We recently connected with Rey Romo and have shared our conversation below.

Rey, appreciate you joining us today. Coming up with the idea is so exciting, but then comes the hard part – executing. Too often the media ignores the execution part and goes from idea to success, skipping over the nitty, gritty details of executing in the early days. We think that’s a disservice both to the entrepreneurs who built something amazing as well as the public who isn’t getting a realistic picture of what it takes to succeed. So, we’d really appreciate if you could open up about your execution story – how did you go from idea to execution?

I went from working at a restaurant to being a self-taught decluttering coach all in 1 year. There was a time in my life where I lived the same day over and over again: put on my server attire, worked a busy shift, grabbed drinks after with coworkers, got cozy and binged Netflix, and then repeat. Yes, I am grateful for everything I learned from my serving job (and all the great people I met!) but I was unfulfilled with the life I was living.

I made a plan to save money, leave my comfortable job, and go after the life I really wanted. Before I tell you how I executed my idea, let me say that there are several highs and lows that I experienced throughout this year long journey. My progress wasn’t linear (at all!) and it wasn’t pretty but these 4 steps are the main reason I was able to achieve the life I wanted.

1. Commit.
People usually don’t believe this was my first step (I guess it seems like the 3rd or 4th step?). Before I started making business moves, I had to believe in myself and that I was CAPABLE of doing this. I used to be the person that thought ─ “I don’t know how”, “I can’t do that”, “What if I look bad?” ─ I used to let my fears (also known as: Procrastination) get the best of me By the time I left my restaurant job, I was beyond ready for my next adventure! But self-doubt kept sneaking up on me and made me feel incapable of anything new. So, I had to have a serious talk with myself and say “Commit to one goal and keep your eyes on the prize.” Doing this allowed me to focus on my vision, believe in myself, and take one step at a time.

2. Start slow and steady.
I used to get overwhelmed ALL THE TIME which made the best (worst?) procrastinator! I knew this was a major weakness of mine so I had to calm my nervous system by focusing on the easy steps. My first action was simple: Reach for a pen and paper (told you it was simple). Next, I wrote down my thoughts ─ personal goals, business ideas, and important questions. Building a business takes time, so be patient with yourself and TRUST the process!

3. Seek help.
I was the person who “didn’t know how to start” which caused me to miss A LOT of opportunities. I was raised to believe that asking for help was a sign of weakness. But now, I know it takes courage and strength to ask for the help and to ask questions. I knew I was going to need all the help I could get and so, I sought after a business coach to guide me through my entrepreneurial journey. I was lucky enough to have a mentor AND a business coach (so grateful for you both) ─ they gave me the push I needed to pursue my passions and purpose in life. They both shut down any self-doubt I encountered and brought out my greatest qualities. Let me tell you, this was the smartest decision I ever made for my business ─ I was held accountable and constantly encouraged to push my limits. *Investing in help is investing in yourself*. Read that again!

4. Take action by showing up everyday.
I had days where I only complete one task and others where I would complete 5 tasks without a problem. Believe me, everyday was not rainbows and sunshine BUT showing up gave me the results I wanted. The key to my process was documenting my thoughts and experiences ─ business ideas, personal goals, advice, mistakes, research, and motivational quotes. No matter if the day was good or bad, I took something from that experience and made it a lesson to learn. By sticking to this process, I was able to create and shape my online decluttering program: Tidy and Confident in 28 days. In July 2021, was when I first had the idea of becoming a decluttering coach and 2 months later, I was able to get my first client. So show up, even on the days where you can only give 50%. Being consistent will get you a lot farther than motivation.

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

Something you should know about me is that I’ve always been self-motivated and a free spirit. But for a long time, I felt lost, lazy, and hopeless.

I spent most of my childhood surrounded by chaos and chronic clutter. I come from a family of immigrants and was taught to be resourceful which is something I am so grateful for. Collecting items was an inherited habit in my family which caused clutter to accumulate in our home. Growing up, I thought it was normal to have cluttered closets, floors, and cabinets. I remember being fascinated with organizing our junk drawers (especially ones with pencils, markers, and paperclips). At the age of 13, I taught myself how to declutter when my family had to move from childhood home. In the next few years, we moved an additional 4 times (that’s a lot of packing, huh?). In this process, I became an expert at decluttering a young age.

When I was 18, I was incredibly excited to start a life of my own. Little did I know, my college years would bring out the worst in me and be some of my darkest days. I became depressed, careless, and disappointed in the person I was becoming. Everything in my life was in disorder ─ my thoughts, intentions, habits, MY BEDROOM, and even my social circle. Once again, I was surrounded by chaos and chronic clutter.

I was in a vicious cycle with the clutter in my life (when I say clutter, I mean all the things that were getting in the way of the life I desperately needed). When I was 22, I realized I was in a toxic pattern and did not want to continue down this self-destructive path. My mental health was declining and preventing me from doing the things that made me happy. So, my first step to break this cycle was to clean my room ─ let me tell you from firsthand experience, when you tidy your space and have nothing else to clean, you are left alone with your thoughts. This was a powerful moment in my decluttering journey.

I learned that clearing my space also cleared my mind. I started to see the essentials in my life and reduced the amount of items that I owned because they were causing mental, emotional, and physical clutter. My mental health was being restored by decluttering ─ especially my anxiety and stress levels. From then on, I felt inspired to be the best version of myself and I gained the momentum I needed to overcome my worst days. I dove into self-improvement books, healthy habits, hobbies, meaningful relationships, and honest communication. I maintained this process for the next 6 years which has all led me here to you!

I created my online decluttering program, Tidy and Confident in 28 days, to help people that are overwhelmed with the amount of items they have and teach them how to improve their mental health by decluttering so they can optimize their space and mind.

I know what it’s like to live in a dysfunctional space.
I know what it’s like to wake up in a panic because of the out of control mess around me.
I know what it’s like living in a room that feels like a cave.
Most of all, I know what it’s like to feel stuck, embarrassed, and overwhelmed from all the clutter in my mind, space, and life. My clients often come to me sharing these painful struggles and I can genuinely relate because I’ve been there too.

In my offer, I walk you through understanding why you accumulate clutter, to shifting your mindset, to learning effective decluttering tools ─ most importantly, how to overcome the mental, emotional, and physical obstacles that are holding you back.

I’m on a mission to spread the confidence I have gained from decluttering my mind and space. I hope I can help individuals who are ready to make a change in their lifestyle but don’t know where to start.

I want people to know that you are not alone, you are not lazy, and there is nothing wrong with you. There is help waiting for you ─ if you are ready to take action, talk to me.

In the meantime, take a deep breath, be kind to yourself, and starting cleaning your room.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Let me tell you about the 3 pivots I took in 1 year that changed my life.

Pivot #1: After working at the same restaurant for 7 years, I was ready to make a change. At the age of 24, I saved all of my earnings and planned on starting my own business. This pivot was by far the most uncomfortable because it was my first major change since starting the job when I was 18 years old. Thankfully, I was supported by my loved ones to make this change ─ specifically, a mentor that highlighted my capabilities and encouraged me to create a plant business.

Pivot #2: So I did. I got my LLC in December ’21 and started renting plants to offices in the city of Chicago. I should mention that I grew a green thumb (pun intended) ─ but mostly because I killed A LOT of plants and learned what NOT to do. The process of starting up a business was extremely overwhelming for me BUT I received a piece of advice that stuck with me: Appreciate the journey while starting a business because it’s a unique phase as an entrepreneur. Then, it clicked. I wasn’t appreciating the process of starting this plant business at all… I was dreading it. The ONLY thing I enjoyed about my plant business was organizing my client’s office to make room for the plants. A few months passed and I could no longer ignore my negative self-talk and that I was unhappy with my business. I knew I didn’t want to pursue it anymore but also didn’t know what my next step was. I realized I was going to need outside help ─ so, I got therapy (shoutout to my therapist!), invested in a business coach, and most importantly, I focused on my mental and physical health.

Pivot #3: July ’21, I decided to take a leap of faith and become a decluttering coach. Doing the inner-work I needed made me realize that my life prepared me for this. All of my passions and all of my hardships have guided me to pursue this calling. I remember feeling conflicted when people asked me “What do you want to be when you grow up?” because nothing felt like the “right” answer. It wasn’t until the age of 26 that I realized what my purpose in life is: to share my decluttering knowledge and help people optimize their space and mind. I know this is where I am meant to be because I would do it for free. For the first time in my life, I am 100% sure that this is where I am supposed to be.

I learned that taking just 1 pivot can lead you to a life full of happiness, gratification, and achievement. I hope that my story can inspire you to believe in yourself and to take that leap of faith (I’m so grateful I was encourage to take mine).
So keep going, keep pushing, and remember that you get to choose who you want to be.

Have any books or other resources had a big impact on you?

Let me tell you, reading used to be a CHORE for me. When I first came across self-help books, I thought I had found a hidden treasure. The more I read, the more I discovered about myself (specifically my mentality and behaviors).

If you are like me and have trouble focusing, try reading while holding a pencil or pen. Mark up your books, take notes, underline, highlight, whatever works for YOU! Yes, the book will get messy but they are uniquely yours.

Here are some books that have helped me rediscover myself:

The Mountain Is You: Transforming Self-Sabotage Into Self-Mastery – Brianna Wiest

Why Has Nobody Told Me This Before? – Dr. Julie Smith

Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life – Héctor Garcia, Francesc Miralles

The Happiness Advantage: The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work The Seven Principles of Positive Psychology That Fuel Success and Performance at Work – Shawn Achor

Ego Is the Enemy – Ryan Holiday

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @tidyandconfident
• Facebook: Rey Romo
• Linkedin: Rey Romo
• Other: Tiktok: @tidyandconfident

Image Credits
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