A job well done, will generate more

Have you started cleaning out your "closets" of problem areas yet? One thing I have noticed as I have done this myself over the years, is how many amazing things I've found tucked away in drawers and cupboards. Things I thought I'd lost and things I'd forgotten I'd bought. I found a friends birthday present last night !!

Assuming you've completed at least one of the "problem" areas - have you noticed how good you feel afterwards? That self-satisfied pat on the back for a job well done.

Now, please bear in mind, I am not just talking about "cleaning things" as in places - but cleaning out old jobs you've been putting off. Calling those clients you don't really like. Admitting to someone you've made a mistake, knowing you are going to have to fix it. Getting rid of the dreaded filing in time for end of financial year tax audits (for those readers in Oz). Because if you are anything like me, you will have found things that need throwing away, mending / fixing (and fixed them), cleaned and dusted the office desk, picked up and re-filed all the spare pens, pencils and paper clips that always seem to litter drawers.

Is it busy work? Yes it is, but I'm not asking you to spend the entire day doing this - just enough time to cross one item off the problem to do list. Then when you get another 5 minutes later in the day you can tackle another of the items.

The classic three D's of unprocrastination kicks in:

• Do it now

• Delegate it to someone who can do it better / quicker than you - and I include offloading the lawn mowing to a lawn mowing service / house keeping and laundry to organisations who specialise in doing those things for people without the time or inclination to do it for themselves and finally

• Dump it. If it doesn't need doing, or needs throwing away - then for goodness sake don't keep it, and don't do it. Magazines you won't read, and email you shouldn't. Make sure your filters are set to filter out funnies, jokes and e-zines that you should get around to reading one day - into a folder for that purpose...when you get five minutes at the end of the day.

So, don't allow another day to pass by without clearing one of your problem areas.