Blog Archives

Identifying habits

31/8/2017

We all have habits, some of them are voluntary ones, others are involuntary, and then there are the habits we don’t even recognise as such. They come under the header of ‘common sense’ or ‘that’s the way everyone does it and who am I to question it?” and similar ones.

Habits can be ways of doing things, or ways of thinking, treating ideas and experiences in a particular way. Habits are everywhere, and they affect everyone. But how can you tell if something is a habit? How can you tell if a habit, once found out as such, is a good or a bad thing?

Sometimes isolating yourself can be heaven

24/8/2017

Read this statement: “Some of us are extroverts, thriving in the centre of a crowd; some of us are introverts, at their best when alone or in small groups.”

Does this seem to make sense to you? If so, your definition of both terms has gotten stuck at some point. In fact, this definition is based simply on the perceived behaviour of either type and the idea that they are either outgoing or shy.

But is it the truth?

5 things to consider about business meetings

22/8/2017

We’ve all been there: business meetings that drag on and we feel that nothing much is being said, or that they are slowing down to a crawl. We are there because there is business to be had, and everything points towards a successful closing anytime soon, but things just seem to continue forever.

What is the point of a meeting with a customer, supplier or collaborator, if you leave unsatisfied, potentially confused and ultimately frustrated that little progress has been made and the matter will have to be revisited in the near future. At another business meeting…

Take time for yourself

17/8/2017

We are all busy people, rushing left and right and doing all those things we have to do, each and every day of our lives. Just doing all the stuff related to private life (our own and that of our families and friends), work, association, clubs, personal development, etc. takes it out of you, without even considering which of these things we are supposed to do, feel obliged to do, obsess about or simple make ourselves do.

5 things to consider about staff meetings

14/8/2017

Staff meetings can be very productive, and also extremely tedious and disruptive. And even worse: they can be both at the same time! That can be down to many different factors, but the most common ones are linked with the length and frequency of those meetings, the choice of participants, and a lack of preparation.

Let’s look at those and maybe find some guidelines to make these occasions more useful.

Allow yourself a treat occasionally

10/8/2017

It often takes a bit of time to get to a point where a decision is taken to get serious about decluttering. As I’ve mentioned before, not only is decluttering a long-term thing that involves the ability to make decisions, we also need to allow for slow moments when we are simply not ready to let go or otherwise emotionally engaged.

Besides that, if we really want to make a change, we have to look and modify old, engrained habits, and that not only takes time, but determination, and outside guidance, assistance and support.

Mentioned by others

9/8/2017

It's always a privilege to be working with customers, but especially so when they run their own business and are in a position to sing my praises on their own share of the internet.

Here's one of those cases: my friend Clare Goldfinch of the Healthy Body Happy Mind Project has recently called me into her home to help her out with her kitchen. After moving she had ended up in a situation where her kitchen was inundated with stuff that had to shift as she uses her kitchen for workshops... well, that is what ClutterMeister is for.

Rather than telling you the story myself, I invite you to read the full post on Clare's website. And while you are there, why not have a look at her Project? There might be something else in it for you!

In addition, Clare is also the mastermind behind a radio interview with me. Maybe give it a moment to listen to and get inspired to move forward.

A happy workforce

8/8/2017

Have you ever given some thought to the happiness of the people who work with you or for you? As an employer you are likely to have different priorities like output, planning, management, organisation, financial control, accounting, customer contacts, etc., and the wellbeing of your workforce often takes a seat in the back row.

That’s not to say you are not thinking about it, of course, but you may seldom think much about it, unless there is a clear and present danger of things turning sour.

Ask the ClutterMeister

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