We were lucky to catch up with Saer Fairchild recently and have shared our conversation below.

Saer, appreciate you joining us today. Can you share a story that illustrates an important or relevant lesson you learned in school

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned came during my time as a psychology and neuroscience student in college- and what I learned wasn’t a fact or theory learned in a singular class, it was a shift in how I understood people.

As a psychology buff, I was- and still am- completely fascinated by how the brain processes information, makes decisions, and reacts to its surroundings. One day, in a lecture on cognitive load and environmental triggers, my professor said something along the lines of:

“Your brain is constantly filtering your environment, whether you realize it or not.”

That concept ended up sticking with me- Moreso than any other content we went through that entire lesson.

Afterwards, I tried to be super mindful, especially when it came to paying attention to the environment around myself as well as others.

In doing so, I saw how so much of our stress, forgetfulness, or lack of focus isn’t necessarily about willpower, it’s about how our brains are wired to survive and adapt. Thus, when our environments are chaotic or disorganized, our brains go into overdrive trying to compensate (as experienced by most procrastinating college students)! Overall, that stress ends up accumulating, quietly- yet fast.

At the same time, I also was working part-time in various office roles, and I started seeing it play out in real time. Overwhelmed managers, missed documents, frustrated coworkers, and none of it due to a lack of talent or effort. Just cruddy environments and lack of organizational systems that didn’t support how people actually think and function on the daily.

That was the moment it all really clicked for me- and to this day I like to think how that one lecture didn’t just shape my studies- It shaped my purpose.

Saer, 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?

Hey there, my name is Saer Fairchild. I’m a 24-year-old entrepreneur and founder of my very own business, Sorted-Out!

Sorted-Out is all about helping people feel less overwhelmed by their workspace, whether it’s a cluttered desk, a chaotic supply closet, and even nonsensical file cabinets and paper stacks.

Generally speaking, I work mostly with small business owners, professionals, and even nonprofit organizations who are great at what they do- but who just don’t have the time, energy, or brain power to spend hours each day to keep their physical space working with them instead of against them. As I like to say, people live at work and visit home; and no one wants to come into a space (where they spend 8+ hours a day) that feels hectic and cluttered.

The work I do is hands-on and practical: organizing office spaces, setting up systems that are easy to maintain, and just generally making the day-to-day flow of a workspace smoother and more intuitive. Nevertheless, the heart of Sorted-Out is all about giving back to the entrepreneur community- and helping people feel calm, in control, and focused again.

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

As someone who has experience working on both sides of the coin (i.e., being a business owner as well as a former employee), I strongly believe that great team morale starts with two things: an organized environment and genuine respect for your people.

In my field of experience, I have learned that when your workspace is chaotic- your workflow and communication usually are too. A clear, well-structured environment reduces stress (and thereby cortisol levels), boosts productivity, and helps everyone feel like they can do their best work. Additionally, cluttered environments are psychologically shown to reduce employee loyalty, talk about a morale killer.

However, sometimes even having the most beautifully organized office won’t matter if your people don’t feel valued. Your employees aren’t just staff- they’re your livelihood, your reputation, and your companies biggest asset. Treat them fairly, listen to them, and invest in their growth. It’s important to make sure your team members know that their work matters.

When people feel respected and supported and they’re set up in a space that helps- not hinders- them, amazing things tend to happen!

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

Hands down, the best source of new clients has been genuine, word-of-mouth referrals and local networking.

To put it simply, people refer those that they like, know and trust. Whether it’s a happy client telling a friend, a business owner I met at a local networking event, or someone who saw my work online and reached out, most of my clients come from garnering connections and relationships with others.

That being said, I know networking can feel daunting- especially for other young Gen-Z entrepreneurs! It definitely can be intimidating to walk into a room full of professionals and introduce yourself. However, what I’ve learned is that people are a lot more welcoming and supportive than you might initially expect.

Thus, showing up consistently, being authentic, and offering value without a hard sell has opened more doors than any ad ever could; And let’s be honest here, there’s nothing more powerful than someone saying, “You have to call Sorted-Out, their work has changed my life.”

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sorted-out.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sortedoutco/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Sorted-Out/61577188154341/?rdid=LykyKOYSVVOTpPd4&share_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F16hZHJWfvt%2F
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/saer-fairchild-624142200/

Image Credits

Myself