Running
a Tidy Ship
Albert Einstein
once pointed out that everything should be made as simple as possible—but
no simpler. This certainly can be applied to any business that wants to
keep its equilibrium. For most entrepreneurs, that requires constant vigilance
since a business can become complicated and cumbersome in the blink of
an eye.
Here are some
guidelines to incorporate into your business.
Clutter Clearing
Advisor Sue Izzard says, “I find the best motivation for clearing
clutter is not to focus on the time and energy needed to sort out your
stuff, but to ask yourself, ‘What am I creating space for?’”
Make
simplicity a goal. It’s not enough to say you want to simplify
your business. Identify specific, measurable results that will indicate
you have made your systems, marketing, accounting, etc. as simple as possible.
Use
these helpful questions. As you sort through things, ask yourself:
If you answer
no to any of these questions, be prepared to let the item go.
Work
on one profit center at a time. Give a single project your full
attention by keeping papers or items related to other projects out of
sight. When it’s time to move on to the next project, stash things
related to the last project in a file or closet or drawer.
Avoid
confusion. “Clutter and messy work areas cause confusion
and irritability,” observes Alexandra Stoddard. “Give your
mind a spa and take some time out to rearrange your office. Block off
a few hours on your calendar and use the time to putter. Edit out the
unnecessary.”
Identify
spendthrift behavior and eliminate it. New gadgets and technologies
can be seductive, but refuse to purchase anything for your business unless
it makes a positive contribution.
Keep
projects separate. If you manage several profit centers, color
code the work in each of them for ease in locating and filing.
Keep
a single calendar. A portable system such as Filofax is ideal.
If you write appointments, deadlines, etc. in several locations, you’ll
waste time transferring them from place to place.
Hire
a professional organizer to help you develop the best system for you.
This can be both a great investment and a time saver. Make certain you
understand how to maintain your new system as easily as possible.
Clean
out your computer and cabinet files at regular intervals. Make
a note on your calendar every 60 or 90 days to tidy up so things don’t
accumulate.
Designate
space. My grandmother’s favorite saying was, “A place
for everything and everything in its place.” As I’ve discovered,
uncluttering is as much about creating places as it is about throwing
things away.
Identify
your nemesis and make a special effort to deal with that. Going
after the biggest problem—and solving it—often makes solving
lesser problems a snap. If
paper piles are your downfall, get them under control first.
There's
more where this came from.
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