emotional and spiritual clutter. As it says in Proverbs, “Without a vision, the people perish.” Organization My business has been based on four words: Clutter is Postponed Decisions® . Unfortunately, many people misunderstand what “orga- nization” really means. For exam- ple, they have heard the oft-quoted phrase, “A place for everything, and everything in its place.” If that statement were a requirement for organization, I would be classified as one of the most disorganized people on earth. It’s true – there must be a “place for everything,” – but “everything in its place” is impossible for most business owners who love to start things but have difficulty finishing them! (Guess how I know?) The solu- tion? Identify a specific day each week to clear the clutter. If it takes more than 15-30 minutes to do it, there’s something wrong with your SYSTEM (Saving You Space Time Energy Money). Creating space or break times This principle applies to physical and emotional space. A study by Office Max found 87% of workers admit that during those times when their space is cluttered they feel less productive. A study by Brother International indicated that collec- tive, messy desks and time spent looking for misplaced items cost corporate America $177 billion annually. One of our most popular solutions to increase productivity and teamwork in an office is hold- ing a “Productivity Party” – a day packed with training, de-cluttering – and prizes! Personally, this past year has been my most productive year ever – and I attribute it to one major change. I spend at least 15 minutes first thing every morning in prayer and planning. That space in my day and habit in my life has dramatically increased my ability to accomplish my work and enjoy my life. Research shows that you are 77.6% more likely to accomplish a goal if you have an account- ability partner. I’ve had numerous accountability partners through the years, and it sums up one of my favorite Productive Environment Institute principles: “Together We Are Better!” Barbara Hemphill is one of the country’s leading productiv- ity experts, and is passionate about helping individuals and organiza- tions create and sustain a productive environment. She is author of the best-selling “Taming the Paper Tiger” book series. In “Bushido Business,” Barbara joins Tom Hopkins, Brian Tracy & Stephen M. R. Covey, sharing how they learned how to be successful. Her latest book is “Less Clutter More Life.” To contact Barbara Hemphill about speaking or consulting for your organization: barbara@barbarahemphill.com BUSINESS TIP ––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––– 36 TileLetter | January 2019