Grace Hall shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Hi Grace, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
Often times people hear the words “professional organizer” and they assume that I’m “type A” or “perfectionist” Actually, quite the opposite is true. To be a great organizer you have to be okay with not knowing the right answer, constantly trying new things, problem solving and thinking creatively. It is my job to constantly assess my own spaces or others’ spaces and think of new ways to store things or configure them so they can be more efficient.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I have been naturally good at organizing my entire life, and I also enjoy it quite a bit. I remember asking myself a question “If I could do anything for the rest of my life whether I got paid or not, what would it be?’ My answer was simply: organizing. Every job I’ve had I would fill my time with organizing projects. I’m considering making a shirt that says “Sorry I was late, I was organizing” because multiple times I’ve been randomly inspired to organize or declutter a space and then end up rushing to get to a scheduled appointment. Which of course sounds so silly for an organizer who tries to always be punctual!
The season of life I’m in right now is a beautiful one. I have been growing my brand for over 8 years and have established a team of organizers to work with my clients while I stay home full time with my son and manage the business in my free time. I’m grateful for the opportunity to keep Grace to Organize growing while I enjoy motherhood.
What makes our brand stand out is definitely the word GRACE, and the desire we have to show all of our clients grace. Many clients are so overwhelmed and maybe even embarrassed or ashamed of their spaces. We love practically helping them sort through clutter but also let them know that many others are also struggling, and we show up with no judgment!
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My dear friend Rebeca Flott is a very talented artist and entrepreneur. She met me in my early twenties before I knew many things about myself and others. She has a way with words and has found hundreds of ways to encourage me over the years. One of the first things she asked me was “What are your dreams?” and I remember staring at her blankly. I honestly thought she was so bizarrely enthusiastic about life, and I was sort of rattled by her question because I didn’t have any dreams at the time. As you can imagine, I have since become a dreamer! She was pivotal in helping me start Grace to Organize and is still the person I call when I need some encouragement! She loves reminding me that I “have a story and it’s worth sharing”. I’m forever grateful for her watering the seeds in my life that have grown such beautiful fruit!
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
YES! In fact, I think it’s important to go and grow through these struggles. I wouldn’t be as confident in my calling if it wasn’t for overcoming the adversity that made me question if I could succeed. In fact, I’ve gone through this multiple times. One significant memory was early on in my business when I was trying to run my business full time, I had just quit my part time job and was struggling to pay my basic bills. It was 1:00 in the morning when I just couldn’t sleep and was praying. I was desperate to see a change in my finances. I would literally spend $3 to put enough fuel in my car to get to a job just to make enough money to pay my cell phone bill that was coming out the next day. I would watch people fill their fuel tanks until the dispenser clicked indicating it was completely full and thinking “Wow, they have no idea how lucky they are”. After a sincere prayer, I had this thought “You’re in self induced poverty” I chose to do some basic math on what I was charging, and how much I was spending to run my business and realizing I was making less than minimum wage after expenses and taxes. I immediately drafted a letter to change my rate and I was so nervous to lose all my clients. I only lost one client from this change, and she even said “You are absolutely worth this rate, I just can’t afford it”. I started to see my skills and money differently after that.
So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
My closest friends would say that I care deeply about learning and growing. I have always been a natural student, and I am constantly finding new things to learn about! I specifically have a great passion for caring for my body. I never tire of trying new healthy things and refining my diet. One of my best friends said recently that I’m “the healthiest person she knows”. It is important to treat my body with the best care, knowing that I only have one and I plan to live a long, healthy and fruitful life.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
When I’m journaling. The amount of clarity that can come when you put pen to paper is so astounding. I’ve had some profound emotional breakthroughs in being reflective in this way!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://grace2organize.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grace2organize/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grace2organize/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/grace2organize
Image Credits
Profile pic: Michelle Betz Photography
