We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Dr. Paris Love. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Dr. Paris below.

Dr. Paris, appreciate you joining us today. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

Only a handful of people are willing to do what it takes to end what they start. It’s easier to just give up. Often there isn’t a roadmap. You must follow your instincts and it’s okay to adjust.

I would like to a story with you if I may about my own journey of perseverance. Perseverance is something that happens regardless of the obstacles or roadblocks that are presented to you.

It was the summer of 1997, I just moved to Hot Atlanta, I was a single mom, and my son was five. I moved to Atlanta without a job just a dream and a U-Haul. I lucked out a week after moving and got a job that I would stay at for the next nine years. Life was amazing. I was proud of myself for taking the leap to leave my hometown of Chicago. I was determined to make life work in Atlanta. Although I was homesick and longed for my friends, I was going to do everything in my power to the move successful. It was long before I had a good network of friends, then came the first of many sucker punches. My son was diagnosed with ODD, OCD, ADHD, and Tourette’s. My son is part of the 11% of individuals with TS that swear. So, imagine if you will, not being able to play outside because you blur out swear words, imagine not being able to fly on a plane, play with your friends- basically you live a very sheltered life.

For me, this was unacceptable, I was determined to give and provide a normal life for my son. And this life was developed from an office visit with his doctor in which I was told I had OCD and it was not normal to organize other person’s things. In my search for “answers” to a normal life, I discovered the National Association of Productivity and Organizing – This was my a-ha moment and in which my business was birthed. This was the answer to providing freedom for myself and my son. In my mind’s eye, this meant no more side-eyes, no more cruel jokes, and no more, “bless your heart” comments.

As I was settling into being a business owner and going into my third year, I was blessed with an adjunct position at the University of Phoenix. Statistics say most businesses don’t last 3 years and those that don’t make it to 5 years. UoPx was my backup plan, but I also enjoyed teaching. Life was good, or so I thought then my husband was asked to relocate to Alabama. Going from a metro city like Atlanta to a tourist environment where no one looked like me, had its own challenges. Luckily, by this time my son was in high school and doing well. But I faced uprooting him as he is most successful with there is consistency. In Alabama, I struggled to get the business off the ground, then there was a recession causing me to rethink my ‘why.’

Why not get a job? Why not give up? Why am I doing this? Why won’t people invest in my services, don’t they realize how much they need me? The thought of getting a job was not in my vocabulary, plus I was a teacher… that would have to do. Life was really starting to look up. I was invited to go full-time (out of 28,000 other instructors). Then came another sucker punch. I got a divorce; I am an empty nester. Redefining my life as a ‘single’ woman. I realize this was just another small bump in the road.

Business is good, life is good, and my son is an active member of society. I meet my forever guy and move to Murfreesboro, TN. I figure I would do things differently in terms of the business. However, life had other plans, a month after moving, UoPX let 90% of their full-time faculty go and there went 80% of my income. By this time, I am used to pivoting and reinventing myself. I had the option to take my severance and leave or go back to being an adjunct. I chose to stay on, after all, I love teaching, and is it really a job if we are doing what love. I seriously considered closing the business, but I must stay focused on my “Why” and leaving a legacy for my son. Plus, I am not a quitter.

It took some time to get the business back to where it was and I remember one year between Oct and Dec I had filled my calendar for the next year with projects, and speaking engagements, it was going to be an awesome year. The New Year came and so did the “New Normal” … the pandemic. Honestly, the sucker punches were starting to feel like little winds passing by. I knew how to pivot, to maintain a growth mindset, and I had grit!!! So, I stayed the course.

As I reflect over the last two years, I realize several things: 2022 will mark my 19th year in business and it was also at that time was my best year, I grew the business by 88%, 2021 was even better and we are continuing to have steady growth and success. This is my 16th year teaching for UoPX staying was the best decision as I earned the Phoenix500 award for 2020, 2021, and 2022. In 2021, I was also nominated for faculty of the year.

I started with a story about a single mom and her five-year-old son. Today, my son is an active member of society, debt-free, and has a farm on seven acres with four amazing children of his own. He was able to move past what others would say, think, or believe about him. In the midst of me trying to better his life experience, I found my own strength. This is my mission in life to fight for the voices of individuals who don’t have the confidence or strength to stay in their power.

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

Hi, I am Dr. Paris Love, a former U.S. Army Sergeant, accountability and productivity coach, and lovingly known as The Drill Sergeant of Productivity by my clients and highly sought-after speaker if I may say so myself. :-) I have a tremendous talent for bringing order to chaos, providing my clients with streamlined, efficient, manageable approaches to running their lives and businesses. As a young child I would organize my parent’s kitchen spices and interesting enough I did not have to be told to make my bed. In college, I organized my dorm room and tidy the beds of her roommates.

Fast forward several years later, a doctor informed me that it was not NORMAL to organize other people’s things. I immediately thought, “My friends like it when I come over.” The doctor informed me I had an obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). After researching OCD, I quickly discovered the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO) and had a light bulb moment, “There are other people out there like me! and they get paid to do this.” Hence, my business was created soon after. BUT, it’s not about the clutter, it’s something else. Ahh, and I am good at getting to that something else.

I love solving the problem of disorganization by getting to the root causes. I am passionate about ascertaining what people do, why they do it, and how it affects their lives. I offer hands-on organizing, coaching, and quarterly retreats for women to overcome the barriers that are keeping them disorganized, dissatisfied, and discontent in their business, career, or life.

I am most proud that I continue to motivate and encourage individuals to live the life they create, have fun doing it, and step into their power effortlessly.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

The best source of new clients for us is at networking events. Networking events allow us to get in front of our ideal clients. We have the opportunity to know our clients and they get to know us as well. It’s a win-win situation that provides trust and quality conversations.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

The advice we have for managing a team is to establish a clear onboarding process along with a solid job description. Once you have your team in place, set clear goals and expectations. Employees also need to feel welcome and a part of the team. Rather than saying it’s ‘your’ company, say ‘our’ company. Also during the onboarding process get to know your team. What motivates them, what do they like, and how would they want to be rewarded.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.drparislove.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drparislove/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/1ParisLove
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/parislove/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/organizewithluv