If there is one thing we've learned running a professional organizing business it's that the right tool can get the job done. And an even better tool is one that you can leave out for display, or hang up in plain sight for easy access so it no only looks good, but functions well too.

 

This week I fell in love with this bamboo ironing board from Welm Elm on Beverly Boulevard in Los Angeles. If you know me, I pretty much hate ironing anything other than pillow cases, cocktail napkins, tea towels, shams and placemats (anything flat and manageable). But I think this board will want to make me want to iron more and more. And it's a relative bargain at $79.99. If you add a chef's stripe ironing board cover @ $19.00 --  you will have a look that adds affordable functional style in traditional homes, Victorian-style, Spanish Renaissance, beach home, Colonial, Craftsman (you get the point).

 

West Elm continues to stock great organizing and homekeeping products that they inherited when Hold Everything home organization store closed down in 2006.  Check out these pictures.

 

 

When working with clients we try to incorporate some style in the client's necessary functional activities and storage. And all the better if we can move away from plastic containers into wood (yea, I am obsessed with wood organizing boxes and storage pieces).

 

Take for instance my own bathroom. I repurposed these 1970's Maxwell House freeze-dried glass coffee jars in the bathroom to hold wooden Q-tips, cotton balls, cotton pads and wood toothbrushes (the last container was empty so I added some sea shells). The canisters sit on the shelf and they're not only maritime chic, they're are functional (and yes, we had to scrub these jars for an hour, they were previously used in a garage in Sierra Madre to hold nuts, bolts and drill bits!)

 

 

So you can see from my Instagram picture post, when you incorporate looks and function, you might get a bonus: a burst of extra energy to tackle life's little details and complete your ironing (or any little chore) faster. And then we can move on to more important things like friends, family and Spring time fun.

 

 

Now is your chance to sound off:

 

What products do you like to have around you? Do stylish products really help you get the job done more efficiently? Let us know here in the comment section or you can tweet us @johntrosko on Twitter. You can also check me out on Instagram.

 

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This article is first in an "organizing for the actor" spring series of guest contributor topics by Kristine Oller, a Los Angeles-based change strategist.  For more information on the series click here.

Picture this: You are exiting Samuel French (the theater, film and television old school bookshop). Your stomach growls for lunch. Then--  your iPhone rings: You have an audition in forty minutes! You, however, are on the opposite side of town and unsure of how to get to the casting office. The role in the audition is a “corporate office drone”… you, however, are wearing jeans and flip-flops. In addition to needing two headshots, they want to check your availability for several dates… you, however, are down to your last headshot picture and your old-school day planner is sitting on your bed.

Hanging up from the call, you check the time and think, “Hmmm… what now?”

 

Times have changed in Hollywood. There is no way less turn-around for auditions, readings, and recordings. Where you used to have days or a week to prepare for an audition, you now only have hours (or less).

The most predictable aspect of an actor’s workday is how unpredictable it can be. When these unexpected opportunities pop up, time and traffic often prohibit even a quick trip home to raid your closet and utilize your office. Being unprepared for such good fortune increases the odds that you will squander your energy scrambling, worrying and “making do” rather than conserving it for the audition.

"The key is having a lean, mean, portable version of your office with you on the road. In Los Angeles, that means having an office in your car; in New York, that means having one slung over your shoulder."

 

Why should actors have a portable office?

First, you should note the difference between “setting-up a portable office” and “having what you need with you.” You may already carry around all of the items mentioned in this article, but are they scattered in the crevasses of your car or crunched at the bottom of your backpack? If they are, you lack the ability to quickly spot what may me missing, easily access items while on the move, and take inventory of what needs re-stocking.

 

Which low-tech container do you need?

Select a container for your portable office that best suits your needs and situation. You can use a tote bag, a plastic file box, a briefcase, a backpack or a nylon car caddy hung on the passenger seat. Next, assign every item in your office a permanent “home” (a.k.a. a pocket or folder or pouch) where it will live. Store your marketing materials (headshots with resumes, postcards, business cards, performance flyers, flashdrives, demo reels and voice over demo CDs) so that they remain clean and un-tattered. Keep your phone and planner handy. Carry at least one pen and highlighter with you as well as some extra cash for parking fees or cab fare. Have a means by which to charge your phone or laptop (or making charging it a daily ritual) and have access to your vital phone numbers either as a hardcopy or in your phone’s memory.

 You might also include a small stapler, some thank-you notes and stamps for use during down time and, for extra credit, a geographical listing of casting director addresses (or bookmark the web address in your phone). That way, no matter where the day takes you, you can drop your picture and resume off at an office or two (if appropriate).

Tip: A map is a necessity, I know we are living in our cars and on our smart phones. What would happen if you could not access your phone's GPS? I suggest you picking up a basic street map just in case. Remember, it's about being proactive and organized.

 

Travel toiletries

Finding “homes” for a comb, a clip to put your hair up, a mirror, basic make-up, an electric shaver, a nail file, wet wipes, tissues, lip balm, floss, toothpaste, a toothbrush, and mints or gum, is relatively simple. Having immediate access to both a “nice casual” and a “business” outfit is a tad trickier.

 

Change of clothes

Of course, if you have a car, clothes and shoes can be hung in a garment bag or placed in your trunk. In some circumstances, you can stash a change of clothes at your gym or place of employment. Another plan, which I put in place for myself as auditions increased, was to get permission to access the homes and closets of two supportive friends in two different areas of town. In a pinch, I could drop in, borrow the few items I needed and freshen up.

 

Snacks and being your best

For days when arriving “as is” is your only option, having water and an apple or nutrition bar with you can be your saving grace. Without fuel, your energy and enthusiasm can noticeably lag.

Achieving the success you are striving for depends a great deal on your ability to capitalize on each and every opportunity – scheduled or not – that comes your way. Being organized gives you a competitive edge because, when you know what you have and have what you need, you will remain confident, focused and able to rise to the occasion.

 

Want to add to this story?

 

How do you organize your car? Are there certain products that work for you? Let us know in comments, tweet @JohnTrosko, or send an email through our contact page.

 

Kristine Oller is a Los Angeles-based change strategist who specializes in guiding successful people as they transition to their next Big Dream, particularly creative and performing artists. A graduate of Linfield College in Oregon, Kristine was a working actress (SAG-Equity-AFTRA) for a decade. As a successful small business owner, Kristine operated an award-winning professional organizing company for 15 years before "retiring" in 2011 to pursue offering her strategic guidance to individuals and groups full time. Visit Kristine's websites for more information visit KristineOller.com and TheActorsLibrary.com.

 

Kristine's series is used with permission and originally appeared in Backstage Magazine.

 

Hollywood Freeway image courtesy RaymoundYu and Flickr

 

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With a career spanning an incredible 45 years, Joan Crawford knew a thing or two about drive, determination and organization. Crawford, an actress who blossomed as a silent screen starlet and ended up as a pop culture icon with her "no wire hangers" manta, was well known not only for her talent, but her passion and fierce obsession for all things organized and clean.

While we think Joan Crawford got a bad "no wire hangers" rap through a "literary license" --she can't defend herself--  she never made any apologies for liking a clean and organized home. While her behind the scenes tantrums were and continue to be highly disputed by family and friends, there was no doubt the starlet was organized. Crawford sought to transfer that same discipline to her children. And that discipline stuck with two of her children who never complained. You can watch the film "Mommie Dearest" to see what happened to the other two children-- who rebelled against the pressure and recounted it as much as child abuse.

 

 A life well planned:

 

A Life Magazine article written February 21, 1964 touted her passion for precision. While touring the East Coast in preparation of the release of her film Straight-Jacket, she brought mountains of clothing choices (being able to change clothes up to 10 times per day), provided local management with a long list of accommodation preferences and press meetings and gave a long list of general do's and do not's when it came to gatherings and interviews. Always prepared, she whipped up a smart picnic on a train at a moment's notice when the train attendant said the dining car was out of power. When asked how she could come up with such a substantial picnic-on-the-train spread, Crawford replied to the writer accompanying her on the train:

"If you have an organized mind, you can do anything."

 Crawford's cleanliness:

 

Joan Crawford hated dust. She covered furniture in the living room with plastic covers. She also had a private disdain for people who don't take care of their homes. Even after she hired a houseful of housekeepers, she still felt she had to re-clean after cleaning day. In an interview, she answered from her heart, take it or leave it:

 

"Look, [plastic slipcovers] keep the upholstery clean, and I so seldom have guests these days, that I might as well be as orderly as possible. With all this crap in the air--nothing stays clean that isn't covered. We do not live in a hygienic age.

Maybe I've always been a nut when it comes to cleanliness. When I was a kid I'd scrub the hell out of the rooming houses and crummy apartments my mother and her husbands lived in...and even after I had the money to hire an army of housekeepers and maids I ended up doing the cleaning myself because they never got things really clean. It's just part of being civilized, that's all. And I'm not about to apologize for it.

I had one hell of a time with [second husband] Franchot. He found it amusing and irritating, both, and there were times I could have strangled him when he'd answer the phone and say, "Sorry, she can't speak to you right now; she's cleaning the toilets."

That's one thing I could never understand, out on the Coast. I'd go to a party at someone's house, more like a mansion, really, and I'd go to the bathroom and have to wipe the seat with wet toilet paper before I dared sit down, or I'd sit on a couch, wearing a white gown, and come away with a film of dust. Once I went into the kitchen for a glass of water, and when I turned on the light the cockroaches scattered like mad. I don't understand this sort of sloppiness, and I don't think I ever will."

 

Images courtesy Pinterest and Chantae Caldwell, Marina Chetner, Crazy Town, and SheFinds.com.

 What do you think?

 

It's time for you to give us your thoughts on this story. Do you think that sometimes you can be TOO organized? Do you know someone who has obsessive comulsive disorder (OCD)? What is your personal philsophy about raising children who are independent but understand structure and the need for productivity? Tweet me your thoughts on Twitter or leave a comment below.

 

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We're excited to introduce a new series of guest topics for creative and performing artists: Spring Fling Productivity Solutions For Actors & Creative Professionals written by our friend and business colleague Kristine Oller, a notable Los Angeles Change Strategist.

Why feature this Series?

Being based in Los Angeles, many of our organizing clients are (but not exclusively) entertainment professionals including film, commercial and television actors, voiceover talent, fitness models, professional photographers, web series talent, writers, authors, crafts people, casting directors, make-up artists, set decorators, wardrobe consultants, costume and production designers. 

 

We get many of the same organizing and productivity dilemmas over and over. We thought for a change of pace we would turn to someone who not only coaches creative and performing artists, but who also has a performing and small business background:  Kristine Oller.

Behind every any successful working actor or creative performing artist is organization. Keeping a calendar,  maintaining a clutter-free space and goal planning opens up opportunity for success-- in Hollywood and anywhere.

 

Topics Kristine will be covering:

• Set up a top-notch mobile office in your car.
• Sure-fire ways to use a calendar to schedule auditions and meetings.
• Home office paperwork systems that will not kill your free time.
• How to save yourself from tinkering with to-do lists all day long.
• How your home is an important tool for your acting or creative career.

 

What if you're not an Actor?

 

You may or may not be a creative professional. However, there are many professionals that live and work out of a car. You may attend meetings, deliver samples, meet with clients, coordinate purchasing and juggle erratic schedule opposite the typical 9-5 job. The tasks you perform, and the continuous pressure you may feel, is much like the challenges facing a working actor or performing creative artist.

Who else can benefit from the series?

• Real Estate Appraisers, inspectors, Notaries;
• Executive Recruiters, Professional Organizers;
• Closet Designers, Interior Designers;
• Power Line Inspectors;
• Mobile Mechanics, Plumbers, Electricians;
• Mobile Pet Groomers, Personal Concierge;
• Mobile Veterinarians;
• Liquor Reps;
• Insurance Claims and Pharmaceutical Reps;
• Amateur Sports Referees;
• Caterers and anyone with food truck;

 

About Series Author Kristine Oller:

Kristine Oller is a Los Angeles-based change strategist who specializes in guiding successful people as they transition to their next Big Dream, particularly creative and performing artists. A graduate of Linfield College in Oregon, Kristine was a working actress (SAG-Equity-AFTRA) for a decade. As a successful small business owner, Kristine operated an award-winning professional organizing company for 15 years before "retiring" in 2011 to pursue offering her strategic guidance to individuals and groups full time. Visit Kristine's websites for more information visit KristineOller.com and TheActorsLibrary.com.

 

Kristine's series is used with permission and originally appeared in Backstage Magazine. The series is edited by John Trosko.

 

Don't miss these topics!

 

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.

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It does take work to maintain a style. Over time, the addition of personal items, found objects and collections can take a space from carefully curated to carelessly cluttered. Books are considered a very common source of debate.

 

 

Take Cheryl Tiegs for example. The celebrated sexy tigress modeled her way through the 1970s and 1980s, and successfully licensed her name to Sears where she sold clothing and accessories to the tune of $1-billion dollars over 10 years.

 

She hired award-winning interior designer Martyn Lawrence-Bullard to redesign her Bel-Air fixer-upper in a Balinese paradise with British Colonial touches. The most notable change in the house is when Tiegs and designer Bullard ripped out the ceiling in the great room and added color through the house to liven the space. But her passion for books comes through often:

 

"Lawrence-Bullard insists on a splash of red and something green or living in every room. It also has to be clutter-free. Tiegs tends to leave books sitting around. After Lawrence-Bullard visits, she will find them all put away."

 

 

In an article for More Magazine in 2005, Tiegs talks about her passion for books, which seems to be the center of her attention as much as the Bel-Air house she designed with Bullard:

 

"Being surrounded by books give me such peace and happiness. I think you’re never the same person when you close a book as when you open one; it changes your life very subtly.

“These days, my home is my library. Among my collections are old Africa travel guides, and a book that was Teddy Roosevelt’s. One of my favorite gifts of all time is the complete Oxford English Dictionary set that my ex-husband gave me. Each volume is huge. I’ll never forget opening up that box and thinking, ‘I am in heaven!’

“The book that started it all was An American Tragedy. I was in high school, didn’t come up for air until I was finished, and thought, ‘Wow, this is what happens when you read a good book?’ The only problem at this photo shoot was being surrounded by books--I was frustrated because I wanted to read every one!”"

 

We think that books continue to be frustrating for the collector, the interior designer, and the professional organizer. How much is enough? Do we need to keep clients at bay, putting their books back in their place when we find them sitting around?

 

Did books win the battle?

Tiegs is finally parting with her home in Bel-Air on the market for $12-million. While it's probably not the case, we'd like to think the books won the battle.

 

Tiegs was most recently in NBC's The Apprentice in 2012.

 

Story assistance from the San Mateo Courier, University of Louisville archives, The Associated Press.

 

Tiegs home is currently listed with West Los Angeles real estate veteran Joe Babajian.

 

Want to add to this story?

 

How do you decorate with books without letting them get out of control? Let us know in comments, tweet @JohnTrosko, or send an email through our contact page.

 

Life 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.

Enter your Email Address


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