How I Easily Achieved Organizational Triumph

Good morning!

I hope this finds you well.

Welcome to another edition of The Matt Viera Newsletter.

The newsletter with the goal to inspire you to live the life you actually want to live.

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Shortly after I was honorably discharged from the Army, I worked private security in Miami (back when rent in Miami for a ~1200 square foot apartment on a golf course was $725/month).

My supervisor was sharp (and an Army veteran), but shockingly, he needed to be more organized.

I'd go into his office for a meeting, and his desk was in absolute shambles: papers, notebooks, spreadsheets, and computer printouts were strewn haphazardly all over his desk.

Then he said the one thing all disorganized people say, "Yeah, it looks like a mess, but there's a method to the madness. I know where to find anything I need on this desk."

I don't know if he was telling the truth or trying to save face, but that desktop was an absolute disaster.

About a year later, his desk was immaculate when I entered his office.

The very definition of tidy.

I believe he faced the truth of the matter and took action.

Which is what I did last week.

For about the past year, I have been completely overwhelmed with information (probably why I haven't been sleeping well).

I'm an information junkie which comes from always wanting to learn something new, both professional and personal, and writing it down somewhere for future reference.

Picture this: a life filled with a whirlwind of information scattered across emails (three email inboxes), notebooks (learning journals), notepads, three different digital online storage spaces, and, let's not forget, the sticky notes.

I was performing a daily mental juggling act.

I'll be honest: I thought there was "a method to the madness," but there wasn't.

To regain some sanity, I decided to take some time and tackle this chaos head-on.

I needed one central location to keep track of everything.

A digital brain, if you will.

I decided to set up a new email account solely for its calendar and task manager, not for emails (I will never provide that email address to anyone).

Plus, I started consolidating all my scattered notes into the organized haven that is OneNote.

I've been using Google Drive and Notion for my organizational needs without success for this particular type of organization.

OneNote was what got me through law school.

Plus, I already have it installed (but never used it) on my laptop, which backs up seamlessly to the new email account I set up.

It took me two days to set everything up.

So far, I'm happy with the results in many ways (perhaps another topic for a future newsletter).

I even purchased a small desk organizer to reduce visual clutter (and those sticky notes in various neon colors).

I can breathe a little easier knowing I have a calendar, a to-do list with notifications, reduced visual clutter, and a central location to store everything that syncs seamlessly with apps on my phone.

Little did I know that this seemingly mundane organizational shift would become a game-changer for my mental well-being.

So, what's the link between my organizational triumph and personal finances?

It got me thinking about a parallel chaos many people face – their financial lives.

Not everyone has their financial house in order.

According to a recent survey, a whopping 77% of Americans report feeling anxious about their financial situation.

More than half feel that their finances control their lives, and an equally significant percentage grapple with money-related worries.

Now, let's contrast this with a 2019 survey that revealed an astonishing 92% of Americans find unmatched joy and confidence when their finances are in order.

The key, my friend, lies in taking control of your finances.

Taking control doesn't mean knowing how much you spend or having a budget.

It's about having a clear picture of your financial landscape – from daily expenses to debt payments.

It's about wielding the power to make informed decisions that align with the life you actually want to live.

The truth is that most of us are so caught up in the chaos of our daily lives that we overlook the transformative impact of having our financial affairs in order.

Why does this matter?

It's about reclaiming your peace of mind and setting the stage for a future where your finances work for you, not the other way around.

No more frantic searches for due dates, no more second-guessing your budget, and definitely no more being swamped by the looming shadow of financial anxiety.

Taking control of your finances might seem daunting, but trust me, it's a small investment of time with incredible returns.

I challenge you to carve out some time over a weekend or whenever you find some free time and start consolidating your financial information - take control of your financial landscape.

You can use a digital or tangible notebook – whatever works best for you.

The goal is to have all your financial details in one central location.

For example, I keep two financial spreadsheets in my Google Drive: a checking account balance/net worth tracker and a budget/spending tracker.

Both are simple, easy to find, and easy to update (which I do at least weekly, if not daily).

I have a template for both, which helps me start fresh every month (and past spreadsheets are archived).

This simple financial system has worked for me for years.

Remember, this isn't just about numbers on a spreadsheet; it's about reclaiming your freedom and making room for the things that truly matter.

It's the first step toward the life you actually want to live – a life where your finances are a tool for your dreams, not a source of stress.

Interesting reads:

Speaking of Miami: Miami got too expensive so she moved to Colombia

Video: How to make peak performance habits as automatic as breathing

You can find the collection of my favorite financial tools & resources by clicking here.

Thanks for reading!

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