We were lucky to catch up with Kalia McKinley recently and have shared our conversation below.
Kalia , thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Have you ever had an amazing boss? What did you learn from them? Maybe you can share a story that illustrates the kind of boss they were or maybe you can share your thoughts on what you think made them an awesome person to work for?
Leadership Means Meeting Team Members Where They’re At. I sat in on a weekly meeting while my boss instructed my other colleagues and me about various assignments. I wrote as fast as I could, but I was not familiar with the project and he was talking fast. When I got back to my desk, I was told he needed two other projects before the one he had just assigned.
By the time I got around to that project, my notes made no sense and I didn’t have a clue where to begin. Timidly, I went into his office (fearful of what he would have to say) and explained that I didn’t recall what he needed. He put his pen down, told me to have a seat, and explained everything he needed me to do.
He never batted an eye, never questioned why my notes weren’t better, and never made me feel uncomfortable the entire meeting. He was such a great teacher and he taught me a lot about how bosses can make or break an employee’s loyalty. I would do anything for him, not just because of that meeting, but because of the way he treated every employee. He treated everyone with respect.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
The purpose is my “why.” It drives my every action and fuels my passion. My why are my daughter’s. I want them to see they can do anything that they put their minds to with a purpose and passion. It encompasses my work, my relationships, and my approach to living my best life. My purpose wraps around everything I do in my life. To live a fulfilling life, I must have a purpose – a goal, an outcome I want to achieve as I walk this Earth. I feel like I truly started living when I found my purpose. It’s a never-ending journey that I wake up excited about every single day. Ultimately, my purpose becomes my legacy.
My business started as a hobby. I love organizing, cleaning, and decluttering. As a kid whenever I got in trouble at school I would come home and clean the entire house. My mother knew immediately that when she walked something had happened. Over the years that continue until it became second nature. As an adult, my friends knew I had a niche for organizing so they would pay with food to come over and help them clean out their closets, help them pack, or help them clean their space. Then one day of my good friends posed the question to me “Have you ever thought about making this into a business and getting paid for the services you offer?” I had never thought about it. Well, with that thought in mind I said I would give it a try and that’s what I did in 2016.
When I started the business in 2016 I was in Houston, TX. It was a good start and I had some momentum going then COVID-19 hit. At this time I decided we needed to move back home to the Kansas City area. Moving back in the middle of a pandemic was rough on the business and the fact that I had no clientele here besides my family was yet another challenge. I started just cleaning and organizing as many family members as I could at the start of 2021 to be able to take pictures and place them on my social media outlets. By doing this it did generate some buzz for the business.
When it comes to organizing, cleaning, and decluttering, you’ll be hard-pressed to find someone with the same level of passion, energy, and eye for detail as me.
I understand how overwhelming and daunting cleaning can be. My desire is to help those who don’t quite know where or how to start. I know that good, deep cleaning can be time-consuming and not everyone has the capability or, quite frankly, the desire to get it done.
Keys to our Success:
• To create a service-based company whose #1 goal is exceeding customers’ expectations.
• To increase our number of clients served by 20% per year through superior service.
• To develop a sustainable home-based business, living off its cash flow.
• The utilization of OCD Diva & Co’s Services regularly by at least 30% of the leads that contact us for more
information.
When they choose OCD Diva to clean, unpack, or organize their home, they are choosing a business that will fill their space with life, love, and good vibes.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
The most effective strategy that I have used to grow my clientele is by promoting my business online. Once I clearly understood what my customers wanted, it was time to promote my business online! Social media and website marketing are two of the most effective ways I have used. I made sure that my website and social media pages convey my brand identity and personality. I make sure that these platforms are updated regularly as well. My customers like knowing what’s going on with the business, and it encourages them to solicit my services.
Once I have attracted some new customers, it is vital to keep them interested in my business! This is done by staying in touch with them and offering discounted prices. I want to think of myself as a business partner rather than someone who is just trying to sell them something. By maintaining an active dialogue with my customers, I may be able to discover what they want before they even know they want it!
How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?
Starting any business has a price. The initial capital came from bootstrapping. I started with my own personal savings. I could not rely on traditional financing methods.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ocddivaandco.com
- Facebook: OCD Diva
- Linkedin: OCD Diva & Co
- Other: I am also on Instagram @ocddivaandco