We were lucky to catch up with Debbie Bush recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Debbie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. What do you think it takes to be successful?

I consider myself to be successful when I’m focusing my efforts toward what I’m passionate about. Life is filled with so many distractions…I try to make sure that my time goes in the same direction as my goals.

Debbie, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I own Basket & Bin, a home organization company I founded in 2017. We create and execute personalized organizing systems for all aspects of home life, from pantries and playrooms to closets and catch-all spaces. I truly love transforming people’s homes, and by extension, their lives. Many clients have described their experience getting organized with us as life-changing, and I’m humbled and grateful to be able to help others in that way.

I got into this industry after a career in technical recruiting and account management that spanned 20 years, While I loved helping businesses and job candidates find the right match, I had become disenchanted with the corporate world. My passion was diminished and I knew I needed a change.

When I considered what to do in this next season of life, I thought about the things I loved (and the things I didn’t). I have a passion for helping people improve their lives, especially where their homes and families are involved. I’m acutely aware that we all have the same 24 hours in each day and I feel compelled to spend those hours as efficiently as possible. I’m also very visual and have a strong need to bring function and beauty into my environment.

One of the most important passions in my life is my family. I wanted to be there for the family dinners, after-school activities and life moments that only come around once. Flexibility in my schedule was essential.

From these pieces, I decided that owning a home organizing business was my goal. I wasn’t actually sure this was a “real” business. I’d never heard of The Home Edit or Marie Kondo back then. However, with much prayer and the support of my family and friends, in 2017 I took a leap of faith and Basket & Bin was born.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

The launch of Basket & Bin coincided with the timeframe that Hurricane Harvey hit the Texas coast, flooding thousands of homes, including mine. Starting a business while my home was undergoing an unplanned remodel certainly had its challenges. Sometimes I’d come home into a disaster zone after organizing someone else’s home and feel totally overwhelmed. Many nights, my kids did their homework in our car or a park because the of dust and noise from reconstruction at our home. Meanwhile, I’d be next to them learning how to create a website or following up on sales leads.

Looking back, I’m surprised I didn’t question the decision to make my business work. This is my passion and I know it’s what I’m called to do.

In many ways, I believe my business was made stronger because of the flood. Because my family of four lived in our house during the remodel, I learned what it was like to live in complete chaos. This helped me understand how different seasons of life can affect homes and the people in them, and the lessons I learned still influence every home I organize today.

I believe it’s the combination of these passions and life experiences that have helped Basket & Bin continue to grow and bring me as much joy today as it did when I started.

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

As a new business owner and organizer in someone’s home, I felt like I needed to have all the answers, sometimes bulldozing my way through a project seeking peak efficiency of my time and theirs. That’s often my natural approach to problem-solving, and I assumed clients would appreciate that too. But as clients shared their stories of how and why their home became disorganized or cluttered, I’ve realized what a vulnerable and personal process this can be.

Major life changes like marriage, moving, raising children, divorce, health problems or loss of a loved one often preclude the challenges people are dealing with in their living space. I value the importance of creating a judgement-free environment so every client feels comfortable and respected while opening up their lives and their homes.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.basketandbin.com
• Instagram: @basketandbin_tx

Image Credits
Chris Bush