Photo credit Brian McDaniel
“Ever wonder what the apartment of a professional organizer and true minimalist would look like?”
Check out the full preview for our upcoming feature in RVA’s famous blog, Dirty Richmond. So excited!!
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
Upcoming Feature in Dirty Richmond!!
Photo credit Brian McDaniel
“Ever wonder what the apartment of a professional organizer and true minimalist would look like?”
Check out the full preview for our upcoming feature in RVA’s famous blog, Dirty Richmond. So excited!!
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
Q&A: How Did You Become an Organizer?
Minima receives lots of emails, so I’ve decided to share the knowledge via our new-ish “Q&A” series. We get this one a lot, and I recently had an indepth convo with an aspiring organizer so it’s fresh in my mind.
Question — How do I get started as a Professional Organizer?
I’m interested in organizing as a career and have been reading books about organizing, but I feel like that’s not enough. How did you get started?
Answer — The absolute best way to acquire Professional Organizing skills is to train with a Professional Organizer.
I was lucky and got hired by Katherine Lawrence with Space Matters in February of 2009 after attending a NAPO Richmond chapter meeting. I took her training class and she provided me with a list of required reading. I worked as her apprentice for three to six months before she sent me out on my own with clients. We had weekly team meetings (she had three or four employees at the time) where we helped each other with any client challenges we were facing. It was an amazing resource for me.
On that note, I highly recommend attending your local NAPO chapter meeting. It’s a great way to network with local organizers, find out if anyone is hiring, and see who you connect well with. If no one in your area is hiring, NAPO and ICD have great classes you can take.
The challenge with my job at Space Matters was that the hours were unpredictable and never full time, so I always had at least one other job. In October of 2010, I decided to branch off and form Minima. There were no hard feelings and Katherine and I still team together on large jobs.
Minima is not currently hiring (I get that question a lot), but we might be in the next year or so! I’m always available for coffee or lunch if you want to pick my brain — I’m very open about what I do and how I do it. Just shoot me an email via hello@minimaonline.com and we can chat!
Question — How do I get started as a Professional Organizer?
I’m interested in organizing as a career and have been reading books about organizing, but I feel like that’s not enough. How did you get started?
Answer — The absolute best way to acquire Professional Organizing skills is to train with a Professional Organizer.
I was lucky and got hired by Katherine Lawrence with Space Matters in February of 2009 after attending a NAPO Richmond chapter meeting. I took her training class and she provided me with a list of required reading. I worked as her apprentice for three to six months before she sent me out on my own with clients. We had weekly team meetings (she had three or four employees at the time) where we helped each other with any client challenges we were facing. It was an amazing resource for me.
On that note, I highly recommend attending your local NAPO chapter meeting. It’s a great way to network with local organizers, find out if anyone is hiring, and see who you connect well with. If no one in your area is hiring, NAPO and ICD have great classes you can take.
The challenge with my job at Space Matters was that the hours were unpredictable and never full time, so I always had at least one other job. In October of 2010, I decided to branch off and form Minima. There were no hard feelings and Katherine and I still team together on large jobs.
Minima is not currently hiring (I get that question a lot), but we might be in the next year or so! I’m always available for coffee or lunch if you want to pick my brain — I’m very open about what I do and how I do it. Just shoot me an email via hello@minimaonline.com and we can chat!
Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Fellow Minimalist: Christie Thompson of Fibre Craft
Being a minimalist means something a little different to each person. To me, it’s not about a certain style — the aesthetic is just a result of the mentality. In my definition, minimalism is about finding happiness through eliminating the unnecessarium in life, therefore becoming the most true version of oneself.
For our new series “Fellow Minimalist”, I’ll be interviewing local Richmonders who are living life well — or “winning at life", as I like to say. They have found a way, often in spite of obstacles, to do what they love. Here, I share their secrets.
Christie Thompson is a 20-something working as the Marketing Director at BCWH Architects and simultaneously running her own hand-made shop. She’s also a veteran Minimalist writer!
How does organization play a role in your entrepreneurial success?
“I essentially juggle two full time jobs, so organization is a necessity. My side business, Fibre Craft, is my hobby and I love it — being well organized allows me to keep loving it (and hopefully keep growing it!)”
For our new series “Fellow Minimalist”, I’ll be interviewing local Richmonders who are living life well — or “winning at life", as I like to say. They have found a way, often in spite of obstacles, to do what they love. Here, I share their secrets.
Christie Thompson is a 20-something working as the Marketing Director at BCWH Architects and simultaneously running her own hand-made shop. She’s also a veteran Minimalist writer!
How does organization play a role in your entrepreneurial success?
“I essentially juggle two full time jobs, so organization is a necessity. My side business, Fibre Craft, is my hobby and I love it — being well organized allows me to keep loving it (and hopefully keep growing it!)”
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Q&A: What Are the Steps to Becoming Minimized?
We receive lots of inquires about organizing. I’ve decided to start sharing the love so that you might benefit from the conversation as well! Have an organizing question? Contact me at hello@minimaonline.com or call at (804) 482-1554. I promise to keep your identity confidential.
Question — What are the steps to becoming minimized?
I’m being overrun by objects I’ve accrued over the years and whenever I get highly motivated to thin things out, I start and three hours later, I’m overwhelmed (an ongoing problem usually inhibiting my motivations) and exhausted, I’ve usually got a big mess on my hands, and I find myself saying the words “well I MIGHT need it in the future, so I better hold onto it.” Sometimes I just wish I could blindly chuck the stuff and forget about its very existence. I get caught up in the drudgery of the object by object process. I have too many clothes. I don’t even CARE about clothes that much, I just have never gotten rid of any.
I thought you might have some minimalist pointers to help me. I’d love love LOVE to have a cleaner, simpler living space. Please suggest some modes of thought!!!
Answer — The first step to paring down is to make a plan.
Question — What are the steps to becoming minimized?
I’m being overrun by objects I’ve accrued over the years and whenever I get highly motivated to thin things out, I start and three hours later, I’m overwhelmed (an ongoing problem usually inhibiting my motivations) and exhausted, I’ve usually got a big mess on my hands, and I find myself saying the words “well I MIGHT need it in the future, so I better hold onto it.” Sometimes I just wish I could blindly chuck the stuff and forget about its very existence. I get caught up in the drudgery of the object by object process. I have too many clothes. I don’t even CARE about clothes that much, I just have never gotten rid of any.
I thought you might have some minimalist pointers to help me. I’d love love LOVE to have a cleaner, simpler living space. Please suggest some modes of thought!!!
Answer — The first step to paring down is to make a plan.
Thursday, May 31, 2012
Staying Sane May: Eliminating Dirty Dishes
Each month I share one thing I did to simplify my life. As you may have learned in the recent post, “The Proof Is in the Dishes: I Don’t Judge”, I have trouble finding time in my schedule to keep up with the (what should be daily) chore of washing dishes.
My process for solving problems no matter how complex is subtractive. I ask myself what needs to be taken away in order to fix an issue, not what needs to be added. One of my favorite quotes:
“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” — St. Exupéry
Notice the shiny, empty sink
In this case, I needed to take away my dishes. I don’t entertain often, so I’ve left only enough for one day’s use. Now I have no choice but to do the dishes each day. A sink FULL of dishes is not a possibility, which prevents overwhelm and procrastination. I keep my extras on a high shelf in the kitchen for the occasional times that I entertain. I made sure to put them in a spot that was more inconvenient than doing a few dishes.
Read more “Staying Sane” posts here.
My process for solving problems no matter how complex is subtractive. I ask myself what needs to be taken away in order to fix an issue, not what needs to be added. One of my favorite quotes:
“Perfection is achieved, not when there is nothing left to add, but when there is nothing left to take away.” — St. Exupéry
Notice the shiny, empty sink
In this case, I needed to take away my dishes. I don’t entertain often, so I’ve left only enough for one day’s use. Now I have no choice but to do the dishes each day. A sink FULL of dishes is not a possibility, which prevents overwhelm and procrastination. I keep my extras on a high shelf in the kitchen for the occasional times that I entertain. I made sure to put them in a spot that was more inconvenient than doing a few dishes.
Read more “Staying Sane” posts here.
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Trust in the Process: It Works!
Yesterday I was working with a client to organize his home office. His wife was participating in some decisions and I sensed that she was feeling stressed. I never ignore these intuitions — it’s always important to understand how everyone involved is reacting. I asked how she was doing and she opened up a bit.
“I used to be organized, but with life events over the past ten years I haven’t had time. I’m always buying storage solutions and only lightly tackling projects that need more attention. I feel scattered.” Her next comment surprised me. “This must be annoying you, all of this mess.” I responded, “Not at all.”
She assumed that because the mess annoyed her, I must also be annoyed. That’s when I explained the process. Sort, purge, store. I’ve done it so many times at this point that I can walk into a room and see the solutions, not the clutter. That’s not to say that each project isn’t customized, because it definitely is. It’s more that I’ve become so comfortable with the general process of organizing that I can estimate project times and feel confident that we will reach the established goals. It’s a good place to be, and I could tell my client was calmed to know that her “mess” didn't stress me out.
“I used to be organized, but with life events over the past ten years I haven’t had time. I’m always buying storage solutions and only lightly tackling projects that need more attention. I feel scattered.” Her next comment surprised me. “This must be annoying you, all of this mess.” I responded, “Not at all.”
She assumed that because the mess annoyed her, I must also be annoyed. That’s when I explained the process. Sort, purge, store. I’ve done it so many times at this point that I can walk into a room and see the solutions, not the clutter. That’s not to say that each project isn’t customized, because it definitely is. It’s more that I’ve become so comfortable with the general process of organizing that I can estimate project times and feel confident that we will reach the established goals. It’s a good place to be, and I could tell my client was calmed to know that her “mess” didn't stress me out.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
The Proof Is in the Dishes: I Don’t Judge
Dirty dishes that have been in my sink over a week
I hear a lot of apologies when I meet a new organizing client. “I’m really sorry about the mess” or “I’m so embarrassed, you must think I’m a slob.” Even if they don’t verbalize it, I can feel the guilt in their posture and tone.
I don’t judge — I can’t emphasize that enough. No one is perfect and that certainly includes myself. Organizing is my profession, not a hobby. I’m offering my services to help people achieve the quality of life that they want, not to criticize where they are currently. I’ve seen it all and no, your house is not the worst! I’ve never had a client who I thought to be lazy. Often times disorganization is a result of something much deeper, and it’s my job to help get at the root of that. Read Organizing from the Inside Out by Julie Morgenstern for more on that subject.
I hope the photo of my dirty dishes brings home the concept of non-judgement. Maybe I will post my dirty laundry heap next. Additional note — I have not vacuumed or otherwise cleaned in over three weeks. I’ve started wearing socks around the house to keep the dirt from sticking to my feet. Eww, right?
Wrong. Normally I keep things cleaner, but this dirt can wait because I’ve had more important fish to fry. The beauty of being organized? It will take me 30 minutes to do the dishes and about an hour and a half to DEEP clean my apartment top to bottom. Why? I don’t have much to clean and everything has a home so maintenance is easy... when I get around to doing it.