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A Client’s Perspective II

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Back in December, I launched a series called “My Journal, My Journey”.  My desire was, and still is to share the “Ordering Your Steps” process, from my client’s perspective. Unfortunately, it has been a lot tougher than I thought, to gather the testimonials, between jobs, and publish them in a consistent and timely manner.  I apologize for the delay, but I ‘d like to present to you, the 2nd installment of “My Journal, My Journey”!

Today, I’d like to introduce you to Ms. E and without any further ado, here’s her testimonial…..

When I told my husband that I would be hiring a Professional Organizer to help me organize our home office, he thought it would be a total waste of money. I, however, was desperate.  I couldn’t walk into my office without climbing over heaps of paper and other random items.  The documents had been piling up for almost ten years and the office space was totally unusable.

Candy was very pleasant and extremely professional.  She tackled the mess with incredible precision and efficiency so that after just my first session with her, I could actually see the floor of the office!  Something I hadn’t seen in years!  Even, my husband could not believe his eyes when he came home!

At the end of my sessions with Candy, the office was well organized with everything properly labelled.  There was literally a place for everything and everything was in its place.  Also, an unexpected outcome from the process was the ton of unused gift cards and checks we found that had been lost over the years.  Our total financial recovery was well over what we had paid her for her services. I would highly recommend Candy to anyone who needs help with organizing.  She’s the best!

Signed,

E.A.

One of the favorite parts of my job is what I call “Discovery”!  It’s when my clients, uncover all of their hidden treasures during the organizing process… rather it’s the dress in the back of the closet with the tags on it that was long forgotten?  the pair of shoes that was lost months ago?  or in this case all the $$$$$$ that was left unclaimed years ago!

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Stay Tuned for our next entry …. hopefully, before the end of the summer ????  :-/

Organizing with Seniors

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Many of my clients are seniors transitioning into another phase of Living.  Some are considering retirement and others have already retired.  As part of the transition, many have decided to stay in their homes, which they have been in for 25+ years.  As most of us know, over time we accumulate a lifetime of “stuff”.   So now it is time for us to decide what we really want to keep and it may no longer be an issue of what “stuff” the children want.  Many are discovering that our children are not emotionally attached to the things that we hold dear.

When I work with seniors, I try to help them to understand that I DON’T want them to simply get rid of everything.  With tender care, I help facilitate them through the organizing process.  I must be patience, but at times, firm to guide them through making very difficult decisions.  I understand the emotional attachment we have to our things that are now a lifetime of memories.  Please don’t misunderstand we all realize that we cannot keep everything.  The closets, basements, attics, garages, sheds, etc. etc. etc. are overflowing. However, usually once the client calls me, they are ready to purge…. But, by how much is the question, so I must be prepared and proceed gently!

After my clients have decided what they are willing to give away, I find organizations that the client wants to contribute to and/or support, i.e. homeless shelters, churches, etc.  I have also worked with a local auction house, who are experts in appraising valuables.  Yard sales, consignment shops and on-line selling are all viable options.  But understand that it may take a lot more time to clear the clutter. Unfortunately, most of us believe that our stuff is worth a lot or maybe not!?!?

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Some of my clients are transitioning into senior independent living communities. Therefore, the new home may be considerably smaller than the house where they raised their children.  All aspects of the process mentioned above still apply, however, now it is even more critical to downsize.   Major de-cluttering is required.  It is usually easier to facilitate the purging process in phases, starting with larger to smaller items; from more cluttered to less cluttered areas of the home.

It is wise to understand, how much or how little storage my clients will have when they move to their new home. I strongly suggest to my clients to avoid paid storage facilities unless absolutely necessary.   Make sure it is temporary arrangement and assign a specific timeline/deadline to clear it out.

Many of our seniors are recent empty-nesters and the “birds” are reluctant or they simply refuse to come and get their “stuff”.  We must help them to physically move their “stuff” or arrange for the pick-up and or delivery to their new homes!

I always spend a little extra time sitting and chatting with my new clients.  My primary role is to get to know the person first.   Now we’re ready to help our seniors to de-clutter, organize, throw away the old and get ready for the new … to transition into their next phase of Life!

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Candy H. Speight, Owner/Professional Organizer

Order Your Steps

We are not only organizing their stuff, but we are bringing Order to their lives…. 

“A Client’s Perspective”

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In 2017, I’d like to begin a series called “My Journal, My Journey”.  My desire is to share the “Ordering Your Steps” process, from my client’s perspective.  My hope is for people to see the real value of restoring Order to our hearts, minds & homes.  So let’s begin…. Today, I’d like to introduce you to Carla. […]

My Vision: Conflict in Spirit?

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“Conflict in Spirit” sounds like a contradiction in terms; an oxymoron, but bear with me for a moment.  Over the past few days (like all week), I’ve had no clients, so I’ve had a lot of time to read and study Scripture (sounds like a God set-up doesn’t it).  Yes!

Has the presence of the Lord been so strong that you felt overwhelmed?

… There, in lies, my conflict!

Let me give you a little of the backstory…. I believe that I may have shared with you the vision that God gave me for Speight Enterprises.  If not, for now the details are not really important. However, the vision has begun to come into focus.  Now I know that Christians are not supposed to get scared, but we must acknowledge the fear and reverance of what God is about to do in our lives.  What’s funny is that it is actually what the Lord showed me that He would do this year, now I’m unsettled by what’s beginning to manifest?

… Whazzup with that?? 

I’ve begun to see bits and pieces of the vision coming together.  My steps are being ordered and I’m starting to walk down the path that God has allowed me to see.  So now comes the conflict of:

  1. “God is that really you?”
  2. Am what I’m feeling a check in my Spirit, where God is saying “Slow your round, don’t move too fast & don’t get a head of me!     -OR-
  3. Is it simply the anxiety of my soul?  Spirituality-and-soul-bridge-between-heart-and-mind

About a week or so ago, the Lord gave me a message entitled, “Who’s waiting on who?” subtitle: “Are you listening?”  Yes, the question came to me first. Has God shown me His vision and now I’m waiting on Him to make the first move? – Or – Am I just not listening and He has been waiting on me to take the next step?  I must admit that it is a somewhat awkward place to me.

So what am I saying?  If our vision looks like it will be EASY to accomplish, then we really don’t need God, honestly!  But if in our eyes, it looks IMPOSSIBLE, then it must be of God. Why? Because we know beyond a shadow of a doubt, that when ONLY GOD can make it happen and He will truly get ALL the Glory!

As I’ve typed this post, I can see things even clearer now. The Spirit, in itself, is never in conflict, however, the Spirit and the soul are always at war for control of your life.  Tell your soul (your mind & emotions) to quiet down, so that you can hear the voice of the Holy Spirit. Now we shouldn’t move too fast, but we can’t afford to simply do nothing.

… Shhhh, Are you listening?

Your vision is clearer than you think.  But don’t be scare, we do understand that Life in Christ is a Faith Walk. My daughter said something very profound yesterday.  She said that God does tell us to jump off the cliff with our eyes open, because He knows if we see what’s coming, we won’t jump.  But in faith, we jump with our eyes closed and allow our Holy Spirit to lead & guide us safely through our life’s journey.

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For those of you that took the time to read this post, I pray that it blessed you, as much as it has blessed me. As our vision, in business & in life, becomes too big for our soul to handle, then it’s just the right size for the Holy Spirit to take control!

Be Encouraged!  

… The Best is yet to be…

 

Spring brings Freshness & New Birth!

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spring4Our weather here in the DMV (DC, MD, VA) has been a mixed bag since our season has changed from Winter to Spring. We went from Winter (very Cold!) to Summer (very Hot!) or as it seems.  No really from 40 degrees to 80, almost overnight! But normally when you think of Spring, it’s a period of refreshing.  The trees are blossoming, the birds are singing and there is a slight breezy chill in the air.

So what does Spring has to do with Order and Organizing?

Many of us think of Spring Cleaning during this time of year.  The house has been closed up, families have spent most of their time indoors and it is now time to open up the house and let the air in. Cleaning can be considered phase one of organizing, but cleaning and organizing are technically two different things.  In my opinion, cleaning is to remove dust and dirt, but organizing is to remove clutter and disorder.

As you begin to freshen up the house, consider phase two of the process.  Once you have cleaned all the windows, washed the window sills and scrubbed the baseboards, then it’s time to sort through the winter clothes, purge and put them away.  Move through the Spring and Summer wear, sort, give away and get ready for the New Birth! Shed off the old, and put on the new.

We are almost halfway through the 3th month of the year already.  Assess your progress as it pertains to your objectives & goals for 2016.  Do an attitude check… what is your temperature?  Are you still in the coldness of the Chaos of your past or have you given Birth to the warmth of your future? Peace and Order are so critical to our well-being.  Take a moment to see where you are, so that your Steps may be Ordered to the next level…

Your Season of Refreshing & New Birth has Sprung!!

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“March Toward Simplicity” Challenge

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Order Your Steps, a member of Faithful Organizers, is offering the March Toward Simplicity Challenge through our Facebook page at www.Facebook.com/Order Your Steps.

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FAITHFUL ORGANIZERS, AN INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATION OF CHRISTIAN PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZERS, TO LAUNCH IT’S 1ST ANNUAL MARCH INTO SIMPLICITY CHALLENGE!

TORRENCE, CA (February 12, 2016) – Faithful Organizers, an international group of Christian Professional Organizers, is launching their first organizing challenge to the public. March Toward Simplicity will run the entire month of March with the exception of Sundays.  Each day, participants will be challenged to complete a small organizing task to help simplify their lives. Members of the organization are encouraging their clients and affiliates to participate in the challenge as way to motivate them to address their clutter in small chunks and to maintain the systems they have in place.

 “This is a tremendous opportunity for people to be part of something big,” says Jean Furuya, Faithful Organizers executive director.  “Getting organized ranks 4th in New Year’s resolutions.  This challenge will motivate participants to do a quick, daily project to see how simple it is to accomplish even the smallest of tasks. We are addressing several different aspects of organization including time management, productivity and household clutter.   It is our hope that the feeling of success will continue beyond the challenge to where organizing becomes a daily activity.”

Plan 30 minutes for each task and set your timer!!

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You can also access the daily challenges through a link on the Faithful Organizers website: http://www.faithfulorganizers.com and om their Facebook page: Facebook.com/Faithful Organizers. 

Organizing: Customized just for you!

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Order Your Steps is coming up on our 5th anniversary in September and it continues to be a very fascinating & enlightening, yet challenging journey.  We have visited with more than 100 clients at various stages of their lives.  Most of our clients have very hectic schedules and/or “retired” with very hectic schedules.

So, as professional organizers, how do we customize the process of getting organized, just for you?  Each person is soooo VERY different.  Thus, our Challenge, to understand just how much time and money are you willing to invest?

We often know what we want, but we are not always sure what it might take to get there….

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Organizing Process Customization Requirements

1. We can’t do it without you!

In order for an organizing project to be successful, you must be TOTALLY engaged in the process and willing to make decisions quickly.  If you are really not sure if you want to give it away, keep it and move on.  

We now make sure that we take breaks periodically and drink plenty of water.

Music also helps too!

2. It’s going to take TIME !                                        “Rome was definitely not built in a day!”

In my experience, thus far, clients are willing to invest, on the average about 6 hours!

We can get A LOT done is 6 hours, however, the pace must be fast and smooth.  I must admit that my pace is a lot faster than most!  🙂  … Working through the entire organizing process; to sort, purge and organize, is not always easy, I just happen to love it!

3. We both must have Realistic Expectations!  “We can’t eat the elephant!

Oftentimes, we expect miraculous results in a day, when in actually, it took months, maybe if years to accummulate the clutter that needs to be eliminated.  We must break it down into bite-size pieces.

We will divide the project into phases and prioritize the areas that are most important to you.  For large jobs, we will usually spend the first session or two, pre-sorting into various categories, which makes the purging process a whole lot easier.

4. It’s going to take a financial investment!

Know your budget…Organizing is an investment in your physical space, spiritual well being & peace of mind. My mission, as a professional organizer, is to give you your money’s worth in my time and expertise.  45725415_s

A little testimonial…

I’m currently working with a client whose project started in December. When we first met, there was a sense of mild desperation in her voice.  She was just frustration with the clutter in her home and the disorder in her life.  We initially focused on her bedroom suite and then on to her office.  We have worked together for only 8 hrs., just once a month, but she has been fully engaged in the process.  We have completed her master walk-in closet, dresser & dresser drawers, under the bed, sitting room with bookcase and bathroom!

She has a very hectic work schedule, so she has not been able to do homework assignments.  However, she has maintained her space and now her teenage children have noticed that she spends a LOT more time in her bedroom sanctuary in Peace and Serenity.  

Organizing is TOTALLY worth your time, commitment and money …. Your Heart and Determination will help to establish the Order!!

We will customize the process to meet ALL your needs, because we are confidence about how much better your life will be.