Conversations with the Inspiring Kimberly Fine

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kimberly Fine.

Kimberly, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
It all started three years ago when my husband and I decided to move to Denver. Unbeknownst to me, he rented a very small pod to move all our possessions, which had previously filled a three-bedroom/two-bathroom house. In a matter of a few days, I sold/donated/discarded most of our belongings, and off to Denver we went. Since we hadn’t found a place yet, my husband and I moved in with another couple while our pod when to rest at a facility in Aurora. For four months, we shared one small bedroom and life was gloriously simple.

During that time of forced simplicity, I unexpectedly found a new lifestyle. I realized I had more time to do things I love-make & share long dinners with friends, explore Denver & all the exciting neighborhoods with delicious restaurants, hike the Rocky Mountains & find new places to take visitors. And you know what I wasn’t doing? Managing stuff. I wasn’t cleaning or moving clutter from one spot to another. I wasn’t hiding boxes and bags because people were coming over. I wasn’t overwhelmed by my surroundings & full of anxiety. I had found a new lifestyle that I couldn’t wait to share with others.

That’s how The Case for Simple came to be. People are often overwhelmed by physical & mental clutter, so I help people declutter, organize, & create systems in their homes to curate a simplified, restorative home. I love to serve the world by sharing what I know to be true: less really is more.

We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
My work background is in education; I’ve been teaching elementary school for over a decade now and absolutely love working with young children. In some ways, my experience has helped form my ideas of what it means to raise children to be change agents in our world, and I see this amazing opportunity to show and live a different way: a more conscious & intentional way.

However, that means I have no formal education or background in becoming an entrepreneur. It’s been a bumpy road, navigating all the hats required to start and run a business from home: website creating, contract & content writing, researching, accounting, scheduling, communicating with clients, learning photography & editing skills, digital marketing, social networking. The list just goes on and on!

So, while it’s been difficult learning how to do things and do them well, I have one piece of encouragement: if you have the vision to do something or make something or teach something, just get started. Put your head down and learn! I’ve watched so many YouTube videos, Googled all the things, listened faithfully to the Goaldigger podcast, and asked fellow entrepreneurs for advice. I’m grateful to have some strong women in my life who have started their own business, and they have been great mentors and guides to me!

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into The Case for Simple story. Tell us more about it.
Simply put, I help people declutter, organize, and create systems in their home to curate a simplified & restorative living space. My work is meant to inspire people to seek simplicity but also give them tools, tips, & guides to be able to simplify all facets of life.

Although there are other ‘home organization’ type businesses, The Case for Simple is different in that my clients are seeking a lifestyle change. Working with clients is so impactful because taking steps to declutter & organize their home often leads to even bigger life changes: less anxiety, more patience, less busy-work, more time with family. But possibly more impactful is how I’ve seen my client’s views on consumerism change.

Emma Watson once said, “As consumers, we have so much power to change the world by just being careful in what we buy.” I have a deep passion for people and our planet, and I work tirelessly to change the narrative in our consumerism culture that more is more. I have a small, curated closet I’ve created from ethical brands, and I love sharing their stories with my clients and followers. We can invest in people and brands who are already changing the world, and in that way, we help to change the world.

For good reason, society often focuses more on the problems rather than the opportunities that exist, because the problems need to be solved. However, we’d probably also benefit from looking for and recognizing the opportunities that women are better positioned to capitalize on. Have you discovered such opportunities?
I’m currently reading Melinda Gates book, “The Moment of Life” and have been thinking about what it is that causes a woman to lift, which is just a great metaphor for “to rise.”

Maybe it’s because I’ve been surrounded my entire life by strong women, but I think women possess an unparalleled combination of grit and heart. (Seriously, I don’t know another person who is physically or mentally stronger than my mom.) The heart is the driving force behind a good idea, but it also takes grit to see that idea through fruition.

When I started asking myself, “What skills do I have that would serve others?” I found my passion. And now that my heart is in it, I just need to apply a lot of that grit that my mom, sister, aunts, grandmas, and countless friends have shown me.

Having worked in the teaching profession which is predominately women, I hold a strong belief that women know how to work hard. And that combination of heart + grit is something our world desperately needs.

Contact Info:

• Website: thecaseforsimple.com
• Email: thecaseforsimple@gmail.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thecaseforsimple/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/The-Case-for-Simple-284103355619079/?ref=aymt_homepage_panel&eid=ARAOENy8EJ7j6DQov1B6KCNcnn1_7M9b7KsJXTFFookDNMYI6gqjmpxkeOTxXtauMOxoZj0BiH1Pzg5I

Image Credit:
Photo 1: Sara at Sugarhills Studio, Remaining photos are all mine

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