Dear Karla:

My papers at home and at work are a mess. At work, sometimes I spend time
looking and searching for something that I thought was right on the top of my desk. It is a complete waste of time. I wish I could get organized.

Thanks."

Dear Paper Mess;

The number one problem in most homes and all offices is Paper, Paper and more Paper. So you are not alone. I teach a seminar on Paper Management which is 4 hours long so it is pretty hard for me to give you a complete strategy in this letter.

My best advise is to read the classic organizing book on paper management, "Taming the Paper Tiger" by Barbara Hemphill available from Amazon.com or your favorite neighborhood book store. It has given thousands a path to find their way over their paper piles.

My best tip is to reduce the volume of paper you have as much as possible. This means being ruthless in throwing out what you don't absolutely need to have. It means getting off of as many mailing lists as you can. It is easier to deal with what is necessary and to find what you want when there is less to wade through.

Reduce the avalanche and you can more easily deal with the rest.

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Copywrited August 1999 Karla Jones