Year End Clean Up

How this entrepreneur gets ready for 2024

Photo by Towfiqu barbhuiya on Unsplash

I close my companies down the week between Christmas and New Year’s.

This year, we aren’t returning to the office until January 3rd. I am leaving the 2nd for everyone to recover from what I expect will be a massive party hangover from the Texas Longhorns whipping of the Washington Huskies on the 1st. Fingers crossed.

I usually pick a day before the end of the year to clean up around the home office. It just so happened that day of reckoning came early this year.

Today, I worked from home so it was a great day to tackle this messy office. No one was at home, meaning I could put on a few select vinyls at an ear-splitting volume without a disapproving look from my wife. It also meant I could tackle the multiple plies accumulating on, above, and under my desk.

Something you might not know about me, I hate disorganization. But I am a packrat. And therefore, I have organized chaos that collects at home.

• I have about 32 books that I have been sent by authors or ones that I have ordered. I swear I intend to read them all.

• I have piles of notes, cards, and envelopes. Who collects envelopes? Me apparently.

• I found three lottery tickets. Maybe I am the bajillionaire everyone is talking about. I don’t know, I forgot I bought them.

• I have two of the same Obi-Wan action figures still in the packaging that I ordered two different times. Did I mention, I am dangerous if I am allowed on Amazon too long?

• I found three pairs of headphones. How many ears do you have again Steve?

• Under one pile, I found a Lego X-Wing that I bought for seven bucks. It looked cool so I bought it. Never built it. (I did today. It’s as cool as I thought it would be).

• And receipts. If there were a prize for the amount of receipts I’ve collected, I’d be a rich man.

I like days like this.

I always take one before the holiday break. Just a day to clean up, throw out, and get organized. It makes me feel like I have somehow regained control of an otherwise out-of-control life.

Though, looking at the stack of books, I know that I will never read half of these. My attention span is too short. But the pile is much neater than it had been. That counts for something, right?

I’ve played some great music. Did some conference calls. Managed to throw out some paper. I forced myself to NOT stuff anything anywhere until later. I dealt with virtually everything on my desk, and well…it looks better than it did before

.

Am I ready for the holidays? Sort of. Am I ready to take on 2024. My desk is.

Me…not so much.

Ripple On!!!