How costly are your papers?

I recently worked with a client who was a professional services provider. I was amazed, and she was shocked at the amount of hidden-lost money we found below her papers. During the beginning of our 8 Hr. Miracle TM we found the following:

Item Value

1. Unreturned products for credit $556
2. Unpaid/late invoices $326 (including late fees)
3. Unsent client statements $1,296
4. Incorrect orders needing return $4,217
5. Missed Continuing Education course $250 reg. fee + license
6. Old, unopened bank statements too large to quantify

Unfortunately for my client, the unopened bank statements would have given her a clue that there was an irregularity with her bank account. And you might think that this client is an unorganized person. Really not so. But like most of us, there were a few old piles on a desk, a few cluttered drawers and a file cabinet drawer that hadn't been opened for a while. And as a busy professional, these were things that had been delegated to an employee and/or were meant to be reviewed 'one of these days'. One of these days turned into the day that I began the business efficiency project in the office and although I'm happy about the fact that this client has systems in place that will prevent this type of financial set back in the future, I'm really upset that more business owners don't realize how costly it is for them to have piles in their office and clutter in their supply room. I guess it is human nature to put off taking action until a disaster happens as in the case of my client. It's too bad.