When I began my organizing business 48 years ago with a $7 ad in a New York City newspaper, one of my immediate challenges was finding the appropriate “container” for whatever we were organizing—whether it was a garage, an office, or a file drawer.

One of the wise sayings I often heard from my father, a Nebraska farmer, was:

“Half of any job is having the right tool.”

Later, we modified that slightly:

“Half of any job is USING the right tool.”

Because often—email being the best example—clients already had the tools they needed, but weren’t using them effectively.

The Early Days: Searching for Solutions

In those early years, I spent hours going from store to store trying to find the exact container I needed. (That includes file folders—I even taught an entire class on choosing the right one!)

At the time, I didn’t have the knowledge—or perhaps more accurately, the confidence—to charge for my shopping time. I didn’t have the financial resources to purchase in bulk, and when I returned to buy the same product for another client, it was often no longer available.

At one point, a retired Navy captain and I spent many hours collecting ideas and product samples, dreaming about creating an “organizing catalog.” Before we could bring that idea to life, a creative entrepreneur opened an organizing store less than an hour from my home.

A New Resource… and a Missed Opportunity

That store was a tremendous blessing to my business. For the first time, we had a centralized resource for organizing tools.

Not long after, a larger organizing chain opened in our area. It seemed like an incredible opportunity—not only for the public, but for professional organizers as well.

I introduced myself to the owners and shared how excited I was. I proposed what I believed could be a powerful partnership:
“Together we are better.”

Organizers would have access to tools and resources for their clients, and the store would benefit from helping customers understand the real impact organizing could have on their lives.

They were not interested.

They explained that their “associates” would assist customers. I noticed they used the wordcustomers, while I used the wordclients. To me, that distinction mattered.

Customers buy products.
Clients experience transformation.

When Containers Become Part of the Problem

Over the years, many of their products became favorites of mine. I recommended them often.

But I also began to notice something troubling.

Many of my clients—who were frequent shoppers at organizing stores—were becoming more overwhelmed, not less.

They were buying products to “get organized,” but instead of solving the problem, they were often adding to it.

Buying a container feels productive.
It gives immediate relief without requiring hard decisions.

But here’s what I’ve learned after nearly five decades:

A container can only organize what you’ve already decided to keep.

The Real Issue: Postponed Decisions

The prevailing philosophy in the marketplace has been that clutter is a systems problem.

My experience has taught me something very different:

Clutter is postponed decisions®.

Every pile represents decisions delayed:

• What is this?

• Do I need it?

• Why am I keeping it?

• Where does it belong?

When those questions go unanswered, the default solution becomes:put it somewhere.

And that “somewhere” is often another container.

Why This Matters More Than Ever

For many in my generation, keeping things felt responsible. We believed we were preserving a legacy for our children and grandchildren.

What we’re discovering now is that, in many cases, they don’t want those things.

What was intended as a gift has become a burden—not because the items lack meaning, but because the decisions attached to them were never completed.

A Different Approach That Actually Works

Making decisions is not easy. It can be demanding and emotionally draining. And without a clear process, most people don’t follow through.

That is why, after nearly five decades of working with clients, we created ourSOAR to Successprogram.

Not to give people more tools—but to give them what actually works:

• SYSTEM (Saving You Space, Time, Energy, and Money)
  A clear, repeatable way to make decisions about everything in your life

• ACCOUNTABILITY
  Because we are far more likely to follow through when someone walks alongside us

• COMMUNITY
  Because clutter produces shame—and it’s powerful to realize you are not alone

When those three elements are in place, something remarkable happens.

You stop managing clutter…
and start making decisions with confidence.

You no longer need more containers.

You know exactly what deserves a place in your life—and what doesn’t.

Ready to Take the Next Step?

If this resonates with you, the best way to begin is simple:

👉Join theSOAR Into Action Workshop —http://workshop.productiveenvironment.com/

This is where you’ll start putting these principles into action—with guidance, support, and a clear path forward.

Save your spot today, if you haven’t yet.