Meet Barbara Boone-owner Productivity Solutions

Serving the communities of Hunt Valley, Lutherville, Timonium, Towson

Professional Organizer and Consultant, Speaker & Author

443-854-3563

I spent twenty-five years in the field of education where my organizational skills were first noticed. During that time I also received a degree in professional writing. I now use both teaching and writing in my business.

I didn’t decide to own my own business until late in life. Even though I was retired from a full-time career, I longed to do something that I was passionate about. That passion turned out to be professional organizing. After a conversation with a friend about this desire, I went to the internet to find out what was available in this field. I found the National Association of Professional Organizers, but there was not a chapter in Maryland.

Not wanting to give up on my idea, I went to the Yellow Pages of our local phone book and looked up organizing. I found several companies and cold-called each one to see if they were hiring. One company said they were looking for someone. I trained under this company for three months and then we mutually decided that I wasn’t a good fit. The owner asked me if I had a plan B. I said that I thought I could start my own business. She gave me some very good business advice and I was off and running.

I started helping family and friends with their organizing needs, joined several networking groups and other organizations, and set up my own business.

I now work with small businesses who want to get control of their time, space, information, and technology in order to reduce stress and increase productivity.

I am particularly passionate about helping others who are in the process of creating a business from scratch because that is what I have done for myself. I enjoy putting together all of the pieces of the puzzle and providing my clients with an easy to navigate road map for organizational & productivity success.I not only offer  hands-on organizing, but I frequently educate the business community through seminars & presentations related to increasing organizing skills & raising productivity. I regularly contribute to a number of publications and also publish an informative monthly newsletter for my clients and business contacts.

For the first time in the fall of 2010, I taught a non-credit course at Carroll Community College in Westminster, Maryland. The course was titled Small Office Organization and was offered through the Miller Entrepreneurial Institute at the college. Participants participated in a variety of hands-on activities from assessing their own productivity levels to drawing a floor plan of their offices.

I have written for websites and organizations such as:

• eZines.com
• Divatoolbox.com
• Mind-Perk.com
• MyCity4Her.com.
• NABBW.com (National Association of Baby Boomer Women)
• NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) National newsletter
• On Purpose Woman Magazine
• Chesapeake Home Magazine
• In September, 2009 I was featured in the blog for NABBW.com
• The Baltimore County Department of Aging-Scam Booklet for Seniors; Retirement Directory
• Published my own book, Tools for Writing, Creating Writer’s Workshops for Grades 2-8

For the last five years I have participated in a variety of business organizations and networking events. I was president and vice-president of my local BNI chapter. Because of my strong desire to connect with and assist other business owners, I was secretary and education chair for the Baltimore chapter of NAWBO (National Association of Women Business Owners) from 2007 until 2009. I am currently Program Director for the Baltimore Chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers.

In addition to writing for my business, I also give small group presentations on a variety of organizing and productivity topics which can be accessed on this website under seminars.

What Does This Mean to You?

• With 25 years of experience in education I can easily teach you about organizing and productivity principles.

• With a degree in professional writing my clients who buy my articles know they are getting a professionally
  written and edited document.
• As  a business owner myself  I understand the issues you face in your business and can help you create
  customized systems to increase your productivity.
• Being detail oriented  I can provide you with all of the pieces of the puzzle to create the best office environment for you.
• You can choose from a variety of services suited to your learning style from hand-on organizing to classes on a variety of organizing and productivity topics.

Hereford Zone Association Business Expo

On February 20, 2010, Productivity Solutions was a vendor at the Hereford Zone Association Business Expo.

Seminar: The Six “Must Haves” for Every Productive Office

presented at the office of Cole Younger-Sandler Sales Training, Towson, Maryland

Participants took away the following information:

• Know what desktop tools are necessary to manage paper flow in and out of the office
• Know whether to throw away, shred or toss documents to avoid piles of paper
• Know how to use a calendar to schedule appointments, projects, or to-dos so that you are in control of your time
• Know the importance of a contact management system so that you can easily find prospect’s email address and phone number when you need it
• Know how to set up and manage action and reference files so that you can file and find all documents quickly