We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Joby Aranda a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Joby, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What do you think matters most in terms of achieving success?

I believe that success is rooted in defining your purpose, having grit, and building strong community.

At Living Lite Organized, our purpose is to transform people’s lives through the art of organizing. Some may see what we do as simple or easy—but for the clients who reach out to us, organizing often represents a much deeper challenge. Whether they’re neurodivergent, seniors with limited mobility, facing a life transition, or simply overwhelmed by a busy life, we’re here to provide the support they need. And there’s nothing more fulfilling than helping someone in a meaningful way, no matter their reason for reaching out.

Being a business owner isn’t for the faint of heart. This is actually my second business, and I can honestly say it’s just as challenging as the first. You’re constantly learning as you go—often without clear answers—and that requires resilience, adaptability, and a willingness to grow through the process.

Community has been everything to me. Over time, I’ve built several circles of support, but at the core of it all is my incredible team. They are an amazing group of women who share the same mindset, values, and passion for this work. I’m so proud of what we’ve built together—not just a business, but a mission-driven community making a difference every day.

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.

How I Got Into This Industry

I spent the better part of my life—thirty years, to be exact—as a professional dancer. One of my closest friends, who danced with me in my Los Angeles company for many years, had started her own professional organizing business. While I had a general idea of what she did, I became increasingly curious about the details of the industry as I began to consider transitioning out of my dance career.

She encouraged me to check out my local chapter of NAPO (National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals)—and that was eight years ago. I haven’t looked back since.

Coming from a creative background gave me a natural advantage when it came to redesigning spaces, developing systems, and finding functional solutions for people feeling overwhelmed by clutter.

While anyone can help clear clutter, it takes a deeper level of understanding to create systems that are truly tailored to a client’s lifestyle, needs, and space. Just as important is approaching every project with kindness, compassion, and without judgment. That’s something I hold dear—and it’s a value I ensure every member of my team shares.

Many of our clients come to us carrying feelings of guilt or shame for not being able to manage things on their own. Our mission is to relieve that burden and make each client feel at ease through our client-first approach.

At Living Lite Organized, no challenge is too small or too big.

Our organizing services include:

Move Management – Downsizing, packing, unpacking, and setting up your new space

Clear-Outs – Compassionate, ethical home clearings after the loss of a loved one

Paper Organizing – Systems for home or business offices, including mail centers and file management

Decluttering – Including support for individuals dealing with chronic disorganization or hoarding tendencies

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

As I’m sure everyone has their own COVID pandemic story—so do I.

In January 2020, I was just one year into my business. At the time, I was primarily working under other professional organizing companies, relying on referrals and putting very little effort into marketing or attracting new clients. I hadn’t yet taken full ownership of growing the business.

But when the pandemic hit, I found myself in a unique position. Unlike many in the industry, I wasn’t afraid to go into people’s homes and businesses to do the work. Because of that, I received a wave of referrals from colleagues and realized it was time to get serious. I built my own website, explored new ways to advertise, and began building what would soon become a thriving team.

I went from having just one employee to now leading a team of seven, plus several contracted services we regularly use. When I first started, I was unsure of myself—hesitant to take bold steps. But in a time of great uncertainty, I found courage. The challenges of the pandemic pushed me to pursue my passion more fully—not only to help transform clients’ lives through organization, but also to build a team of incredible women I’m proud to work alongside and support in their own journeys.

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

I’ve always loved working with a team. Being able to mentor others in my industry, enrich their lives by helping them do work they enjoy, and foster relationships that go beyond just doing a “job” is incredibly fulfilling. The opportunity to grow as a leader while supporting others is something I truly value—and I consider it priceless.

I believe the Lord places us in each other’s lives for a reason, and it’s never just about making money.

Since I’m not on-site with the team, I make it a priority to stay connected in meaningful ways. Each month, we hold a training session where the team can learn new skills and spend quality time together. Additionally, each quarter, I plan a fun team event where we enjoy good food, shared experiences, and a chance to deepen our connections.

To keep morale high, we also celebrate every 5-star review by sending out a congratulatory message to everyone involved—recognizing and appreciating their great work.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.livingliteorganized.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/joby_living_lite_organized/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LivingLiteOrganized
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joby-aranda-5a6305195/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/living-lite-organized-concord

Image Credits

Marcus L. Jackson Photography (credit to all pictures in which has myself and the team in the pictures)