This phrase, together with Getting Real, seem to be the common guidelines when designing Web 2.0 applications. Feature creep, or the inclusion of functionality which is irrelevant or will rarely be used, were common occurrences when I was involved in software development before starting our company. There was never any priority rating of requirements and every requirement eventually made its way into delivered software. Milestones were often missed because they were deemed immovable, or because had been agreed prior to their associated functionality. And, when milestones were missed, project timescales were re-assessed, allowing the inclusion of additional features in order to placate disappointed customers (who had often requested the unnecessary features in the first place!)

During my vacation to Canada last year I reached a few life-altering decisions, which culminated in a more relaxed approach to work, and my adoption of the Getting Things Done philosophy (if not quite, yet, the method). This year I feel some other things brewing.

First up: My family are hoarders. Every one I know in my family keeps stuff that they no longer need, or stuff that they don’t know they have or want. I’m similarly afflicted, although I’m getting slightly better at not getting stuff I know I don’t want. But my main problem is that I get bored and/or frustrated really easily, and if I can get something else that keeps me amused then I do so.

Consequently, my home has lots of things that I no longer use, or need. I have hi-fi equipment in my garage and in my dining area. I have other electronic equipment which I last used years ago. But I’ve never got rid of any of this. I’ve advertised some of it but without any success of disposing of it. Do people not want second-hand items any more? Most of my unwanted gear has never been advertised. I’ve never attempted to pass on many items I no longer need. The reason for this is the hassle involved. It’s more painful for me to try to dispose of stuff than it is to keep it.

Until now. Frankly I’m fed up with it all. It sits around, cluttering up my house and my brain. I don’t know how I’m going to dump it all. But I have a feeling I might end up giving it all away. For free. Because I want rid of it. And that’s far more important than any monetary compensation. And it’s really important that I jettison it all quickly. I want less stuff in my life and I want it now.