Today's TQ

Daily Lessons in Intentional Excellence
Monday, March 9, 2026

Is There Too Much Paper On Your Desk?

When you're finished with a piece of paper, either file it or throw it away. Don't leave it hanging around cluttering your desk.

Everything can go in a file. Give each of your files a title you'll remember, and put everything away.

Today's TQ Challenge: Create a Unique Place for Everything.

Choose to be SYSTEMATIC! How cluttered is your desk? How much of your desktop can you actually use?
Choose to be ORDERLY! Do you have files for all of the papers on your desk?
Choose to be EXPEDIENT! Will you take a minute right now to file away the papers you're not working on from your work area?

Create a unique place for everything, and you'll always know where to find it. It takes less time to put something away than it does to look for it. Create a file -- a folder, a database, a labeled shoe box, a filing cabinet, a separate drawer, a duffel bag, a tool box -- for every person, project, role or client. This will give you one convenient place to locate all relevant materials or information as you need it. Keep it simple. Keep it separate. Keep it up.

"The elevator to success is out of order. You'll have to use the stairs... one step at a time." ~ Joe Girard

Think about it. How well and how often do you actually DO Organize Factor 8G?

"I create a separate folder for each new person, project or role."

A high commitment (8G rated 8 or better) suggests you know where to find everything. Now that you organize all your materials in separate containers, you're proud of how easily you can find exactly what you need when you need it. For example, everything associated with a new client is in a clearly marked file. This skill has become so routine, that you have to remind yourself to be more patient with others (who are usually missing one thing or another.)

On the other hand...

A lack of commitment suggests you're someone who wastes a lot of time looking for lost stuff. You are often on to something new before you take the time to put things away. Then valuable time is wasted tracking down all the missing pieces -- like a client's cell phone number, automobile and travel receipts needed to finish your taxes or the little screws you took out last week that hold the doohicky to the thingamajig to make your printer work. Not only are YOU frustrated -- but you frustrate the "living stuffin" out of others as well!

What happens when you CHOOSE to do Factor 8G a bit more frequently?

You waste no time locating important pieces of information. You accumulate performance positives like "Orderly, Expedient and Tidy" -- immediately moving you towards the results you expect.

What happens when you FAIL to consistently do Factor 8G?

On average, you spend 20 minutes a day -- 122 hours a year -- searching for something you misplaced. Negatives like "Disorderly, Messy and Careless" start to take their toll on your performance -- quickly moving you away from the success you want.

Now Ask Yourself This...
Is Factor 8G Causing You Problems?

If you believe this factor is a key performance obstacle -- and that it's preventing you from realizing your personal dreams and goals -- then you need to improve it.

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