It has been many years ago but I still remember it as though it was only last
month. I was in the sixth grade and we were told by our teachers that we were
going to sell magazine subscriptions. This excited me and I was raring to get
out and start selling because of the promised prizes we could win. I looked
over the prizes and decided I wanted a beautiful tiger that was a pajama
holder that would sit on my bed.
We were given the booklet and signup sheets and off I went after school to "
win" (work my fanny off would be a better description) my tiger. My town had
a population of 2,500 people. I planned where I would go and how many hours I
would spend knocking on doors.
I remember at one home the woman didn't want any magazines but I was
determined to make a sale so I showed her husband the booklet with the
pictures of the magazine covers to pick from. He said he didn't read much. I
asked him what he did like to do and he said watch T.V. I had just the
magazine for him. T.V. Guide was about six years old at that time. Yes, I did
make the sale. He probably bought it just to get rid of me.
On a Friday morning a couple of weeks after the selling date had closed I was
getting ready for school and my mom suggested that I wear a nicer outfit than
what I had on. Being my normal stubborn self I argued with her about changing
my clothes.
The reason she suggested that I change was because they were throwing a
surprise party for me as I had sold more magazines than anyone in our school.
Our class trooped down to the Home Economics room where there were balloons
and a giant cake and fruit punch. Everyone had known about the surprise but
me.
The officials from the company presented me with my tiger (I used it on my
bed for years every morning stuffing it with my pajamas so it would be fat
and fluffy). I also received a pair of opal earrings surrounded by
rhinestones (very tacky) and a matching necklace. I was thrilled with these
and some other lesser prizes.
This early experience of selling magazines taught me a lot about how to
organize clutter but I sure didn't know it at the time.
The first thing was that I had a goal. When we are organizing clutter in our
homes we absolutely must set goals to work toward. When we become discouraged
or feel overwhelmed by keeping our goal in mind it helps us to keep on
working towards the goal we have set. My goal was the tiger.
We were given supplies so we could go out and sell. Supplies for organizing
clutter are things like plastic bags. Label one for trash, donate, to sell
and have a BE basket (belongs elsewhere). Use a measuring tape to measure the
size of space you need containers for so you'll be sure to get the correct
size when you are at the store.
I made a plan of where I would sell and how many hours I would be out selling.
When organizing clutter set a timer, when it rings give yourself permission
to walk away and come back later so you don't get burnt out. Making a plan
helps you to focus and you'll get more done in a shorter length of time.
When obstacles come up to clearing clutter work around it, don't just give up.
I know kids, obligations, meetings; meal time and your significant other can
sometimes seem like obstacles. Teach them and tell them what you are going to
accomplish to solicit their cooperation. By coming up with a solution is how
I sold the man the T.V. Guide magazine.
When you reach your goal of organizing clutter you will be thrilled with your
progress and the "prize" or reward that you've earned. It could be the peace
you feel, the happiness in being able to find things, the relief at not
having to keep moving that pile from place to place. Organizing clutter will
free you up to do other things with your time.
Marilyn invites you to her website to learn more time-
proven methods to clear clutter in your home.
