Speaking of Productivity: What Do YOU Hear?

Every time I tell my husband that I will be giving a speech, he asks, "What are you telling them?" I have to laugh because I've been saying virtually the same thing for 40+ years. I used to feel guilty about it, but I've discovered that even though a speaker says the same words, I don't always hear the same words! I was cleaning out some files (Yes, I have to do that too!) and I found an unedited list of 31 "Ahas" a meeting planner collected from participants after my presentation, "How to Spark Joy at Work."

1. Clutter is postponed decisions.
   

2. The SYSTEM acronym
   

3. I need to create a vision – my limitations are time and not knowing where to start
   

4. Majority of time is spent looking for items needed to complete the job
   

5. Sometimes it is not that people won’t get rid of things, but they can’t due to an emotional void
   

6. SYSTEM - save yourself space, time, energy, and money
   

7. Dealing with digital clutter
   

8. I realized I am emotionally tied to my clutter
   

9. My lack of organization of my digital files/emails is a carryover from never being organized with the paper
   

10. Do not postpone clutter. When you are not ready to let go that means you have hold on to it emotionally
    

11. Revisiting what my passion was as a young girl and assess life today to see if I have maintained and or if it is still a passion
    

12. There is an emotional story attached to clutter
    

13. Trying to think about what I liked to do at the age 8…
    

14. Progress starts with the truth! Loved this quote and will be sharing with family and friends
    

15. Progress starts with the truth
    

16. Accountability
    

17. The definition of clutter
    

18. Organizing is not about stuff, it is about you and what you care about
    

19. Organization can be personalized
    

20. Does it bring me joy / help me accomplish my work?
    

21. Hoarders are mainly due to deep loss and how to help
    

22. Setting a weekly reminder to do an organizational task one day each week. Something I plan to start doing for cleaning my desk.
    

23. Over responsibility is irresponsibility
    

24. Clutter is emotion
    

25. Clutter can be digital too... tidying up the same way as physical papers
    

26. The longer you put something off, the more costly it will be to correct
    

27. Gosh, everything! One thing – sick plants don’t bode well for organization. I’m going to have my people fix or remove plants!!
    

28. How critical systems are
    

29. Emotional clutter is also the problem
    

30. Progress starts with the truth and I need to be more honest with myself
    

31. 1 out of 5 employees are looking for stuff and can’t do their job