The Road to Success is Not Cluttered

Is This What Your Business Is Like?

Ryan Lee created a blog post titled “Your Online Business “Spring Cleaning” Checklist” where he gave 7 different things you should clean up in your business.

I liked it so much that I thought I’d share it with you along with some of my own comments.

Ryan says he is “slightly obsessed with finding out how to make everything in life more simple.”

I agree with Ryan completely, I’ve also been obsessed with simplifying and optimizing my entire life and understand the importance and power of what he recommends.

I know it sounds very Zen but cluttering up your life and your business makes it harder to get that laser focus necessary to be successful; after all, why make things harder than they are.

Here is what you need to de-clutter…

Unsubscribe, Unsubscribe, Unsubscribe

Ryan calls this “guru cleanse” and it means to unsubscribe from all the lists that aren’t providing you with value.

Of course, not every e-mail will be of great value to you but most of them should be and those that are all sell-sell-pitch aren’t just trying to entice you to fill their bank account (you know who I mean!) so “just say no!”

Ryan mentions a common excuse, people frequently say “I use it for swipe copy, shoot, I’ve done that myself, but the truth is there are better ways to get better swipes so dump them.

If you find yourself not opening someone’s e-mail at least 2 out of 3 times then unsubscribe (and I mean me too if I don’t provide you value).

Dump Your Library

Is This What Your Library's Like?

This is the hardest one for me because I’ve been collecting books since I was a boy and I have thousands of them.

I have actually started doing a little of this in the last couple of years but I still find it very difficult, but I do understand why he recommends it.

His point is that after you’ve read them and kept important notes you don’t need them because, to paraphrase him, “it not the size of your library it the action you take on the information that does.”

So give them to other aspiring entrepreneurs, or your local library, or if money is tight, sell them and… take action!

Clean Out Your Inbox

I don’t think this needs explanation about what to do or why.

Put e-mail in folders and use rules to categorize and sort your e-mail.

Archive older e-mail that you still want to retain and delete old e-mail that you don’t want.

Don’t Stop With Your Inbox

Yep, clear off your desktop getting rid of old files off your desktop and organize everything else in a handful of folders.

Don’t Stop With Your Computer

Don't You Want a Desk Like This?

Don’t clutter up your workspace; just keep what you need on the desk.

Sure, you’ll need things on your desk as you do various projects but don’t leave them cluttering your desk when you’re done with them.

I have a wraparound desk with a desk surface on 3 sides and I love desktop organizers, trays, sorters and things like that.

I have over 30 slots within arms reach all of which I can store papers, folders, etc. in. I also have another 30 or so in my office and this doesn’t count the 3 filing cabinets and other organizing and storage things I have in my office.

Without this my desk and my office would be a complete mess

You don’t need to be as anal as I am but Ryan’s point is important so clean your desk of everything but your essentials — like your computer and telephone.

Don’t Stop With Your Physical Environment

Keep your mind clutter free also.

Don’t multi-task; don’t work on multiple things, just focus on one thing at a time. Keep your mind clear and free of other distraction and your productivity will soar.

Don’t Stop With Your Mind

Don't You Want to Be Healthy?

This is how Ryan puts it “Get Your Ass in Shape” and being healthy and physically fit is, in my opinion, the very best thing you can do for your business, for yourself and for your family.

Don’t make it into a chore and start with just 5 minutes a day if you have to but when you get into really (I mean really) good shape you will have a feeling of confidence, power and capability that will astonish you.

And, there you have it, the 7 things you need to do to de-clutter your live and your productivity, success and happiness will follow along.

1. Unsubscribe from lists you don’t read
2. Giveaway or sell books you’ve read
3. Clear out your inbox
4. Clean up you computer desktop
5. Clean up your work area
6. Focus on one thing at a time
7. Get fit and healthy

Tell me what YOU think below… which way is your hardest one (and easiest one)?

Tags: Clean up computer, Clean up work area, Clear out inbox, Focus on one thing, Get healthy, Giveaway books, Unsubscribe from lists