Friday’s event in Houston was a lot of fun. Now, after being home for a couple of days, it’s back out this afternoon for three cities in three days; first, Philly for a corporate gig tomorrow, then to Minneapolis for the Get Connected Event with Lisa Nichols, Janet Attwood and Roxanne Emmerich. This one is open to the public so – if you’re anywhere near the Twin Cities – come on and join us. Then, on to Tempe, AZ for another corporate program.
I’ll still be in touch with many of you on Facebook and Twitter during my stops. Also my intent is to blog a couple of times. Let’s see how I do. 🙂
Speaking of “how am I doing” my desk is still neat. Yes, it really is. This is a good thing. Might also be surprising to anyone who knows me. It’s definitely been a “mental thing” with me; not a physical one. After all, I’ve read the excellent books, articles and such. The how-to aspect of organizing a desk is fairly straightforward. Yet……..
So, Dr. Mollie Marti – whom I mentioned in the previous post gave me a coaching session after I admitted on her show that I suffer from MDS (Messy Desk Syndrone) – asked me to focus on the following three things every time I made the effort to move something (anything!) off my desk and put it in its proper place:
- Thoughts: What am I thinking about as I think about as I begin the process? I’m thinking how It’s something I need to do in order to obtain the benefits of having a clean and orderly desk.
- Emotions: What am I feeling about it? I’m feeling a sense of satisfaction in knowing I’m improving on a defective character trait, and also feeling how great it will…well, feel to have “desk clearity” (yes, “clear-ity”) 🙂
- Actions: Then, take the necessary action because that’s what makes it all work.
Of course, Dr. Mollie reminded me that during our 30 day “desk cleanse” my time out of town does not count. But, that’s okay. I’m starting to feel a bit of the ol’ confidence. I see myself having a clear, neat and orderly desk. That’s not just an affirmation, it’s a commitment to myself and to my productivity.
How are you in this regard? Am I the only with (or rather, who used to have) Messy Desk Syndrome?
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Good for you Bob! Enjoyed this blog very much. I don’t know if you remember my sharing the story of the facebook office clean up challenge. I actually had a FB friend challenge me to an office clean up where we posted before and after photos for all our network to see. Talk about pressure! I had allowed my office to get so out of control that I stopped working in it. My lap top became a permanent fixture on the kitchen table to keep me from having to walk in to that messy space. When I posted this on FB one night, one of my friends responded that her office was in total disarray and that’s when the challenge and the timer began. Since that night well over two months ago now, my office has remained clean and very organized. I make it a habit each evening to put away everything so I can greet the following day organized and with clarity. What a huge difference this has made for me in my ability to stay on task, remain focused and most of all enjoy an environment that I must spend a great deal of time in. It has lifted my energy level and I am so much more productive. Now….I need to tackle MCS…messy closet syndrome, but I can guarantee you, there will be NO photo proof of that. : ) Safe travels my dear friend!
Well, you certainly are not the only one Bob, I have suffered from the same affliction forever (that sounds like a long time). For me, it is the work pile of stuff I really don’t want to do that create the clutter, yet getting them done is very satisfying! Go figure, you think the work would be easier to do, but I guess it is the anticipation combined with the unknown that keeps the piles prevalent.
Bill Crosby
Wow! Messy Desk Sindrome? Where have I seen that? Oh yes! My desk! 😉 Dr. Marti’s three steps are so instrumental to everything we do. As Dr. William Glasser put it, total behavior includes thinking, feeling, experiencing, doing. They all connect and are the four wheels of the “car” we are driving. Just that sometimes we forget we are in the driver’s seat and let one of the four pull us in a direction we did not intend to go! Thx for the reminder, Bob. (I admire both your work and Mollie’s so this is a treat!)
Hi Bill, those are some excellent points!
Hi Monica, good that we have another person who can relate. 🙂 Excellent points, as well! And, thank you for your kind compliments.
Wow!!! MDS. Since I work from home MDS has become MHS (Messy House Syndrome). Stacks of books, magazines, files, business cards etc everywhere. I keep oozing out of my office and the kids have to send me back so they have a place to sit. I feel overwhelmed with all the clutter and don’t know where to begin because each stack takes so long to sort through and very little disappears. Enough said. Keep up the great work Bob!
Thanks for sharing this, Bob. I applaud you going beyond an affirmation to a commitment to yourself and your productivity – committing to how you’re going to show up in this world. Well done.
Monica – I usually use a circle divided into 3 (think, feel, do) to simplify and also use a 4-prong that includes sense or experience. Staying in the driver’s seat of your own car is a powerful visual!
Great Job Bob! My desk’s are (yes, two of them) so messy that I can’t even find stuff. Now, I am not the only one who adds to the clutter but they are my desks. I would like to say that this is the only area of my home that is messy but I can’t, like Nancy, I must have MHS. LOL, wait a minute! I do have really clean carpet! I have started to take action tonight!
Joe