POULSBO — Question. If an office worker goes to work five days a week and receives 12 faxes before noon, 14 more before 5 p.m. how many pieces of paper will he or she accumulate after three months?

Answer. It really depends on how many are kept and how many are thrown away.

In some cases, desks become graveyards for old paperwork and in others they remain functional workspaces with little if any messy clutter.

Helping individuals and businesses figure out the means to the correct end in such cases is professional organizer Elaine Bolduc. She’s been solving such dilemmas for years.

In September, Bolduc started her own business to continue her long-standing tradition as a “professional streamliner.”

Why?

According to Bolduc, she was so organized as an administrative assistant, she essentially worked herself out of two jobs. Apparently being too efficient can have its drawbacks. Even so, Bolduc decided to file this fact under “who cares?” — make lemonade out of the lemons and became a full-time professional organizer.

The job really works for her and although most people might cringe at the idea of multi-tasking and solving complex logic and organizational problems, Bolduc actually enjoys it. She said she liked the challenge.

“It allows me to use all my skills. If you’re going to do something, it’s important to focus on something you really enjoy,” Bolduc said, before adding with a laugh. “Besides, I’m a much nicer boss.”

During her stint on the office scene, the organizer experienced all sorts of scenarios — something which gave her insight into her chosen profession.

“It kind of kept tapping me on the back and saying, ‘Hey, Elaine,’” Bolduc remarked, adding that since then her career has stayed right on track.

While some businesses she visits are quick touch-up jobs, others require a much more vigorous approach.

“I’ve handed ‘cluttered and in disarray’ to places that are really organized and just need a few tips,” she explained.

Despite the fact that every problem Bolduc deals with is unique, they all have something in common as well — an underlying lack of organization.

“You can be sloppy and organized,” she remarked, noting that such a trait is fine as long as the individual can find what he needs and when and can get the job done on time.

Getting started whittling that huge mountain of paperwork down to a mole hill is typically what prevents most people from taking the first steps, but once the process begins and the right tools are in place “staying organized” isn’t all that difficult, Bolduc pointed out.

But her services don’t end there. She also offers space planning, workspace layout, clutter clearing, paper management, home office, computer organizing and training as well as tips on Feng Shui tips and closet, attic and garage storage.

“I’m hooked on it,” she said. “The reason I really like it is that it makes everyone’s lives so much easier. It’s so nice to see the relief on people’s faces.”