Maria Gracia                     Return to Get Organized Now! Blog

Biography

My specialty is helping people get better organized to
live the kind of stress- free lives they've always dreamed
of. My goal is to help people find plenty of time for
family, friends, recreation, vacations, hobbies and
everything else they love to do. Disorganization actually
robs you of that valuable time.

During my ten years with Dun and Bradstreet's Nielsen
Media Research in New York, I worked as a marketing,
organizing and management specialist. Throughout my
tenure, I managed the data analysis department, worked
with hundreds of television stations and advertising agencies,
and developed effective, productive systems for my clients
and staff.

Today, my family and I live in Watertown, Wisconsin (a very neighborly,
Mayberry-like town) where my husband, Joe, and I operate our company,
Effective Business Systems. I founded Get Organized Now! in 1996.

Get Organized Now! is dedicated to helping you organize your home, your
office and your life. My Get Organized Now! Web site is currently
visited by over a million people per year worldwide and my free Get
Organized Now! Newsletter is delivered to hundreds of thousands of
subscribers worldwide.

On my web site, you'll find tons of free tips, ideas, checklists,
articles, e-courses, slideshows, clinics and recipes--just to name a
few of our goodies.

The Get Organized Now! Discussion Forum, frequented by thousands of
visitors each month, offers visitors a chance to post questions, share
ideas and get motivated.

I am the author of Finally Organized, Finally Free which, I'm thrilled
to reveal, has been read by thousands of people all over the world. In
addition, I have other helpful organizing products that can be found in
my Get Organized Now! Store.

Personal Interests

On the home front, I enjoy spending time with my husband and best
friend, Joe, and our beautiful and amazing toddler, Amanda.

We travel frequently, taking both long vacations and shorter day trips.
When on the road, we're always on the lookout for that perfect, little,
cozy restaurant.

We welcome daily perks such as taking our daughter to the playground,
going to the movies and savoring a special treat at the local ice cream
shoppe.

I make sure Amanda gets her fill of fun by planning an activity with
her each morning. Going to weekly play groups, open gym, music lessons
and swimming are just some of the many pastimes we have planned on a
daily basis.

I love to cook and am always experimenting with new recipes. As soon as
my town opens the summer farmer's market each year, I'm there!

I am actively involved with my town's local Newcomers' Club. I
currently hold the position of Watertown Newcomers' Club Sunshine
Chairperson. This position allows me to bring "sunshine" (or a dose of
happiness or comfort) to fellow members for various events and
occasions.

I read books and magazines for both educational and recreational
purposes. Each month, I attend a monthly local book chat. Basically a
group of women choose one book each month, which we all read and
discuss in detail. It's such a pleasure to be able to not only read a
book, but then to be able to hear different perspectives on it.

In addition, I'm an avid scrapbooker and spend at least four hours each
week on this hobby. My daughter will never be at a loss for
photographs-- that is for sure! I'm sure you'll see my layouts posted
on my blog from time to time.

My favorite season is fall and I look forward to the foliage, pumpkin
picking, apple cider and hay rides each year.