I looked at my desk this morning and wondered if it was eligible for the office equivalent of Disaster Relief from The United Nations.

With no relief at hand, I set to the Herculean task of recovering my desk... and yes, the irony of the fact that I teach this stuff was not lost on me. An hour later, I could get finally get down to work without being intimidated by piles of clutter.

"Hey, don't you teach the importance of a clear desk and systematic filing?"

The reason I teach many of the techniques championed by David Allen in, 'Getting Things Done,' is that I am an addict. There - I've said it.

I think I'm addicted to clutter and to mess and to chaos. I produce it naturally, skilfully, and organically. It takes no effort at all. It is one of my Unique Abilities - I create chaos.

I need help. I need reminding. I need a system... And, in my experience, the best people to teach 'stuff' are those who have wrestled with the issue themselves, and conquered.

I'd forgotten that I was a conquerer.

It's good to remember that piling is not filing. I have lived for years with the wonderful "Really Useful Box" brand. They have become my extended 'In Box' system for life, but I need to remember that getting everything into an 'In Box' is only the first part of David Allen's system. Next I need to process the 'stuff' - and I need to do this on a daily basis, not leave it until it's time to call in the UN.

I share my pain (and my triumph) with you today, because I know I am not alone...

By the way, I like Dan Sullivan's solution: don't have an office! Don't give yourself the opportunity to stack and store. I can dream...

Lex

A Moodscope member.