April 23, 2024

How many years have you been in business as a solopreneur? 2 years

How many years have you been a Chamber Member? 1 year

Please provide a brief description of what your business is all about.

Good Order Professional Organizing offers decluttering, responsible recycling and organizing services. Being invited into a person’s home and being trusted with the personal details of their lives requires empathy, discretion, and accountability without judgment.

In addition to decluttering and organizing, I help clients to navigate downsizing and home moves by acting as a Moving Coordinator. The services related to that include pre-move purging & donation facilitation, strategic packing & labeling and moving day coordination with your moving company. I love helping clients eliminate the stress of moving.

What enticed you to start a solopreneur business? I worked in corporate for nearly 25 years and finally realized that my return on investment for JOY was minimal. Then the pandemic hit and it changed my perspective on what is important to me. So, I shifted gears to do something that matters to me personally and started Good Order Professional Organizing. I love the flexibility of being a solopreneur and of deciding who I work with. Those choices have lined my road with successes that I didn’t previously get to experience.

What is “the Good, the Bad, and the Ugly” of working on your own?

Well, the GOOD is that you decide on the who, what, when, where and why of the work and that is so liberating. Everyday I get to choose what types of projects I work on, the people I spend time with and the impact I get to have on someone’s home and life. I have such good fortune to be doing something I love.

The BAD is that as a solopreneur, the success of my business lands squarely on me in every way. Slowing down and taking days off has a direct impact on my growth and learning to balance that with home and family life can be tricky, but in the end, still worth it to me because I love what I am doing every day!

The UGLY truth is that the that you will need to wear a lot of hats and learn how to do things you never have before. That can be uncomfortable and make you feel vulnerable, but once you push through that discomfort, the success of that is so sweet! It boosts your confidence when you learn something new and do it well!

Why are you a Chamber member? I initially joined so I could learn more about Cape Ann and the other business members and gain exposure, but it was a lovely surprise to meet friends and become bonded with other business owners in Cape Ann. Networking has become a highlight in building my business.

What advice would you give others looking to take the leap into “solopreneurship?” I would suggest that they understand from the onset that you cannot do it all on your own, and that delegating and asking for help when that happens will make all the difference in your success. My experience is that most other small business owners believe that “a rising tide lifts all boats” and they want to help when possible, lean into that. I also waited to take networking seriously in my first year of business and was stunned to see what a positive impact it has had on my business and my life.

Where do you see your business going in the future?

People want their homes to be a respite and the service I provide helps to achieve that for many people. In the next five years, I see my business growing and proving the value of using a home organizer. I also hope to eliminate the stigma of asking for help. There is no possible way for everyone to be good at everything. Asking for help should feel empowering and comfortable, not embarrassing. I feel optimistic about the next five years for my industry and for Good Order Professional Organizing!

*********************************

For consideration to have your solopreneur business profiled, please fill out the form at https://form.jotform.com/240133772746053 . After your form is received and we confirm that you are a Chamber member in good standing and your business meets the criteria of a solopreneur, we will send a detailed interview questionnaire for timely completion.