Expert organizer and New York Times bestselling author Julie Morgenstern teaches you how to get rid of the physical, mental, and time clutter that’s keeping you from the life you want. Julie Morgenstern has made a career out of helping her clients get organized. But in the process, she discovered something surprising: for many of her clients, organizing isn’t enough. For those who are eager to make a change in their lives—a new job, a new relationship, a new stage in life—they need to get rid of the old before they can organize the new. They need to SHED their stuff before they can change their lives! So Julie created the SHED process—a four-step plan to get rid of the physical, mental, and schedule clutter that holds back so many of us. But SHEDing isn’t just about throwing things away! Julie teaches that its just as important to focus on what comes before and after you heave the clutter, so that the changes you make really stick in the long term. Learn about: • Separating the treasures (figuring out what really matters) • Heaving the rest (undertaking the tough work of eliminating excess) • Embracing your true identity (figuring out who you really want to be) • Driving yourself forward (achieving real change now that the past isn’t holding you back any longer) Whether you’re facing a move, a promotion, an empty nest, a marriage, divorce, or retirement, SHED Your Stuff, Change Your Life provides a practical, transformative plan for positively managing change in every aspect of your life. "Absolutely brilliant!" -- Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People "This book will help you to recognize what you really value in life so you can let go of everything that's keeping you from reaching your true potential." -- Larry King "I've always been amazed by the way Julie Morgenstern can organize everything -- but until now, I didn't realize that included human minds, hearts, and souls." -- Martha Beck, author of Finding Your Own North Star Julie Morgenstern helps people and companies—like American Express, IKEA, The Miami Heat, Sony Music, Rubbermaid, and Time Warner—do more in less time. Morgenstern’s first book, Organizing From the Inside Out, was made into a PBS special. She is also the author of Time Management from the Inside Out, Organizing from the Inside Out for Teens (co-written with her daughter Jessi), and Never Check E-Mail in the Morning. Chapter 1 What Is SHED ? Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you’ve imagined. —Henry David Thoreau As an organizing and time management guru, my work over the past twenty years has been dedicated to delivering practical and insightful solutions that transform the way people and companies function. My “inside-out” philosophy lies at the heart of my mission—building systems around the unique personality, style, and goals of each individual and company so that they can make their greatest contributions to the world. Organizing is the process of arranging your home, office, and schedule so that it reflects and encourages who you are, what you want, and where you are going. Simply put, organizing is about designing systems that improve your efficiency and enable you to achieve your goals. But what happens when organizing isn’t enough? Dear Julie, I am stuck, paralyzed, before my own future. I’ve been opening doors and closing them, unable to confront the task that awaits me—getting my so-called empty nest ready to sell. Brooke, 53, public relations consultant I’m unhappy in my job, but am stumped whether to stay or go. I’ve been spinning my wheels for years and I have no idea where to go from here. Greg, 36, financial analyst On the outside, my life looks good—nice house, great family, good job. I look so accomplished. But it’s an empty shell. I’ve felt my whole life that there is something unexpressed in me. Olivia, 47, real estate agent I read your organizing books, and they make utter sense, but change is hard. I can’t seem to part with my old ways. Adam, 62, architect Organizing works when you know where you are going but don’t know how to get there. But when you are feeling stuck in your life, when you are in transition and unsure of where you’re going next . . . organizing is not enough . Here’s a little more from Brooke’s letter to me: Before spring vacation I had made a list of things to do based on putting the house on the market this spring. It included shopping for improvements—French doors to separate the front hall from my computer room—and lots of sorting tasks to pare down the nineteen years’ worth of stuff that is stored all over this big house. But at the end of spring break the only task I had accomplished was loading and using Turbo Tax! I still can’t believe that with nothing to do I was unable to face that list. Spring vacation is my get-it-done time. I clean, I sort, I organize. What is wrong with me?! Brooke When I read Brooke’s note it seemed cle