On September 21, 2020—exactly one year ago today!—I made my side hustle official and publicly launched The Organizing Boss with a mission to help folks make their spaces work better for them.

For those who don’t know me personally, the career transition of leaving full-time employment and starting my own business was anything but easy, but throughout the transition everything seemed to “click.” You know that feeling when the light bulb turns on? When the fuzziness goes away and you see something so vividly and clearly?

That’s the feeling I’ve had over the past year, and it’s because of the clients, friends, colleagues, and strangers who have supported me, engaged with me, and allowed me into their homes and lives to help them get and stay organized. Thank you!

As I look back on the past 12 months, I want to share three things I’ve learned about organizing, about life, and about engaging your community:

1. Organizing is a process. A lot of people know they should be better organized—they yearn for it and know that their disorganized situation is harming them. But, the process of becoming and staying organized seems daunting, and they continue putting it off. I encourage folks to embrace the process! Mark Twain was a brilliant writer and a smart man; he said “The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and starting on the first one.” It’s so, so true! Don’t let the larger, “scarier” project keep you from taking that first small step.

2. Life is short, and we don’t have time to waste. I’m loving this career change, but even in the midst of rewarding days I can’t help but have a tinge of regret that I didn’t become a professional organizer years ago. I’m glad I found my passion, and it confirms that we can’t waste time on anything other than what inspires and sustains us.

3. Find your community, your friends, your “people,” and be of service to them! If you engage with folks and provide value to them, they will support you, and they will teach you. I’ve tried to offer tips, inspiring ideas, and some fun along the way, and I’m thankful that folks are sticking with me. I also joined NAPO and NAPO-WDC when I started out, and I’ve already met so many talented, amazing organizers and learned so much! (The over-the-door shoe organizer tip you’ve seen in many of my “after” photos I learned from an amazing colleague.)

I hope and pray that this journey continues for years to come, because I’m having a lot of fun! I’m doing something I love, avoiding the office environment, and helping people get a handle on their homes and lives.

We’ll see what the next 12 months—and 12 years—hold. This is gonna be fun!