Greetings from Orlando, FL.  I am down here for the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO) annual conference.  I thought I would share my highlights from each day.

The day started for me with a trip through the exhibit hall.  There were many vendors displaying the latest and greatest organizing products.  I was particularly impressed with the new Pendaflex Hang Tuff hanging folders.  I recommend Pendaflex files to my clients because of their quality and longevity.  These new handing folders are even tougher and should hold up better in your filing drawers.  I visited many vendors who are offering paperless solutions. Scanners and software, web desktops, and custom information management systems.  I will be attending a demonstration of a product called Pixily that works with the Fujitsu Scan Snap products.  So far, I have not found a solution that works as well as the new iPEP (Productivity Environment Platform) which utilizes a proven platform for project management and collaboration, saving individuals, workgroups, organizations and companies thousands of dollars through increased productivity.  http://www.papertigerinstitute.net/ipep/online/

Joshua Zerkel, the president of my local NAPO Chapter (NAPO SFBA), was on a panel of veteran organizers from many different specialties to answer the burning questions from the attendees.  This is our chance to ask other organizers the really tough questions about our industry.  I always gain some new information when I hear about the experiences of other organizers.

Scott McCain was the keynote speaker and he delivered a powerful presentation about how we (organizers) must differentiate ourselves and create a unique experiences for our clients.  I love this idea since each professional organizer delivers their services with their own unique style and perspective.

My first technical session was on improving my workshops.  I learned to be more specific with my overall workshop objectives and individual lesson objectives.  My take away was that it is more important what the audience learns than what I teach.  What that really means is that it is more about the audience and less about me.  With that new mindset, I am sure to improve the value of my local and virtual workshop sessions.

After a reception in the exhibit hall, I headed over to the PTAC (Paper Tiger Authorized Consultant) hospitality suite for a great discussion of the iPEP system and strategies on how to use it to better serve our clients.  The networking and friendship in this industry and at this conference are fantastic.  I love being in a room with several other hundred people who are just like me.  It is a strange and exhilerating sensation.  Tomorrow I will be attending more technical sessions and reporting what I learned.

If you are interested in learning more about NAPO, visit www.napo.net

Until tomorrow...

Tamara Meyer
www.meyerorganizing.com