Through training, consulting, and hands-on work, OrderWITHIN helps people succeed, and thrive by providing simple and effective solutions for organization and productivity work.

The result is people:

  • Are able to focus on the things that truly matter
  • Make more strategic and conscious choices about where they invest their time, energy and resources
  • Have more time and space (literally!)
  • Can feel and be seen as competent as they really are
  • Think more clearly and creatively in a calm and ordered workspace

OrderWITHIN helps organizations and employees make meaningful and lasting changes.

May 28, 2009
Weekly tip
Electronic File Storage

Having a reliable system for storing electronic files is essential for easy retrieval of information later. A simple system I love, and use for all of my electronic files comes from Mike Song's very smart book on managing email, "The Hamster Revolution."

For email and documents on most people's computers, the acronym COTA will give you all of the primary folders you need. COTA stands for Clients, Associations, Products and Administrative. Once you have created your primary folders, you can populate them with the appropriate related sub folders.

  • Clients
    Create folders for your clients (clients can be those you serve within your organization) use this folder to hold communications to and from your clients.

  • Output
    This primary folder is used for products or projects you are responsible for generating; anything you create that goes out into the world.

  • Teams
    Use this folder for groups you are affiliated with, including teams and work groups in your office or business, and groups external to your business.

  • Administrative
    This folder can hold information related to the business of your job or business, such as marketing, finances, website, etc. You can also have a folder for personal business in the admin folder.

Barbara Browning
Barbara is a woman with a passion and a mission to help people be more organized and productive so that they can thrive and succeed in work and life.

Prior to establishing OrderWITHIN, she worked in the nonprofit sector as an operations manager. Her responsibilities included, staff training and development, HR, project management, strategic planning, developing budgets and fiscal oversight.

Prior to that, she spent 20 years as a massage therapist. Training people in how to be more productive, and supporting them in developing the practices and habits to stay that way is a perfect blending of Barbara's skills.

"Helping people to be better organized, and focused on the things that truly matter, allows them to get more done with less stress, and a greater sense of well-being."