help people get organized

I started entering my clients names into a client database. I haven’t done that formally up until this point. Granted, some of the clients I am still working with, and others decided to drop off the face of the planet or not tackle any more projects, but I’ve worked with almost 30 clients in 15 months or so that I started working as an organizer. Wow!

I started using Google AdWords….maybe I will see my add pop up on the side of 43T! Haha!

Still working as a professional organizer. Trying to grow my business, as any business owner is trying to do. Looking for new, quality clients. Word of mouth is the main way, these days, that organizers get connected with clients. Details aside, I was asked to speak at an event tonight. It was a few minutes, mainly Q&A, but I was asked more questions than any other speaker! And after, people told me they liked what I said, and several asked for my business card. Maybe someone will become a client. Who knows?

I posted on my blog about it in more detail.
http://cogentdiversion.com/index.php/2007/09/10/i_am_so_proud_of_myself

I love what I do.

I’ve been working with a client since the beginning of the year. She owns a vintage clothing shop. She has about a quarter of a million dollars worth of inventory and needs help getting her place (which has a loft space, so she also lives there) in shape so she can have clients come by. Well, we work together for a couple of hours each week. She isn’t at a place where she can pay me in money so we have a barter going where I help her in exchange for stuff from her shop.

Well, this past week, we devoted our focus to her accessories room and started sorting out purses and handbags – separting the “rock star” (as she calls them) items, from the stuff she can sell at the flea market, the stuff she’ll donate, and the stuff that’s way too damaged.

I called her today to tell her to keep her eyes peeled b/c I learned today that I need to move and I’d like to stay in the neighborhood. So, good thing number one, for me, is that she offered her boyfriend and partner’s trucks to help me move at no charge. Good thing number two, for her, the day after we worked on the purses, a purse designer came by and purchased about $1300 worth of purses, wallets, belts, etc. Stuff that they probably wouldnt have been able to find if we hadn’t happened to have worked the day before. So, that’s pretty good, right???

Soon after the new year, I had someone with the resolution to get organized in 2007 contact me. We’ve had two sessions so far, and our third and final one should be this weekend. There’s also another new client I’ll be working with this weekend, and a couple of potentials I’m working on.

I really don’t see myself as a businessperson, though I guess I am now. I really think this kind of work helps people. I have a vision for what I’d like to do with my clients, but that hasn’t been fully realized yet. Most clients just want to dive in or be told what to do. Most don’t want to spend time/money talking. But I honestly think that if people really need help getting organized, decluttering, and especially simplifying then there are important things to talk about. So I’m hoping that clients who realize this will come my way who would want this kind of assistance/help/information/guidance/coaching/whatever you want to call it.

So, where are those clients?

I’ve been doing this for a few months now and I’d like to spend more of my time doing it. Being organized can make a world of difference in a person’s life. Once a person crosses their tolerance level, that’s where I like to come in to help. Everyone is different. Some people (like me) aren’t bothered by two stacks of paper on a desk. Other people (like my best friend) need everything put away in it’s own home. I’ve helped people all over the spectrum so far (neat freaks who just need to some advice to packrats and hoarders) and I’d like to continue doing it.

I’m working on getting new clients and trying to build a business. We’ll see what happens…