I Have Used These Ideas For Over Twelve Years With Great Results

Just do it! | File...Don't Pile: A proven filing system for personal and professional use | Pat Dorff

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	• File...Don't Pile: A proven filing system for personal and professional use Pat Dorff St. Martin's Griffin, 1986 - 224 pages average customer review:based on 29 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

The only filing system that works for me

This is my second copy of this book because I keep lending it out and asking my staff to read and follow it. This system allows family members and co-workers to find filed items easily because of a simple and sensible indexing.

I Have Used These Ideas For Over Twelve Years With Great Results

If you have a system that allows you to quickly locate important papers, great. If you don't yet, I highly recommend that you consider the advice in Pat Dorff's "File...Don't Pile."

The major problem that I had before I read this book was that I was TOO GOOD at thinking up a variety of names for a particular topic to write on my file folder, and not good enough at remembering what the file name I had previously selected was, or IF I had ever created a file for that topic before. Since all my files were mixed together (paint swatches, banking files, fitness and other files all in the same file box), and the file tabs were often blocking one another, I had a terrible time reading and re-reading ALL the file tabs in the box just to see if I had a file set up already, or if I needed to make a new one. Often times, I would end up with more than one file for the same topic, with different names. "What was that file called... is it under "F" for finance, "B" for bank or "C" for Chase Manhattan?" I worked hard to file my papers, but did not function very well with a traditional alphabetical system. Then I saw "File...Don't Pile" at an office supply store, and found it so interesting, I promptly borrowed it from the library. That was over twelve years ago, and to the extent that I have implemented this system, I have found it to be extremely effective. Now, as a busy wife and homeschooling mom with six young children, it is a great thing to be able to file and locate our important papers quickly. I finally bought the book after moving two years ago, to inspire me to catch up on filing again after my file cabinets had been in storage for a couple of months.

Two years ago, when decorating our new home, and longing for an area rug that we didn't have money to purchase, I recalled that we had left a rug of the ideal size and color to sell on consignment in 1995. Because I had switched to the methods in "File...Don't Pile" prior to entering into the consignment agreement, I knew instantly which files to look in (personal business) and it took only a few seconds to read down the paper index to find "PB-122 Consignment Agreement-Rug." I checked in the file and sure enough, after moves to & from three different houses, there it was! How great it felt to be able to claim what was rightfully mine from the upscale rug dealer located in a snooty area without feeling like I had to convince anyone that it really was my rug.

I'd like to take a moment to answer some of the criticism from other reviewers. Regarding Julie Morgenstern's book, I read it after implementing Pat Dorff's methods, and don't even recall any section about filing. It does contain helpful advice, but the filing info. is just one of *many* topics in the book. Morgenstern's book encompasses organization in all of life, not just one area. Pat Dorff's book goes into much greater depth about filing.

As far as any kind of religious content, I simply don't recall any. So I suppose it could have been in there, and if I agreed with it, just forgot about it. But if it is in there, so what? Some people compartmentalize their lives, separating the "sacred" from the "secular." But to others, to compartmentalize would violate one's conscience because one would feel one has marginalized God, or one's most important values. Give me a topic, even one that seems "neutral," and I can tell you how my faith matters in relation to it in my life. An individual's beliefs definitely affect their approach to any subject, even if there are no overt references to religion in the work. Many newer books about organizing have ideas from Eastern religion woven through them, such as feng shui. It's nice to know an author's beliefs ahead of time, but even if the underlying beliefs of the author offend you, there still can be some valuable content.

To the people that say the book is outdated, it just isn't so! The advice is timeless. It's about filing PAPERS! Thus the name, "File...Don't Pile." One cannot "pile" computer files, just paper files. I had been using computers for years before this book was published in 1986, and before I first read it in the 1990's. I wasn't having trouble with organizing my computer files, just my paper files. I'm sure there is lots of good advice in computer-related books and on the internet for helping with organizing computer files. I think Peter Walsh might have tips in his book, "How to Organize (Just About) Everything." I've seen tips for computer organization on his website, in the "tip of the day" section. He probably has his own paper filing tips, too.

Though Dorff's book is primarily about filing papers, I have used the filing system to creatively organize my office supplies. When I worked outside the home in an office, I always had a desk with ample space to keep office supplies, and a roomy cabinet to go to to restock my desk. At home, I have not had so much storage or desk space. So I set up a file drawer with hanging folders, manila folders inside them, made up a paper index, and have kept things like extra pens, pencils, staples, envelopes, tape, string, etc. filed just like my papers. It has worked so well, for so many years, that I have recently started keeping sewing & needlework notions filed this way, too. Since I don't have room for a dedicated sewing area, and the notions were overflowing out of my sewing box, this has helped a lot.

I am very grateful to Pat Dorff for writing this excellent book. It is helping this oft-absentminded mom living in a swirl of young children to function well with the modern deluge of paper we all have to manage.

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Just do it!

I've tried various filing systems over the years. None of them were as easy to create, maintain and adapt as the "File... Don't Pile" method. Some reviewers are put off by the 1986 copyright date; however, I see this as testimony to its utility. For those who MUST find a use for their computers, the "File... Don't File" index could be implemented with a software spreadsheet. Keep in mind you must be ready to invest some of your time and effort to implement the system. If you're looking for a magic wand to organize your mess, you'll be disappointed. My advice is wait until your serious about getting organized then read "File... Don't Pile".

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If you have ever watched the stacks of papers, magazins, clippings, and projects pile up out of control, File...Don't Pile will provide fast, easy practical advice. More than a collection of random hints, this handy guide presents systems of organization for every conceivable type of household paper. Topics covered include:

How to cut through the clutter--the 5 step solution
Choosing the right paper-control system for your needs
10 questions to determine whether to save a piece of paper
Categorizing, tab systems, coding systems, indexing, cross-referencing
How to plan for growth and expansion
Keeping files current and useful--the 4 step maintenance plan
Creating and using a personal business file

Plus comprehensive systems for organizing mail, greeting cards, a Rolodex, newspapers, and magazines, coupons, and much more, including sample file headings for a wide variety of useful subjects. File..Don't Pile is the fast prescription for anyone drowning in household paper.

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