Stephen Robbins here.

Welcome to the get it done guys quick and dirty tips to work less and do more.

Today's topic is cleaning up quickly and easily.

The tip was sent in by listener Michelle.

I'm reading a book called The Value of Nothing by Raj Patel.

He's discussing how ownership and purely market-based economies are

great for the rich and powerful, but suck for everyone else. I don't know about you, but living in a

market-based consumer economy is fun. We get to buy all kinds of neat toys to deal with the gaping

void we feel inside from living lives and jobs of quiet despair.

When we want friends, we buy a new game console so we can invite people over.

When we want romance, we buy exciting designer clothes. After all, a potential boyfriend or

girlfriend will think we're losers if we're not wearing the latest designer underwear.

And quality family time is as simple as buying an HDTV so everyone has something to look at besides each other.

At work, we also rely on consumerism, but we spend the company's money.

We buy books on important topics like who moved the cheese, who's eating the cheese, and who cut the cheese.

We buy gadgets to help be productive, and we buy stationary supplies so we have something to steal in futile acts of petty rebellion.

The more we buy, the more we build clutter.

When we buy a new printer because our old one ran out of toner, we just toss the old

one on the floor.

A robotic arm prototype, it's leaning against the filing cabinet.

Last season's designer hot pants draped over the flip chart size posted pad we use for notes during our offsite.

And that takeout container of leftover meatloaf, it'll make a great snack tonight as we watch the latest episode of Nasal Fluids Explained.

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