Vacuums, Cables and Coat Hangers

I have these obscure thoughts! It could be my ADHD, it could be that I am just weird. Last year as I was vacuuming my house I couldn't help but ponder the analogy of that vacuum and its propensity to get stuck, on furniture, on corners, just about anywhere it can and further its ability to get clogged up.

Since then other inanimate objects have caught my attention, namely Electrical Cables and Coat Hangers.

In my work, I am always asking people to question convention, to take a step back from their business and consider it with care, and thoroughness, and most importantly to question everything with an open mind.

When I think about the world we live in and the enormous shift towards decision making that is compulsively in the immediate or right now, I see a world where quick results and a dismissal of consequence plays out in business everyday.

There are so many examples of this, I have teamed up with long term friend and business colleague Mark Civitella , to complete a book I started writing 8 weeks ago. The book itself is intended to explore the benefits and shortcomings of “doing what's right or doing what's right now” - we are currently running a series of live videos on Linkedin, Youtube and Facebook to engage others in our thinking and invite insights from people about their observations.

What strikes me consistently, particularly in light of these inanimate objects is that speed for the sake of speed is the enemy. The quicker I try and vacuum, the longer I leave cables bundled in a box or draw and the haste with which I reach for a coat hanger, the more likely it is that I will get stuck.

This I think is a great analogy for decision making and business strategy. Making the time and more importantly space to consider our business with a humble awareness, curiosity and a new level of consciousness is such an imperative to making sure what we do matters.

When we stuff things away quickly, trying to move on to the next thing we do so without consideration of how this will look when we return to it,? Electrical Cables will remind us as they seemingly tangle themselves up with the absence of our attention.

When we are trying to clean up, cut corners and move at pace, we will invariably get stuck on issues that we could well have considered in advance but lacked the awareness to consider in the moment. A reminder is the vacuum cleaner with the innate ability to get stuck on just about anything. (bring on the robot vacuum right).

When we reach for the closest solution in haste, the coat hanger reminds us that it will find a way to get hooked on something that will work against you, people, content and thinking that doesn't serve our objectives or more importantly doesn't serve our happiness.

Here is a summary of the lessons gifted to us by these inanimate objects with relation to effective business strategy that guides actions that matter most.?

1. Tendency for Tangling (Electrical Cables)

• Lesson: Without regular maintenance, things can become more complex than necessary. Cables tend to tangle if they aren’t organised or stored properly.
• Application: The same can be said about problems in life. When you don’t manage your tasks, responsibilities, or emotions, they tend to get messy and tangled. Regular organisation, planning, and tidying up of your thoughts and work can help prevent “mental tangling.”

2. Getting Bent out of Shape (Coat Hangers)

• Lesson: Coat hangers, especially wire ones, bend easily but are hard to untangle once they're intertwined with other hangers or objects. This is often due to their shape and flexibility.
• Application: Flexibility in life is a virtue, but being too flexible without boundaries can cause you to get “stuck” in complicated situations. Maintaining structure and being intentional about how you store or organise things (or manage relationships and commitments) can prevent entanglement.

3. Blocking Flow (Vacuums)

• Lesson: Vacuums are meant to clean things, but sometimes, they get clogged when they suck up objects they aren’t supposed to, blocking the airflow and reducing their effectiveness and very often they get stuck.
• Application: In life, it’s important to filter what you let into your space—whether it’s information, people, or activities. Letting in too much of what doesn’t serve you can clog your mental and emotional "flow." Regularly clearing out what isn't useful ensures you stay effective and functional. Further and importantly, considering your direction and the things you've left behind will help you not get stuck on issues you thought you'd left behind.

4. Prevention is Key

• With cables, preventing tangles through proper cable management or using cord organisers helps. Similarly, with coat hangers, neatly arranging them prevents overlap and frustration. In the case of vacuums, emptying the bag or checking for obstructions regularly keeps them functioning well.
• Application: Regular preventive measures in daily life, whether in mental organisation, relationships, or work, can prevent problems from spiralling out of control.

5. Patience and Attention to Detail

• Untangling cables, separating coat hangers, or fixing a clogged vacuum takes time, patience, and a step-by-step approach.
• Application: In life, when things seem complicated or overwhelming, addressing them one piece at a time with patience usually helps resolve the problem.

These everyday items remind us that prevention, organisation, and care can help us avoid frustration and keep things running smoothly in life. Moreover, it clears a path for progress without unnecessary obstruction.

I hope these analogies and my weirdo thinking about them, is a useful reminder of the imperatives of moving forward with a greater degree of certainty; the ability to move toward something and not away from something else; and ultimately the space and consideration to effectively address the key elements and interdependencies of growth.

We cover these interdependencies and a framework for growth in our Masterclass, The Art of Growth on October 24. It's free, just click here to register.

Hi, I'm Scott,

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