Getting Organized

The Provable Solution
To Getting Organized

The one critical skill that you absolutely must develop
to master the art of getting organized.

The single most important skill of being able to get things organized – is the ability to ask good Questions.

Before you think I've lost the plot here, here's what Jay Abraham said about questions.

'Everything comes from asking questions'.

Whose Jay Abraham you say?

Oh he's only a guy who charges US$5,000 per hour for business consultation by phone (and gets away with it) – One of the worlds top business consultants.

Here's a genuine conversation I had by instant message on the Internet in 2007 which illustrates the point of getting organized as being tied to asking questions.

Here's the background:

Does home clutter seem to stand out more when you're expecting company? It did for Audrey, who realized the solution to her problem herself, simply from me being open to listening to her and asking a few questions about how she organizes her life at present.

Audrey

Oh my god I am so unorganized. But it doesn't really bother me, UNTIL i have company.

I still know where everything is , but when I clean up, it's like I have no clue what I did with anything.

Help.

Hello Audrey. If you were to be given $1000 for coming up with the best answer to your own question, what would your answer be?

Audrey

Either that if it doesnt bother me dont worry about it or something quirky. I also work a full time job, go to school full time and I am a single parent

ok, do you regularly feel overwhelmed?

Audrey

i used to, i almost had a breakdown until i realized that everything is temporary and subject to change

ok i have 3 questions:

do you feel you have a small or fair sized living space?

do you think you own too much 'stuff'?

have you sat and made a list of your rooms, and the ideal stuff you'd keep in each room, including each storage area?

Audrey

I do think I own too much , But I dont' want to give it to the salvation army because they will only resale the things . I want to GIVE them away but I have no one to give to

And I think I do not have enough storage space

ok, do you know anyone with a garage that they wouldn't mind you putting a couple boxes into for the time being until you figure out who to give the stuff to?

Audrey

nope. Ive tried to organize but I only scatter things again

who would you give the stuff to?

You either need to keep it where you have it at home and create storage for it, put it somewhere else for safekeeping, or get rid of it pronto. can you see any other possible option?

Audrey

When? – i need like 30 extra hours in my week

throwing things away can be tough. clarity of life direction will help with what to keep in your life.

Audrey

what do i do to throw them away? how do i let go even though I thought I did?

I COULD GIVE THEM TO THE BATTERED WOMENS SHELTER!!!!

DUh. i feel so retarded right now

sitting alone with pen and paper can allow you to find many solutions to all sorts of problems

——————

Audrey

u ask good questions

Nathan

and asking yourself questions

—————–

wow we just had the same idea yes, it's all about the questions.

Audrey

so If i ask it will come to me

it may well do.

if not, read my articles until the right question or the right answer appears

Audrey

I write a lot of songs and poetry, but not a lot of questions

then you already have good creativity and flexibility of thinking, just apply the same skill to questions about how to organize things in your life.

Audrey

WHOA thats a real job right there

[That's the task of organizing]

audrey that will have to be all for the time being, its been nice speaking to you.

Audrey

You too. Peace.

——

Ok that was the end of the conversation. So…

To absolutely prove this beyond any shadow of doubt, try to imagine� you try to organize something WITHOUT asking yourself any questions.

Try to think of how you could possibly organize something without asking yourself questions such as these:

Where should this go?
What is this for?
Why do I need to have this here?
When shall I do this?
Where shall I put that?
When do I want or need it done by?
How am I going to do it?
Who do I need to help me?
What do I need to do first?

You see, asking questions is basically the essence of getting organized. And to organize something you need to know how to direct your thinking to the task at hand. You do that through the use of questions.

Albert Einstein said: "The important thing is not to stop questioning."

How can you use questions to get organized?

Good question…

And note how I just asked a question. My questions keeps our attention and focus on the the topic.

In fact, you and I are constantly evaluating things in our environment. Which means we are constantly asking ourselves questions, about our surroundings and about our options and choices.

The good news is that asking questions is something you are already good at.

There are 6 main types of question. I'm certain that you are familiar with them all. What? Why? When? Where? How? and Who?

Rudyard Kipling put it into a neat little rhyme that goes like this:

"I have 6 honest serving men, they taught me all I knew: There names are what, and why, and how. And where, and when, and who."

So turn your skill of asking questions to the task of whatever you want to organize.

Don't be shy about using pen and paper either. Writing your thoughts out make them so much easier to organize.

I hope you see the power of questions for getting organized.

By now you should be crystal clear that using questions is the key skill and required path to organize something… anything.

Have a great day. And go get organized by asking lots of questions!

On the flip side of asking questions is ofcourse the ability to really listen:

"In seeking Wisdom, the first stage is silence, the second stage is listening, the third remembrance, the fourth practicing, the fifth teaching." – Lurianic Kabbalist Solomon Gabirol, c. 1045