My View on the Power of the Experience

You first slip on your shoes, grab your keys, and head to the door. On the other side of the door is the gateway to the outside world; your garage. When you open the door the first thing you see is what’s transitioning you from being at home to being out.

What does your garage look like? And are your cars in it?

Let’s walk through two scenarios

You open the door and the first thing you see is your disorganized garage. Your first impression of this experience with the outside is not satisfying to look at. Next, you look to your car and see a dirty windshield. You also see tires that aren’t black (tires are supposed to be black right?). Then there’s something dripping from your car’s roof to the passenger window. Your second impression; dreadful.

Now close your eyes, take a breath, let’s try that again.

You open the door and the first thing you see is a calm colored wall with cabinets and storage bins nicely organized. Your first impression of this experience with the outside is satisfying to look at. After that, you look to your car and you see a crystal clear windshield. You then see tires that are the perfect shade and sheen of black. The paint is shiny and crisp. Your second impression; inviting and calming.

Because of this, your mood has been nudged towards the positive as you pass through this gateway between you being in and you being out. You’re leaving your house and on your way with an unfair advantage; a good mood. What are you out to do? Going to work, to an interview, picking up the kids, or running an errand? You’re in a better mood than before you walked through that door.

The unfair advantage

And now that you’re in a better mood you have extra enthusiasm at your fingertips to help you get to your destination and kill it. Let’s say you’re going to an interview; you’ll walk in more confident. Or maybe you’re running an errand and happen to tell everyone you see good morning and make someone else’s day better. In short, taking your garage and car cleanliness seriously presents you with more opportunity.

Stop and smell the roses? Nah, stop and appreciate your chariot!

The next idea is that while you’re out you’re seeing your very clean car next to dirty cars. I like to park at the far end of a parking lot not to walk more or to keep my car safe, but so that I can clearly see it when walking to my car. I enjoy it more when my car is not lost in the sea of cars. So, I can easily see it and enjoy the extremely clean wheels or the glossy paint as I’m walking up to it. That seemingly normal event is a mood enhancer.

If you’re onboard with me that having an organized garage and clean car elevates your mood when you’re leaving then we would quickly agree that it would also elevate your mood when you return.

Then, you turn into your driveway open the garage door and as it’s rolling up you see the organization and a pleasant, snug place for your car. You pull in to your spot, turn the car off, and step out. Before you walk inside you turn to take one quick look at your car and see how proper it looks in the garage. How vibrant the color of the car is, and you can clearly see the interior through the flawless windows. You think “I’m good enough for great things”. Your mood gets a bump in the right direction. It’s easier to smile when you walk through that door and greet whatever is waiting for you on the inside.

So, an organized garage and a clean car are an unfair advantage in your favor.

Let’s get after it.