ECN Forum Forums General Topics of the Trade General Discussion Area Getting Organized (UPS stinks)

I waited around all day waiting for UPS to deliver something that required my signature. They went to the wrong address, so I get to do it again tomorrow.

The bright side is, I emptied the truck and organized it. I need to do this every once in awhile, especially when it's busy, or when I try to cram another 20 lbs. of stuff in it. Tomorrow I'll tackle the garage.

Someone recently posted that they weren't very organized and needed more space. I have always figured a way around getting bigger by organizing better.

So, the question is...what do you do to be organized?

One of the little things I do is...I got a Plano tackle box at WalMart for all my machine screws, nuts, washers and other small parts. It was about $20 and has good containers/covered trays in the bottom section. It's clear plastic on the top.

At my desk (which is usually a disaster) I hang chip-bag-clamps. I hang my bills with the clamps above the desk with the date and amount. That way, no matter how messy my desk gets, I can always see which bill is due next.

Dave

I think that may have been me you were talking about. I just put in a few hours on Wed. in the garage. I had the feed back I was given in the back of my mind. Well I managed to clear off a few shelves that hadn't been used in a while. Cans of paint that were almost empty, etc.

Two keys to orginzation I need to follow more often:

1. Throw out more garbage. The hard part is determining what is garbage.

2. You have to do the time. This one is my problem. I find I tend to put things off until I develope a better system to manage them. Part of me wanting more space was to get a better system, and I believe I have some ideas that would really streamline the process, but in the mean time I do have to learn to manage with what I have, and that means putting in the time.

For organizing I recommend an apprentice. When you load the truck, just throw it in. When you need something, send the apprentice and complain when it takes a while to find. After two days, when you pick up something to put in the truck, the apprentice will fight you to put it away himself. That's organization!