An Organized Mind

Fandango

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I used to work for a guy whose desk was always a mess. I am not exactly a neat-freak, but I always tried to keep a reasonably tidy desk. Having papers and crap randomly spread out on my desk made me feel anxious, so keeping it relatively clean helped me maintain my sanity in what was often a chaotic work environment.

I used to dread it when I had to walk into my boss’s office and ask him for something. He would rifle through papers and folders that were scattered across his large desk for maybe five minutes before he’d finally locate whatever files or papers I had asked for.

When I commented on his disorganization, he would quip, “A messy desk is a sign of an organized mind.”

“No,” I would think to myself, not daring to say it out loud to my boss, “a messy desk is a sign of a messy desk.” I encouraged him to take some time to organize his desk. I even volunteered to help him organize his files. But he always claimed to know exactly where everything on his mess of a desk was located.

But this tale has a happy ending. My messy boss was ultimately let go and I was promoted to take his place. So while he believed that  a messy desk is a sign of an organized mind, I learned that a messy desk is a promotion opportunity for someone with an organized desk (and mind.)

Written for today’s one-word prompt, “organize.”

16 thoughts on “An Organized Mind”

  1. Sight11 August 12, 2017 / 9:04 am

    Why is there someone disorganizing your desk?

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  5. Sandi August 12, 2017 / 11:11 am

    I had two bosses like this. One guy was a pack rat … his office a hording mess. He seriously had a problem. Another gal, was just disorganized. She was an aspiring attorney (she was studying for the bar, and didn’t the pass the first time) and whenever a file was missing and the primary attorney was freaking out and yelling at me, I’d find it on the floor in her office scattered among a pile of 12 on the floor (and legal files are huge) Last I heard, she didn’t pass the bar the 2nd time, and was let go… probably because she was so disorganized. She was terrible! I’d would never want to hire her.

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    • Fandango August 12, 2017 / 1:39 pm

      Fortunately I only had one such boss. All my other bosses seemed to be fairly well organized.

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  6. Sandi August 12, 2017 / 11:12 am

    P.S. I released this week’s Manic Monday early because I’m not going to be on the computer much.

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    • Fandango August 12, 2017 / 1:40 pm

      Yup. I’m thinking about it already.

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    • Fandango August 12, 2017 / 4:42 pm

      Already completed my post, but I won’t publish until Monday…cause it’s Manic MONDAY!

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