Organized Chaos : The Key to Declutter, Organize & Simplify Your Life [Paperback]

Sylvia Jessy (Author), Teri Flatley (Editor), Jill Fromelius (Illustrator)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1998 | ISBN-10: 0966419901 | ISBN-13: 978-0966419900

So youve spent your life thus far being unfairly told youre wrong, lazy, crazy or just plain stupid because youre not organized. And youve probably heard all the promises that If you just use my structure, my product, my knowledge, my system...then you will be organized.

You dont have to listen to others anymore. The key to being organized is understanding yourself.

The most important piece of the organizing equation is YOU. Everything else is just stuff. This book is designed to be read in sections:

The first section deals with where you are now. Its important that you recognize yourself as someone who wants to tap into his/her own organizing abilities before we start talking about how to change. Change starts the moment we really accept who and where we are. Until then, we are in denial and avoidance.

The second section deals with the tools you will need to implement the changes needed to become organized. It is given by organizing style, and by problem areas.

The third section covers specific areas you may need to organize in your home and office.

The fourth section deals with maintaining the organizing program and watching that you dont fall into old patterns.

You will find information in this book that will change your lifeif you are ready for change. This book will not tell you what to do; it will offer suggestions. It will tell stories of how others have changed their lives.

It will offer a way out of the life you dont want.

Do not take the information in this book as YOUR answers. I wish for you to go within and determine your own.

Editorial Reviews

Review

First, we have the ultimate tool to "declutter, organize & simplify your life" in Sylvia Jessy's new book "Organized Chaos." -- Point of Light, Spring, 1999

About the Author

Dubbed the countess of clutter by one newspaper, Sylvia Jessy, a professional organizer, helps people take control of their time and their lives. Her company, Organized Chaos, works with businesses, entrepreneurs and individuals to eliminate clutter and reach personal and professional goals. Her work can range from designing a paper flow system for a corporation to helping a home-based entrepreneur set up a first office. Shes even directed the cleaning of garages and closets -- the traditional nemesis of any organized homeowner.

Jessy has been organizing others since the age of 4 (according to her mother) and for her entire professional career. After working as an office manager in 14 different industries over 20 years, friends began asking her to help streamline their lives. In 1992, the business blossomed into Organized Chaos, a company offering professional organizing services, classes and individual coaching.

A professional organizer is part psychologist, part coach and part teacher, says Jessy. There are so many misconceptions about organization. People think getting organized has to be difficult or that it means being neat and having a clean desk. Thats just not true. Being organized means having more of the things you value -- time and money. It means having the freedom to spend time on your personal priorities.

Jessy first helps clients recognize their unique organizing style. Then she tailors a system to their needs and personality. Organizing services can range from a single visit to a years worth of consultations.

Recently, Jessy has been asked repeatedly to help people simplify their lives, weed out the unimportant and set personal priorities. Voluntary simplicity seems to be very attractive to some clients right now. They are overwhelmed by their lives and commitments. They want to simplify their lives and have more time to enjoy top priorities.

Jessy and Organized Chaos have been featured in many local and regional newspapers and national magazines. Jessy has spoken at many bookstores, organizational meetings, Libraries, and businesses.

A native of Virginia, Jessy has made Pittsburgh her home since 1979.

Product Details

• Paperback: 135 pages
• Publisher: Organized Chaos (May 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0966419901
• ISBN-13: 978-0966419900
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,500,029 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Organized Chaos/Organized Life, October 11, 2001

By 

Catherine Raphael (Pittsburgh, PA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Organized Chaos : The Key to Declutter, Organize & Simplify Your Life (Paperback)

I loved this book. It was incredibly helpful. I used to feel guilty for having stacks of stuff in my office. Now I know I'm a "visual" and NEED to see my stuff to feel on top of things. This book helped me to organize for my needs instead of trying to live up to someone else's expectation. Now I am guilt free with a better looking -- and functioning -- office. Terrific!

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars good principles / very easy & fast to read, February 3, 2003

By 

Carol C. "ccjello" (Kansas City, MO USA) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Organized Chaos : The Key to Declutter, Organize & Simplify Your Life (Paperback)

This little decluttering text is simple, simple, simple. It's useful, and easy to read. The print is very large, as are the page margins, so there's not much fluff here. You can easily get through this book in an hour. I found the most useful discussion to be regarding the dichotomy between "visual" organizers & "camoflauge" organizers -- visual folks need to have everything out in the open where they can see it; camoflaugers like to have things hidden away. Jessy says that it doesn't really matter which type you are, you just need to organize your things so that you can find what you need when you need it. That's reassuring advice for those of us who like open shelves & piles of paper on display. The author also gives advice on how to get along with someone of a different organizing style. Despite the simplicity, this is one of the better organizing/decluttering books I've read (and I've read quite a few).

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT STUFF, May 14, 2002

By 

Carol A. Briney "Your Home-Based Business Coach" (Pittsburgh, Pa United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Organized Chaos : The Key to Declutter, Organize & Simplify Your Life (Paperback)

Sylvia's book has the information that will indeed help you to change your life if you are ready to do so. This is one of the best organizing books to cross my path.