Getting Organized: Improving Focus, Organization and Productivity

by Chris Crouch

Getting Organized is a collection of simple ideas that address at least six major issues that could be generating chaos and disorder in your life. The ideas are presented in a simple format, with specific suggestions on how to put each idea to work, so busy people can find the time to read and try them. Even if you've tried unsuccessfully to get organized before, consider reading Getting Organized. You'll find effective solutions to your organizing challenges and will enjoy the benefits for years to come.

Genres: Self Help, Productivity, Business, Nonfiction, Reference

176 pages, Paperback

First published September 30, 2004

Reviews

[James · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Sort of helpful, yet sort of dated. I bought this for one of my employees and decided to read it first. When I give it to her I'll suggest she pick a few ideas and try them out, rather than trying to implement each suggestion.

The last 8-10 chapters felt rushed and tacked on, but overall the book offers several potentially useful tips for becoming more organized. I'm a little wary of the amount of paper that would be required to follow some of the suggestions. I also think a software based approach to managing tickler files would be more appropriate to today's business environment.

[Steve Campbell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very useful little book for improving organization and productivity. It offers some practical tips, but the real strength of the book is in its analysis of how we get disorganized and fail to produce the results we want in the first place. The author offers good suggestions for changing our thinking and our doing. He also offers suggestions for further study.

[Ari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Dated advice

Ignoring somewhat dated advice (using a PDA) there are nevertheless some good ideas on how to get and stay organised. Worth a read for general advice.

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lot of ideas to try here, just take what inspires you and move one. However, it's also a bit outdated (with using PDAs and Filing Cabinets).

[Vali Heist · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it and become the organized employee you always wanted to be.

[Stacie · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an extremely quick read with bite-sized chapters, each topic just brushed over quickly. Much of it is intended to be applied in a work environment. The author breaks down his filing system method quite thoroughly. It may be useful for some, but as a stay-at-home/homeschooling mom I found that I organize many of the materials in his system in one of three places: a 1.5" binder, a calendar, and the Notes App on my phone.

In one of my favorite chapters he breaks down how to handle incoming paper, Emails, voice mails, verbal requests, and "things you think of that you want to do." We should respond to these items/requests/activities in the following order.....so as NOT to procrastinate or set aside for later, thus adding to our clutter and chaos:
1. Discard or recycle
2. Delegate
3. Take immediate action
4. Put in a reference file
5. File for follow-up

He convinced me that "multi-tasking" is not the best route, as you are really half-heartedly doing two or more things. He says we should be wise and instead focus on the RIGHT NOW, and then move on.

Some other good snippets I took away were the following:
"Do the best you can with what you have where you are."
"Help people maximize their God-given potential."
"Ensure that the people who know me the best respect me the most."

[Peter · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book has some good new ideas, and a lot of old ideas being claimed as new. I would immagine it would work well if you had a filing cabinet at the side of your desk, but as I don't, half of this book was a waste for me. still, I wish I had this back in college or grad school. So overall a good book that is easy to read and follow... but which makes too many assumptions about the reader's workspace. 3/5 stars, maybe 3.5 .

[Judy · Rating 4 out of 5]

NYU Stern recommends this book for MBA candidates. It's really excellent! I would recommend it to anyone, regardless of how well organized they already are. It's a very quick read and easy to take or leave each suggestion. I'm going to try the alternative to a to do list.

[Kynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the easy steps shown to help you get organized. My favorite part was how to organize folders and the tips on reading. Everything else did not pertain to my need. This a great book to help you in the parts you need help with. The rest is just interesting and can be moved past.

[Karla · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked that this book was in small chapters to let me think about the ideas that were proposed. I liked the presentation of each point, what it meant and why it mattered. I liked that organization was more than just having a place to put things.

[Christie (Myr Stitchcrafts) · Rating 2 out of 5]

For an organizational book it was very disorganized. If you do not work in an office with file cabinets or if you work in the customer service industry most of these hints will not help you.

[Tameka Huggins · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are some really useful practical ideas in this book, however there are some outdated ideas as well.

[Calum Mcneish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the book was presented, in very short chapters, each covering the different ideas making it easy to turn back to it as a point of reference.

[Taylor Bernal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good

Pretty good

has good idea that would help one become more organized and is worth giving some of the options a try.

[Jan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very Helpful Book on the Go System and Productivity. Would recommend it!