I always loved to organize, even as a little girl! I thought it was actually fun to help my friends clean and organize their rooms! I would beg to do it when my friends just wanted to play. I still don’t get how they would want to “play” when so many things surrounding us were out of order! Haha
I grew up in Southern California but moved away when I got married in the mid 80’s. My husband and I missed beautiful, sunny California so much and finally returned with our 5 children in 1998. I went to visit my childhood friend, Audrey, who still lived here. As we visited, I started helping her organized her home just like I would do with her room when we were kids.
When my five children were all in school, I decided it was time for me to go back to work. Audrey thought I should totally do what I loved to do, which was to organize! Ya, that sounded great and all, but who actually organized as career, I thought. I just never heard of that. I didn’t think it would work, but Audrey knew it would!
She called all her friends and neighbors and told them about how, well… how amazing I was. Business did very well, but it wasn’t until 2014 when I discovered NAPO, National Association of Professional Organizers, that things really started to take off! NAPO has regular chapter meetings, classes and conferences where we as Organizers learn how to be the best organizers possible! During chapter meetings we have experts come in and teach us things like how to run our businesses efficiently, how to hire a team, importance of insurance and safety. We also have experts that help us understand people who struggle with chronic disorganization or hoarding disorders. We learn from each other as well and can even become certified. NAPO has just really helped our business blossom.
I am also partnered with The Container Store as a Contained Home organizer. The Container Store is a little bit like….Heaven. I mean, it is even better than Disney Land! And they wanted to partner with me! How could a girl be luckier?! So between Organize Simply and Contained Home, my business is booming and I am feeling pretty darn blessed!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you? It would be so great if all I had to do for my business was help people declutter and organize their homes and offices. THAT is what I am good at and THAT is what I love to do! But when you own your own business there is so much more that you have to do. To keep the business going I have had to learn how to actually run a business, manage a team, and market my business. It has really been a challenge. There have been a lot of ups and downs and a lot of learning, for sure! There have been times that I felt like I wanted to give up, but I kept on going and I’m glad I did!
We’d love to hear more about your business. Organize Simply specializes in taking the cluttered areas of your home or office and turning them into peaceful, organized, functional living spaces. We teach people how to create a system so that it is easier to KEEP these spaces organized and free of clutter. We clear out and organize, any area of your home, from garages to simple junk drawers. We also help some clients prepare for a move by helping them declutter and pack in an organized way, and then we can unpack the boxes and put things away in their new home! How amazing is that?!
What were you like growing up? I was the oldest girl of 6 children growing up. I had a very strict father who believed in hard work. Saturday mornings were days to not sleep in, but were days we would all wake up early to do chores and yard work, sometimes ALL day. Us children, mostly my older brother and I, would do dishes, help with laundry, clean bathrooms, mop floors, etc. There were times I missed playing outside with my friends, but I don’t remember the work itself bothering me. I loved the feeling of satisfaction after a project would be complete. Did I play sports, play a musical instrument or have any hobbies? Not that I can remember. I think it is interesting that to this day when people ask me what I enjoy doing for fun, my answer is to clean or organize something. Mental illness? Haha Maybe, but it makes me happy AND brings in the money, so it can’t be that bad.
Contact Info:
Website: OrganizeWithTracy.com
Phone: 805-244-8150
Email: organizesimply1@gmail.com
Instagram: @organizewithtracy
Twitter: @OrganizeSimply