If your desk is messy it will distract you from your work. Keep it clean all the time.

method, pioneered years ago by success- ful fast food franchise creators such as Dave Kroc of McDonalds, where all things repetitive were duplicated and put into repeatable systems, is undeniably responsible for the success of that giant franchise.

The “no organization and no systems barrier,” caused by the lack of having organized, repeatable, systems in place, will stop you from moving to the next level in whatever you do. But the good news is there is a fix for it.

Tips to Get You Organized 1. Arrive to work a few minutes early to

organize your thoughts and things and to get prepared for the day before the

phones start to ring and customers begin to come through the door. Get anything necessary to do your job organized and ready to go, such as your computer, or anything else you need in place to do your job well without the distraction of having to find or look things up. 2. Clear any clutter around your work area and create a place for everything. If your desk is messy it will distract you from your work. Keep it clean at all times. A great way to prevent clutter from accu- mulating on your desk is to use the one touch rule. Deal with every piece of paper that comes to your desk immediately. 3. Throughout your work day take notice of, and write down, things that you consistently repeat, such as prices for fre-

quently requested items, warranty infor- mation, shipping locations and times, or anything else you continually need to look up. Use a text document, or some other system to keep all the information you regularly use and need in one place so you won’t have to waste valuable time finding them each time they are needed. Finally, when your brain, time, work- space,and projects are well organized and in systems, you will have broken this barrier and naturally become much more productive.

Mike French, president of Mike French & Company, Inc., can be reached toll free at 800- 238-3934, or visit his company’s Web site at www.MikeFrench.com.

November-December 2015 | Automotive Recycling 13