We recently connected with Linda Samuels and have shared our conversation below.
Linda, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you have a hero? What have you learned from them?
My Dad, who is no longer here, is my biggest hero. On the most basic level, he taught me to say “Please and thank you,” ride my bike, drive a stick shift, and thumb wrestle. The learning didn’t stop there. He taught me profound things about humor, creativity, confidence, gratitude, love, and family that have defined me. They continue to guide me in all that I do.
He encouraged confidence and was an incredible listener. He’d listen hard to what you thought or wanted. Then knew just what to say to inspire bold action and courage. I often went to him for council. Over 30 years ago, when I was thinking about starting my organizing business but was afraid to leave the security of my job, I sought his advice. I outlined the pros and cons, financial considerations, risks, and benefits. He listened intently, patiently and asked great clarifying questions.
When I asked him what he thought, with complete confidence, he looked me straight in the eyes and said, “Go for it!” And I did. In the years since, when my apprehension or doubt creeps in, I think of those empowering words. They guide and give me the confidence to push past my fear and continue moving forward.
Linda, 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?
As a young mom juggling work, family life, and two babies, I recognized that my organizational abilities allowed me to navigate life with less stress. Other moms often asked, “How are you managing everything?” While I was ‘born organized,’ I realized that organizing was a teachable skill I could share with other parents. I always wanted my own business and one that was conducive to raising a family.
In January 1993, I left my computer graphics career, including a steady paycheck and benefits, to launch Oh, So Organized! Combining my love of helping people, organizing strengths, visual arts expertise, and business background, I offer compassionate, non-judgmental virtual organizing services and workshops to clients of all stages and ages. My goal is to help my clients get unstuck, feel less overwhelmed, and be more organized with their space, possessions, systems, time, and life transitions. In addition to my services, I regularly write for my blog to provide additional support and inspiration and encourage conversations about motivation, clutter, letting go, mindfulness, change, and more. With my expertise and passion for organization and life balance, I strive to positively affect the lives of my clients and readers.
After 30 years, I am proud that my company is still thriving. I have maintained long-lasting relationships with my clients, invested in my education and professional development, remained agile and open to change, and contributed to the organizing industry through volunteering, mentoring, leading, and teaching. I have also written a book and numerous articles, helped hundreds of clients successfully navigate their organizational challenges, continually stepped outside my comfort zone, and modeled to my children that being a parent and an entrepreneur is possible.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I had been searching for ways to morph my organizing business for many years. I looked for how to change what I was doing and keep my work intellectually engaging, client-focused, and viable as I aged. At the end of 2019, I participated in a group coaching course to figure out what to do next. This cultivated an open, creative, and exploratory period for me. In January 2020, I redesigned and launched my website right before the pandemic. I was preparing for next, even though I wasn’t sure what that would be.
In March 2020, when the pandemic shut down life in New York, my business, primarily in-person onsite work, went from 100 to 0 overnight. I had to make an immediate business pivot and offered virtual organizing as a temporary option.
To my great surprise, I loved working virtually, as did my clients. They made tremendous progress as they took ownership of the organizing process. They responded well to having regular virtual organizing sessions and an accountability partner.
A few months later, I invested in training to become a Certified Virtual Organizing Professional (CVOP™). This was a game-changer. I realized that virtual organizing was “it!” – that thing I’d been looking for. By August 2020, I made virtual organizing a permanent business pivot and stopped offering in-person organizing.
Virtual organizing provides better organizing integration for my clients. The sessions are shorter and easier to fit into their busy lives. This supports how to ‘build’ organizing into their days. They learn to use small time blocks to make progress. With in-person visits, clients found blocking 3-6 hours to work with me challenging. With virtual work, since the client is doing the physical work (and not me), they learn how to organize in their way, timeframe, schedule, and life situation. They accomplish more, have more control, and feel more satisfied and organized.
Virtual organizing gives me a better work/life balance. I’m more easily able to integrate my needs. I can work in short, focused bursts, take a self-care break, and work some more. It’s easier to fold yoga, meditation, walking in nature, socializing, and eating healthier with a virtually-based business. I also can create an optimal working environment for myself- desired temperature, preferred lighting and scents, the pace of breaks, and regular hydration. I am happier, more comfortable, and have a higher level of focus, which benefits me and my clients.
With a heightened awareness about finding ‘next,’ a redesigned website, and a pandemic, I was able to successfully pivot my business to virtual organizing. Since then, I’ve had many exciting opportunities. My company expanded to work globally with clients. I’ve presented many virtual workshops, including one about business pivot lessons learned for the International Virtual Organizers Summit for Virtual Organizers. I became the Professional Organizing Advisor for Nest by Revel, an Executive Coaching company. These opportunities would not have been possible without pivoting my business.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
It’s essential to keep in touch with clients and encourage ongoing loyalty. I do this in various ways. All clients (active and inactive) receive a quarterly ‘snail mail’ purple newsletter from me. It includes current Oh, So Organized! news, organizing tips, product and vendor resources, organizing and life balance inspiration, and contact info.
In addition, clients and others who sign-up on my website receive my free monthly e-newsletter with articles on clutter, motivation, virtual organizing, letting go, change, mindfulness, and more.
Communication and responsiveness are vital. I use client-preferred channels such as email, snail mail, text, phone, and Zoom to stay connected. Virtual organizing clients receive an updated Project Session Journal after each virtual organizing session which summarizes their progress, challenges, successes, resources shared, and upcoming sessions.
Clients or others who refer work to me receive a branded hand-written thank you note and a small clutter-free gift.
I created a unique, simple, exclusive Client Loyalty Program to express my appreciation. After every ten virtual organizing sessions, clients automatically receive $25 off their next session or virtual organizing package. The benefit is ongoing, and I track it for them. They don’t need to worry, request credit, or punch any cards. The program encourages loyalty while allowing me to express my gratitude for their trust.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ohsoorganized.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lindasamuels/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ohsoorganizedlindasamuels/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ohsoorganized/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/LindaSamuels
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/OhSoOrganized
- Book: https://www.ohsoorganized.com/the-other-side-of-organized-book
- Blog: https://www.ohsoorganized.com/blog
- Client Loyalty Program: https://www.ohsoorganized.com/services
- Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ohsoorganized/