The Command Center

In my marketing system, I emphasize two important aspects of the game of marketing - the outer game and the inner game.

Outer marketing is all about the strategies and tactics that get your message in front of your prospective clients. This is the action-oriented part of marketing.

The inner aspect is just as important, especially for Independent Professionals. It's the mindset and attitudes that shape our actions. If we have a poor attitude about marketing, we usually avoid it, or at the best, put up with it.

However, last week, Elizabeth Hagen reminded me that there's an essential THIRD aspect to marketing. I interviewed Elizabeth for a new Audio program on "Getting Organized and On Track" and it became clear to me that getting organized is just as important to marketing success as the outer and inner aspects.

I actually thought I was organized before I interviewed Elizabeth.

My desk is relatively clean, and I manage my schedule and to-do lists quite well. But I'm embarrassed to say how much stuff falls between the cracks.

One of my problems is that I'm an idea-generation machine. I have more ideas that I can process and turn into productive projects. And these ideas compete with day-to-day details and the avalanche of emails I get every day.

What ensues is some degree of overwhelm, followed by missed deadlines, unpaid bills and increasingly growing piles of paper.

When it gets really bad I'll do an "organizing blitz session" where I clear my desk, catch up with my emails and get everything prioritized on my to do list. Whew! Caught up at last -- until the next time.

And I thought this approach meant that I was organized.

When I asked to interview Elizabeth, I imagined she'd share several useful organizing tips and strategies that I already knew. But I was in for a surprise -- and a wake-up call.

I learned early in the call that I really had a very poor system for getting and staying organized. I was neat, but that's as far as it went. I had some organizing tactics but didn't have a real system.

She explained that organizing wasn't necessarily about neatness, but about control. And with control came confidence, clarity and calmness. That's exactly what I needed.

What Elizabeth introduced me to was the "Command Center."

The Command Center is a total (yet surprisingly simple) system for handling every single piece of paper, email and idea that passes through one's office, one's computer and even one's mind. I know that sounds impossible, but it really works.

This past Sunday afternoon I set up my own Command Center, cleared all my papers and organized my files and action items in less than two hours. I'm excited because I now know the status of every single paper, email, project and idea in my business.

Now that's control. I'm ready for action!

My goal is to stay organized for a full week, avoid overwhelm and keep on top of all my projects and ideas. I'll give you an update next week on my progress (I have a LOT on my plate).

In the meantime ask yourself these seven questions:

1. Do I get overwhelmed keeping on top of all the details?
2. Do I tend to lose papers and information and miss deadlines?
3. Do I avoid doing important things because I can't find the time?
4. Do I give up on new ideas because I can't see how to fit them in?
5. Do I get partly organized only to slip back into my old habits?
6. Do I fall prey to the pitfalls of procrastination and perfectionism?
7. Do I get stuck in certain areas and can't seem to get unstuck?

If any of these are holding you back, make sure to learn about my new Audio Program, "Getting Organized, On Track and Unstuck" with Elizabeth Hagen.

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The More Clients Bottom Line: Getting organized is much more than having a clean desk and checking items off your to-do list. Organization gives you the control to consistently accomplish what's important to you. An organizing system frees your mind to focus on the priorities that make a difference.

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What is disorganization costing you? Please share on the More Clients Blog.

Comments

[Chuck Solomon]

Great article! another great resource on organizing and getting things don is by David Allen-- see www.davidco.com

[Grace E. Mauzy]

I am a person with more on my plate than most people I know. My professional life and personal life include being a parent coach- helping parents to instill high self-esteem in their children-being a parent of four with three kids still at home-two I home school, and all the rest of what I do you can imagine, but I won't bore you with the details. With this life style overwhelm can come easy. I am anxious to check out your interview with Elizabeth. I often find that things of this nature that are set up for business people work incredibly well with my clients and their parenting issues.

[Guy Levine]

Hi Robert,

This organisation is a killer. I have had a lot of success with the Getting Things Done system, but sometimes it just slips!

My nirvana - arriving at work and doing everything i need to do, for my business and for my clients and then leaving without the office looking like a bomb hit it!

I wrote about this same thing on my blog today.

[Linda Spaanbroek]

Dear Robert,
You are absolutely right. Being in control of all your outgoing en incoming 'stuff' is very essential in handling all aspects of your marketing. I found that 'Getting Things Done' by David Allen does for me what your 'Command Centre' does for you. And as a bonus it made my head more clear (since I have an command centre outside my head and I don't have to remind myself of al the little things I still need or want to do) which gave my creativity an enormous boost!