This idea has been paraphrased many different ways. I usually think of it first as the quote from Stephen Covey. “To begin with the end in mind means to start with a clear understanding of your destination.” ~ Stephen Covey’s – 7 Habits of Highly Successful People
In my workbook, From Vision to Victory, I ask you to start with your vision. If you are clear about how you want an area to look then the path to getting there is so much easier.
Clients often come to me with concerns of things that are wrong that they want fixed. The closet doesn’t work for them. There are boxes sitting around from a move of four years ago. The laundry has taken over the house.
What I ask them to do is to shift their focus from what is wrong to how they want the area to look and feel.
If the closet were the closet of your dreams, how would it look and how would you feel when you looked into that closet? If the spare bedroom with all the boxes were to be the spare bedroom of your dreams instead of a storage room, how would it look and how would you feel? The same question would be applied to any hotspot in the home.
Once you are clear on what you want, then it is much easier to brainstorm and see all that has to be done to make that vision happen. Decide on your timeline. Take your brainstorming list and plug in dates and you are good to go.
If you want help or just some accountability in setting up or working on an organizational plan join Diane Quintana and me on our Clear Space For You clutter support group. We can help you map out your plan step by step.
Jonda S. Beattie, Professional Organizer owner of Time Space Organization, and co-owner of Release, Repurpose, Reorganize. She is based in the Metro-Atlanta area. As presenter, award-winning author, as well as a retired special education teacher she uses her listening skills, problem solving skills, knowledge of different learning techniques, ADHD specialty, and paper management skills to help clients tackle the toughest organizational issues. Jonda does hands on organizing and virtual organizing. For more of Jonda’s tips connect with her on Facebook.