Barbara Reich’s Non-Linear Route to a Life Organized
The Peak interviews professional organizer Barbara Reich on her organizing principles and the connection between a well-kept home and a personal sense of well-being.
Barbara Reich, founder of Life Organized, has grown a business based on organizing people’s homes and lives into a well-managed mini-empire. She has graced countless talk shows, published a book, penned several blog posts, and been interviewed by The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Washington Post, HuffPo, Time Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, and many more.
During the pandemic when we were all collectively feeling the urge to clean house, Barbara’s advice was sought for its simple, straightforward and easy-to-apply wisdom via online workshops, videos, and Zoom calls. Her tips and tricks for closet organization, time management, and travel planning have made for happier homes and their inhabitants. Beyond decluttering drawers and streamlining daily routines, Barbara’s work reveals for her clients the powerful connection between home, self, and an overall sense of wellbeing.
First, can you give me a brief background about yourself and your career/life prior to Life Organized?
Very few people know what they want to do from the “get go.” I certainly did not, and my path to professional organizing was not a direct one. In college, I majored in psychology and thought I would become a psychologist. But after various internships and research experiences, I realized that as interesting as it was to me intellectually, it wasn’t an occupation I wanted to pursue. Then, I thought I would go to law school, not because I wanted to become a lawyer, but because I didn’t know what else I could do. After a summer of dutifully studying for the LSAT, I decided that accumulating debt for something I didn’t feel passionate about might not be the best plan. I then learned of a company that sponsored an executive MBA program. I reasoned that a graduate degree and no debt were a great combination, so I applied and got the position. Two and a half years later, I had an MBA and work experience, but I hated every minute of it.
A chance encounter with the person sitting next to me in a management class led me to my next position of management consultant, a job I loved in a company I loved. I worked at that firm for 5+ years until I was ready to start a family and wanted more control over my hours. After a few more twists and turns, I ended up starting my own consulting firm. I had the foresight when I incorporated to make the company name vague enough (Resourceful Consultants) that I could engage in any number of businesses under that umbrella. Soon enough, a consulting contact referred me to someone who needed his home office set up. I bumbled my way through that first client, figuring things out as I went along. Since that first client, I’ve worked with hundreds more, loving each and every minute.
When/how did Life Organized come to be?
I had been operating under the name Resourceful Consultants LLC since 1999, and I decided to rebrand during the shelter at home order in April and May 2020. Life Organized was a tagline I had been using in my videos for many years, and it captures more of what I actually do.
How does the web make it possible? What does it add to your business?
I use my website as a place to capture and archive magazine and newspaper articles, television segments, and videos in which I appear. My clients generally find me through word of mouth but they will "check my credentials" through my website.
Does creativity inform your business? How does business inform your creativity?
Creativity is the cornerstone of my business because no two clients are alike, no two homes are alike, and each space and each person require a different approach with different products, resources, and solutions.
How has your website and online presence evolved over time?
I'm constantly editing and changing my website. Last night I spent about an hour consolidating the categories under which my blog entries are filed. I've also done complete overhauls of my website every five years (thank you LTL MTN!).
Did Covid-19 change anything for you in terms of your business? Did/does your digital presence make up for it in any way?
My business was completely shut down in the second quarter as a result of Covid. I quickly pivoted to virtual organizing which I publicized through my website and social media. I have continued to organize virtually with clients in other parts of the country which has been a new source of income for my business. I also have done quite a number of virtual speaking engagements and recently launched a workshop called “Clarity Begins at Home,” which is conducted online.
Who are you clients?
My clients range from CEO's to single moms and lots of people in between.
What do you love about your job?
I love getting to know people and changing their lives.
Do you have any frustrations, worries, or paranoia about conducting business - or life - online?
Virtual organizing is definitely less fast paced than in-person organization. It’s also more difficult to read a crowd when I’m speaking via zoom versus being in a room.
What are your goals, aspirations, or hopes for your online world?
I hope to continue to grow my workshops and speaking engagements.
How do you conduct your virtual organizing? Can you give a brief description of that process?
For virtual organizing, I connect with the client and walk her/him through each step of the project no matter where s/he is located. Similar to having a live appointment, I start by identifying the client’s organizing goals. Then I create an action plan, prioritizing areas that are accessed most frequently. For each discrete area, I email a list of products the client will need, and when the products arrive, we execute the plan together on FaceTime, making it as much fun as possible.
Is your own home ever messy?
Not by any normal standard. Messy to me is still very neat!
Read more on Barbara Reich at Life-Organized.com.