"The real question is, why do you want it? What are you going to do with it? That's where you've got to start; otherwise you're going to waste a lot of money."
These are the words of Francis Carincross in her book 'The Company of the Future'. She tries to answer the question many of us have about saving paper.
Regardless of the fact that we have been talking about the 'paperless society' since the early 1970's, the truth of the matter is that there is more paper than ever before. In fact, a Xerox survey tells us we will have 50% more paper in 2005 than we had in 1995. And we don't know where it will go from there.
Letting go of paper
Letting go of paper is harder than it seems. Many companies have tried to go 'paperless' citing increased productivity and lower costs as the gain. However, employees are still ordering filing cabinets. Why? Because most of us have an emotional attachment to the paper. Even work-related papers.
I am talking about fond memories of papers relating to a project or person with whom you were associated. Or those marketing pieces you just can't throw away.
Then there is the concern that if the paper gets tossed, you will subsequently need it. Consider that most of us don't know what is inside our file cabinets to begin with. Is it really bringing you value? Would you lose your job if you didn't have many of those documents?
More than just a feeling
We fear that if it gets tossed we will somehow 'miss it' or 'suffer the consequences'. There are 18,000 pieces of paper in a full four-drawer file cabinet. We only use 20%. Re-read Frances Cairncross' words at the top of this page. If you can answer the questions honestly, you will probably start clearing out your filing cabinet, eliminate waste and clutter, save time and maintain only that which you actually use and need. Have you ever thought about a company-wide records retention policy and annual clean-out day?
It is one thing to organize and maintain a filing system, but the truth is that many of us put papers in files because we can't seem to make a decision about the document's true disposition. Outcome? Paper clutter. Time mismanagement. Money wasted. Frustration.
And don't forget those digital files. The keyword here is?delete.
Copyright 2001. Cynthia Kyriazis. All rights reserved.
Cynthia Kyriazis is an organizing and time management consultant, trainer, speaker, coach and author with over 20 years management experience in multi-unit corporations. Organize it, a division of Productivity Partners, Inc. is an organizational training firm she founded in 1995 and has been serving Fortune 500 clients ever since. Cynthia works with business and their employees to help improve performance and realize productivity gains.
Cynthia has appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Kansas City Star and the Legal Intelligencer. She currently serves as Secretary on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), member of the National Speakers Association (NSA), member of the Kansas City of the International Society for Performance Improvement ? (ISPI-KC) and consultant to the American Coaching Association.
If you have piles of paper all over your desk,... Read More
Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More
What's an item that can help you organize every room... Read More
I've noticed that in the two years since the major... Read More
Helping people clean out their closet is something I love... Read More
The Mexican VillagerThe American investment banker was at the pier... Read More
There is nothing worse then spending ten minutes looking for... Read More
Hasn't time flown? Already we're into the last quarter of... Read More
1. A calendar is an essential organizing tool ? start... Read More
The following procedures will insure an organized and well run... Read More
One of the most basic ways to find papers when... Read More
Time has flown. It's been six months since you came... Read More
Remember when you charged into the office that first day,... Read More
Home organization isn't just for neat-nicks or those drawn toward... Read More
Have you ever been totally overwhelmed by a massive task... Read More
It takes effort to get results, and not just any... Read More
Ever wonder how they do it? How a short-order cook... Read More
Chances are, most of you have a lot you need... Read More
'A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view... Read More
Are you overwhelmed by clutter wherever you turn? Here are... Read More
The summer is flying by for Cindy and her family.... Read More
Balance- what a popular topic these days! Finding a work-life... Read More
I followed my boss to a co-worker's cubicle where my... Read More
Keeping on task and getting organized starts with a basic... Read More
1. Teach your children to use an alarm clock or... Read More
Nature loves clutter. Just think of all the stuff that... Read More
Feeling Overwhelmed and Unorganized? - How to Use Index Cards... Read More
Decluttering is a simple-to-learn process, once you break it down... Read More
Hasn't time flown? Already we're into the last quarter of... Read More
Last year I attended a presentation from Parenting Expert and... Read More
I know I have a problem when I have to... Read More
Coping with clutter is rarely easy. There's more involved than... Read More
'A well-ordered life is like climbing a tower; the view... Read More
Finish each day and be done with it. You have... Read More
In most homes, paper causes clutter. And it seems to... Read More
I'm cheap and proud of it.I use and re-use things... Read More
"The real question is, why do you want it? What... Read More
Buried under mountains of paperwork from your company? Do the... Read More
Have you ever felt so discouraged, your life so out-of-control,... Read More
Have nothing in your houses that you do not know... Read More
Has your polished mahogany (or modular plastic) desk been buried... Read More
1. Teach your children to use an alarm clock or... Read More
1. THE LOVE IT OR LOSE IT PRINCIPLE: Every item... Read More
Cindy looks at the calendar and sighs. Ah, the end... Read More
After more than 20 years as an entrepreneur and a... Read More
To make room for new things to come into you... Read More
"Junkyard Wars," a TV series showed two teams of experts... Read More
? Do you feel overwhelmed by all the "stuff" in... Read More
Laundry. You sort, you wash, you fold, you blink ?... Read More
Have you ever been totally overwhelmed by a massive task... Read More
Get Organized - Organization Get Organized - Organization |
|
| Banner Exchange | Banner Exchange | Banner Exchange | Banner Exchange |