Is Your Business Cluttered?

“If I had less stuff, I would be______________________.”  What would happen if you had less stuff in your house, in your life, in your mind? How free would you feel having less stuff with which to think about and deal with on a daily basis?  Now let’s apply that concept to your business.  If you are like many business owners, you may have some clutter you haven’t even noticed.

Business Clutter

What is the definition of clutter? As a noun it is defined in this way: A confused or disordered state or collection; a jumble.  As a verb it is this way: To fill or spread over in a disorderly manner. To make disorderly or hard to use by filling or covering with objects.  In a business, there can be all kinds of clutter that have nothing to do with the stuff you may have piled on your desk or crammed into a file cabinet. A business can become victim to paralyzing clutter without even realizing it.  As I work with certain clients I see their business grinding to a halt because of the burden of clutter.  Let’s talk about three of the worst kinds.  Client clutter, Idea clutter and Mental clutter.

Client Clutter

Clear out clients that:

1. Don’t pay on time
2. Constantly question your expertise
3. Are never satisfied
4. Whine
5. Price shop
6. Never send referrals

Brilliant Idea Clutter (Those “Brilliant Ideas” someone else says you “should” do)

Get rid of ideas that:

1. Are out of date
2. Take too long to implement
3. Not in alignment with your goals
4. Make you crazy just thinking about it

Mental Clutter

Let go of worrying about:

1. What competitors are doing
2. What the stock market is doing (unless you are a broker)
3. Micromanaging employees
4. Doing everything perfectly
5. Always being right
6. What other people think about your level of “success”

Letting go of the clutter in your business will keep it functioning in a way that is smooth, free and easy.  The rewards are well worth the effort