We recently connected with Chris Anthony Lansdowne and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Chris thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you come up with the idea for your business?

I’ve been a voice actress for most of my life, and I’m very grateful that I’ve been fortunate enough to have made a good living from it. I was the original voice for Mattel’s Barbie and spent many years recording all of her toys! And for 37 years, I’ve hosted a very popular audio drama for kids called Adventures in Odyssey!
But 15 years ago, I was inspired to start a side business organizing for people called Chrissy’s Closets! I’m still an active voice actress, but I also have a passion for organizing; my brain is naturally wired for it. So with the encouragement of others, I decided to turn it into a small business!
People have less stress when they stay organized and not overly cluttered.
It’s funny about organizing for others; it makes me feel I’m helping someone improve their life. I organized for all my friends for years, and they kept asking me to return. That’s when the idea came to me: this would make an excellent business for myself!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I’ve found through the years that organizing for people is a very emotional process for many people. It stirs up a lot of deep-rooted feelings. Sometimes there are memories attached to things, good and bad, broken marriages, deaths, and happier times. People are overwhelmed with things they thought they needed, but it turned out that they are buying something new that only serves as a fix to make them happy in that moment. It only leads to more and more unnecessary purchases. I’m also guilty; we make ourselves prisoners of things we’ve bought, been given, or thought we needed. Just because we have it doesn’t mean we must live with it for the rest of our lives. That’s why I can understand and relate to people and their need to get it organized! I remember helping a customer manage a very overwhelming bedroom filled with clothing, furniture, cat & dog toys, Christmas decor, and husband’s fishing gear, you name it, it was all in that bedroom!
While organizing the room, I found a small box buried under a pile of clothing and shoes. At the bottom of the pile was a tiny tin box. I opened it, and inside it was a small necklace with a beautiful gold cross. From across the room, I heard” YOU FOUND IT!!!” It was a long-lost necklace from Christmas, belonging to her little girl from many years ago. Her daughter had lost it, and it was never found. Sadly, her daughter was killed in a car accident, and this necklace carried with it an intense emotional memory. Tears streamed down her face, and all I could do was hug her and let her cry. Then, I felt an intense feeling in my heart that organizing was not for the weak. It was going to be more than just helping them get free from all their junk, but I now felt a great responsibility and need to help people heal and get free from being a prisoner to things that cluttered their lives.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Being myself, letting my creativity out, and not being afraid to try! Think about what comes naturally to you. What do you have a passion for? It’s the thing that will drive you and keep you going in your business! We all have gifts and unused talents. Take one small step toward it!
I used very little money to start my business, mostly word of mouth. Sometimes you need to offer your services at a lower cost to get you started, you can always change that as your business grows.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I didn’t pivot; I just added to my life by starting my own organizing business, and I’m so glad I did. We can be many things in our lives; we are like big, beautiful trees with many branches! Don’t be afraid to use a different branch!
I have found that organizing for people is a lovely way of connecting with them; you can learn a lot about people when you organize for them. I feel that people are like good books; if we take the time to open their books and read their stories, you would be amazed. Being kind, being a good listener, and praying have helped my business to grow, and I believe it will help ANY business you decide to do, no matter what it is. Be brave, start your own business today!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Chris Anthony Lansdowne
• Facebook: Chris Anthony Lansdowne & Chrissy’s Closets

Image Credits

Chris Anthony Lansdowne