Becoming a professional organizer has been the smoothest, most enjoyable job introduction I have ever experienced, because what I do for clients is an extension of what I instinctively do elsewhere in my life everyday—organize and simplify!
I remember, as a child, organizing my books by height on the bookshelf and rearranging my bedroom furniture to reflect my changing tastes and needs as I grew older.
When I think about the question: why I became a professional organizer, I think about how far back my passion for organizing goes. And I’ve concluded that it goes back, way back.
If organizing were a gene, it would have been one passed on to me by my mother. I have memories of watching her pack the family car for camping trips as a child. I would watch in awe as she placed each item like she was playing a real-life game of Tetris; and she was definitely winning. Her grasp on finances and time management were also something to be admired. Along with these lessons she demonstrated, and my natural propensity for creating calm and visually pleasing spaces, organizing just became part of who I am.
I didn’t plan on becoming an organizer. I’m not a naturally organized person. Anyone who saw my room growing up or in college can attest to that! Educating and helping people have always been my passions. I graduated from WSU with a degree in Speech Therapy and Audiology. Out of college I worked for the Lake Washington School District and then Seattle Children’s Hospital in the Audiology Department. In 2005 when my son entered kindergarten I took some time off to volunteer and be a stay-at-home mom. In 2008 I was looking for a new career when Denise (a friend) asked if I would come work for her. She had a large project and needed some assistance. I started at Simplify with Denise the next week. Eight years later, a name change, lots of training, education and certifications, we are still together.
I had always enjoyed watching TV shows about organizing or reading magazine articles and seeing the transformations
Like many of you we love The Container Store. It is such a fun store with aisles and aisles of beautiful home organizing products of every possible type. For some people The Container Store can be a source of inspiration. Others know they need help, but the store can be a bit overwhelming. We can completely understand why. There are so many types of products to choose from! How do you know what you will need for your organizing project? How many containers
The first Saturday morning in May I had the privilege of leading a service project for my Seattle NAPO chapter. NAPO is the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals of which there are 4,000 members worldwide. We have a Greater Seattle chapter that meets monthly on the first Tuesday evening in Bellevue. This Seattle chapter has 35 plus members and I am currently serving on the board as Treasurer.
Service to others is an important personal value of mine;
On becoming a professional organizer, you might say I was born that way. As far back as I can remember I have wanted my possessions and surroundings to be neat and tidy and have everything in its place. I remember as a child cleaning out the family garage, or wanting to clear out cupboards or closets. As a college student, my dorm room was always clutter-free and organized. Keeping my environment orderly was like therapy for me. As an adult working in a corporate world, I was teased about my clean and organized desk. People thought it was a sign that I didn’t have enough to do, when in reality I couldn’t think or focus properly with a cluttered desk. All of my life I’ve been teased about being tidy, but intuitively I knew that being organized meant a calmer and less stressful life.
How I became a professional organizer:
Today, it seems, families are busier than they used to be. We work long hours, we drive our children to after school activities and sports every night of the week, and we spend our precious weekend hours trying to catch up and get ready for the upcoming week. There are so many demands on our limited time and energy that sometimes we feel like machines. I am a strong believer that an uncluttered and well organized home helps our family “machines” run smoother.