Comments on: How To Fake Being Organized http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/ Career and life advice for the new generation Wed, 10 Mar 2010 18:20:59 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: scott http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-327832 scott Thu, 19 Nov 2009 12:43:38 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/#comment-327832 these are great tips, thanks! But if you are doing these things then that makes you an organized person after all, right? So good job! these are great tips, thanks! But if you are doing these things then that makes you an organized person after all, right? So good job!

]]> By: Royce Hadden http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-324382 Royce Hadden Fri, 06 Nov 2009 20:48:51 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/#comment-324382 Love the calendar reminder - like Grace above, I use Outlook Calendar to the same effect. Reminders and dates for everything are posted nonstop. Another key tip for me is emailing myself something or even setting up an appointment to do something menial IF I am away from my desk or about to leave for the day and risk not remembering to do it. Self-emails can be a big help since I am diligent about reading and responding to all email in general, even if it's from me... Love the calendar reminder – like Grace above, I use Outlook Calendar to the same effect. Reminders and dates for everything are posted nonstop.

Another key tip for me is emailing myself something or even setting up an appointment to do something menial IF I am away from my desk or about to leave for the day and risk not remembering to do it. Self-emails can be a big help since I am diligent about reading and responding to all email in general, even if it’s from me…

]]> By: Jaana Valimaki http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-324124 Jaana Valimaki Fri, 06 Nov 2009 01:19:58 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/#comment-324124 Great tips! I personally find it extremely important to use a calander and Google calendar has saved me in that respect! What i find more crucial in being organized, looking and feeling- is follow up! Huge. This way your team/collegues know that you mean business and also helops making sure everyone is on the same page and driving for the same goal. Jaana Great tips!

I personally find it extremely important to use a calander and Google calendar has saved me in that respect!

What i find more crucial in being organized, looking and feeling- is follow up! Huge. This way your team/collegues know that you mean business and also helops making sure everyone is on the same page and driving for the same goal.

Jaana

]]> By: Jonathan Bradley http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-324052 Jonathan Bradley Thu, 05 Nov 2009 17:34:33 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/#comment-324052 These are excellent tips for impression management. Thinkers should love this information, because no matter how hard we try, we cannot be Judgers. Having the appearance of organization is the next best thing. As well, I think you've touched on the high-visibility items that define social-perception. Personally, Outlook and the iPhone work well for me. I think your tip with the most impact is the follow-ups. It's something we all would like to do, I think, and so when someone actually makes to effort to do it, we think, "Wow, she's really on top of this." Great post. These are excellent tips for impression management. Thinkers should love this information, because no matter how hard we try, we cannot be Judgers. Having the appearance of organization is the next best thing. As well, I think you’ve touched on the high-visibility items that define social-perception. Personally, Outlook and the iPhone work well for me.

I think your tip with the most impact is the follow-ups. It’s something we all would like to do, I think, and so when someone actually makes to effort to do it, we think, “Wow, she’s really on top of this.” Great post.

]]> By: Derek http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-323893 Derek Thu, 05 Nov 2009 02:49:22 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/#comment-323893 This is a great list, actually, and I live a pretty hectic life but have boiled my own attempts to stay organized down to a pretty similar list of priorities. It took me a while, but GCal has changed my life. (I do wish they'd allow half hour intervals though) Timing is CRUCIAL. It's not anal. It's FAR more important in person...phone call timing might be more important in a structured corporate environment, but even outside that in an entrepreneurial, low key, or even social environment....trying to stay roughly on time can make a big, big difference. The one I'm really working on is FollowUps. Makes a big difference...and should be scheduled, btw. :) This is a great list, actually, and I live a pretty hectic life but have boiled my own attempts to stay organized down to a pretty similar list of priorities.

It took me a while, but GCal has changed my life. (I do wish they’d allow half hour intervals though)

Timing is CRUCIAL. It’s not anal. It’s FAR more important in person…phone call timing might be more important in a structured corporate environment, but even outside that in an entrepreneurial, low key, or even social environment….trying to stay roughly on time can make a big, big difference.

The one I’m really working on is FollowUps. Makes a big difference…and should be scheduled, btw. :)

]]> By: Grace Boyle http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-323843 Grace Boyle Wed, 04 Nov 2009 21:09:06 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/#comment-323843 The being on time thing is huge. I've struggled with how I organize my meetings when it's outside of work. My Outlook calendar and being glued to my computer at work is fine because everything is synced up and I won't forget anything. However, meetings, dinners or even birthdays are sometimes forgotten on my personal calendar. I really like to hand write things down. I like to visually look at my planner (which is what I use) but I have also begun to include all reminders in my Blackberry calendar. My phone is always on me and sometimes the reminder comes up before the whatever I have coming up (~three hours in advance) and helps me prepare. I always say my life is organized chaos. I know how to run it. Anyone else might think I'm not organized, but I know where everything is with my own systems. Find what works for you, then run with it :) The being on time thing is huge. I’ve struggled with how I organize my meetings when it’s outside of work.

My Outlook calendar and being glued to my computer at work is fine because everything is synced up and I won’t forget anything.

However, meetings, dinners or even birthdays are sometimes forgotten on my personal calendar. I really like to hand write things down. I like to visually look at my planner (which is what I use) but I have also begun to include all reminders in my Blackberry calendar. My phone is always on me and sometimes the reminder comes up before the whatever I have coming up (~three hours in advance) and helps me prepare.

I always say my life is organized chaos. I know how to run it. Anyone else might think I’m not organized, but I know where everything is with my own systems. Find what works for you, then run with it :)

]]> By: Angelia http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-323807 Angelia Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:58:48 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/#comment-323807 I use Outlook for work, but I'm wondering if Google calendar wouldn't work for home/family organization. We have a big wall calender, but things of that nature tend to become part of your surroundings and eventually get overlooked. With our crazy schedules writing everything down in one place is a must. Being on time is so important. I'm a freak about time and always over estimate when I'm planning and scheduling. My hubby on the other hand is an underestimator/not-5-seconds-to-spare kind of guy. Ug! I use Outlook for work, but I’m wondering if Google calendar wouldn’t work for home/family organization. We have a big wall calender, but things of that nature tend to become part of your surroundings and eventually get overlooked. With our crazy schedules writing everything down in one place is a must.

Being on time is so important. I’m a freak about time and always over estimate when I’m planning and scheduling. My hubby on the other hand is an underestimator/not-5-seconds-to-spare kind of guy. Ug!

]]> By: Marsha Keeffer http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-323797 Marsha Keeffer Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:02:19 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/#comment-323797 @Matt - Yes, I try for 5 min. ahead of the meeting. Gives me and the people I'm meeting with breathing space. @Jessica - Have been using a paper agenda just because I can glance quickly without juice and see what's up. But I'm sacrificing some functionality as @Rebecca mentions - will give it another go. Thanks, Caitlin! @Matt – Yes, I try for 5 min. ahead of the meeting. Gives me and the people I’m meeting with breathing space.

@Jessica – Have been using a paper agenda just because I can glance quickly without juice and see what’s up. But I’m sacrificing some functionality as @Rebecca mentions – will give it another go.

Thanks, Caitlin!

]]> By: Rebecca Thorman http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-323781 Rebecca Thorman Wed, 04 Nov 2009 15:44:35 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/#comment-323781 @ Jessica - I'm a huge fan of Google Calendar too! I color-code mine (like I color-code everything) - Alice is purple, Modite is orange, Social is red... the same colors correspond to my tags/folders in Gmail. Yep, I'm a dork... ha. @ Matt - I used to be 15 min early to everything... but now I just try to time it so I'm 5 min early. I find it's more efficient and I hate waiting, so it makes me less anxious. I never got the Moleskine obsession... although I do love fancy schmancy notebooks : ) @ Jessica – I’m a huge fan of Google Calendar too! I color-code mine (like I color-code everything) – Alice is purple, Modite is orange, Social is red… the same colors correspond to my tags/folders in Gmail. Yep, I’m a dork… ha.

@ Matt – I used to be 15 min early to everything… but now I just try to time it so I’m 5 min early. I find it’s more efficient and I hate waiting, so it makes me less anxious. I never got the Moleskine obsession… although I do love fancy schmancy notebooks : )

]]> By: Matt Cheuvront http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/comment-page-1/#comment-323737 Matt Cheuvront Wed, 04 Nov 2009 11:24:29 +0000 http://modite.com/blog/2009/11/04/how-to-fake-being-organized/#comment-323737 Great advice here - I would stress that instead of being on time, be EARLY. I especially love your idea of carrying a cool notebook - When I carry my moleskin, I either look very professional and organized, or like a total douche bag who's trying to look professional and organized - haven't quite figured that one out yet :) I'll have to dive into Google Calender - if it's one thing I need to get better with, it's organizing my schedule (outside of Outlook with my nine to five). Great advice here – I would stress that instead of being on time, be EARLY. I especially love your idea of carrying a cool notebook – When I carry my moleskin, I either look very professional and organized, or like a total douche bag who’s trying to look professional and organized – haven’t quite figured that one out yet :)

I’ll have to dive into Google Calender – if it’s one thing I need to get better with, it’s organizing my schedule (outside of Outlook with my nine to five).

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