I am not a neat freak—in fact, I'm pretty messy most of the time...
But I do tidy up when I need to and it ALWAYS makes a difference.
Now, you might think I am just talking about doing the filing (which is a good place to start, btw), BUT there are plenty of other things in your business that could do with a tidy from time to time that you should think about.
Once you've tidied up your desk, and office (and yes, done the filing) then take a look at what you're doing and who you are doing it for. Then you can tidy up your offers and your marketing too.
Here's where I'd start: Who do you want to work with?
Yes, the classic 'Ideal Client' challenge.
But it is SO important—if you don't know who you want to work with, you're never going to get your marketing and message right, or know what to offer them. And, over time, your ideal client can get a bit messy.
Obviously, I'm not meaning this in a literal sense (in that your clients are now all scruffy!), but your description of their wants, needs, desires and values can get a little woolly if left unchecked. And often, out of the mess, you find a new type of client or set of values that actually you prefer (so the messy is handy too).
But want you want to do from time to time (at least once a year, if not every few months) is 'check in' and redefine your ideal clients. Look at who you've been working with, what work you've enjoyed doing the most and who that was with. It might surprise you who those people were. But when you see clearly there are patterns and clear definitions of the 'best' people you like to work with doing your Thing make this your ideal client profile.
The clearer and tidier you are with any definition or profile, the easier it will be do your marketing and spot these people in the crowd.
I am always having a tidy of my ideal clients (even if you don't see that!) but the result will be saying "Yes" to different speaking opportunities, joint ventures with different people, changes to where I network, and the messages I am putting out as marketing...
While I might do this subtly, you might want to announce your tidy up in 'change of direction' way—and that's cool too, as it might be that if you were super-woolly before and now you're super-defined more of those people will instantly 'get' you are there for them and show up saying "Hey, I'm here!".
Once you're all tidy with your ideal client, you need to match all your marketing to them. You might need to tweak a message here and there, showcase different case studies, or totally overhaul your website (see the announcing option). Or, if you're able to be more subtle, just start changing where you focus your energy and attention when you're doing your Thing.
Having a tidy of your offers is important too. It's a simple stock take exercise—what's selling well and what's staying on the shelf? Do you need to change your price or promotion to get products and services shifting, or is it time to sell them off and clear a space on your shelves for something new.
Being a creator, I had a LOT of products and services at one time in my business (because I loved coming up with new ideas!) BUT now I've tidied up my offers to be a smaller selection—think boutique rather than high street chain. I've tidied up how I work with people as actually there was a lot of overlap and it wasn't always clear which was the best option and what took people where. Now it's clear to me and clear to people who are shopping what they can and can't buy and no two items are confusingly similar.
It might be that you need to do something as simple as create a bundle of your products or services, or split them out if that's not working! Have a tidy up and see what your market is asking for.
Now tidy you. When you've tidied your business, think what YOU need to do to be tidier—what's your look, what's your style, how you can be more consistent in your positioning and posture. Stop doing and being anything you're not, and don't want to be. Tidy up your thoughts about you and stand stronger in your spotlight.
A Tidy Up is a chance to grow.
So tell me: what are you going to tidy today?
Want to talk more about this?
Did my tidying yesterday. Very Feng Shui to keep things tidy. However, like you Lucy, it gets done when I have run out of desk space. Focus on the tidying, means I can put things into priority and get more done the next day. And it keeps my out of the kitchen, where I hate being and someone else can clean that up.