Lately I have been getting a lot of calls from individuals who want to become Professional Organizers. I personally love talking about what I do. This job is the most rewarding/creative job I have ever had. Organizing wannabes that I haven’t spoken to, allow me to give you a few tips. If you want to pursue a career in this field you will need a few skills. 1. You will need to be patient. Patience is about 90% of our job. Sounds easy doesn’t it? Well, it isn’t. Being patient for a period of time may be easy for everyone. But try doing it for a living… It takes a certain personality to be able to be patient on a consistent basis. 2. You need to be a good listener. I can’t tell you how often I have to read in between the lines to fully understand the positions my clients are in. 3. You need to be non-judgmental.  Our clients are looking for support. The instant they feel judged, a wall will go up and your services can become worthless. 4. You need to be flexible. Our way is not always the best way. I am constantly developing systems for clients that would NEVER make sense to me in my own world. But for them, it works. I have learned that it’s not about me.... ever. 5. You have to be knowledgeable about mental health. learning disabilities, behavioral problems etc. It’s no surprise thousands in the industry were once social workers or therapists. Fortunately for me I just had a crazy family that taught me a lot about addiction, mental illness, and learning disabilities. Half of my training was from the school of hard knocks! 6. You have to be able to set clear boundaries and follow them constantly. Our own health, ethics and morals need to be clear, firm and a first priority at all times. We need to be able to say NO, be assertive and listen to our gut.

Well that is the short of it. I commend anyone going into this industry. It’s a beautiful way to live!