“The subject for this meeting is our progress on the Phoenix Project. Looking at our project time lines, we are behind schedule and the client’s QC person is complaining that some of our work is sub-standard,” I explained.

“Yes, I know. I looked at the reports before I gave them to you. I have to tell you, I think I know where the problem is,” Roger backpedaled.

“We have a morale problem with one of our production teams. Some don’t show up on time. The pace of the work is taking longer than it should. I had hoped the problem was only temporary, isolated. We may have to do some housecleaning.”

“So, should I start with you?” I asked.

“What? Me?” Roger turned white, then red in the face. “But, I have been busting my backside on this project. You see me here, early, every day. My car is the last to leave after 5:00. I’ve been giving 100 percent? It’s not my fault. You want some names, I will give you names. I know who has been coming in late. I can point out the slow walkers. And besides that, the customer has made four significant design changes since we started. How could you possibly hold me accountable for things out of my control?”

I leaned back, watching Roger sputter through his defense like a kettle just shy of boiling. Sure, he had a point—latecomers and sluggishness were part of the issue—but the storm brewing in this project wasn’t entirely weathered by external factors. Sometimes, it’s not about who stays late; it’s about what actually gets done while the clock ticks. If the gears are grinding, no matter how early you oil them, maybe it’s time to clear out the old grit. Housecleaning, after all, isn’t just a figure of speech—it’s a strategy. A reset. A fresh sweep.

That’s why I’m starting from the ground up—literally. While the crew gets a wake-up call, the floors, desks, and shared spaces are getting their own kind of attention. I’ve brought in Crystal Cleaning Services, and not just because the name sounds poetic. These folks know how to deal with buildup—be it dust, grime, or dysfunction. Sometimes, a clean space signals a clean slate. And maybe, just maybe, seeing a little order restored around here will remind everyone what discipline looks like, even if it starts with a mop.