By Mairi Rosko, Staff Writer
Daily Tribune Food/Living
Wednesday, September 11, 1996
Chances are, if you answered yes to any of these questions, all you need is some organization. And organization is the specialty of Mary Sigmann of Ames. Sigmann is a professional organizer. It's her job to go into the disorganized areas of people's lives and businesses. Sigmann, who is also a teacher at Unity of Ames, says her work is very spiritual.
"Having your environment in order frees you up to use your energy in a different way," she said. Sigmann explains the drain that disorganization can have on energy levels in terms of "tolerations." "Anything you putting up with that drains your energy is a toleration," she said. "It prevents you from going forward with life."
Becoming a professional organizer was an easy step for Sigmann who said that she has always had a knack for being organized. "I spoke to someone and it dawned on me that that was what I wanted to do she said. "You decide that's what you are, and you become one. People need to get over the idea that they have to do things themselves."
So Sigmann will organize areas for her clients to make their lives a little easier. Organizing at a business is a little different than in a home because homes are so much more personal. She said the type of people who requires help with getting organized can be "frustrated people who are tired of dealing with a mess, people who are moving or just very busy people." "When you think of the value of your time it just makes perfect sense," she said. If it is not productive to organize yourself, you have someone do it for you."
Sigmann begins to organize in the home by spending a little time with the client. She establishes with them what their goals are and what they need to have on hand at all times. "Usually I work with the person at first and ask, 'what is the vision for the space?"' she said. Sigmann and the client will then begin to organize in a methodical manner. They pick a small area and begin with that. "You can't do it all at once," Sigmann said.
Often Sigmann and her client will begin by looking at a client's files - paperwork slows down a lot of people, Sigmann said. "We are so paper-logged," she said. "We look through it and throw out the things that are no longer pertinent. We try to create a system that works for the individual ."
The work involved in organizing is not always easy to do. It can be time consuming and even painful as people have to decide what to keep and what to let go of. "When you open your closet you should ask yourself two questions," said Sigmann. "'What do I feel like wearing, and what is appropriate for the occasion?"
Sigmann said that a better way of looking at the need to organize is to say that keeping unnecessary items is denying use of those items to someone who could make good use of them. To help organize, she has several boxes, one of things to be kept, one of things to be thrown away, one of things to go to Goodwill or consignment stores and one of things that the client would like some more time to think about.
"Often you find things that mean something to you," Sigmann said. "It's a win, win, win, win situation." Sigmann said that once organizing begins, it can be completed very quickly. The key to organizing well is to make sure the client decides what to do. "I let them tell me. I don't decide in advance what to do," Sigmann said. "You don't impose your idea of being organized on someone else. You help them make it what they want it to be."
Having no preconceived ideas helps to achieve the goal that Sigmann has for organizing. That goal is "to bring peace and order into life." To do this she works at the pace of the client, who can be charged hourly, or given a lump sum quote. "Some people don't want to go fast," Sigmann said. "I let them go at their own rate."
Depending upon the complexity or labor involved in the job, Sigmann charges from $20 to $35 per hour, with a three-hour minimum. For that she will organize a basement, attic or office. "I believe in making everything work towards your ultimate goal," Sigmann said. "I see each job as a canvas upon which to build a masterpiece. It can take a lot of tact, caring and compassion."
Picture of an Unorganized Garage
An unorganized garage at a home on Roosevelt Circle awaits the touches of Mary Sigmann.
Sigmann displays the end result of her work.
Picture of an Organized Closet
For closets, professional organizer Mary Sigmann chooses see-through plastic containers so items can be easily identified.
