I was just asked in a press interview, "What is the worst organizing dilemma you’ve come across and how were you able to fix it?" I thought long and hard about that. I can recall many projects that seemed difficult at first and then we figured it out with the right methods, products, and elbow grease. What stuck in my mind were the ones we weren’t able to solve. Here’s what I said in the interview:
I have many successful stories of squeezing space out of nothing and creating amazing visible results. But the worst dilemmas were sometimes not solvable…not because we couldn’t fix it with good sorting, tools, and systems, but because the people involved were not willing or able to make the personal change necessary to be successful. It’s not about the physical items you own—it’s about your relationship to them. Sometimes it’s an issue of working with a couple who cannot agree on the direction of the project. Maybe the person is not ready to let go of the excess, or maybe the person is not willing to try something different. Sometimes there are even psychological issues involved. Remember, getting organized is truly about personal change.
I guess what I am trying to say is that there is rarely an organizing situation that is not solvable except for the people themselves getting in the way. Do you agree? Are you holding yourself back? I will add that budget often is another factor…people sometimes need to buy certain products or change a closet to solve the problem and need to save up for that. But putting that aside, I find this to be true. I have seen people who wouldn’t stop buying things they didn’t need, couples who have rudely argued right in front of me all day long about their project, people who have hoarding disorders or other chronic disorganization issues, people who spoiled their children with too many toys, and the list goes on.
Here’s what I am NOT saying, by the way– I am not saying it’s someone’s own fault that they have a psychological disorder. I am not "blaming and shaming" people… I am merely stating that it’s not the stuff, it’s our relationship to the stuff. Pretty much anything can be sorted and solved. What do you think?
This is so true. I think even I do it every now and then – especially with clothes and mail!
Lorie, you wrote, “I guess what I am trying to say is that there is rarely an organizing situation that is not solvable except for the people themselves getting in the way. Do you agree?”
Yes, I agree. I think it’s most obvious when folks aren’t willing to be flexible. When they won’t even _try_ a new technique for 2 weeks…or 1 week. I always encourage people to at least _try_ a new system, idea or product. Just try it before telling me all the reasons it won’t work.
Even if the new idea isn’t “just right” it’s usually better than it was before. Next steps involve custom-fitting which require a little more time and patience.
Lesson: Remain open to new ideas; be willing to try something new since your old way isn’t working. What do you have to lose?
I just posted about how much nicer my home would be if we just finished cleaning out our basement – no cash required – but psychologically very difficult. It’s dirty, tedious work – who would want to do it? I’m trying to chip away at it a bit at a time . . .