We recently connected with Joanie Nicholas and have shared our conversation below.
Alright, Joanie thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
Asking for help. Why does this feel so scary to most of us?
On my 25th birthday I found myself living in a new city. My career was on track, but my love life was not. I was lonely and depressed. I had thought about seeking therapy in the past but had a lot of negative stereotypes in my mind about people who need mental health services. Plus, I felt embarrassed at the idea of spilling my feelings at the judgement of a stranger.
Making that phone call to schedule an initial appointment was the best birthday present I’ve ever given myself. While some have to try a few different professionals, I got very lucky and was a perfect match with the first practitioner I called. She listened, she understood, she offered suggestions, and she lightened the mood with humor at just the right times. I never would have predicted how hard the work we did together would be; but I also never expected to laugh as much as we did throughout our time together. A little more than two years later I married my soulmate. There isn’t a doubt in my mind that without the help of this amazing therapist I would not have had the courage or the insight I needed to make that relationship work.
Admitting we can’t do it all on our own makes us vulnerable and no one likes that feeling. But risking shame, embarrassment, and judgement with a professional who offers safety and compassion can be a remarkable turning point in our lives. The payoff is absolutely worth the fear!
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?
I grew up in a home of organizational opposites ~ my mother was a sentimental pack-rat, my father a minimalist. My poor dad was never able to park his car in the garage because my mother kept it full of old furniture, boxes of cards and letters she’d moved from her mother’s house, seasonal decorations, and supplies for projects she intended to do “one of these days.” This offered me countless lessons in the effect clutter can have on our energy and focus. I witnessed the frustration my mother would feel when she looked at unfinished projects, and her agitation as she tore the house apart looking for lost items. As a child, I found comfort in maintaining an organized space for myself and loved helping my mother keep cabinets and drawers in order.
The field of professional organizing fell into my lap around the age of 30 after seeing a professional organizer in action on television (thanks, Oprah!) I remember staring at the TV with my mouth open, completely shocked that a skill that came so naturally to me could become a career. I connected with a local woman who helped people declutter and organize their homes, she led me to the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, and the rest
My company, All Things Organized, was born in 1996 and I have been working side-by-side with clients ever since. I help people develop a plan-of-attack to reduce the feeling of overwhelm when they think about reorganizing a space. Then we implement that plan together ~ it’s amazing how just having a friend by your side makes the work less daunting and more enjoyable! By asking targeted questions and offering new ways to think about our possessions I make it easier for people to let go of items that no longer serve a purpose in their life. (And then I put them in my van and cart them away for the client!)
When there’s more space to breathe in our homes, it’s easier to set up organizational systems that will fit our lifestyle and personality. I find many clients have tried and failed to “get organized” because they were trying to make a system work that didn’t fit them. We all are unique, and our home organization must be also.
A home that is organized and free of clutter gives us the space and energy to do the things that matter most to us. It launches us into living our best life!
Have you ever had to pivot?
Life transitions ~ a change in marital status, retirement, empty nest, just to name a few ~ can be hard! Like many women, when my children began to “fly the coop” I faced a period of shifting identity. I wondered, “Who am I now that I’m not ‘Mom’ 24/7?” and “What do I want to do in the next stage of my life?” This was an extremely challenging time, both personally and professionally.
This “identity crisis” came as a shock to me. I had anticipated that I would be thrilled to have more time to devote to my business when I became an empty nester; instead, I questioned if continuing as a Home Organization Coach was the right path. I considered a career shift, although I wasn’t sure what that shift would be. It took about two years of soul-searching, reading and exploration to conclude I wanted to continue and expand my organizing business.
I did pivot the focus of my work as a result of this period of reflection. Home organization is about so much more than pretty containers and fancy labels. Now, I work with my clients at a deeper level. I’ve shifted my clientele to focus on people facing a life transition. Looking at your belongings is one way to help answer some of those identity questions. Purging your home of items that have served their purpose in your life opens up your heart and your mind as well as your physical space. It’s so rewarding to guide clients to keep only items they love. Their new-found energy, confidence and joy is exciting for us both!
Any thoughts, advice, or strategies you can share for fostering brand loyalty?
For several years I have been 1000% percent committed to a weekly newsletter. It began as just a quick tip and has expanded to include resources for donating and recycling unwanted items in addition to the decluttering or organizing tip. I hear lots of positive feedback from people about the content of this weekly email.
Social media gives me a headache! I found my target market mostly uses Facebook, so I eliminated other platforms and focus on regular postings only there. In addition to a business page, I have a private FB group. I can’t say I’ve gotten any clients directly from Facebook; but I think it is important to have a presence there when people want to investigate me.
Personally, I hate sales pitches so very few of my newsletter topics or my Facebook posts ask for business. My brand is about helping people and that is evident in all the resources, inspiration and advice I put out there. My main goal is to use these avenues to stay top-of-mind for people and to establish myself as the expert they can trust. Then, we they are ready to face their clutter and get their home organized they will remember me and feel safe contacting me for help.
To stay in touch with past clients I put reminders in my calendar for check-in calls or emails. I just touch base, see if they’ve had any questions or challenges pop up since our work together, and try to offer some little tidbit of information or a new resource I think would be relevant to them.
All of these pay-off for me when past clients contact me for help with a new organizing project or someone who has been in my online community for years finally sets up a consultation with me!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://allthingsorganizedkc.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AllThingsOrganizedKC
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joanie-nicholas-coach/
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/all-things-organized-leawood