| What makes a great professional organizer? Keep | | | | when you'll work (will you see clients in the |
| reading to discover my top five "must have" | | | | evenings or on weekends?), where you'll work (do |
| qualifications. | | | | you really want to spend half your days driving to |
| As a professional organizer, you'll need: | | | | clients 50+ miles away?), and what services you'll |
| The ability to see things from your clients' | | | | offer (you can't be all things to all people, so just |
| perspectives. Sure, you LOVE to organize stuff. It | | | | do what you love and refer the rest to someone |
| comes naturally for you. But for most of your | | | | else). If you set your parameters, you'll feel in |
| clients, it's neither natural nor fun. So take the | | | | control and appear much more professional to |
| time to get to know them, why they are | | | | your clients and colleagues. |
| disorganized, what organizing techniques and | | | | The ability to multi-task. Unless your small business |
| products they've tried in the past, and what they | | | | is really up-and-coming, you won't have staff to |
| expect from you. What does organizing success | | | | handle the day-to-day administrative tasks. So be |
| look like to them? Maybe they're not shooting for | | | | sure to set aside time in your calendar for things |
| perfection, but something as simple as being able | | | | like bookkeeping, marketing, supply shopping, and |
| to get out the door on time in the morning. | | | | database management. Once you can afford it, |
| The ability to teach. When you are organizing, it is | | | | you can hire someone to help with the jobs you |
| NOT about you. It's all about the client. Many | | | | don't enjoy or aren't good at. But in the early |
| people come to me saying they've been | | | | months (and even years), you'll be doing a bit of |
| organized all their lives, but that doesn't always | | | | everything, so be ready to be a Jack (or Jill) of all |
| translate into being a fantastic professional | | | | trades. |
| organizer. It's one thing to organize for yourself. | | | | The ability to embrace success and learn from |
| It's another to transfer your skills to other people | | | | mistakes.Success can come in many forms -- |
| based on their needs, lifestyles, and learning styles. | | | | reaching your income goals for the year, landing a |
| If you enjoy sharing your organizing knowledge, | | | | choice client, getting interviewed on television, or |
| you'll truly help your clients, and they'll be happy | | | | simply helping a client master a new skill. Failure |
| and satisfied. | | | | can appear in just as many ways -- difficulty |
| As a small business owner, you'll need: | | | | finding new clients, not being able to help a client |
| The ability to set limits. As a small business | | | | "get it," or missing a deadline. While the failures |
| owner, it's easy to let work creep into traditionally | | | | can stand out, realize that most likely only you |
| non-working hours. It's no longer a 9:00 - 5:00 | | | | are seeing them. Learn from your mistakes and |
| mentality. So set limits from the start, deciding | | | | embrace your successes. |