Today I am sore as sore can be. I spent most of my weekend filling up a dumpster full of trash, junk, and things I haven’t used in over 3 years. By the end of the day, I was downright embarrassed at how much crap we had stuffed away in a garage, barn and basement. But I also felt elated to finally be rid of it all.
This weekend also seems to sum up 2009 for me. I’ve severed business relationships that were taking more than they were giving. I’ve spun off several blogs from Sparkplugging that just didn’t fit the small business niche. I’ve dumped toxic people out of my life. I’ve stopped pursuing PR opportunities. I’m turning down speaking gigs. And I’ve stopped doing anything for my business that doesn’t have a tangible ROI (Return on Investment).
Like I said last week, I’ve never been happier, or more profitable.
A Silver Lining in Almost Losing it All
If there was a silver lining in my health scare this spring, it was that it forced me to cut the dead weight in my business & life and focus only on things that matter: my family, my happiness and my financial security. And I will be the first to admit that it probably took facing a potentially deadly diagnosis for me to be willing to let go of so much.
It’s not a path I recommend, truthfully. 
But I do recommend getting rid of crap in your business and your life that isn’t directly making you happier, healthier, or richer. I might have more dead weight to cut – but I’m flying higher than ever now that I’m not carrying around so much baggage that was holding me back. And that includes a dumpster full of junk that is now out of my house!
So This Week is all About the UN-To-Do List!
Do you have anything you do that you’ve realized isn’t really worth the time and effort you’re putting into it? Do you have clients you should have fired months ago? Do you go to events that produce no good leads? Do you spend time socializing networking online instead of getting work done?
At this point, I’m kind of hard pressed to come up with another thing I need to get rid of – but I can think of one conversation I’ve been putting off that I MUST have this week. And it will determine the future of one of the bigger projects on my plate.
So this week, I promise I will have that conversation, or Kiva gets $100.
So what are you NOT going to do this week? 
Remember to check out the stories, conversations and $5,000 sweeps at You.Propelled on DivineCaroline, as they have sponsored this series of posts that has been getting my butt into gear this fall!
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Sparkplugging Founder Wendy Piersall is dang passionate about helping people start & grow a business while maintaining life balance (somehow). 
Easton Ellsworth is owner of 
As you know (in part thanks to you) I’m also trying to hone my focus and only do what makes me happy or makes me money. I hadn’t yet thought about what to cut out but I guess I’d say some of the Twitter and Facebook activity I do…maybe. I can always add it back in later.
Go you. So proud. And send those speaking engagements my way!
Funny how this post decides to pop up when I am quickly blazing through the feed reader marking off blog posts that I don’t really care that much for actually reading. It’s always good to re-think your priorities every now and then!
Hi Wendy,
I know that feeling well. There will always be things, over a period of time, which should have gotten rid of. But we don’t, till we reach a stage where it’s really hard to leave behind.
But common, you can do it!