Today, I was reflecting on the sheer volume of “stuff” we accumulate, both in our physical spaces and in our minds. It struck me how often we yearn for newness; new experiences, new skills, new opportunities. Yet we cling to the old, the worn-out, the no-longer-necessary.

Think about it: to make space for anything truly new and valuable, we first have to let go.

My today’s attempt to discard unnecessary items brought this into sharp focus. Some things were simply worn out, beyond repair. Others, while still functional, no longer served a purpose in my life. Holding onto them wasn’t saving anything; it was merely occupying valuable real estate, both literally and figuratively. The act of discarding wasn’t just about tidying up; it was about creating a void, an invitation for something fresh to enter.

We often talk about “getting organized” as if it’s about buying better storage bins or color-coding our calendars. But the truth is simpler: To make space for the new, you must discard the old.

You cannot fill a cup that is already full. This principle of physical cleaning holds a profound lesson for our work, our leadership, and our mental peace.

The Kitchen Counter Analogy

Consider the messy kitchen countertop. It is the universal symbol of domestic chaos: dirty mugs, scattered mail, appliances, and crumbs.

When the counter is messy, the immediate instinct is to start scrubbing the surface. But if you have ever tried to clean a kitchen during a busy week, you know that cleaning the surface is actually step two.

Step one is emptying the dishwasher.

If the dishwasher is full of clean dishes, you cannot load the dirty ones. If you cannot load the dirty ones, they stay on the counter. The clutter remains visible and stressful, no matter how much you want to clean it. You must create internal capacity (an empty dishwasher) before you can tackle the external chaos (the messy counter).

The Whirlwind of Thoughts

This dynamic applies directly to our professional lives. We often find ourselves staring at a “messy countertop” of work: an overflowing inbox, endless meetings, and a to-do list that never shrinks.

We try to attack this by working harder, answering emails faster, and multitasking. But this is just wiping the counter while the dishwasher is full.

To truly be effective, you must first seek clarity within. You need to “empty your dishwasher.” This means stepping back to process your internal goals and priorities.

• What is truly important right now?
• What are the worn-out tasks that are no longer necessary?

Only when you have processed these internal priorities can you look at the external “whirlwind of thoughts” and know exactly what to pick up and what to ignore. Without that internal space, everything looks like a priority, and the result is unnecessary stress.

Leadership and the Art of Saying “No”

This lack of space is often the silent killer of team performance.

When a team is underperforming, we often assume they aren’t working hard enough. But frequently, the issue is that their “dishwasher” is jammed. They are burdened with unclear priorities and legacy tasks that no longer serve a purpose.

As a leader, your job isn’t just to assign work; it is to create the space for that work to happen. You have to be the one to discard the old. You have to be the one to say “No.”

Saying “no” to low-value tasks is the equivalent of emptying the dishwasher for your team. It clears the rack so they can load up new, high-value initiatives. You cannot expect a team to learn new skills or innovate if they are drowning in the “clutter” of undefined priorities.

Clarity is a Subtraction Game

Whether it is discarding an old shirt, emptying the dishwasher, or cancelling a recurring meeting that adds no value, the lesson remains the same.

Clarity doesn’t come from adding more. It comes from clearing space. It comes from the courage to identify what is worn out, what is finished, and what is dragging us down—and letting it go.

Before you try to take on the world today, ask yourself: Is my dishwasher empty?