At one time or another we’ve all received holiday gifts given to us with good intentions yet didn’t really work for our taste. Unwanted gifts clutter up the house or office while we figure out what to do with the gift. Guilt and fear paralyze us into keeping gifts we don’t want or need.
Re-gifting is becoming a perfectly acceptable social practice. In a recent survey, when asked if it is okay to receive a re-gifted item, 83% of survey respondents said yes. In our professional organization business, we give our beloved clients permission to reconsider keeping brand new gifts they'll never use.
So if you're considering re-gifting this holiday season, use these 6 tips as guidelines when re-gifting:
Re-gifting is a great way to declutter your space and get organized, to be environmentally conscious by recycling and reusing and helps to keep your budget down. So go ahead and celebrate this season and re-gift, re-gift, re-gift! Santa approves.
Questions or Comments?
What are your thoughts about gift-giving this holiday season? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check John out on Instagram (@johntrosko).
This original piece was published on FitPerez, Perez Hilton's site featuring celebrity fitness and personal trainer expertise, diet, nutrition and advice from lifestyle experts including John and OrganizingLA. Click here to read our original piece on Perez Hilton's FitPerez.
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Ask any professional organizer what an organized office looks like and you'll generally get the same answer:
"Whatever works for the client."
And that's true for my professional organizing firm, too. If something's not broke, then there's no need to fix it. But while some clients don't need any desk or office organization, many need a complete overhaul or at least some selective help with things like desktop organization, digital organizing, office memorabilia, old-school paper management, dealing with scanning, business card collections, storing architectural drawings, household files, business filings and tax records.
Again, if it's not broke, then there no need to fix it.
Trump Office Tour
Case in point, Donald Trump. The Republican Presidential candidate proudly and rightfully shows off his Trump Tower business offices. In this Wall Street Journal interview, Trump shines when he surrounds himself with his vast memorabilia. We think he handles the opening comments well when Journalist Monica Langley opens up the conversation with the opening line "This office is all you. And it's a little bit junky." Check out the interview video from September 2015:
If the video doesn't load, click here for the WSJ video piece
From The Desk of Donald Trump:
Some clients just love to surround themselves with the things they love, and the totality of those items creates a powerful emotion. But it's a fact that Trump also believes that a messy desk is not a sign of weakness. In fact, it's a part of his success. Check out this fascinating interview from 2011.
Here is a transcript of Trump's desktop philosophy. If you need the desk interview link, click here.
“Many people have been asking about my desk, and the fact that I have so many papers on my desk. It’s actually very neat. I know where everything is. But if you look around, I mean, there’s a lot of stuff. The fact is, I’m busy. I always notice that busy people, people that are very successful in many cases, have a lot going on on their desk. I have papers from deals, I have papers from just about everything. I like to read up on things. I like to study what I’m doing. So, therefore, you have a lot of action going on your office. Now, some of the writers, some of the ones that aren’t so smart, they talk about the desk negatively. They say, “Oh, isn’t it terrible, Trump has so many papers on his desk, let’s analyze everything on the desk,” and they do the best, and they fail. But the fact is, I’ve noticed over the years, successful people have a lot going on on their desk. My desk is in my office, my desk is a very important part of me, and frankly it’s a very important part of my success. Everything I do comes right through this desk. So, if it’s not perfectly neat, if there’s a lot of action, I think that’s okay. I actually think that’s a good thing.”
Questions or Comments?
Politics aside, what are your thoughts on a messy desk, or a so-called junky office? What organizing tips would you give to Donald J. Trump? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check John out on Instagram (@johntrosko).
Like this Topic?
Want to learn smart and practical organizing tips for your home, office and life? Save time by signing up for free topic updates and receive them as soon as they're published. Plus, as a gift receive our exclusive Martha Stewart Living Radio recorded radio interview and transcript, chock full of strategies, tips and resources direct from John.
Are you embarrassed about the clutter and mayhem in your house? Does that stop you from having friends and family over? We see this all the time. It's true we help people restore order, but we also work with clients to create realistic expectations for what's important. A little mess is absolutely fine.
Scruffy Hospitality:
So what's really refreshing is reading Robin Shreeves take on the C.H.A.O.S Theory (Can't Have Anyone Over Syndrome). Shreeves , a journalist with the Mother Nature Network says your home does not need to be perfect to have someone over. She quotes another blogger over at Father Jack on Scruffy Hospitality:
"Scruffy hospitality means you’re not waiting for everything in your house to be in order before you host and serve friends in your home. Scruffy hospitality means you hunger more for good conversation and serving a simple meal of what you have, not what you don’t have. Scruffy hospitality means you’re more interested in quality conversation than the impression your home or lawn makes. If we only share meals with friends when we’re excellent, we aren’t truly sharing life together."
It's a world where the plates don't match, friends bring over pot-luck, and you have permission to have dirty dishes in the sink. There's not an obsession about a perfectly styled house that few can obtain. It's a celebration of friends and conversation. Check out Shreeves article, it's awesome.
Captain John's Summer Barbeque:
So why am I posting photos of one of my backyard parties in Los Angeles? Because it's something I really enjoy putting together. I love pulling every red, blue and white dish I have and making it all work. Can and should everyone do this? Absolutely not. Do I cook everything? No. At one party (not the one below) I served Kentucky Fried Chicken tossed with shredded basil and some herbs-- it was from an article I read somewhere on how to pull a party together without cooking (my favorite). Here are some pictures from a recent themed-barbeque I planned.
Collage above courtesy of Denise Wakeman. Photos by John Trosko.
I do think that being a good host means that you've anticipated most needs of your guests and no matter how hard I try, I always forget things, but that's okay. But the important thing is the conversation. Best part of the night? Friends in the kitchen, lending a hand, washing and drying dishes, putting things away, gossiping, dancing in my living room, laughing, planning our next party and calling the In-N-Out Cookout Trailer!
Questions or Comments?
What are your thoughts on "scruffy hospitality?" Do you enjoy putting parties together and sharing? Does everything have to match? Did your thoughts about entertaining change when you had children? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check John out on Instagram (@johntrosko).
Like this Topic?
Want to learn smart and practical organizing tips for your home, office and life? Save time by signing up for free topic updates and receive them as soon as they're published. Plus, as a gift receive our exclusive Martha Stewart Living Radio recorded radio interview and transcript, chock full of strategies, tips and resources direct from John.
Around here we're big fans of reality business shows like The Profit, Restaurant Start Up, Bar Rescue and especially ABC-TV's Shark Tank. Shark Tank features budding entrepreneurs with the chance to "bring their ideas to the sharks in the tank -- five titans of industry who made their own dreams a reality and turned their ideas into lucrative empires."
The contestants try to convince any one of the sharks to invest money in their idea. When more than one of the sharks decide they want a piece of the action, a bidding war can erupt, driving up the price of the investment.
Major Mom - Featured on February 5th:
We're really excited to learn that our colleague and former Air Force Major from Phoenix Angela Cody-Rouget and her company will be featured on Shark Tank this Friday, February 5th. John co-chaired a national leadership committee for the National Associations of Professional Organizers (NAPO) while Angela was the Chapter President of NAPO Colorado, so they worked together for over a year.
“Episode 719” – Veteran and military spouse entrepreneurs try to enlist the Sharks’ investments in their products—will it be a mission accomplished? A former Air Force Major from Phoenix, AZ looks to franchise her personal organization business that can keep Americans’ homes “majorly” de-cluttered. “Shark Tank,” FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 5 (9:00--10:01 p.m. EST) on the ABC Television Network."
So how did Angela get on the show? "One of the producers contacted me... and said they were looking for veteran entrepreneurs for their show. Months of contracts, jumping through hoops and lots of stress landed me in LA at Sony Studios where I met five sharks in person as I pitched my business. It was an incredible experience full of many emotions and lots of prayer." According to Angela, she's under a gag order but can say she met with the Sharks for about an hour and the meeting will be compressed into entertainment value.
Questions or Comments?
Do you have questions for Angela, Shark Tank, Reality TV or organizing in general? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check John out on Instagram (@johntrosko).
Like this Topic?
Want to learn smart and practical organizing tips for your home, office and life? Save time by signing up for free topic updates and receive them as soon as they're published. Plus, as a gift receive our exclusive Martha Stewart Living Radio recorded radio interview and transcript, chock full of strategies, tips and resources direct from John.
If you're local to Los Angeles, join OrganizingLA founder John Trosko at WeGo! on Saturday, January 9th when NAPO Los Angeles and the City of West Hollywood present a free community event designed to educate and inspire Angelenos to get organized in 2016. John served two terms as chapter president of NAPO-LA.
From decluttering your home or office, aspiring to have a paperless lifestyle or mastering time management to achieve maximum productivity in your day, Los Angeles best professional organizers will give workshops and offer their best tips for getting organized. Ask-the-organizer panels will present attendees with the opportunity to discuss their own challenges and receive advice from the experts, while companies will exhibit products, services, tools and resources to help you get organized and stay organized.
Ask the Organizer Panels:
Ask the Organizer Panel is an opportunity for attendees to hear general organizing advise delivered directly from the experts. Participants include Leslie Haber, Dorothy Breininger, Regina Lark Ph.D, CPO®, Cynthia Smith and John Trosko.
Ask the Organizer Panel with ADHD Specialists includes experts Standolyn Roberts, CPO®, Kim Anker-Paddon, CPO-CD®, COC®, Debra Frank, CPO-CD® and Mishele Vieira, CPO®.
Workshop Experts:
Detail for weGo!
Saturday, January 9, 2016
11:00am-3:00pm
Plummer Park Community Center
7377 Santa Monica Boulevard, West Hollywood, CA 90046
About NAPO Los Angeles:
NAPO-Los Angeles is a non-profit professional organization dedicated to developing, leading and promoting professional organizers and the benefits of better home and business organization. The founding chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers, "The Organizing Authority®," NAPO-LA has provided members with a forum for networking, professional development and raising public awareness since 1985.
Questions or Comments?
Do you have questions about weGo!? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check John out on Instagram (@johntrosko).
Like this Topic?
Want to learn smart and practical organizing tips for your home, office and life? Save time by signing up for free topic updates and receive them as soon as they're published. Plus, as a gift receive our exclusive Martha Stewart Living Radio recorded radio interview and transcript, chock full of strategies, tips and resources direct from John.
Sprinkles in Beverly Hills eases your late-night cravings with the world's first cupcake ATM. But cupcakes aren't the only things ATMs are dispensing.
Southern California is full of modern-day kiosk conveniences; like the world's first cupcake ATM at Sprinkles in Beverly Hills, CA. Coinstar is another innovative kiosk to turn your coins into a gift card or paper bills, Redbox helps you rent movie and video games and Amazon's Locker organizes online purchase package retrieval. So what else is out there?
The EcoATM
Developed by Outerwall in San Diego, EcoATM is an automated device-recycling kiosk that collects unwanted or used cell phones, tablets and MP3 players for instant cash (also known as a cellphone buy-back or trade-in program).
The machines determine the amount by looking at three things:
Did you know by the end of 2015, there will still be an estimated 422 million idle or inactive mobile devices, and out of those, only 99 million will be recycled. They're hoping to help increase the recycled amount. Here's a cool video on how it works.
If you are the kind of person who has amassed a truckload of electronics, and you want to responsibly turn them in (and make some cash), EcoATM sounds like a convenient, easy and safe way to declutter your office.
Your Turn to Comment
What do you think of the new EcoATM kiosks? Would you ever use them? Do they provide enough value for you? Will Apple's iPhone Buy-Back program crush EcoATM? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check me out on Instagram (@johntrosko).
Like this Topic?
Want to learn smart and practical organizing tips for your home, office and life? Save time by signing up for free topic updates and receive them as soon as they're published. Plus, as a gift receive our exclusive Martha Stewart Living Radio recorded radio interview and transcript, chock full of strategies, tips and resources direct from John.