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| That's about right! |
People who have never been to my apartment or looked in my car, usually think that I am super organized. This is funny. Am I putting on a good facade? For real, I don't EVER try to pretend that I am organized. Over the summer, I subletted an apartment from a good friend, who is super organized (she's one I am always in awe of!). She returned home to reclaim her apartment about 5 hours before I thought she was going too. Not good. There were piles. One pile was my purse that I had dumped on the floor to sort (over a week prior). There was a pile of books that needed to go in a box, several piles of clothes, dishes in the sink, a vacuum in the middle of the floor (it's like I started vacuuming and then got distracted--who does that?!) She thought it was hysterical, because she always saw me as super put together. In some ways, yes, but when it comes to my home, my car or my notebook. No...
Sometimes I put together a notebook or organize a drawer and I am super proud at that moment. But you know what happens? Two days later, I can't find anything, and I spend more time looking for it, than if it was out of place! Who can relate?
Technology is awesome and every so often, I'll try out a new iPhone app, thinking, "YES...this is the one, I'm going to use this everyday and keep track of things; this time it will be different." Guess what?! It's not. I have yet to embark on a new organizational track that I follow for more than 48 hours. Why? It's not a skill. It's not my nature. And guess what else?! It's ok.
My brother alphabetizes his DVD's. He also folds his trash when he's in the car, which is hilarious--especially when he mandates that I do it too when I'm in his car. I remember once, he handed me a energy bar wrapper and said, "ok, now fold that up and put it in the can." What?!! He is super organized and I envy/accept that! I'm lucky if 1) a dvd is in a case, and 2) if it's in the right case. If you ever borrow a DVD from me, PLEASE check to make sure the right one is in there. It's a 50/50 shot.
Recently, I heard John Maxwell (THE expert on leadership training), teach about focusing on your strengths. He said, in his dynamic and expressive John Maxwell way, "Why would you give more attention to your weaknesses than your strengths?! If you focus on your weaknesses, you'll get weak. If you focus on your strengths, you'll get stronger."
(Please not, the above is definitely a paraphrase...if I could find the notebook where I wrote this down, I could quote Mr. Maxwell better!) Here's a blog post from John Maxwell, "Removing the U from Failure" that sends a similar message.
So all these anecdotes and silly stories are leading up to "the well with all" message today, which is:
Embrace your skills
Focus on what you are good at, and keep doing that, get better at what you are good at. If you embrace your skills, you will get stronger overall, and your weaknesses can be minimized (or at least subsidized by someone else!). You see, one of my goals, is to get to the level where I can hire someone to do the organizational things (I'm sure I don't even know what all those things are!), and just focus on what I'm good at.
This doesn't mean that I currently embellish on my lack organization (like putting my socks in the dishwasher just because), but it does mean that I don't spend a significant amount of time trying to change something that could be just part of me. You see, this week alone, everyday I have set the goal to organize my closet. Everyday this week, I have walked in, stood there for a couple minutes, stared at the closet and thought, "I don't ever know where to start."
Two months ago, I set the goal to punch holes in several sheets of paper for a binder that I use regularly (you super organized people are cringing, 'why haven't you done it?'). Here's a hint : if you have to set a goal to punch holes in paper, you are not organized. Guess what?! It's ok. Embrace it. Go do what you are good at.
Last story. When I worked at the gym, we had signature sheets for our clients to sign after they did a personal training session. My binder was green (everyone else's was black). My sheets were in no order, while most everyone else had tabs. I liked my green binder, because it was easy to find, but I always kind of wished my sheets were alphabetized. One day I came in to train and my green binder was gone. It was replaced by a black binder with tabs labeled A-Z and my clients placed under the appropriate tab. A colleague of mine who knew that I would NEVER do this on my own, had organized and conformed my binder for me. I will admit, for the first week, it took me longer to find each persons signature sheet, but I was super thankful for it, because it made me feel organized. He is super organized.
Do you know your skills? Do you know the traits that make you, YOU? What do people commend you for? When do you know you are in your zone, bringing your A-game?
Seek those moments, embrace your strengths and then take every opportunity you can to fulfill them. You will lift yourself and others up when you take hold of this.
Now breathe a sigh of relief, knowing you don't have to be perfect, just the best version of YOU. Ahhh...
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