It's time to dump files you never use.

I recently got a new computer for which I was long overdue. A software package I had on my old computer won't work on this one, and so I thought about whether I should buy new, compatible software, or just stop using the program. Because the software is essentially a database for my paper files I thought about how much I truly access those paper files. The answer turns out to be, not very much.

The 80/20 rule applies to files (electronic and paper) just like it applies to effort/results, clients/revenue, and individuals/wealth. Of all the stuff we file, chances are we're only going to access 20% of it. And frankly that number may be a bit high for me. So the purging process has begun!

Rare is the person who has a solid week, or even a solid day, to spend going through papers and deciding what to keep and what to purge. So in the case of paper files, set an amount of time that you have to devote the file clean-out project. It doesn't have to be a huge chunk of time. A lot can be accomplished in as little as 15 minutes. The set a timer and get to work. Focus like a laser beam on the purging effort until the timer dings.

I recommend the timer so you can really focus instead of checking your watch or the clock. Focus is vital for making headway.

When your time is up for the day, put a sticky note on the file to indicate where you stopped, so when you have another few minutes of purging time scheduled, you'll immediately know where to start.

Later I'll be providing a list of questions to ask yourself so you can decide what to keep and to toss.

See you then!