The Well-Balanced Life: Need help getting your life into shape?

Resources to help you get your life into shape.

We've assembled respected consultants from across the country who can help you do everything from organize your desk to manage your time. Inc. asked executives, professors, and experts themselves for recommendations then selected those known for their work with entrepreneurs.

Professional Organizers

Organizers create filing systems, help you master personal technology, and develop systems for dealing with and discarding e-mail and paper--they'll even sit on the floor sifting out what you do and don't need. They'll analyze why you're disorganized and devise ways to break bad habits.

Stephanie Denton
Denton & Co.

Cincinnati 513-871-8800;
sdenton@organizingsolutions.com

Denton clears cluttered office spaces, creating filing and paper management systems to enhance efficiency.

Fees: $1,500-3,000/day (one-on-one consultations or group workshops)

Barbara Hemphill
Hemphill Productivity Institute

Raleigh, N.C. 919-773-0722 or 800-427-0237;
barbara@productiveenvironment.com

The author of the Paper Tiger books on organizing, Hemphill enlists "certified productivity trainers" (see www.4ptacs.com for a listing) who use filing software she developed to help people get a handle on to-do lists. She's especially knowledgeable about home-based businesses.

Fees: Initial assessment, $350; then from $65/hour; one-day one-on-one session with Hemphill, $2,500

Julie Morgenstern
Julie Morgenstern's Task Masters

New York City 212-544-8722;
organize@juliemorgenstern.com

Considered the doyenne of organizing home and office spaces, O columnist Morgenstern also offers time management coaching, speeches, and seminars. Some sessions can be conducted via telephone.

Fees: Initial assessment, $350-500; then $85-250/hour

Linda Rothchild
Cross It Off Your List

New York City 212-725-0122 or 888-XOFFLIST;
info@crossitoffyourlist.com

Rothchild and her consultants deliver hands-on workshops on streamlining paper and projects, especially after a relocation. They also offer "lifestyle manage- ment" services, e.g., they'll pick up dry cleaning, arrange telephone installations, or shop for gifts.

Fees: $85-150/hour; personal assistance, $65/hour

Stephanie Winston

New York City 212-533-8860;
winstonorg@aol.com

Author of The Organized Executive, Winston trains clients to change their habits. Many of her clients are home-based businesses. She offers one-on-one sessions, seminars, and seminar-work sessions with office employees.

Fees: $1,500/day per person

Resources

The workshops, consultants, and products here are based on Stephen Covey's The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People. www.franklincovey.com

The official site of industry trade group the National Association of Professional Organizers includes a referral search engine and personal organizer FAQs. www.napo.net

Professional organizers by state and country are listed on this site. www.organizeyourworld.com

Executive Coaches

Executive coaches help you escape ruts, providing critiques and feedback that are often unavailable when you're the boss. They'll help you tackle dilemmas as diverse as "Why do my employees keep quitting?" to "How do I take three months' vacation while improving my profits 30%?" to "What behavior befits a CEO?" Some coaches have hourly or daily billing rates (when you have a specific problem); others are on retainer (when you want to change your behavior).

David Allen
The David Allen Co.

Ojai, Calif. 805-646-8432;
david@davidco.com

Widely respected productivity coach Allen has advised more than 400,000 workers on how to better their performance for more than 25 years. His speeches focus on vision, productivity, and time and stress management.

Fees: Seminars, $10,000/day, $18,000/two days; one-on-one coaching, $5,000/day, two-day minimum. Other David Allen Co. consultants, $2,500/day

Eric Allenbaugh
Allenbaugh Associates Inc.

Lake Oswego, Oreg. 503-635-3963;
eric@allenbaugh.com

Former hospital administrator Allenbaugh counts a large number of health care organizations and administrators among his clients, along with CEOs, corporate boards, and government executives. In the 25 years since his hospital days, he's been consulting and coaching on leadership and management development, focusing on long-term results.

Fees: $5,500/day; $400/hour

Maria Bailey
BlueSuitMom.com