By Rich Bond
I spent three hours last night deleting 200 files and 2,000 emails from my work computer. I felt great when I was done.
My actions were prompted in part by my computer slowing down and also by an article in the New York Times on the subject of digital hoarding.
Cheap storage and individuals’ concerns about potentially needing a specific piece of information have led to an explosion in how much information people have on their computers.
I felt much better when I finished because I felt I could concentrate more fully on my current projects and priorities.
Some of what I purged were the files of a failed effort from several years ago to get more treasury recruiting jobs to work on.
My efforts got me lots of new contacts, but almost no new business, largely because of the zero-interest- rate environment at the time. Managers thought treasury was not a priority and were not hiring.
The content marketing project was similar to a doctor saying the operation was a success but the patient died.
This past year, my treasury recruiting recovered when interest rates rose and corporations wanted to mobilize their working capital. I filled four treasury roles with the Treasury Consulting arm of a Big 4 firm.
Deleting the folders and emails allowed me to admit my project failed and move on.
Would you benefit from being less of a digital hoarder? I’d love to hear about your experience. Email me at richard.bond@bondandcompany.com.
