 If
you’re a creative woman entrepreneur then chances are good you’ve
labeled yourself as someone who just can’t seem to get, or stay,
organized. Popping up with new ideas for your business or about how to
help people? Easy! Figuring out a filing system or how to get those
piles of paper up off your floor? Ugh...well, that’s a different
story now, isn’t it?! What organized people don’t understand about
creative souls is that the thought of being organized seems to be in
conflict with our creative spirit. Accurate or not, creative types
feel that if everything is neat and tidy then their creativity will be
contained as well. Well, I’m about to bust that myth because I am a
both highly creative AND organized woman business owner. In fact, it’s
when my papers, email and office are the most organized that I am the
most creative. So how do I keep both ideals—creativity and order—in
harmony? The answers are easier than you might think. Here are three
simple tips I use to keep my creative muse inspired and my office
organized:
Creative Organizing Tip #1:
Make Space Creativity requires space. For me, that means space in
my physical environment as well as a feeling of spaciousness in my
body. If you want to create success in your woman small business then
it makes sense that you’ll need space to accomplish that.
ACTION:
Pick another room, closet or garage and move everything that is
piled up on the floor there now. Deal with it later but for now, enjoy
the space you’ve just created.
 Creative
Organizing Tip #2:
Make the System Match YOUR Creative Flair! Creative women
entrepreneurs hate being hemmed in by someone else’s system.
Solution? Customize the system to match YOUR style, not the other way
around! Use lots of bright colors for your files. If following the
traditional A-B-C filing order isn’t your thing, then file in a way
that matches YOUR creative flair.
ACTION:
Pick an area of organization that feels difficult. What would
brighten it up or make it feel more playful for you? For example, I
eschew lots of folders in favor of three-ring binders that I decorate
using inspiring images and motivational phrases. Binders keep my
office neat and tidy and the information right within my reach.
Creative
 Organizing
Tip #3:
Quit Telling Stories When I interviewed Fearless Organizing Expert
Elizabeth Hagen, she told me that people with a lot of clutter
typically have a story attached to each item. Solution? Quit telling
stories such as “I might need it again” or “Uncle Bob gave me
this golf-bag shaped business card holder.” (Tell Uncle Bob thanks
but since you don’t golf, donate it to a local resale shop that
supports a charity).
ACTION:
Pick up ten items in your office right now. What story have you
told yourself about each item? Quit the story and immediately get rid
of at least seven of those items. I bless the success of my high
six-figure business on my ability to comfortably integrate creativity
with being organized. You can too, if you remember that being creative
actually gives woman small business owners an edge when it comes to
being organized because you can create the organizing solution that
works for YOU!
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