 What's slipping through the cracks!
Sherry Borsheim
"Analyze your life in terms of its environment.
Are the things around you helping you
Toward success - or are they holding you back?"
W. Clement Stone
Meet Judy, she was loosing money although her business was growing. She knew things were falling through the cracks because her systems weren't in place. She realized the time had finally come to get her business organized and put a stop to lost revenue and overlooked opportunities.
She's a part of every one of us, juggling the day-to-day demands of the various roles we play. We're bombarded with emails, piles of paper, phone calls, cell phones ringing and voice mails blinking, projects to complete, and errands to do. Our offices are overflowing and we spend hours looking for information - sometimes not finding it at all. What is the price we pay for not getting organized? Setting up an efficient system to organize all this information is easier than you might think.
When I talked with Judy I could hear the frustration and embarrassment in her voice. She often went to client meetings unprepared and felt unprofessional. She was tired of the piles everywhere and not being able to find anything. She couldn't find important papers when she needed them and there were bags full of bills and bits of important papers, piles of paper, and stuff all over the floor.
When I asked her what was motivating her to get organized Judy responded that she didn't have a system to track her billable time with clients and she new she was loosing money. With her office in such a state Judy usually felt unprepared for client meetings, which just increased her level of stress. She could see that things were falling through the cracks and wanted to put a stop to that. To build her dream business, Judy realized that she would need to get her systems in place, which is why she emailed me in the first place.
"What will be possible once you get your office organized?" I asked her.
Judy began to describe her vision for her business. She knew exactly what she would be doing within the company, how many employees she wanted, how she wanted her office laid out and organized and what business forms she wanted in place. She even knew how she wanted her client files organized and to create an invoicing system that was quick and easy to use.
I ask these important questions because I've found that without a compelling reason, there's little or no motivation to change the habits necessary for lasting results. Judy could see something on the other side of her cluttered space and it was something she desperately wanted. It's this desire and passion that creates the motivation needed to propel you forward and support lasting change. Remember that we are all either motivated by a desire to increase pleasure in our lives or a desire to decrease the pain. Ask yourself what you want more of or less of in your life.
Here's a simple 5-step process to transforming your office space and living clutter free forever. Remember your clutter did not arrive overnight therefore it will not disappear in one day!
- Create your vision - How do you want to live and work.
- Write out your plan - How will it look when it's organized.
- Block time in your schedule - The first step towards positive action.
- Select the right tools - Match your personal organizing style and habits.
- Maintain your success - Keep the process flowing.
Action Challenge:
Often times people say "I'll do it later”, but later never comes. I invite you take a look around your office right now and answer these very important questions, "What would you gain if you organized your office and time around what's important to you? What slipping through the cracks and what opportunities are passing you by because of a cluttered office and schedule? What will getting organized free you to do?”
About the Author
Sherry Borsheim, owner of Simply Productive, has been helping people to work smarter, not harder for years. She specializes in resolving paper, time and information management issues. To learn more about eliminating the paper pile-up and in vastly improving your productively, contact Simply Productive at 604-233-7076.
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