In the ’40′s two brothers, Homer and Langley Collyer, captured the attention of New Yorkers by having died surrounded by 130 tons of clutter, that included 25,000 books, countless bundles of newspapers, car frames and baby carriages, numerous musical instruments along with other unrelated odds and ends. In fact, Homer and Langley’s death is attributable to their clutter, and one of the brother’s body was only found after many days of the police digging through and disposing of the clutter.
Homer and Langley Collyer were tragic figures, busy with hoarding, instead of clearing space in their lives for families, careers and success.
In business, you especially need to be careful about creating space, because you want space to bring in customers and employees. This does not just mean physical space, but emotional and interactive space as well. You must learn to toss things, whether it be outdated-jammed-staplers or brochures from the first year of your operations or a routine that doesn’t work anymore. As my mother would say, when in doubt, throw it out.
I make it a habit to organize and purge at least one item a day in my home to continually make space for good things in my life. I try to donate clothes once a month. Emotionally such purging and clearing away of space serves a purpose. It helps you create a home that you love by asking you to reevaluate what needs to stay and what needs to go.
In my business I am always looking for better ways to organize, systematize and perfect its processes. When doing this, I must be willing to toss some preconceived notions, some favorite habits that might not be effective, some old software that never really worked but is slowing my systems.
In your business, keep asking yourself, are you cluttering up the business so badly that something might topple from its stored place to bonk you on your head? Don’t be afraid of tossing things. Clear out the way for success, something the Collyer brothers should have done.
Tags: Emotional Intelligence, Leadership, Productivity
