For Jen Flatt of Nashville, becoming a professional organizer was the result
of several factors coming together.
"I had just finished working for a friend in the music business, helping
her to open her own company, and was looking to change careers. I saw a professional
organizer on 20/20, which greatly piqued my interest," she says.
"Knowing I needed more information and training on this vocation since
it's new to the area, I started researching online and now here I am!"
she says.
But Flatt did bring some skills from her past career with her. With her
friend's business, she says she was "working as her office manager and
doing everything it takes to start a business."
But for Flatt, owning her business is more than being an entrepreneur.
She says that her favorite part is "the relationships that I have formed,
some developing into lifelong friendships between me and my customers. I wanted
to do something worthwhile to serve people, and that's my proof that
I've succeeded."
Flatt also loves the look on her customers' faces when she finishes
her job. But there are some downsides to the business. The paperwork is her
least favorite part.
"Marketing and promotion are tedious jobs. It takes a lot of time to contact
newspapers, television stations, track down the right people, create the ad
and get it just right, [and] to know when and what to mail out to customers
and prospects to keep a buzz going about your company."
But in the end it's worth it. Flatt has had the opportunity to work
with a variety of celebrities. "It's always rather exciting being your
own boss. My first job was for Country Weekly, a popular country music publication
in Nashville. It was pretty cool when Chris Sanders, a Tennessee Titans player,
and his wife, Stacie, called to hire me. And Pam Tillis, who is a country
music entertainer.
"I've gained confidence, I'm more self-sufficient. When I run
into a wall, I go to plan B and C and D. And I work a whole lot more than
I ever did when I was working for someone else," she says. But she says the
career is not for everyone.
Flatt suggests that you become a professional organizer "only if you don't
mind hard work -- physically and mentally-- are willing to work many hours,
including weekends, love the process of creating order where there is none
and have a really good knack of communicating with people."
Chris Marks is a professional organizer. In one aspect of her business,
she specializes in executive relocation. That means, for example, unpacking
for an executive who has just moved to a new city.
"This is a combination of psychology, timing, practical experience and
physical exercise," she says. "It's enjoyable and it pays well."
And Marks enjoys other parts of the job beyond the pay. She says that "pleasing
the client, knowing that their life is improved and getting great references"
are also tasks that she likes.
But as with any business, Marks has to maintain an office. That is the
toughest part of the job for her. "Trying to do ALL of the jobs: office, phone,
computers, sales, trade shows, displays, writing, contacts, networking, client
contact, follow-up. You can get spread very thin, and you are expected to
be super organized."
And there are other strange things that Marks has run into during her time
as a professional organizer. "The strangest times have been trying to form
professional associations. There are a lot of control freaks in the business
and people with very little business experience who seem to complicate simple
things."
Of course, the exciting moments of the career far outweigh the strange
times. "Winning a new contract is the most exciting moment. Or having a job
work out according to plan and completing it with very satisfied customers.
This is a career that causes you to stretch, find out who you are and learn
to set limits."
Marks has definitely learned about her limits. She says the reason she
chose to become a professional organizer was because "I invented a product
and process that fell into the category of organization. I also saw that many
people have very hectic and complex lives. They need help to organize."
Being a professional organizer has changed Marks' life too. "There
is more stress while I'm marketing this new product, but I'm also
learning new skills every day. I have written and developed a full program
for life management. It's tough developing a new market, but things are
starting to happen."
Despite all the hard work, Marks is happy with her choice of careers and
says she would recommend it to someone else if they were creative and enterprising.
"Take a look at the field and decide if you are willing to be a pioneer,"
she says. "Get to know yourself, and find your niche. Education depends on
your area, but the best things are experience, confidentiality, common sense,
plus good listening and people skills."
Nearly all of Bob Farkas's customers feel the same way when they first
contact him. They often feel awkward that they cannot get a handle on this
themselves, but have come to realize that they need a professional.
Farkas is a professional organizer in Los Angeles. He says everybody who
calls him thinks that they are the most disorganized and are desperate for
help.
"No one is actually too far gone," says Farkas. "You should see some of
the places I walk into."
Farkas discovered his own ability to organize several years before he considered
earning a living by helping others. "I thought I was just a neat and orderly
person," he says.
"But I've discovered since that organizing and creating order from
chaos takes a special knack. I can often look at a completely disorganized
garage or office, and I can just see the potential and the possibilities."
Farkas enjoys working with people who are just starting to work from home
and are trying to set up an efficient working environment. "There is a sense
of excitement and potential. It's fun to help people figure out how to
organize their space before they even buy a desk," he says.
"I've seen people buried by all sorts of infrequently
used office supplies and equipment. I've had to help people make very
tough decisions about getting rid of some of these things because of the inefficiency
they cause."