Organization
If you reflect on my prior postings here on self-esteem, you’ll recall that “organization” was a key element to gain control and power. Let me drill down:
1. Organize Stuff
Clear your desk, your garage, your car, you closet. Get rid of stuff you don’t need, don’t use, don’t recognize. Otherwise, the stuff on your desk distracts you. You feel you have to clean it up before you can move on (often to much more important priorities). We don’t need “research” material, old magazines to catch up on, or notes on things we will never pursue. We don’t need clothes we’re not going to wear and instruction manuals we can’t understand. Throw stuff out.
2. Organize Time
Use a physical calendar to make appointments with yourself. Electronic diaries don’t work nearly as well. Place in it writing, calls, projects, client visits, meetings, errands, and so on. Observe them as sacrosanct, not subject to whatever may distract you at the moment. Forward the phone, lean on your clean desk, and get your priorities done according to schedule. You’ll notice there is no need to schedule social media time, so stop visiting time dumps during the day.
3. Organize Electronics
There is no need to have the absolute latest software release, or nine backups that allow you to retrieve files after another comet hits the Yucatan. Stop surfing the web. Stop saying “You’re welcome” every time someone says, “Thank you” in an email. Hire someone to fix your glitches and bugs. Clear your computer desktop the same way you cleaned up your physical desktop. Stop allowing Cyberspace to rule you and your computer to order you around.
There. Now you’re organized. Gain control of your life.
© Alan Weiss 2013
