Browse > Home /

Getting Things Done: Everything Has a Home

January 21, 2008

Celebrate with me! My email in-box is empty (a miracle) thanks to my new mantra (when I see a quick task) “Do it now… it’s just 2 minutes.” Paper in-boxes and my bedroom closet are the opportunities to conquer this week. As I mentioned in the previous post about Getting Things Done by David Allen (GTD), I’m trying not to get overwhelmed by my quest to be an “Organized Startup Princess” so I’ve decided to just add one new productivity skill/thought process each week.

Leslie Kent, my friend, hair stylist and Feng Shui specialist told me to add “Everything has a Home” to my organizational mantras (or if you like, Everything has a Castle!) Perhaps this is basic you to you, but I never thought of organizing that way. Previously I would think “I have deal with that” or, “I have to put that away” Now I say, “Everything has a Home.” It brings more love to my thoughts and energy and there’s no “I have to” in the sentence.

This mantra fits well with the GTD system and how to manage your in-box in Allen’s workflow chart (what is it? does it belong to me? if not, who? delegate? do it now (under 2 min.) or schedule a time for it…file it for a future resource, “give it a home”) Leslie suggested when you’re cleaning up your “stuff” you go through similar same steps…look at the item in front of you and think, “does it belong here? if not, where? trash? does it belong to someone else? can I give it a home?” is it time to give it a new home (donate)? Getting Things Done is about developing and creating new habits…in this case I’m starting with my mindset and how I THINK…repeating questions when I encounter “stuff” is liberating because I have a system now to know what to do next.

Another tip from Leslie, “Only keep what you LOVE, get rid of what you LIKE.” What a powerful concept. Last night I took off a framed print that had been above my HEAD for 2 years that I only so-so liked because it “matched” my decor and immediately the energy shifted, even now with a blank wall I LOVE it. I also took out everything “work-related” (sorry Matt but no Dell Monitor for a client in our bedroom!) and took away extra decorations that just didn’t bring the word “LOVE” to mind. AAAH, relief and peace to my mind and spirit! I LOVED waking up today.

Want More Tips??

Here’s a few posts on Getting Things Done (all written from the productivity guru Leo at Zen Habits, one of my favorite places to get inspired lately):

Getting Things Done

FAQ Massive GTD Resource List

How to Actually Execute Your To Do Listimages.jpg

Today’s Magic Wand: Make a few post it notes for your office, entry way, kitchen counter, etc. “Everything Has a Home” and enroll all family members to practicing “everything has a home” this week. Particularly in the high traffic areas where people tend to “dump” their stuff and forget that “Everything Has a Home.”

Enjoy creating a space of LOVE and Order!

Written by startupprincess · Filed Under Life Balance 

  Startup Princess is an international network committed to empowering Women Entrepreneurs by offering resources for women in business to support, mentor, collaborate, learn from, and inspire one another. In 2006, after struggling to raise funding for an initial startup business venture, Kelly King Anderson recognized an important market niche existed for reliable resources educating women desiring to start and grow successful businesses, thus Startup Princess was developed.

Successful women entrepreneurs understand that for every business venture, they are in charge of creating, organizing, developing, managing, and assuming all the risks associated with their enterprise. That can seem quite intimidating but as other women business owners will tell you, it’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it! Success is within your grasp and Startup Princess is here to help.

First, join as a member of Startup Princess and start building a solid foundation. Membership entitles you to a listing in the Startup Princess Online Directory where we list women owned businesses. You’ll also access exclusive content like articles, videos, and audio straight from your email inbox. Coupled with feature interviews, discounts on events, networking connections, and press opportunities, your Startup Princess membership will give any woman entrepreneur a great start for her business!

Then, take advantage of Touchpoint, our annual business conference for women entrepreneurs. Practical planning meets sky-high inspiration at this high-impact event for women business owners to network and develop their approach to business with wisdom and creative direction from other women entrepreneurs across the country.

Need a little help taking your business to the next step? Wish you had a fairy godmother like Cinderella offering you a helping hand? Now you can! Startup Princess is the home of Fairy Godmother Consulting, volunteer mentors sharing tips and insights to bless the lives of other women entrepreneurs.

Startup Princess can offer many benefits to women in business from future women business owners to successful women entrepreneurs. Please call or fill out our contact form with questions, concerns, or general interest and let us help you by giving you full access to everything Startup Princess has to offer!