Perhaps you are wondering if making the investment to organize your life is worth the time and resources it will take, but consider for a minute what your disorganization is costing you. Here are some things you might consider:
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Is it Worth It? Is Organizing Worth the Time?
Indirect detrimental costs (which ultimately cost money or possibly a job) include the following:
- Lost Time:
Stymied productivity
Time spent looking for lost objects
Time spent fixing objects broken under piles of stuff
Time spent shopping for replacements for lost items - Lost Money:
Damaged credibility
Money spent buying replacements for lost items
Late fees for bills lost in the piles of clutter
Late fees for videos, DVDs, and library books - Lost Serenity/Increased Stress:
Lack of confidence
Feelings of anxiety due to clutter and disorganization
Diminished competence
Interpersonal tension or arguments with family members
No calm, quiet space to relax
What is your time worth?
Your business or place of work is where you most likely spend 33% of your daily time. It’s in this environment that you probably generate 100% of your income. The average person spends over 150 hours per year just looking for information. If your business is not optimally organized, it’s costing you money.
Salary |
Value Per Hour |
Value Per Minute |
$50,000 |
$33.65 |
$0.56 |
$100,000 |
$67.31 |
$1.12 |
$150,000 |
$100.96 |
$1.68 |
If you have looked for something for 5 minutes how much money have you lost? How many times have you looked for something and it took more than 30 seconds to find? Besides losing money, what could you have accomplished with that time?
The November 2000 Wall Street Journal reported, “The average U.S. executive wastes 6 weeks annually searching for missing information in messy desks and files.” (That translates to one hour per day!) Based on an $80,000 annual salary, the approximate cost of this search is $10,000.
Consider this: when making small changes, consider the multiplication factor. 5 minutes shaved off of weekly meetings of 10 people earning $30 per hour would amount to a savings of $6,259 a year.
Use our calculator to estimate your costs.
Home Based Business Considerations
Self-employed professionals often become overwhelmed with the handling of their personal and business matters in one space: the home office. Home-based business owners know that boundaries around their work and efficient systems are paramount to their career success. Yet, few experience the benefits of self-employment because they are buried in an ever-mounting pile of paper and backlogged tasks. By identifying inefficiencies in your home-based business and improving your processes, the home-based professional transforms into an empowered entrepreneur that takes hold of their businesses.
Impacts of Depression to Your Business
View PhRMA's online evaluation - Calculating the Impact of Depression in the Workplace and the Benefits of Treatment
Organization Fast Facts and Statistics
There are numerous fast facts and statistics that have been collected over the years regarding organization and disorganization. Follow this link to view the amazing facts! http://www.calahansolutions.com/fa_org_stats.htm
NAPO Get Organized Month Quick Poll Results
Direct comments or questions about this article, including requests for reprint rights, to:
Stephanie L. H. Calahan
Calahan Solutions, Inc.
8 Shoreline Court
Bloomington IL 61704
Phone: 309.825.7833
Fax: 309.422.7665
questions@calahansolutions.com