Menyimpan atau Melabur ?

Simpanan adalah satu perkara utama yang harus diletakkan sebagai perkara pertama sebelum kita membuat apa-apa perancangan kewangan. Ini kerana simpanan tersebut adalah satu sumber modal tunai yang kita ada tanpa perlu menambah beban hutang untuk memulakan pelaburan di tempat lain.

Berikut adalah peluang pelaburan yang ada setelah anda menyimpan.

1. Savings Account

Ini bukan tempat pelaburan. Tapi anda perlu ada sejumlah wang tunai yang mencukupi di dalamnya.

2. Fixed Deposit

Perbankan Islam melabelkannya sebagai pelaburan mudharabah. Pulangannya sekitar 2-4% mengikut tarikh matang. Anda simpan RM 10,000 di dalamnya dengan pulangan sekitar 2-4% dan bank pula memberikan pinjaman kepada anda dengan kadar 8% setahun (faedah / keuntungan). Siapa lagi bijak? Anda atau bank?

3. Amanah Saham

Anda menyimpan RM 10,000 di dalamnya, dan belum sempat duit anda dilaburkan ia sudah susut nilai kira-kira 5-8% akibat upfront fee dan tiap-tiap tahun ia susut nilai lagi antara 0.5-2% untuk management fee. Dan anda pula mengharap pulangan 8-12% setahun, kalau ada untung.

4. Tabung Haji

Anda menyimpan RM 10,000 di dalamnya untuk menunaikan haji! Anggaplah 4-5% pulangan di dalamnya sebagai booster dari Allah swt agar kita cepat-cepat menjadi tetamu Baitullah. Sebaiknya, tak payahlah keluarkan duit dalam Tabung Haji ni selagi anda belum menunaikan haji. Ni asyik kata tak datang seru je.

5. KWSP

Kalau anda bekerja di Malaysia dan tidak ada akaun KWSP, cepat-cepat berhenti dan cari syarikat lain. Bersyukurlah KWSP memberikan anda pulangan walaupun sekitar 4-5% sahaja. Bukan mudah nak uruskan dana yang berbilion di dalamnya. Ia duit hari tua anda dan anda boleh gunakan akaun 2 untuk pembelian rumah.

6. Amanah Saham Bumiputera

Untuk Bumiputera sahaja. ASB tidak ada upfront fee. ASB tidak ada management fee. Duit anda tidak susut nilai walaupun 0.001% pun sebelum ia dilaburkan. ASB bagi pulangan konsisten 8-10% dalam bonus dan dividen. RM 10,000 yang anda simpan, hujung tahun dapat RM 800. Tidak mahu menyimpan di dalamnya sebab ada pendapat yang menyatakan ASB haram? Itu pilihan anda.

7. Exchange Traded Fund

Amanah saham yang didagangkan di dalam bursa. Tetapi malangnya ia belum ada lagi di Bursa Malaysia. Upfront fee &

Management fee yang minima. Boleh tanya Singapore Exchange kalau berminat lebih lanjut.

8. Saham Bank Rakyat

Pulangan 15% setahun yang konsisten kebelakangan ini. RM 10,000 yang anda simpan, anda dapat RM 1,500 pada hujung tahun dan ia sudah dizakatkan. Setakat penulisan ini ditulis, anda masih perlu queue untuk menyertainya.

9. Saham

Ada ilmu tertentu untuk melabur? Pilihlah sama ada mahu jadi fundamental investor atau technical investor. Kalau malas nak belajar, pergi cari amanah saham sahaja. Jangan menggatal nak beli saham IPO ke, 2nd Board, MESDAQ ke, 1st board ke ke kalau belum tahu baca financial statement atau mengenali bar chart, candlestick, P&F Chart dan sebagainya.

10. Warrant & Options

Adik beradik tiri. Warrant, bapak dia syarikat awam berhad. Options, bapak dia stock exchange. Lagi volatile dari saham. Hak untuk membeli saham. Stock options belum ada di Malaysia. Hanya warrant sahaja yang boleh dijual beli setakat ini.

11. Futures & Commodity

Pasaran hadapan. Indeks saham ada. Kelapa sawit mentah pun ada. Itu sahaja yang ada di Malaysia. Kalau berminat dengan indeks saham luar negara, emas, perak, minyak mentah, kacang soya, besi, kopi, kapas dan sebagainya sila rujuk ke pasaran luar negara.

12. Forex

Perdagangan matawang asing. Hati-hati, terlalu banyak scam forex. Pilih broker yang betul. Kalau takde ilmu pelaburan tertentu, lupakanlah sekejap, dan pergi belajar dulu.

13. Bon

Kalau baru ada RM 999,999 lupakanlah sahaja nak melabur dalam pasaran bon. Di Malaysia, hanya pelabur institusi yang menguasainya dan individu tertentu yang ada net worth yang sangat tinggi.

14. Hartanah

Semua orang nak rumah. Tapi bukan semua rumah orang nak duduk. Jadi, lokasi amat penting dalam pelaburan hartanah. Selain rumah, mungkin kedai dan pejabat juga boleh anda inta-intai. Melaburlah dalam hartanah untuk dapatkan cashflow terlebih dahulu barulah memikiran tentang capital gain.

15. Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT)

Macam beli amanah saham jugak. Tetapi syarikat REIT ini terlibat dalam sektor hartanah. Ia bukan pool of money untuk beli saham, tetapi hartanah. Ia dijual beli melalui Bursa Malaysia.

::: Cadangan :::

Melainkan pilihan yang pertama, anda seharusnya belajar dulu tentang ilmu pelaburan tertentu. Kalau tidak anda akan disembelih oleh mereka yang mahukan wang anda. INVEST IN YOURSELF FIRST!!! Impian di hati nak jadi jutawan, tapi kalau RM 10 pun anda tak sanggup nak gunakan untuk pendidikan ilmu kewangan, anda sebenarnya berangan-angan mat jenin sahaja. Itu mentaliti nak kaya cepat yang mesti dikikis segera.

Ini adalah sebahagian besar peluang pelaburan yang saya tahu, dan pastikan anda melabur di dalam pelaburan yang sah dan jangan sesekali terlibat dalam skim cepat kaya yang kini semakin canggih dan berleluasa di internet.

PELABURAN TERBAIK?

Berapa banyak yang anda sanggup melabur untuk ilmu yang dapat menjadikan anda kaya? Jawapan anda kepada soalan di atas akan mencerminkan sejauh mana anda serius dalam mencari ilmu untuk mencapai kekayaan. Tidak ramai yang sanggup melabur beribu-ribu untuk ilmu kerana mereka tidak nampak keuntungan segera hasil daripada pelaburan tersebut.

Kebanyakan orang ingin terus melihat hasil daripada duit yang dilaburkan. Sekiranya anda mempunyai wang sebanyak RM1000, RM2000 atau RM5000, di manakah tempat terbaik untuk anda laburkan wang anda untuk mendapatkan pulangan yang maksimum?

Jawapannya adalah LABURKAN PADA DIRI SENDIRI!!!

Gunakan wang itu untuk meningkatkan ilmu anda dalam mencari pendapatan yang lebih! Sememangnya jumlah RM1000, RM2000 atau RM5000 boleh dilaburkan di institusi kewangan untuk pulangan mungkin 10%, atau 12%? Tetapi sekiranya anda melaburkan untuk meningkatkan ilmu anda dalam bidang perniagaan (contohnya), ia dapat melipat kali gandakan pendapatan anda sehingga 100%, 200% dan selalunya lebih dari itu sekiranya anda melabur secukupnya dalam ilmu. Oleh itu, tempat pertama untuk anda melaburkan wang anda adalah kepada ilmu anda sendiri untuk melipat kali gandakan ilmu anda dan ia juga akan melipat kali gandakan pendapatan anda!

Laburkan wang anda pada ilmu dengan membaca buku-buku perniagaan, buku motivasi, menghadiri kursus dan sebagainya yang dapat meningkatkan keupayaan anda menjana pendapatan yang lebih.

Jangan kedekut dalam melabur pada ilmu kerana pulangan yang anda akan dapat adalah berlipat kali ganda lagi!

Credit : Master Arsyad.

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Tunjuk Berani Demi Kerja

CUKUP sukar sekali untuk menemubual ‘wanita waja’, Datuk Maznah Hamid yang merupakan usahawan perniagaan kawalan keselamatan bukan hanya terkenal di Malaysia tetapi juga di luar negara.

Beliau sentiasa sibuk dengan pelbagai urusan perniagaan selain turut aktif dalam dunia politik.

Oleh sebab itu, tidak menghairankan, beberapa kali temu bual terpaksa ditunda.

Setelah puas menunggu, akhir anak kelahiran Ayer Hitam, Jerlun, Kedah, itu berjaya memperuntukan masa selama dua jam untuk berkongsi kisah peribadinya baru-baru ini.

Soalan pertama yang diajukan kepada beliau ketika temubual itu adalah gelaran wanita besi. Secara berseloroh, Maznah menjawab;

“Ramai orang geram dengan saya. Semuanya gara-gara imej berani, tegas dan kebal yang jelas tertonjol pada imej penampilan saya. Tetapi, orang tidak tahu bahawa saya terpaksa mengekal imej dan watak itu demi kerja.

“Kalau saya tidak berani dan tegas, saya akan dipijak-pijak, malah, kebanyakan pekerja saya adalah lelaki, bagi menimbulkan rasa hormat, saya perlu dominan,’’ katanya.

Namun beliau juga bimbang gelaran itu akan menyebabkan masyarakat umum beranggapan beliau seorang queen control terhadap suaminya, Datuk Shaheen Mirza.

‘‘Tanggapan (queen control) itu tidak benar sama sekali, hakikatnya, kami adalah rakan kongsi dalam perniagaan yang saling melengkapi,’’ ujarnya.

Menurut Maznah yang gembira dengan kejayaan semasanya berkata, apa yang diraih kini adalah hasil kerja keras dan usaha yang bersungguh-sungguh.

Maznah berkata, beliau berasal keluarga miskin dan dibesarkan oleh nenek sejak berusia lima tahun selepas berlaku perpecahan keluarga.

Katanya, dia merupakan kanak-kanak yang kesepian, tetapi kekurangan itu menjadi satu rahmat kerana faktor itu menyebabkan beliau berusaha keras untuk menjadi insan berjaya.

Maznah menyifatkan dirinya bukanlah pelajar pintar ketika di sekolah, tetapi amat meminati bahasa Inggeris sehingga meneruskan pengajiannya ke kolej.

Selepas menamatkan pengajian, Maznah bekerja sebagai guru bahasa persendirian atau penterjemah bahasa di pejabat kedutaan asing di Kuala Lumpur selama dua tahun.

Selain pejabat kedutaan, Maznah pernah menjadi guru bahasa persendirian di syarikat-syarikat multinasional.

Pendedahan dengan kehidupan ‘orang kaya’ sewaktu bekerja mendorong Maznah untuk turut mencari petua untuk berjaya seperti mereka.

Malah, ramai orang kenamaan yang menasihatkan beliau supaya menceburi bidang perniagaan yang beliau mempunyai kekuatan atau belum diterokai oleh orang lain.

‘‘Oleh sebab, hampir setiap hari saya berkunjung ke rumah kedutaan asing dan mendapati mereka mempunyai rumah pengawal, pengawal keselamatan dan pengawal peribadi.

‘’Jadi, saya berasa mereka (orang kenamaan) adalah merupakan golongan sasaran penting untuk mendapatkan khidmat perniagaan itu. Jadi, saya pun berfikir untuk mencuba perniagaan kawalan keselamatan,’’ ujarnya.

Berbekal duit poket dan simpanan hasil mengajar di rumah duta dan orang kenamaan sebanyak RM5,000, Maznah dan suami telah mengambil alih sebuah syarikat keselamatan pada tahun 1980 dengan menamakannya Securiforce Sdn. Bhd.

Pada waktu itu, Maznah memulakan perniagaan dengan lima pengawal keselamatan dan lima pelanggan terdiri daripada orang kenamaan.

‘’Waktu itu, saya sudah kahwin, duit tidak ada dan gagal mendapat pinjaman bank untuk membesarkan perniagaan. Jadi, kami terpaksa menjual rumah dan menyewa rumah di kawasan setinggan tanpa bekalan elektrik selama dua tahun,’’ kata beliau.

Rahmat dari kesusahan itu, Maznah mendapat kekuatan diri untuk berusaha dengan lebih gigih bersama-sama suaminya.

Katanya, universiti terbaik dalam kehidupan adalah kepahitan dan kesusahan yang menjadikan diri seseorang lebih kreatif, inovatif, kebal dan bijaksana.

Menurut Maznah, beliau dan suami menderita kesusahan hampir 10 tahun untuk memastikan perniagaan kawalan keselamatan berkembang.

‘’Saya sendiri pernah menjadi pengawal keselamatan di sebuah pasar raya menggantikan pekerja yang pulang ke kampung kerana bercuti Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Manakala suami saya pula tugas rondaan keselamatan di rumah orang kenamaan.

‘‘ Tidak siapa pun tahu ketika itu, saya adalah pemilik syarikat kawalan keselamatan,’’ jelas beliau.

Katanya, pelbagai pengalaman yang ditempuh sejak awal hingga akhir menyebabkan pihaknya berjaya mengadakan sistem keselamatan yang canggih dan menyeluruh pada waktu ini.

Maznah berkata, pihaknya turut pernah melibatkan diri dalam perniagaan jualan langsung dan juga pelbagai produk, untuk mendapat modal pusingan.

Beliau yang mendapat pengiktirafan pertama iaitu Anugerah Usahawan Cemerlang pada 1990 berkata, seseorang usahawan perlu mempunyai pelbagai kemahiran dan pelbagai bakat.

Pada malam penyampaian anugerah itulah Maznah buat pertama kali mendapat gelaran ‘wanita besi’ yang diberikan oleh pengacara majlis pada waktu itu.

Kini, Securiforce mempunyai 65 cawangan di seluruh negara dengan 5,000 kakitangan, 4,000 daripadanya merupakan pengawal keselamatan.

Syarikat itu kini telah menembusi lebih 10 buah negara.

Rencana ini dipetik daripada www.utusan.com.my pada 24 September 2011

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Time is Everything In Business

There is a phrase attributed to Napoleon that fascinates me: “Time is everything”

Everything happens in our lives we should try to be synchronized to occur at the appropriate time and with fewer resources since time is an element that can not be bought, or advance, or retreat. In business, time is obviously essential.

As an entrepreneur, your time is precious and if you want a profitable business idea is no way you can be everywhere at once and that is why it is very important to learn to delegate and one of the most simple that can be delegate is to answer our emails.

Instead of wasting time answering an email from us we can delegate to a third person who answers previously agreed to and maintain contact with our clients and friends without losing time in the writing of each of these emails.

Gmail accounts (which can be used with the domain of our business idea) is a system that allows one to provide access to third person so that this third person to answer the emails on our behalf. May be delegated such access to our secretary or an assistant so she, from her own email account answer emails on our behalf.

This service comes free with Gmail system is not a simple message forwarding because when our assistant or secretary to answer the email appear that anyone who responds to it is a same but with the caveat that our assistant does the response our behalf.

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Leadership is Motivation, the Leader is a Motivator

Real motivation is the key to effective leadership, and leadership is the key to effective motivation.

Effective leaders give their people, an overview of the full picture and what the company is trying to achieve. Then, they work with each person to establish individual goals that will meet or exceed the corporate objectives.

Every goal must be specific and detailed, then, your people can visualise its outcome. Make the goal important to the person who is responsible for achieving it, if not, they may lose interest, particularly if it is a longer term objective.

Goals should have a good chance of being achievable while still challenging the individual to push themselves beyond their existing comfort zone. Each goal must be relevant to the main objective of the organisation and relevant to the overall success of the company.

Set a time frame and deadline for each goal and ensure the deadline is realistic but, at the same time, challenging.

Work with your people to help them determine the goals that would be most appropriate for their development and growth and work with them to develop the appropriate action steps to achieve these goals and you will see a noticeable improvement in their performance.

Communicate and tell your people what is happening, people are hungry for information and from my experience, can be trusted with company details. Unfortunately, too many corporations and their middle managers feel that people should only be given information that is relevant to their specific job.

Keep them aware of the progress you are making in achieving your goals, people are naturally curious and want to know how they are doing. Do not reveal confidential information, but share information about the overall status of the company.

Regular update meetings, email correspondence, broadcast voice mails are just some of the ways you can communicate with your people. Another effective method is through casual discussions.

Communication must be clear and concise, employees want to know where they stand and, all but a few, want to do a good job. They want to know how, you, as their leader, view their performance. That's why it is critical that you give them direction and feedback on a regular basis.

Experience has taught me that people will work harder for someone who praises them and recognises the effort they put into their work. Acknowledge their energy and performance, their effort and commitment, how hard they worked and how involved they were with it.

Your people have a lot of knowledge and information and can often contribute valuable suggestions to improve the business. If you really want to create a team of highly motivated people take the time to listen to their comments and ideas.

Foster an environment that encourages the open sharing of information. Great leaders are always open to new ideas and methods of improving business and some of the best ideas come from the customer facing employees.

This last point is the most important. If you want a highly motivated team, then you must lead by setting the example. You must demonstrate enthusiasm, energy, team cooperation, honesty, integrity and commitment.

Treat people with respect and dignity, give them the tools to excel, grow and develop and encourage them to participate and get involved. Ask them for feedback, listen to their comments, and act on suggestions that will help your business succeed.

Set and communicate high standards, provide positive reinforcement when your people perform and involve them. You will soon see a motivated team that will do almost anything to help you succeed.

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11 gradual steps to Success

1. choose your destination, probably the hardest part of success is really finding what you want and not second guessing it.

2. review your plan, right it down on paper not your computer. This will help it sink in much better.

3. read it every work day and re-write all of it weekly as you add and change your plan.

4. prepare for your plan, get all your ducks in a row before you take action

5. start fast and hard, be willing to make some mistakes and try harder then needed.

6. plan for set backs and shake them off when they come

7. learn from your mistakes and others in your industry

8. over shoot your goal and put yourself in the place as if you are there.

9. avoid shortcuts

10. master your fears, you will have to confront and concur many demons along the way .

11. persist until you succeed, decide that there is no option of failure only minor set backs

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Can You Be a successful Entrepreneur ?

It takes a lot to be a successful entrepreneur. Do you have what it takes? Check out this list of qualities common in successful entrepreneurs and see how you measure up.

1. Great People Skills

Entrepreneurs have great people skills and understand that it’s the relationships between people that get things done. They enjoy being around people and know how to work a crowd without the crowd even realizing it!

2. Confidence—in Yourself and the Product

Another essential quality for any successful entrepreneur is confidence. We’re not talking about regular old self-confidence however. Entrepreneurs take it to another level. It’s that extreme confidence and belief in self and product that gives an entrepreneur the wherewithal to shamelessly promote a product or service.

3. Passion

Ever wanted something so bad you could taste it? Then you must be an entrepreneur! That burning desire to succeed is what enables entrepreneurial types to accomplish just about anything, from the apparently insurmountable to the thankless minutia required to keep your business running.

4. Perseverance

Every entrepreneur stumbles into roadblocks once in awhile, but what sets the successful ones apart is the ability to step back, re-evaluate, and take another route. You know that familiar saying, “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again?” Consider it the mantra of the successful entrepreneur.

5. Stamina and Energy

High energy levels and stamina go hand in hand with perseverance. Any successful entrepreneur will tell you that he or she has had a pattern of burning the midnight oil, skipping lunch, working 80 to 100 hours a week, and missing out on social events in pursuit of success.

6. Sharp Focus on Goals

Entrepreneurs are focused and goal oriented. They set up goals and develop plans of action to achieve those goals, whether they’re generating sales, improving efficiency, or reworking a product design in a time crunch.

7. An Understanding of How to Make Money

An entrepreneur’s primary goal is to make money. They are not content to work solely for the pleasure of doing something they love; they prefer cold, hard, cash and understand how to get it.

8. A Gift for Sales and Marketing

Entrepreneurs don’t have to be born closers, but they need to know how to sell and market their products. It usually comes naturally to business owners; even people who don’t enjoy sales usually find it easier to sell and market a product or service they completely believe in.

9. An Eye for Opportunity

Last but not least, an entrepreneur cannot be successful without a product or service that people want. Even if your product is fantastic, you won’t make a dime if there’s no market for it. Getting the right product in front of the right audience at the right time is crucial. The ability to spot a trend or need in the marketplace and run with it is the hallmark of every successful entrepreneur from the guys behind Ginsu knives (still going strong after more than 30 years by the way), to Vince Offer, creator of the ShamWow.

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How To Build Your Personal Brand

It can be tough to pinpoint exactly what the term “personal brand” means, especially when it’s loosely used to describe everything from professional image, to manner of dress, to online reputation. While this broad definition may make the term seem like just another empty business buzzword — developing a personal brand can actually be a great get-ahead strategy for both job seekers and those looking to advance their careers.

So what exactly is a personal brand?

According to Dan Schawbel, author of “Me 2.0: 4 Steps to Building Your Future” and owner of PersonalBrandingBlog.com, “A personal brand is what you stand for and what makes you special. [It's] composed of values, a mission, and a positioning statement that depict what you do and who your audience is. [It] is an indicator for how valuable you are to employers and customers at every stage of your career.”

Your personal brand also encompasses the way you market yourself to your professional community, whether it be via your résumé, your LinkedIn profile, your manner of speaking or, yes, even the way you dress.

While creating a personal brand may seem daunting, chances are, you’ve already started building one. Here’s what you need to know in order to expand upon, shape and make use of the personal brand you’re already creating.

Define your brand

First and foremost, you need to decide what you want your personal brand to convey about you.

According to Schawbel, “Your personal brand should represent something that is unique to you; your personality, your passions, your talents and your dream goal. Ask yourself: ‘What do I want to be known for?’”

For instance, if you’ve spent most of your career as a human resources manager in the financial world, and your ultimate goal is to become the vice president of human resources at an investment bank, then your personal brand needs to send the message that you’re an expert and a leader in the areas of HR, management and finance.

Market your brand

Once you decide upon your professional goals and values, it’s time to start letting others know about them. This may seem like an odd concept at first — especially for those who have trouble tooting their own horn, so to speak — but there are plenty of ways to subtly start getting your new message out there.

The Internet is a good place to start establishing both visibility and a strong personal brand, Schawbel says. “[Take] ownership of your online presence because that is where almost all first impressions now occur. Start your own blog or website under your full name, as well as accounts on Twitter, Facebook and LinkedIn. Then, add your bio information to each and start reaching out to people in your industry using the tools. By constantly getting your name, face and valuable content out there, you will start to build and shape your brand, which will turn into opportunities,” he says.

On LinkedIn and Facebook, for example, that may mean joining groups that reflect your professional goals. On Twitter, that means tweeting about what’s going on in your field instead of your plans for the weekend. If you have a blog, update it regularly with posts and insights on your industry.

Be consistent

“Think about how you dress, how you behave, what you publish online — and what that says about who you are,” Schawbel says. All of these things should be consistent with the message your personal brand is trying to send.

For example, if your goal is to reach an executive-level position in the next five years; highlight your leadership qualities on your résumé, follow corporate leaders on Twitter, offer to spearhead new projects at work and dress like you’re already in the executive position you’re aiming towards.

“Your brand should be consistent because you never know how someone might find you,” Schawbel says.

Look at how others are branding you

To gauge the effectiveness of the brand you’ve created for yourself, evaluate how others see you — and whether it’s in line with the image you want to project.

“You know you’re communicating your brand effectively when your self-impression is equal to how people perceive you,” Schawbel says. “One way to find out this information is to see how people categorize you on Twitter, with Twitter lists. If you’re a personal finance expert, but people put you in real estate lists, you have a real problem.”

If you’re not on Twitter, asking colleagues or friends to sum up your professional image in a sentence or two will help you evaluate whether you’re branding yourself properly.

The bottom line, Schawbel says, is that “By building your brand throughout your career, you protect yourself from the unpredictable nature of the economy, and gain more career options and opportunities.” And in a time like this, who couldn’t use more opportunity?

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10 habit of Highly Organized people

1. Walk away from bargains

Just because you can buy a cashmere sweater for $20 or three bottles of ketchup for the price of one doesn’t mean you should. “Ask, ‘Do I have something similar?’ and ‘Where am I going to store it?’ before making a purchase,” advises New York City professional organizer Julie Morgenstern, author of “Shed Your Stuff, Change Your Life.”

2. Make peace with imperfection

Efficient people give “A-level effort” to the most important projects (say, work assignments or a kitchen redesign), and for the rest they do just enough to get the job done, says Renae Reinardy, PsyD, a psychologist who specializes in hoarding disorders. Maybe you give yourself permission to bring store-bought cookies to a school bake sale or donate a bag of stuff — unsorted! — to Goodwill. “Trying to do every task perfectly is the easiest way to get bogged down,” says Reinardy.

3. Never label anything “miscellaneous”

You put a bunch of things into a file or box and write this catchall across the front. “But within a week you’ve forgotten what’s in there,” says Morgenstern. Instead, sort items into specific groups — “electric bills,” “lightbulbs,” and so on.

4. Schedule regular decluttering sessions

Rather than wait until an industrious mood strikes (we all know where that leads), have a decluttering routine in place — whether it’s spending 15 minutes sorting mail after work or tackling a new project every Sunday afternoon.

5. Stick with what works

“I have clients who will try every line of makeup, every cell phone — it’s exhausting,” says Dorothy Breininger, president of the Delphi Center for Organization. Don’t waste time (and money) obsessively seeking out the best thing.

6. Create a dump zone

Find a space to corral all the stuff that you don’t have time to put away the moment you step in the door, says Breininger. Once you’re ready to get organized, you won’t have to hunt all over the house for the dry cleaning or your child’s field trip permission slip.

7. Ask for help

“The organized person is willing to expose herself to short-term embarrassment and call for backup,” says Breininger. Which is to say, that elaborate four-course dinner you planned? Change it to a potluck.

8. Separate emotions from possessions

It’s healthy to be attached to certain items — a vase you picked up in Paris, your grandmother’s pearls. But holey concert tees or cheap, scuffed earrings your husband gave you years ago? Just let them go.

9. Foresee (and avoid) problems

You wouldn’t leave the house on a gray day without an umbrella, right? People who appear to sail through life unruffled apply this thinking to every scenario, says Breininger. Have a cabinet packed with leaning towers of Tupperware? Organized folks will take a few minutes to short-circuit an avalanche before it happens. (In other words, rearranging that cupboard now is easier than chasing after wayward lids as they scatter underneath the fridge.)

10. Know where to donate

It’s easier to part with belongings if they’re going to a good home. Identify a neighbor’s son who fits into your child’s outgrown clothes, or choose a favorite charity. “It will save you from searching for the perfect recipient every time you need to unload something,” says Morgenstern.

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