21-25
No Name Calling Week: 21-25
World Leprosy Week: 24-30
National Cowboy Poetry Gathering Week: 26-2/2
Catholic Schools Week: 27-2/2
Groundhog Days: 31-2/4

January Daily Observances
New Years Day: 1
New Year's Dishonor List Day: 1
Z Day: 1
Happy Mew Year for Cats Day: 2
55-MPH Speed Limit Day: 2
Earth at Perihelion: 2
Memento Mori "Remember You Die" Day: 3
National Chocolate Covered Cherry Day: 3
Tolkien Day: 3
Dimpled Chad Day: 4
Trivia Day: 4
World Braille Day:
Bird Day: 5
National Second Hand Wardrobe Day: 5
Epiphany or Twelfth Night: 5
Fruitcake Toss Day: 5
Thank God It's Monday Day: 7
National English Toffee Day: 8
National Joy Germ Day: 8
Show and Tell Day at Work: 8
Islamic New Year Day: 10
National Cut Your Energy Costs Day: 10
Penguin Awareness Day: 12
National Clean Off Your Desk Day: 14
Organize Your Home Day: 14
Ratification Day: 14
Champion of the Month Day: 15
Humanitarian Day: 15
Appreciate A Dragon Day: 16
Nothing Day: 16
Religious Freedom Day: 16
Customer Service Day: 17
Judgment Day: 17
Get to Know Your Customers Day: 17 (also April 17, July 17 and October 16)
Pooh (Winnie The) Day: 18
National Disc Jockey Day: 20
Eagle Days: 19-20
Inauguration Day: 20
World Religion Day: 20
Martin Luther King Day: 21
National Hugging Day: 21
Squirrel Appreciation Day: 21
Answer Your Cats Questions Day: 22
Celebration of Life Day: 22
International Day of Radiant Peace: 22 (also March 22, June 22, Oct.22)
National Speak Up and Succeed Day: 22
Rid The World of Fad Diets and Gimmicks Day: 22
Tub'Shvat: 22
National Handwriting Day: 23
National Pie Day: 23
Snowplow Mailbox Hockey Day: 23
Belly Laugh Day: 24
National Compliment Day: 24
Women in Blue Jeans Day: 24-26
Women's Healthy Weight Day: 24
A Room of One's Own Day: 25
Fun at Work Day: 25
National Peanut Brittle Day: 26
National Seed Swap Day: 26
Toad Hollow Day of Encouragement: 26
Holocaust Memorial Day: 27
Thomas Crapper Day: 27
Better Business Communication Day: 28
Bubble Wrap Appreciation Day: 28
Freethinkers Day: 29
World Leprosy Day: 29
Inane Answering Message Day: 30
National Write to Congress Day: 30
Inspire Your Heart with Art Day: 31

Holidays are listed at:
http://www.earthcalendar.net/  and  http://www.brownielocks.com

Tips - Cleaning up your Computer Files

As everyone should know by now, document management is key to maintaining an efficient computer system. To keep your system running at its smoothest, you need to create, name and store your documents properly. Remember not to overlook: the regular deletion of unneeded files. You don't need; or want; to keep every document you've ever created, so why live with the unnecessary clutter? It only makes the system run more slowly and all your files harder to find.

Cleaning up your system means cleaning out the files that you no longer need, be they old word processing documents, spreadsheets, presentations or electronic mail messages. In addition to deleting obsolete files from crowded network and workstation hard disks, you should also delete any old business files residing on your laptop and home computer. To follow are some suggestions to help get your document "spring cleaning" underway.

Finding obsolete files
You know you've got documents you haven't seen in many months; even years. How can you find what and where they are? I would suggest that you peruse the file before deleting it.

You can open the application and look at each file individually, but this would be slow. A more efficient option is to use your computer’s built-in browsing function, such as the Microsoft “search companion” feature. For a concentrated cleanup of electronic files, search by date. The search screen will appear with the documents within the search criteria.

You may choose to concentrate on two kinds of files: old files and large files. If a file has not been used for a couple of years, it's a good candidate for deletion. Large files, because of the amount of hard drive space they consume (graphics documents such as presentations are prime examples), are also good candidates; provided, of course, the documents are no longer needed.

Checking Individual C: Drives
Even if most documents are normally saved to a network, there may be documents that users have (intentionally or inadvertently) saved to their C: drives so for a complete clean up, check those individual drives as well.

Saving files to another Directory
All your directories and files can be placed in a temporary file to be removed at a later date. I would suggest that rather than delete unwanted files create an “archive” CD. Then delete the file from your computer. This will allow you to recover files that may be needed at a later date or that were deleted in error.

Deleting Files
Some directories contain system files that should not be deleted. Be careful to delete only files that you recognize as files you created. (Usually you can tell by the extension: .DOC for Word files, .XLS for Excel files, etc.) To delete a file, simply select the file name and press your Delete key. To select a group of files, click on the first file, then Shift-click on the last file of the group. For several individual files, use Ctrl-click to select or deselect the individual files.

For additional Tips & Ideas simply visit www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/Organize-Tips_OU.htm  or www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/Organize-Tips_Time.htm 

Success Quote
"Someone has defined genius as intensity of purpose: the ability to do, the patience to wait. Put these together and you have achievement." Leo J. Muir

Special Promotion January 14th is Organize Your Home Day  (FREE file system for session booked this day!) It's time to clean out all that paper that you really don't need. Remember, if it's not auditable you can probably throw it out. You must mention this promotion when scheduling.  (*Valid in the Phoenix Metro Area Only)

Special Promotion January 7-11 is National Thank-Your-Customers Week. Improve your client and prospect communications with our contacts organizing or time management session and receive 25% OFF. Your session must be scheduled for any day this week) Inefficiency and clutter really does create stress. You must mention this promotion when scheduling. Call NOW 602-674-2649 (*Valid in the Phoenix Metro Area Only)

Special Promotion  January is National Clean Up Your Computer Month (We'll do a complimentary organizing computer files and e-mail management presentation for your group members of 15-30 people booked this month), a $350.00 value, when you tell us what your group is doing to promote this event.  Learning to prioritize and how to use the right tools for you will allow you more freedom to do what you love and gain peace of mind.  By working effectively you can have confidence in your future profits and still have time to do what you desire and deserve.  Learn ways to effectively deal with and significantly reduce stress and minutiae. A $350.00 savings, call now 602-674-2649  (*Valid in the Phoenix Metro Area Only)

Gift of Success
Let's help America get back on the economic fast track. Get your complimentary TQ starter package today. Start producing better results from your efforts, today! Simply visit www.ThinkTQ.com/gift and enter the referral code 110016.

Testimonials
"Boy, I enjoy seeing the improvements like that!! The change in my garage is amazing. You are doing great work for people (like me)!" Richard S. Paralegal in Phoenix, Arizona

"Your organizational questionnaire is what I would consider very good questionnaire. It really helped my wife and I realize the issues we have and that there are great solutions to our situation. It is probably a bit much right now with the holidays upon us. Thank you for your time and information." Lance W. home-based business owner in Cave Creek, Arizona

Contact any of our team members at www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/form_Contact_our_organizer.htm

B2B Article
The Cozy Security Blanket of “Back Up” – Will It Keep You Warm?

Once upon a time – September 25, to be exact – a technician installed into our computer the software to talk to a GPS unit. That technician made changes to the Windows Registry entries ... and those changes crashed our computer.

We felt unworried. After all, we had been religiously backing up our data. We had that cozy security blanket, called “back up”, wrapped around us – we thought.

That blanket was too thin for this blizzard of disaster!

We had been “backing up our data” – but we had not been “backing up our hard drive.” There is a big difference, we discovered. The Windows Registry is not backed up when you just save your “data” or your “files” off the computer.

So, when the technician damaged the Registry, the problems affected the hard drive information. We could not simply go to another computer and start running all of our software – because our backup didn’t include enough components.

Our main computer was therefore down for two weeks. We lost productivity for that whole time, plus the nearly $2,000 spent to recover data and systems from the hard drive.

The problems didn’t end there. We missed publishing our November eNews letter because of yet another computer failure.

Just when we got our computer system back to where it needed to be, its power supply failed. We had learned to “back up the hard drive, not just the data and files.” We again thought we were in the cozy security blanket.

No such luck. We found out that you cannot just take the data and hard drive information from one computer and place it onto a new computer’s hard drive, unless that new computer is EXACTLY the same as the old one.

Fortunately, this second failure problem was covered by warranty and we could ship it to the manufacturer in Canada for free repairs. That sounded good until the rest of the story played out:

1. Repairs could take up to two weeks.

2. We had to pay exorbitant shipping costs in both directions.

3. There were US customs problems that FedEx failed to resolve, so the computer was held in customs for an additional week.

We did our best to continue with as business as usual, and apologize for any delays that clients may have experienced. But there are some lessons learned that can benefit everyone.

LESSONS LEARNED:

If you use your computer for business (or anything else important), you should:

1. Backup your hard drive to another identical hard drive connected to your system. (Your computer professional can connect it and show you how to do that back up easily. The goal is to have another drive from which you could boot up and actually run your whole system if the first drive died.)

2. Backup your files and data. (This could be to a thumb drive, or an on-line backup system, or a removable medium like a DVD.)

3. Do both of these back up procedures on a daily or regular basis, depending upon how important your information is to your life or work.

If you can follow these lessons with your business computer, then you may be able to rest easy in that cozy security blanket!

Written by Valerie Simpson, Edited by Richard Stevens (Client)

Referral Program
$50 paid for every new client referral for organizing services (Phoenix market only)

We help clients create solutions
Our goal is total client service. We can take clients through the decision-making process of how to unclutter, what to keep and what to get rid of. Committed to the latest techniques and organizing innovations, A to Z Organizing Pros® has a reputation for fast, responsive and dependable execution.

We can help unclutter any packrat to organize their clutter in any disorganized space using our professional organizers. Transform your cluttered office, files, home office and home in to truly organized space. We'll even show you how to prioritize your daily tasks so you can get more done in less time.

Most of our clients double their income in the first year using the techniques we provide in our first session.

When you refer a new client to us, we will pay you $50.00. Contact us today 602-674-2649

Improve Your Level Of Efficiency & Productivity In Less Than An Hour
Schedule your company's Lunch 'n' Learn today! You provide the Lunch; she'll provide the Learn. A 45-minute presentation geared toward helping individuals to discover ways to be more efficient in their work environments.

A questionnaire is sent out 2-6 weeks in advance of the Lunch 'n' Learn for participants to complete. The seminar is then geared directly toward the needs of the group.  

We may present for groups of any size with pricing at $15-$30 per person with a minimum of 10 people (Travel and lodging may apply). Contact us at 602-ORGANIZE or 602-organize (602-674-2649)

What's New at A to Z Organizing Pros®
New Nationwide Organizing Team Member Joined Us In December
**Organizing Affiliate Stephanie S. 12/07 in Carrollton, Texas (Metro Area, Dallas, TX)
Residential Organizing: Home Offices, garages/ storage units, all residential rooms & closets, coaching & presentations, scheduling, staging to sell home, special events, moving & design.
Commercial Organizing: Offices, storage, filing systems, lectures/ seminars, special events, moving & design
Professional Organizer Since: August 2006
Affiliations: National Association of Professional Organizers, Faithful Organizers, Online Organizing, Dallas Referral Partners, Professional Organizers Web Ring
Organizing in: Addison, TX - Carrollton, TX - Coppell, TX - Dallas, TX - Farmers Branch, TX - Frisco, TX - Grapevine, TX - Irving, TX - Lewisville, TX - Plano, Richardson, TX - Southlake, TX

Contact any of our organizers simply visit  www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/form_Contact_our_organizer.htm

We have new affiliates this month. Simply visit: http://www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/shopping.htm

Links to Resources and Additional Event Listings
We recently added a new page to our web site to include some of the most sought after information for building your network of contacts. These resources can help you build your contacts for your family, business or just to get more involved in your community. Your feedback about these resources and the usefulness of this page is appreciated.
Simply visit: www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/Links-SmallBusinessResources.htm

Featured Business for January 2008
ACDSee  07/07
Download a FREE Trial of ACDSee 9 Photo Manager Today ! We deliver the leading platforms for image management and technical illustration, giving consumers and professionals everything they need to manage, create, edit, share, and publish content for print, presentation and the Web faster, easier, and more efficiently.

Sponsors
A sponsor is a person or company that actively promotes or has assisted in building A to Z Organizing Pros® by giving a portion of their services to promote company growth.
*Faith Pagdon, AZ Home Specialist, Rely On Faith! More than just another real estate agent. Your agent in the east valley 602-790-1642
*Phil and Jara Salmon, Affordable LLC Filings PO Box 50674, Phoenix, AZ 85076 (480) 225-2979 www.affordablellcs.com
*Russell Scott, Independent Associate with Pre-paid Legal Services, Inc. Legal Empowerment for your life. Call 510-597-1480 or click http://www.prepaidlegal.com/go/russellscott
For information about contacting one of our sponsors, to become an A to Z Organizing Pros® sponsor or to advertise in our monthly “Organizing You eNews” please contact us at 602-674-2649. 

For information about becoming a preferred business simply visit www.atozorganizingpros.com/Advertising_with_OU.htm to advertise in our monthly “Organizing You eNews

Joke of the month
Work vs Prison

IN PRISON... you spend the majority of your time in an 8X10 cell.
AT WORK... you spend the majority of your time in a 6X8 cubicle.

IN PRISON... you get three meals a day.
AT WORK... you only get a break for one meal and you have to pay for it.

IN PRISON... you get time off for good behavior.
AT WORK... you get more work for good behavior.

IN PRISON... the guard locks and unlocks all the doors for you.
AT WORK... you must carry around a security card and open all the doors for yourself.

IN PRISON... you can watch TV and play games.
AT WORK... you get fired for watching TV and playing games.

IN PRISON... you get your own toilet.
AT WORK... you have to share with some idiot who pees on the seat.

IN PRISON...they allow your family and friends to visit.
AT WORK...you can't even speak to your family.

IN PRISON... all expenses are paid by the taxpayers with no work required
AT WORK... you get to pay all the expenses to go to work and then they deduct taxes from your salary to pay for prisoners.

IN PRISON... you spend most of your life inside bars wanting to get out.
AT WORK... you spend most of your time wanting to get out and go inside bars.

IN PRISON... you must deal with sadistic wardens.
AT WORK... they are called managers.

So why is it, again, that we work?

More jokes at http://www.digitaldreamdoor.com/pages/quotes/business_jokes.html , http://www.ahajokes.com/,  http://www.jokes.com

Workshops, seminars & training services
visit: www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/Workshops_and_Seminars.htm
Learning to prioritize and how to use the right tools for you will allow you more freedom to do what you love and gain peace of mind.  By working effectively you can have confidence in your future profits and still have time to do what you desire and deserve.  Learn ways to effectively deal with and significantly reduce stress and minutiae.

Advertising with us
Promotion of your business
A to Z Organizing Pros® is looking for helpful business-to-business success building information.   We would like to publish your business informational article in our monthly “Organizing You eNews”. 

Write and article - The type of article A to Z Organizing Pros® is looking for is information that is directed to and for business owners to use to improve their business operations.  Ideas for article may cover such topics as advertising, finance, health benefits, employee benefits, workplace efficiency, marketing, networking opportunity preparation, business secrets and any information that you have used in your business and believe will help another business to be successful.

Simply write an article of 300 words or less in your area of expertise.  Submit it to A to Z Organizing Pros®.  Place your article in the comments section. All articles will be reviewed for appropriate content.  Your name and company link to your web site or your name and telephone number will be displayed at the end of the article. Simply complete the online form at www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/form_contact_ou.htm .

Your business informational article may only be accepted in email form by our staff.  Articles must be submitted by the 15th of the month to be considered for the following months publication.

Toot Your Horn - For Clients Of A to Z Organizing Pros® To Promote Business
Current and previous A to Z Organizing Pros® clients may be featured as the “Business of the Month” send in 300 words or less.  Submit information you would care to share with the “Organizing You News” Newsletter readers.  All information submitted will be reviewed for appropriate content.  Your name and your business name and contact information will be displayed at the beginning of your article.  Simply complete the online form at www.AtoZOrganizingPros.com/form_contact_ou.htm