As David says on the Fast CD's, there are lot of 'organized' people who are very 'disorganized' and stressed inside there heads. David says his own desk gets out of control on regular basis and that's a good thing, as long as you have the system to get back to zero.

Well said Jon, thanks.

I recently went through the GTD transformation and my desk is the cleanest in the building. Further, all my files and documents are perfectly organized 100% of the time. The result has been less stress and better organization. However, the most amazing result has been in the reactions of other people. There is a very definite difference in how they speak to me and work with me when they walk into my office now.

In addition, I have had a number of people mention the "instant" organization in my office. The mounds of papers that used to cover every flat surface have magically disappeared.

It's also amazing to me the difference in my mindset when I walk around our offices and look at the desks of others. I can't imagine how they can get anything done...then I remember, the same way I did a couple weeks ago - not very well.

Upper management almost always has to show a very high degree of organization and when they see a messy desk they know that that person cannot handle the stress and added responsibilities of higher management. I suspect that has more to do with why the raises and promotions are more likely go to the organized.