This past month I taught a two-part teleclass for NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers) called "Starting Out as a Residential Organizer". It was a sold-out class which shows the huge interest in the professional organizing field.

If you are not familiar with teleclasses they are a lot of fun! You simply call in to a bridge line and give the passcode that the instructor has given you and you can learn in the comfort of your own home. There are teleclasses for absolutely everything.

I have wanted to give teleclasses in my business for some time. Having presented a few classes for NAPO has given me the confidence to put my thoughts into action!

I am thrilled to announce my first teleclass:

What:	"5 Steps to Get Organized Anywhere!" Teleclass
When:	September 28, 2006
Where:	Your own home or office!
Time:	7:00pm-7:45pm Central (8pm Eastern, 6pm Mountain, 5pm Pacific)
Fee:	FREE!
Sign Up:	www.elizabethhagen.com/tsmessage.html
Directions:	Sign up at the above link and I will e-mail you what number to call, the passcode, and everything else you need to know

I'm calling this teleclass a TimeSpa Massage because it will be a preview of just some of the wonderful information I'm going to be giving during my TimeSpa Retreat on October 6-7,2006

I hope that you will also join me in a teleclass on October 5, 2006 when I will be interviewed by Kendall Summerhawk. Please see the note at the end of this newsletter for more information.

Did you laugh when you read Erma Bombeck's quote at the beginning of the newsletter? I thought it was hilarious – and VERY true! Especially if you don't go to the store with a list. Years ago I realized that I save a lot of money and time at the grocery store if I simply do a little bit of planning and go to the store with a list. A grocery list is part of a system and systems will:

Save
Yourself
Stress
Time,
Energy, and
Money

Are you using systems in your life or are you constantly reinventing the wheel? Here are some areas in your life where systems will definitely save you stress, time, energy, and money!

Calendar System
Do you have a calendar system? The key to a good calendar system is that it is easy to use, you can have it with you wherever you are, and you make a habit of entering items in your calendar as soon as you can.

I used a FranklinCovey paper-based day planner for years until I moved to using Outlook and a PDA. I always say that it doesn't matter what type of calendar you use – but please use something!

Mail System
What happens when you come home with the mail? Is it dumped on the kitchen counter?

Set up your own personal mail system. Start by opening the mail over the trash can/shredder/recycle center. For the mail that you are going to keep get rid of the envelope and any inserts. Set up a Household Command Center (see the article "Create a Customized Office/Household Command Center") for all the paper that you need to take action on.

Recipe System
Are your clippings taking over too many drawers in your kitchen? Then you need a favorite recipe binder.

Get a 3-ring binder and use tabbed dividers for the different recipe categories: Desserts, Casseroles, Ethnic, Breads, etc. Divide your recipes by category and simply tape/glue them on plain white paper. Insert the paper with the clippings into clear plastic page protectors and then put into the 3-ring binder behind the correct category.

You will save a lot of time when you want to cook one of your favorite dishes because they will all be in one spot.

Groceries/Menu System
Another way to save time is to use my grocery list/menu planner. Once a week plan your meals for the week and fill in what supplies you need. Train yourself and your family to write items down on the list right when you know you need something. This way when it's time to go to the store you take the list and go – you don't have to check the fridge and pantry to see what you are low on.

There are many ways to use systems at home and at the office. Anytime you find yourself taking longer than you think necessary to complete a task – ask yourself – would it make life easier to set up a system for this? I'm sure it will!

I'll be teaching a lot about systems at the upcoming TimeSpa retreat on October 6-7, 2006. Visit www.ElizabethHagen/TimeSpa and find out more!

If you've been a subscriber of my newsletter for some time you've heard me mention Kendall Summerhawk. She has been a great help to me over the years in building my business. Kendall offers monthly "Ask the Expert Salon" teleseminars and on October 5 I am going to be her guest expert!

Here is what Kendall says about our upcoming class:

"How to Organize with Confidence" with Author and Organizing Expert Elizabeth Hagen

Do you struggle with a desk that's constantly full of papers?
File cabinets that are stacked with folders with no rhyme or reason to them?
Do you throw your arms up in frazzled frustration when you can't find what you need when you need it?

Let's face it, paper - and what to do with it - is a MAJOR problem for most of us! In this information-packed seminar, you'll learn about the "7 Steps to Stop Feeling Overwhelmed".

Elizabeth teaches easy-to-use techniques in a FUN way AND motivates you to take action. Before long you'll be feeling fantastic, more focused, and more organized!

Elizabeth Hagen is an author, speaker, and professional organizer. Elizabeth's humor, enthusiasm, honesty, and common sense have encouraged thousands of professionals to put her proven strategies and practical tips into action to help them not only get organized, but stay organized!

Choose from two convenient options:

Option #1 Live seminar call AND mp3 audio recording AND word-for-word transcript in PDF format. $19 includes everything.

Option #2 MP3 audio recording AND word-for-word transcript in PDF format. $19 includes everything.

Both options are the same low fee of $19 and include my 100% no quibble, no time limit personal guarantee.

Remember, I donate $5 of your registration fee to animal charities throughout the country. I love helping YOU create a thriving business and helping animals in need enjoy a better life.

Visit Kendall's website now for all the details of what we cover in this dynamic, highly informative (and fun) teleseminar...

TimeSpa
Simplify Your Life and Make Every Moment Count!

Would you like to spend a fun weekend learning all that I have discovered not only on the beach but in the past 25 years so you, too, can be more focused, have more confidence, be more balanced, and have more time?

I would like to cordially invite you to do something extraordinary for yourself!

This incredible event will be held October 6-7, 2006 in Sioux Falls, SD. You will enter the TimeSpa at 3:00pm on Friday and leave totally refreshed and with an action plan to have more time in your life at 4:00pm on Saturday.

This event is the first of its kind anywhere and I am THRILLED to present it to you.

This weekend is for you if you:

• Feel swamped by piles of paper
• Have more work to do than hours in the day
• You can never find what you need when you need it
• You have stacks of paper on the kitchen counter and your desk and you have no idea what is the best use of your time
• You feel totally overwhelmed at the office and home and you know it's preventing you from what you want to achieve in your life
• You are not spending your time you'd like on what you really enjoy
• Know change has to happen but don’t know where to begin

Come and enjoy a TimeSpa weekend with me on October 6-7, 2006 and you will learn:

• How to develop your own GPS system (Goal Planning System)
• How to set goals that you can achieve in 30 day, 90 days, and one year
• How to have an action plan to reach your dreams
• How to organize any area in your home or office with the S.T.A.R.T.™ Method
• How to stop feeling overwhelmed (in only 7 steps!!)
• How to take active responsibility for your life and start making changes
• How to destroy the FEAR monster and start taking risks
• How to discover the power of positive thinking
• How to take back control of your home and office with simple organizing systems
• How to tame the Paper Tiger once and for all!
• How to have a totally organized and efficient kitchen
• How to design a personalized menu plan
• How to increase your confidence
• How to organize your closet in 6 easy steps
• How to identify the personalities of people in your life (including your own!) and start changing relationships over night
• How to camouflage your 'problem' areas and accentuate your assets so you can start buying clothes that are right for your figure and save time and money in the store

After the weekend you will:

Have an action plan with doable tasks.

Leave with an increased sense of "I can do this" and feel really great about yourself.

Feel pampered.

Have fun!

Meet other wonderful women who you can reach out to after the weekend is over for support.

For more information and to register please visit www.ElizabethHagen.com/TimeSpa today! If you think this is right for you – and I hope you do – please register soon as I have 8 seats left.

Take ACTION TODAY!! Call me at 605-357-8767 or register at www.ElizabethHagen.com/TimeSpa.

If you bring a guest I will give you both a special registration fee of $189 each. Please use this registration link if you are inviting a friend to come with you.

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See my upcoming speaking engagements at www.elizabethhagen.com/speaking_training.html

I'm in the process now of booking fall/winter speaking engagements. If your business or organization would like to start off this fall being more focused, organized, and productive please visit the Speaking page on my website.

It's time to make your life easier!