My First Year as a Professional Organizer

One year ago, I began this journey.

I was the last person I would have thought would start their own business. One day, mid-pandemic & unemployed, I was scrolling Instagram, and another professional organizer came across my feed. I thought to myself, “You can make a living from helping people organize their stuff?! I could totally do that!” And a light went off in me. That day I dove right in. I bought my first how-to become a professional organizer book, read the entire thing and then took everything out of my then-roommate's closet and re-did the entire thing (Thanks for letting me do that Julie ◡̈ ). I had the most fun afternoon re-organizing our entire apartment and in that moment I knew I had found something special.

So now, 365 days later, here is what I have learned in my first year:

I don’t think I’ll ever know everything. 

Whether it’s business practices, organizing techniques, or different fields you can branch into from professional organizing, there is always something new to discover. Or a lot of the time, I am learning what something in a client’s home is! Hands-on experience is the only way to continue to grow and learn. The more I work, the better I will be for myself & my clients. And that is what keeps me going.

I love how every day is different.

I have found something that requires me to both be at a desk doing the business side of things, but also, most of the time, I have to be super active. I am on my feet, lifting things, moving things from one room to another, taking donations to Goodwill, spending countless hours in the Container Store, helping people sort through their belongings and telling me their stories. I love how dynamic and unpredictable every day on the job can be. I am almost always solving a problem and that is where I thrive the most.

“Perfect” doesn’t exist. 

Not everything is going to be perfect and you just have to be okay with that. Perfectionism isn’t everything. If you wait for anything to be perfect, life is going to pass you by. I really struggled with this before I launched my website and got my business going. I was so worried about my website being absolutely perfect before I told anyone about it. But that point wasn’t ever going to come because I could have found something to change every day! I had to learn how to put my anxieties aside and just believe in myself and my capabilities. And honestly, my website has never affected anyone hiring me or not! All clients want is someone they are comfortable with and who can help them - and that I can do! 

I never knew a job could feel this rewarding.

Helping people create their desired space and feel happy in their home and knowing that my skill set is what got them there is the best part of the job. What they thought to be impossible, actually is possible, they just needed someone’s help and that’s okay! Witnessing the relief and excitement client’s emulate after a job is done, is easily the best part and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

I have found my passion.

Good news is, I haven’t given up! I know this is what I want to do and will work every day to continue to make it happen. I know I am in the right place because of the people I have met and the support I have received from other professional organizers. One of the first things I did when I started was I reached out to other organizers in my area and asked to do informational interviews, and one woman responded, “Sure, but also do you want to be my assistant on a job on Thursday?” This woman, who I had never met, had talked to on the phone for 20 minutes about starting my own business, with full knowledge I didn’t have any prior experience, wanted to take a chance on me and teach me herself. And I still work for her today! I don’t think that kind of support comes with just any industry and it’s one of the things I value the most. 

On a sentimental note, one of the most important things I have learned is how support from friends and family is the only thing that has kept me going. It’s only been a year and I have so much more I want to achieve and I know they will be by my side through it all. I couldn’t be more grateful for the people in my life and I think that is my biggest lesson after this crazy year. 

I have learned so much about myself, this industry and my business, but there is still so much to be done and to be learned. And I can’t wait to see where the rest of this journey takes me.