4 Steps to Choosing YOUR Great Over Good!

Are you drowning in duplicates? If you’ve ever opened a drawer, shrugged, and sighed, “They’re all fine,” then the “Great Over Good” organizing method may be just what you need to break the tie between “okay” and “outstanding.” This strategy isn’t about getting rid of everything—it’s about keeping only the items that truly serve you best.

The idea behind “G>G” is to reframe your approach. Instead of deciding what to discard, choose what you absolutely LOVE and use often. Then, let the rest fall away.

My 4-step technique was recently featured in Homes & Gardens. Here’s how you do it:

1 : Choose a Category

Start small. Pick just one category to focus on: mugs, jeans, scarves, boots, vases, baking pans—anything you have multiples of.

2 : Get Everything Out

Take out ALL the items in that category. Seeing your collection in one place gives you perspective. You might be surprised to realize how many "good enough" items you’ve been keeping!

3 : Identify the Great

Now choose the best 33%, the absolute keepers. The ones you’d rescue in a fire. These are the items that spark joy, perform the best, or have the most meaning.

4 : Compare the Rest

With your "great" items in front of you, compare the rest. Do you really need five spatulas when two favorites do the job beautifully? When you see the side-by-side difference, it’s easier to say goodbye to the "just okay" items.

It helps me to imagine I’m moving abroad and can only take very limited items. What makes the cut? Trust me, your gut will tell you what truly IS great!

The Great Over Good method reduces overwhelm because it shifts the focus from letting go (which can feel like loss) to choosing your favorites (which feels empowering). You’re not asking, "What should I toss?"—you’re asking, "What do I love most?"

One client had an overflowing shelf of sentimental mugs from travels, gifts, and everyday use. By using this method, she kept her top eight and donated the rest. “Now, when I open the cabinet, I smile,” she told me. “Each mug brings back a happy memory—no more clutter guilt.”

Another client cut her black cardigan collection in half. She kept the ones that made her feel polished and comfortable, and let go of the itchy, saggy, or never-quite-right ones. “I didn’t realize how much better it would feel to only wear my favorites,” she said.

Start today with one small category. You don’t need hours; you just need a decision-making strategy that builds your confidence instead of draining it. When you focus on the BEST, it is easy to let go of the REST!