Q: . . . let me also share that I love spring cleaning our offices, and I make sure we do it every year. It makes a huge difference. -- Sherri

A: Ah yes, spring is in the air. Did you know that statistics show that by far more small business are begun in the spring than at any other time of the year? It’s true. Why is that? Well, aside from the better weather, spring of course is a time of renewal. With flowers blooming and birds chirping, spring reminds us that it is a good time to start again and as such, not a few would-be entrepreneurs become actual entrepreneurs this time of year.

That was certainly true for me, twice, starting my two most successful businesses in the spring. (And can we blame the fall for that idea of mine that stunk? Lets!)

But the bad news was that 20 years after that first startup, my office still had remnants of my first law office– some old, blocky, cherrywood bookcases, a huge black filing cabinet, a brown leather couch adorned with rivets, you get the idea. Along the way, I had added a smattering of Chinese cabinets. The result was a horrendous amalgam, a motif that begged to be tossed out.Does that sound familiar? It’s true for many small business. In my office, the energy was all wrong. There was no flow. The feng shui was all wrong.

So, with the help of my interior designer wife, we redid the place. A thorough, deep cleaning, some new furniture, a few plants and new art, and voila! I had a new office that felt, and looked, different. It was great. Everyone noticed both the physical, as well as emotional, difference immediately.

There are all sorts of reasons to spring clean your office, but the main one is this – spring cleaning revitalizes.

First of all, as it did with me, spring cleaning can revitalize you. While I knew that I would like having some new furniture, what I didn’t expect was that I would become far more productive as a result. But I am. Why is that? Well, we all fall into ruts. Going to the same office with the same people doing the same thing means you likely end up doing things the same way. Mixing things up mixes that up. Deep cleaning, new paint, a fresh smell, and new furniture have had had a subtle but profound effect for the better on how I work.

But let’s not stop there. Spring cleaning will also revitalize two other constituencies vital to the health of your business:

  • Your staff: By making cleaning a priority this spring, you are telling your team that it’s time to kick things up a notch. And, whether it’s a complete overhaul as I did, or just some a deep cleaning, revitalizing your spacecanenergize your team.
  • Your customers: One of the strongest words that can be used in any advertising is “new,” because, well, people like new. Even with a business that they have frequented for years, customers like to see something new. By spring cleaning your business, you are not only giving your customers that something new, you are subliminally telling them that you will not rest on your laurels. That’s good business.

Given all of these benefits, the question then becomes: How best can you spring clean your place of work?

Begin by taking out the old and deep cleaning the rest. After that, there are plenty of ways that you can give your workplace a new face:

  • Paint areas that need painting, or simply go for a new color even if something doesn’t need a fresh coat of paint.
  • Change the layout of your store or office.
  • Get some new furniture.
  • Get some new signage.

So go ahead, spring clean. You, and your business, will be healthier because of it.

Today’s tip:Success Magazinehas recently launched a new podcast called Success Insider. The weekly podcast will post to iTunes on Tuesdays and will feature 3-4 segments with varied content—including tips and tricks and “what’s hot” in the personal development world, as well as interviews with experts, authors, SUCCESS cover figures. You can check it out here.