When you hear the phrase "Self-Care" what comes to mind? To me, it's hearing people say "go take a bath and read a book" when the reality is the world can feel like it's spinning out of control. My guest today is trying to change our view of what self-care REALLY is.    Today I am talking about balancing the domestic load, in a conversation with life and work coach Tami Hackbarth. We are discussing the Fair Play method, focusing on the redistribution of domestic labor and mental loads to create a more equitable household dynamic. This episode is one where I want to bring together help for you as an entrepreneur, along with ways you can help our organizing clients as well--it's a double win and a double header epsiode!    We are talking about it ALL--family roles, parenting, and the division of labor, emphasizing the importance of communication and implementing changes in a team-oriented manner. Tami shares her expertise in helping clients manage their mental load and prevent burnout, bringing valuable advice for both professional organizers and their clients. The episode stresses the necessity of ongoing conversations and systems to maintain household balance and offers perspectives that are applicable to various family structures.   TIME STAMPS:    00:00 Introduction and Podcast Overview 02:13 Meet Tami Hackbarth: Life and Work Coach 11:49 The Fair Play Method: Redistributing Domestic Labor 17:24 Addressing Burnout and Mental Load 25:34 Client Stories: Teaching Kids Responsibility 26:31 The Laundry Debate: Independence vs. Pampering 30:00 Setting Household Standards: Minimum Standard of Care 32:22 Invisible Labor: Recognizing Unseen Efforts 34:00 Food Decisions: Balancing Family Preferences and Allergies 38:02 Collaborative Parenting: Sharing the Load 45:39 Communication Strategies: Regular Check-ins 47:30 Conclusion: Reflecting on the Conversation   LINKS FOR LISTENERS:   CONNECT WITH TAMI HACKBARTH: www.tamihackbarth.com Tami's new course on Reducing Mental Load: https://www.tamihackbarth.com/reduce-mental-load   CONNECT WITH MELISSA: [email protected]

There are six months left in 2024 which means it's time for a mid-year check in on your organizing business! Melissa is taking a July reset and she'll talk about what that means and how you can get some of that magic too. 

Connect with Melissa at proorganizerstudio.com or [email protected]!

When I signed up for a trip to Japan with Marie Kondo's team from KonMari Media, I figured I would get some good sightseeing, some good food, and get to meet other organizers and have some good pictures for social media. What I didn't expect was to have a truly life-changing experience that has made me look differently at my business and my personal journeys--and my guest Kristin DeCou from Modern Refresh is here to talk with me about our amazing trip across Japan!   The episode delves into the lessons learned about mindfulness, slowing down, and the importance of creating a sustainable organizing business. Kristin discusses her organizing journey and the impacts of the trip on her approach to work and life. Emphasis is placed on the value of intentional living, building meaningful routines, and fostering community among professional organizers.   LINKS FOR LISTENERS: Connect with Kristin of Modern Refresh: www.modernrefresh.com or www.instagram.com/modernrefresh   Get in touch with Melissa at Pro Organizer Studio: [email protected]   TIMESTAMPS:   00:00 Introduction and notes about Melissa's personal journey 02:58 Introducing Kristin DeCou + her organizing journey 08:37 Reflections on the Japan Trip 25:20 Implementing Changes Post-Trip 30:19 Reevaluating Life and Business 32:04 The Power of Saying No 34:01 Meditation and Mindfulness 37:19 Incorporating New Habits 46:49 Empowerment and Future Goals 48:39 Sustainable Organizing Entrepreneurship 52:07 The Organizing Community 54:46 Connecting and Finding Your People 56:23 Conclusion and Contact Information

What lessons can Inside Out 2 teach us about entrepreneurship? Melissa is going to tell you!

In this episode, Melissa is discussing harnessing emotions for personal and entrepreneurial growth, inspired by her recent life-changing trip to Japan and insights gained from watching the movie 'Inside Out 2'. 

Melissa shares her experiences with the KonMari organization, emphasizes the importance of enjoying what you love without guilt, and uses the movie's concept to provide valuable lessons on managing emotions within the entrepreneurial journey.

She encourages listeners to evaluate which emotions are controlling their 'control panel' and to use this awareness to drive positive changes in their lives and businesses.

00:00 Welcome Back! Melissa's Return and Life Updates 01:45 Embracing Your Guilty Pleasures 03:50 Inside Out 2: Lessons for Organizers 07:02 Managing Emotions in Entrepreneurship 09:40 The Impact of Organizing on Mental Health 12:20 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Your online presence is your employee that works 24/7/365--and today I'm hosting Brie Morrissey of BK Branding Co to talk about 8 signs your business needs a REFRESH! 

In this episode, Melissa Klug checks in from Kyoto, Japan, to discuss the crucial role of branding in the organizing industry with expert Brie Morrissey. Brie, a former Pro Organizer Studio employee, now specializes in helping professional organizers enhance their online presence to attract more clients.

They explore the significant impact of visual branding, effective website design, and proper use of fonts. Listeners will learn about the importance of maintaining up-to-date branding, aligning business models with current services, and making strategic brand refreshes.

Tune in to gain actionable insights on how to build a cohesive and attractive brand that will elevate your organizing business.

TIMESTAMPS:

00:00 Introduction from Japan

00:30 Meet Brie Morrissey: Expert in Online Presence

01:11 Brie's Journey and Expertise

02:23 The Importance of Branding and Websites

05:58 User Experience and Branding Strategies

11:26 Signs It's Time for a Rebrand

14:46 Practical Tips for Rebranding

23:55 Adapting to Business Changes

30:50 Staying Competitive in the Market

34:05 Expanding Your Business to a New Location

35:24 Rebranding After Acquiring a Business

37:36 Raising Prices and Enhancing Brand Perception

40:11 Attracting High-Quality Employees Through Rebranding 

42:03 The Importance of Investing in Professional Branding

45:09 Efficient Design and Branding Processes

48:30 Affordable and Effective Branding Solutions

01:02:21 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

I am so thrilled to welcome Jenny Albertini, who is one of the very first professional organizers I ever met, and who was a great part of my organizing life, to the pod! She is the author of Decluttered: Mindful Organizing for Health, Home and Beyond--and it's a book that will help organizers with clients by connecting health (mental and physical) with the organizing process. 

WIN A COPY OF JENNY'S BOOK! 

www.proorganizerstudio.com/links

 

Two of my favorite people I've met in all my years of organizing are back with me here on the podcast! I am having a fun convo with Brandie and Ryan of Home+Sort in northern California, who are the founders of the How To: Summit. The summit for 2024 is moving to Austin, Texas in the end of September--and tickets are almost gone! We're chatting about everything that's in store this year for the 6th year of the summit. 

REGISTER HERE: howtosummit.org

Connect with Melissa: [email protected]

 

 

One of the most popular topics with organizers is social media. A lot of people have a view of what social is for their business, but it doesn't always align with the reality. Today we are talking about the dos and don'ts of social and how to really show up in the right way--without stress. 

LINKS FOR LISTENERS:

connect with Jen Mary: https://youreverydaystyle.com

Prior social media episodes referenced: 142 + 143

Bee Movie clip--"this time!": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D_AZgoP2Jig

 

Helping clients who need organizing while they're struggling with grief can be very challenging--and today we want to help you with some concrete ideas to help your clients. My guest is Missi McKown of Clear Spaces Organizing in Maple Grove, Minnesota, and she is graciously sharing some of her personal stories of loss to help organizers work with clients. 

 

We are back with organizer Michelle Parravani of Designing With Less in Atlanta, and we are talking about some easy sustainability tips for organizers working with eco-conscious clients, and Michelle gives us a FABULOUS idea for a pricing differential that I had never thought of before! 

You can find Michelle at designingwithless.com.