Comments on: Paper vs. Importance http://www.productivity501.com/paper-vs-importance/1086/ Pieces of the productivity puzzle. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:02:23 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 hourly 1 By: Nicolas http://www.productivity501.com/paper-vs-importance/1086/comment-page-1/#comment-99119 Nicolas Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:21:18 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/?p=1086#comment-99119 The benefits of a clear desk are not directly related to importance: - It looks clean and gives a good impression to visitors - It increases security and confidentiality since such documents are not flying around on the desk - I believe that it increases productivity - In allows introducing a hot desk system Important people might more often have a clean desk because of receiving more guests and being very productive might have been one aspect of becoming important. I don't agree that they can push more paper down. Important people have to read a lot of stuff and also receive a lot of material from their subordinates. If you want to learn what is necessary to maintain a clean desk you can read more on my blog: http://memytime.wordpress.com/category/at-work/clean-desk-at-work-time-management/ The benefits of a clear desk are not directly related to importance:

- It looks clean and gives a good impression to visitors
- It increases security and confidentiality since such documents are not flying around on the desk
- I believe that it increases productivity
- In allows introducing a hot desk system

Important people might more often have a clean desk because of receiving more guests and being very productive might have been one aspect of becoming important.

I don’t agree that they can push more paper down. Important people have to read a lot of stuff and also receive a lot of material from their subordinates.

If you want to learn what is necessary to maintain a clean desk you can read more on my blog:

http://memytime.wordpress.com/category/at-work/clean-desk-at-work-time-management/

]]> By: Veronica http://www.productivity501.com/paper-vs-importance/1086/comment-page-1/#comment-98847 Veronica Sun, 09 Nov 2008 10:28:55 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/?p=1086#comment-98847 According to me there is no exact connection. There are a group of significant people that are untidy. A truth of life is that the cleanest as well as smartest citizens are not forever in the majority significant places. According to me there is no exact connection. There are a group of significant people that are untidy. A truth of life is that the cleanest as well as smartest citizens are not forever in the majority significant places.

]]> By: Larry http://www.productivity501.com/paper-vs-importance/1086/comment-page-1/#comment-98828 Larry Sun, 09 Nov 2008 06:05:27 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/?p=1086#comment-98828 Something to consider is that most people with ADD/ADHD organize their life by putting things in piles. I know from first hand experience. I always thought I was just a slob until I started to study some of the experts on ADD. Author Dr. Ed Hallowell, 'Driven to Distraction'; 'Delivered from Distraction', is one that has mentioned it more than once. As soon as I first saw that picture of Al Gore, I said to myself "He's ADD". I'm sure Richard Branson, amongst others, is the same. ADD'ers, in many cases, are also DOERS, but usually have someone to keep them organized, hence the clean desks. I guess Tipper Gore gave up trying! Something to consider is that most people with ADD/ADHD organize their life by putting things in piles. I know from first hand experience. I always thought I was just a slob until I started to study some of the experts on ADD.

Author Dr. Ed Hallowell, ‘Driven to Distraction’; ‘Delivered from Distraction’, is one that has mentioned it more than once.

As soon as I first saw that picture of Al Gore, I said to myself “He’s ADD”. I’m sure Richard Branson, amongst others, is the same. ADD’ers, in many cases, are also DOERS, but usually have someone to keep them organized, hence the clean desks.

I guess Tipper Gore gave up trying!

]]> By: Mark Shead http://www.productivity501.com/paper-vs-importance/1086/comment-page-1/#comment-98795 Mark Shead Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:49:19 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/?p=1086#comment-98795 @Niels - I'm not sure how much power the 30 inch flat panels use. Apple is starting to switch to LED screens so the new ones might be a bit more power efficient. Also Gore's isn't particularly conservative on his energy use. His house uses about <a href="http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/gorehome.asp" rel="nofollow">12 times as much energy</a> as an average home. Hopefully it isn't all from those monitors. :) @Stuart - Do you know of the President's of any large countries or CEOs of Fortune 100 companies who have extremely messy desks? I don't, but that doesn't mean they don't exist. Who do you have in mind as an example. @Chris - True, but I think sometimes the top positions come with a support infrastructure that keeps things tidy regardless of how mess the person actually is. @Niels – I’m not sure how much power the 30 inch flat panels use. Apple is starting to switch to LED screens so the new ones might be a bit more power efficient.

Also Gore’s isn’t particularly conservative on his energy use. His house uses about 12 times as much energy as an average home. Hopefully it isn’t all from those monitors. :)

@Stuart – Do you know of the President’s of any large countries or CEOs of Fortune 100 companies who have extremely messy desks? I don’t, but that doesn’t mean they don’t exist. Who do you have in mind as an example.

@Chris – True, but I think sometimes the top positions come with a support infrastructure that keeps things tidy regardless of how mess the person actually is.

]]> By: Chris http://www.productivity501.com/paper-vs-importance/1086/comment-page-1/#comment-98789 Chris Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:17:39 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/?p=1086#comment-98789 The points you mention are generally right, but i think you should add one important point: these important people aren't without a reason important. a good way of self-organizing is an essentiell skill to make a career - and good selforganizing often includes to handle much information what ends in having less papers on the desk The points you mention are generally right, but i think you should add one important point:
these important people aren’t without a reason important. a good way of self-organizing is an essentiell skill to make a career – and good selforganizing often includes to handle much information what ends in having less papers on the desk

]]> By: Stuart http://www.productivity501.com/paper-vs-importance/1086/comment-page-1/#comment-98788 Stuart Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:17:15 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/?p=1086#comment-98788 No definite correlation. There are a bunch of important people that are messy. A fact of life is that the cleanest and smartest people are not always in the most important positions. No definite correlation. There are a bunch of important people that are messy. A fact of life is that the cleanest and smartest people are not always in the most important positions.

]]> By: Niels Bom http://www.productivity501.com/paper-vs-importance/1086/comment-page-1/#comment-98787 Niels Bom Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:13:33 +0000 http://www.productivity501.com/?p=1086#comment-98787 Off-topic: not very energy-friendly Mr Gore, 4 screens! Off-topic: not very energy-friendly Mr Gore, 4 screens!

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