subject: Disorganization Stinks! by:Jeffrey A. Betman [print this page] Life is harder when you are disorganized.
Organization makes for an easier life.
You probably know this.
So, why aren't you more organized?
If I asked you to find a proposal on a project could you find it within a minute? What about the instruction manual for that new watch you bought? 60 seconds? How about the warranty on your new camera or the instructions for your voicemail?
If you can't get your hands on these within 1-2 minutes you have an organization problem.
Now, am I perfect? No. Do I misplace stuff? Yep, I'm human like most people. But, the majority of time I can get my hands on what I need quickly.
One of my mentors, Mike Litman, always asks what number my office is. On a 1 to 10 scale if your office is not at an 8, 9 or 10 you can't function. You lose focus. You look for papers and reports. You spend too much time searching and not enough time working. You're inefficient.
Same for the homefront.
We've all heard the expression 'a clean desk is the sign of an organized mind.' Not sure if I buy this. I know people with clean desks who simply open their top desk drawer and sweep their desk contents into it at the end of the day.
On the flip side, I have a friend who has two and three foot piles on his desk and swears he can find everything he needs.
How does this relate to having an easier life? Simple. How can you track your contact with a prospect if you can't retrieve information? Here's a quick test: if a prospect calls out of the blue can you get your hands on notes from your last phone call? While you are talking with him or her?
Some people use contact managers such as ACT for this. They can be great, provided you keep them up. Otherwise, forget it. Paper and pencil is faster. Find what works for you and use it.
One resource you might check out on this is David Allen's book Getting Things Done. He has a great system and a great way of processing everything coming at you. His web site is www.gettingthingsdone.com.
Bottom line point: Disorganization makes life harder.
Next action step: Pick a system or method to organize yourself.
Your Life Is Easy Coach,
Jeffrey A. Betman, Ph.D.
Jeffrey A. Betman, Ph.D. is a psychologist, author, and life coach helping people toward the easy life. For a FREE newsletter ($197 value) on making your life easier and FREE report titled 5 Steps To An Easy Life That You Probably Know, But Don't Do Yet, go to www.LifeIsEasyCoaching.com/sq
Copyright 2009 lifeiseasycoaching.com
About the author
Jeffrey A. Betman, Ph.D. is a psychologist, author, and life coach helping people toward the easy life. For a FREE newsletter ($197 value) on making your life easier and FREE report titled 5 Steps To An Easy Life That You Probably Know, But Don't Do Yet, go to www.LifeIsEasyCoaching.com/sq
