Ever since reading David Allen’s book, ‘Getting Things Done‘, I have been working on cleaning out email folders. Granted, that was months ago!

However, I then made a physical move and also had a few technical changes. What a perfect opportunity to strive for getting those emails and folders cleaned out. And I DID it, too!

But why is this important and what role does it play in opening up your business for new opportunities? Let’s take a look.

Cleaning the office

Do you feel cluttered and out of control at times? Hm; most of the time? Look around at your work space. If it’s cluttered and disorganized, this leads to increased stress and wasted time. Stress decreases not only productivity but creativity. The less creative you are, the less productive you are, and the less likely are you are to catch opportunities or think of amazing new ideas to grow your business! Wow, all that from a messy office! So how can you start organizing your work space, now, before the New Year hits?

Cleaning out email files

As I said above, I made a move from one location to another. Although I now have my old technological system back in place, that still prompted me to purge all old email folders of listserv messages I had saved. I have clients who do this, too: Save emails from 2 years ago, just in case! Well, if it’s a listserv message, it’s probably in a system like YahooGroups. Learn how to search archives and let Yahoo store those messages! Why is this important? Have  you ever lost a message? Imagine the great feeling of your inbox saying “zero”, so you can then quickly address new messages that come in. Wow, will that increase your image of being organized and prompt! And it will help you quickly catch that new email that comes in from a potential contract that wants to know if you can meet in an hour to discuss……

Cleaning out hard files

But this doesn’t just apply to email! What state are your file cabinets in? I have been meaning to clean out my school folders. Not my school folders from my MBA program, which I just graduated from in March, 2009, but my folders from my dietetics program I graduated from in June, 1990! Yikes! Can you relate, again? Oh, you can’t get rid of THAT folder! It has studies on all the fat soluble vitamins! ……… from 1980!!! So, my next project, before the end of the year, will be to purge those files. Why is this important? Same reason: Once I purge those files, this makes room for what’s to come! And if I can better organize what I intend to start doing, more of those intentions will turn into realities.

The year 2010 will be the start of many new things to come. We will begin the climb out of the Great Recession, and you want to be poised to take advantage of not only new business opportunities, but new relationships! If you are bogged down under piles of papers and emails, though, and stressed over staying on top of things, you are not at your best. Imagine feeling light and free at the turn of the New Year! It will show! So, start purging the ‘old’ to make way for the ‘new’ so when those opportunities present themselves, you will be able to see them, think about them with a clear mind, and FIND THE EMAIL!

Margie