The Box That Became Furniture…

Several years ago, I brought something home in a fairly large box. I honestly cannot remember if I bought it at a store or if it was delivered to the house. What makes this story even stranger is that I cannot remember what was actually in the box. Seriously, I have absolutely no idea. I think I used whatever it was. At least I hope I did. Otherwise, this story gets even more embarrassing.

After a while, whatever had been inside disappeared, but the box remained. For some reason, I put it in the corner of our bedroom. To be fair, it was on my side of the room, so in my mind I was being considerate.

My wife would occasionally ask, “Are you going to do something with that box?” I would confidently reply, “Yep. I’ll get to it.” A few weeks later she would ask again. “Still planning on doing something with the box?” And I would say, “absolutely.” I had a plan. It just did not include a date. Months went by and eventually she stopped asking. Now, before you think she gave up, let me explain. She did not stop noticing the box. She simply stopped believing my timeline.

Life went on. We vacuumed around the box, we dusted the box and we walked past the box every single day. It became part of the bedroom. It did not match the furniture. It did not belong there. It served absolutely no purpose. Yet somehow it earned permanent residency. The funny thing was, after a while I completely stopped seeing it. It was just there.

One day, well over a year later, I happened to glance over into the corner and said, “Huh. That box is still there.” Without even looking up, my wife smiled and said, “You think?” I laughed and she continued, “It’s been there for over a year.” I honestly could not believe it. Somehow my brain had edited the box out of existence. It had become so familiar that I no longer noticed it. Even worse, I had stopped questioning why it was still there.

I proudly announced that I was finally going to get rid of it. My wife looked at me with that smile spouses have perfected after years of marriage and said, “I’ve heard that before.” She wasn’t wrong. A few months later, I finally followed through and the box was finally gone.

The really sad part is I still cannot tell you what was originally inside it. Apparently, it was important enough to bring home, but not important enough to remember.

That got me thinking. How many things do we keep simply because they have become part of the scenery? Maybe it is a box. Maybe it is an old project. Maybe it is equipment we never use. Maybe it is something we once thought we needed.

Sometimes we hold onto things because they have sentimental value. Sometimes because we think we might need them someday. Sometimes because getting rid of them sounds like more work than keeping them. Before long, they simply become part of the landscape of our lives. We stop seeing them and we stop questioning them. They quietly occupy space that could be used for something much more valuable.

So, what does this have to do with running an online business? Well, I’m glad you asked!

I think many of us have boxes in our businesses. They may not be cardboard boxes sitting in the corner of the room, but they take up space just the same.

Maybe it is software you signed up for because everyone said you needed it. Maybe it is an online course you bought with every intention of finishing someday. Maybe it is a notebook full of ideas that has not been opened in two years. Maybe it is a gadget, a camera, an extra monitor, three hundred pens with your logo on them, or an application you have been paying for every month because canceling it has stayed on tomorrow’s to do list for the past six months.

At one time, every one of those things probably had a purpose. Some were great investments. Others taught us valuable lessons. A few simply looked like a good idea at the time. There is nothing wrong with that. We all try things. That is how we learn and grow. The problem is not that we bought them. The problem is when they quietly become permanent residents in our businesses without adding any value. Just like the box in my bedroom, they slowly become invisible.

We stop asking whether we still need them. We stop evaluating whether they are helping us move forward. We simply work around them because they have become part of the scenery. That can happen with physical things. It can also happen with habits with subscriptions, old goals and  unfinished projects. Every one of those things takes up space.

Here Are Five Reasons It May Be Time To Remove A Few Boxes From Your Business

First, they consume valuable space that could be used for something that actually moves your business forward.

Second, they quietly drain your attention. Every time you see them, your brain is reminded of another unfinished task.

Third, they often cost more than we realize. Whether it is monthly subscriptions, storage, maintenance, or simply lost opportunities. Unused items are rarely free.

Fourth, they create unnecessary clutter that makes it harder to focus on what really matters. Clarity almost always leads to better decisions.

Finally, removing old boxes creates room for new opportunities. Sometimes we cannot receive something better until we make room for it.

Think about your own business for just a minute. What have you been stepping around? What have you been paying for but no longer using? What project have you been telling yourself you will get back to someday?

Maybe today is someday. Imagine how much lighter your business would feel if you cleared away just one thing this week. You do not have to clean out everything at once. Just remove one box and then another. Before long, you may discover that what changed was not just your workspace. It was your focus, your energy and your momentum. Funny enough, getting rid of one forgotten box in our bedroom made the room feel bigger. I have a feeling the same thing happens in our businesses.

As I look back on that lonely little box sitting in the corner of our bedroom, I cannot help but laugh. It occupied valuable space for well over a year, and I cannot even remember what was inside it. That tells me everything I need to know. Sometimes the things we hang onto are not nearly as valuable as the space they occupy. Whether it is in our homes, our offices, or our businesses, it is healthy to occasionally step back and ask ourselves a simple question. “Is this still helping me?” If the answer is yes, great. Put it to work.

If the answer is no, maybe it is time to donate it, recycle it, sell it, or simply let it go. Your business deserves room to grow, your mind deserves room to think and your future deserves room for new opportunities.

One of the reasons I enjoy being part of the Internet Profits Academy is that it has helped me become much more intentional about my business. Instead of collecting more and more things, I have learned to focus on the tools, training, and strategies that actually move me forward. Sometimes success is not about adding something new. Sometimes it begins by removing what no longer belongs. If you are looking for a place to learn and grow your online business, take a look at the Internet Profits Academy. Best of all, there is now a FREE MEMBERSHIP option, so you can explore the community and many of its resources at no cost.

Now I would love to hear from you. What is the “box” in your life or business? Maybe it is something sitting in your garage. Maybe it is an old subscription you forgot you were paying for. Maybe it is equipment collecting dust. Maybe it is a project that no longer fits where you are headed. Leave me a comment below and tell me about your box. I have a feeling we are all going to recognize a little of ourselves in each other’s stories. Who knows. You may even inspire someone else to finally clear out a corner they have been walking past for far too long.

As for me, I learned a valuable lesson. If something sits in the corner long enough, it eventually becomes furniture. According to my wife, if another mysterious box shows up in our bedroom, she is going to put a lamp on top of it and tell our guests it is an end table. Honestly, I cannot even argue with that.

“Out of clutter, find simplicity.” – Albert Einstein

“The more you have, the more you are occupied. The less you have, the more free you are.” – Mother Teresa

And of course, a few VERY BAD Dad jokes:

I finally cleaned out my junk drawer. Now I have no idea where I put all my junk.

I have a filing system. It’s called, “I’ll remember where I put it.” It has an incredibly low success rate.

Until next time, STAY FRESH, Friends!

 

 

 

 

**If you are curious about building and maintaining a healthy online business, I invite you to subscribe to my newsletter here and continue following my blog. My hope is not only to create the freedom I have long desired, but also to share what I am learning with others who are working toward the same dream.