Here's just a quick summary so you know where I'm coming from (but you're welcome to read my entire life story, if you feel so inclined!) I've always been sort of anal-retentive -- my mother was a child of the Depression who never threw anything away, so I learned to be organized at an early age out of self-defense. I started out my career in Social Work, and my focus has always been on problem-solving -- you tell me how your life isn't working the way that you want it to, and I will help you find a solution to fix it. I struck out on my own in 1998 and have been a Professional Organizer and Coach ever since. Same principles, just a different client base -- and I discovered an all-consuming passion for helping people simplify their lives. It's what I live for!

I am a Golden Circle member of  of NAPO (the National Association Of Professional Organizers) and was the original founder and creator of the OnlineOrganizing community -- which my husband and I grew into one of the finest resources for getting organized on the internet before selling the business in 2009. I am considered something of an innovator within the industry, breaking new ground and always looking at the concept of "organizing" a bit differently from the crowd. These days, I travel the country as a full-time RVer -- providing hands-on consultations, group workshops, teleseminars, virtual organizing services, and accountability coaching for those who want to bring their lives back into alignment with their true priorities. I love what I do and get a huge thrill every time I can help a client regain some control over his or her life.

It's Even Better Than Clean Sweep

Some P.O's will offer to come in and organize "for" you -- you don't even have to lift a finger, they will do all the work. If you have an unlimited budget and don't mind a lifelong commitment to that organizer in order to control the chaos, then go for it. I, however, think that this approach is a mistake. I believe in working "with" the client -- you need to be involved in the process so you can learn the skills that will allow you to live clutter-free for years to come. My goal is for you to stay organized on your own, long after I'm gone -- and isn't that what it should really be all about? Empowerment is the cornerstone of my philosophy (it's the Social Worker in me!)

When people find out what I do for a living, they often ask, "So it's like 'Clean Sweep' like on TV, right?" Wrong! Remember that those shows are just that -- for show. They want a dramatic result in an hour, so they cart everything out of the room, set up some cool storage paraphernalia, and show you a pretty end result. But they don't discuss the decision-making, follow-up, and maintenance processes that are required for long-term success. Organizing is only partly about shelves and containers -- it is mostly about learning how to let go of clutter, changing the behaviors that cause chaos, and developing more constructive habits that will keep you organized after you turn off the TV.

Lugging all of your junk out to the curb and slapping on a fresh coat of paint might feel better for a few days, but it won't do much to improve your quality of life in the long run.  And simply removing the stacks and piles isn't going to solve your disorganization anymore than liposuction will keep you thin. If you don't change the behavior that caused the problem in the first place, the weight (and the clutter) will just come right back again. I find it interesting that these makeover programs never show you what the place looks like 6 months after the initial blitz -- I don't care how amazing the transformation, that "quick fix" will come undone just as quickly if you revert back to your old routines! Instead of looking for a miracle cure, you would do better to think of working with a Professional Organizer like hiring a personal trainer at the gym. That trainer can help you achieve amazing results, but you can't expect to have a new body overnight. It takes time to burn away the flab and build up muscle -- then you have to stick with it every day to maintain your results. It's the same with getting your life in order. It took years to create the clutter, it's going to take time to tame the chaos. But as your "trainer," I'm there to keep you on track and help you make faster progress than you would on your own.

Cure The Illness, Not Just The Symptoms

• First, you must understand the "why" of organizing -- I will evaluate your situation, listen to your concerns, watch you function in your daily life, and help to pinpoint exactly what is causing your frustrations. Then we will decide on the appropriate steps for tackling those problem areas.
  

• Second, you must learn the "how" of getting organized -- I will teach you  a variety of easy-to-understand organizing techniques that you can implement yourself. Do you hear that "yourself" part? You won't need to keep hiring an organizer to come back again and again -- you will be able to keep it under control on your own.
  

• Third, you will need to acquire (and learn to use) the appropriate organizing supplies -- I will show you exactly which containers, shelving, racks, calendars, folders, desk accessories, drawer dividers, etc. will work for your situation (and tell you where you can buy them.) And whenever possible, we will find a way to use things that you already own, to save money.
  

• Fourth, you will need to implement systems that will help you maintain the changes you've made -- I will teach you proven methods for handling paper, managing your workload, scheduling activities, tackling projects, and staying on top of all your stuff, so that the clutter and overload and disorganization never come back again. Most importantly, I will help you simplify your daily routines so the "have-to's" take less time and energy (leaving room for the "want-to's" you never seem to fit in.)

My clients joke that a lot of what I do is ask annoying questions -- "When are you going to use that again?" or "What purpose does it serve in your life?" or "What's the worst thing that would happen if you got rid of it?" But there's a method to my madness. I'm helping you to become aware of the traps you've fallen into over the years -- the excuses you have for hanging on to things and paper and activities that do nothing to enhance your life (and may actually be detracting from it!) I'm forcing you to move beyond the clutter of indecision and make a conscious choice about what to keep and what to toss. I will never tell you to get rid of something you cherish, but I will ask you to articulate why something you haven't used in 20 years has value to you. Most importantly, I'm giving you permission to let go of any area of your life that isn't working.

Are you ready to begin? Then just fill out my contact form letting me know what kinds of services you are interested in and where you are located. We can have an initial phone conversation, take a look at our calendars, and schedule a time to start. I look forward to helping you begin your journey toward an orderly and simplified life!