Capital One might own the line, "What’s in your wallet?" But I’ve started posing that question more broadly: What’s really in there?
We purge our garages. We reckon with our junk drawers. We eventually toss the cabinet full of outdated remotes. But our wallets? That’s a different story.
I’ve watched people pull out what can only be described as portable storage units. Bricks stuffed with cards, papers, forgotten photos, and ancient receipts. Watching someone fumble for an ID at the Costco entrance has become a form of retail performance art.
Why do we carry the extra weight? Why do we literally sit on it, day after day, until it throws off our posture?
It makes me wonder: If we struggle to quickly find the one thing that matters in a moment like that, how easy do we make it for others to find what matters when they’re looking to us?
I finally cleaned out my own wallet yesterday. I found a three-foot-long CVS receipt and expired gift cards. My back feels better already, but more importantly, it got me thinking about our work.
When we present ideas to clients, are we handing them a clear solution or are we handing them an overstuffed wallet? It’s a good reminder to edit, strip away the noise, and only carry what’s essential.