Most times, small business owners call me and exclaim breathlessly, “You’ve got to help me get organized!”
And it’s true – they are overwhelmed. Buried in papers, files, mail (e- and snail), cords, computer parts, books, newspapers, magazines, and more.
And each person wants to launch into “getting organized” by grabbing a trash bag, walking around the room, and randomly grabbing stuff to throw away.
The futility of it kinda makes me laugh.
“Getting Organized” is such an empty statement. It seems like the holy grail of productive things to do, but winds up a half-done and forgotten job.
What is the essential thing about getting organized that everyone seems to keep missing?
Are they not scheduling the time? Not reading and following the right system? Not using the newest, latest, greatest, whiz-bang software?
Actually, it’s none of those things.
The real problem is people aren’t first taking a step back to look at all their CRAP.
Why spend money on books, magazines, and newspapers if all you’re going to do is pile them three feet high in the corner? You know the recycle guys will NOT thank you that one weekend in February that you haul 50 lbs of unread periodicals out to your curbside bin for them to take away.
Why subscribe to 82 e-zines when all you really have time to read is five? They clog up your Inbox, cause that subtle but insidious “overload” stress, and make those 82 e-zine authors think they have more fans than they really do.
And really, why spend the time wrapping up 43 electrical cords for various cameras, scanners, and printers when you don’t even know which electronic device they go to? Why? It is a gigantic wast of time to neatly wrap each cord and then twist tie or stuff them into the toilet paper tubes you saved. Labeling it “printer cord” doesn’t make it useful or relevant.
Snail-mail overwhelm. Honest to god, just throw that crap away!!! Why do you save those credit card offers? Have you actually ever responded to one? Or really sat down to read the “fine print.” If you did, you’d be making paper airplanes out of those crap offers and aiming for the trash bin. (Editor’s Note: to avoid identity theft, please shred these offers.)
Computer peripherals are my favorite. Seriously, why have four extra keyboards? And mice – if you didn’t like it before you sure won’t when your new one kicks it and dies. You’ll walk right out the door and buy the fanciest trackball they have at BestBuy. Admit it. You know it’s true. And why, oh, why does everyone keep the old printer that died? And why keep it in the middle of the floor of the office – you have to walk over that crap every single day. Take it to Goodwill – let them recycle it for you!
Please don’t get me started on floppy disks, stress balls, cassette tapes, and various half-used reams of paper. Crap, crap, crap! It’s all CRAP.
It’s stuff that you tolerate hanging around, cluttering up your space because it’s become part of the background of your office. You don’t even SEE it anymore, but it doesn’t make it any less crap-tacular.
And the tragedy of it all? Unless you really take a good look around, grabbing that big trashbag and throwing random crap away will be a huge exercise in futility. And one you’ll repeat like an endlessly self-defeating mantra:
“I have got to get organized!”
“I have got to get organized!”
“I have got to get organized!”
If you’re ready to break that cycle and finally get it together and eliminate the crap forever, call me. I can help!
Angie Mattson, Mattson Business Services, Inc. (704) 553-8082 or [email protected]
I agree that I have stopped SEEING all that stuff piled up in corners and on shelves in the office. My snail mail is under control, but I recognized some other things you mentioned!