Meet Alysa Jackson | Owner of Organizing by AJ
We had the good fortune of connecting with Alysa Jackson and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Alysa, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
During the pandemic, I chose to switch jobs once, which led to getting fired. This was the first time I had been fired from a job, and was at my lowest of lows. After being fired, I decided to do what made me happy and no longer work for big companies or others. I wanted to impact people in their daily life in a more personal way. I had some idea I wanted to do Professional Organizing from my younger years, and had inquired with a small business about eight years ago, but was told by the owner that I needed more than an inkling I had the natural talent to prove I could work with her. I took that as I wasn’t good enough and continued working for large companies.
After getting fired, I revisited the idea blocking out the negative of “I couldn’t do it,” and I decided to build my confidence. In my journey of building my confidence, I was a part of a group of inspiring professional organizers who created challenges and networks of people like me who wanted to take on learning how to help others organize. Within this group, I did realize my talents were strong, and my logic and brain were in harmony when I would speak about my process, and most importantly, it brought me joy and relief from my hardships that I knew this was my calling.
So I took classes, got certified, and learned how to build my website. I started making business cards, marketing, etc. I also did some free work for my family and friends to ensure my talents and communication were strong. I built my portfolio and continued to add to my website. However, business was less busy than I would have liked in the first five months, so I reached out to the SBDC in Larimer County for some help with SEO. I learned so much and still use them as a resource today. I learned that my SEO options were limited through my website platform, so I decided to hire an SEO firm, and I have enjoyed building my business since.
What should our readers know about your business?
As a Professional Organizer, I help people who are at their wits end with their home/office life situation concerning clutter and inefficient spaces. First, I help people assess the clutter and speak with them about the ideas behind attachment to our things. Second, I teach the process of letting go to help my clients be able to talk through it themselves later in life. Lastly, I help my clients understand how to assess an item and its location to ensure it works for their lives. Finally, full circle, I look at how someone’s donations can be put back into the community efficiently. For example, I had some gently used men’s winter items and asked the owner if she was okay with me taking them to the homeless shelter in town rather than Arc or Goodwill. I also donate linens that are not worthy of resale to local animal shelters, among other things.
Getting my business up and running has been challenging but extremely rewarding. From daily entrepreneurship challenges to customer needs and everything in between, it has helped me build resilience.
I lost my older brother about three years ago, which hit my family deeply. I utilize the loss of my brother and the grief I and my family go through to help me relate to my clients when they have a loss in their own lives. Grief hits everyone differently and, unfortunately, is typical in life. There are many other reasons to be disorganized, and I have experienced the spread with my clients. I approach each client differently but with the same goals in mind. Each home and situation is unique, and I give it the attention and care it deserves. I genuinely love helping people live better lives in their homes daily.
If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
If I were showing my best friend around Northern Colorado, I would start with the beauty and nature surrounding us. From hiking and paddle boarding Horsetooth to skiing at Snowy Range just north of us in Wyoming. I would take them to Steamboat to enjoy the small town, hot springs, and nature, among other things. I love to eat and cook; however, when I cannot make it as well as I can get it in town, I often visit Youngs Vietnamese, Star of India, Kujara, or Khon Thai to get fantastic food and service. I live with a 10-year-old husky and a 10-year-old who loves the Poudre River, so we would visit there, sit in the beauty and quiet to meditate and reflect on life, our goals, and what we are grateful for.
Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
To acknowledge some amazing souls, I could not have started my business without the support of my family, specifically my partner Brian, his daughter Skyler, and my mother. During my lowest point they gave me words of encouragement and support to follow my dream. In times of inconsistent pay, they helped me with bills and living arrangements, and I am forever grateful to have the support to pursue a true dream in my life.
Website: www.organizingbyaj.com
Instagram: @organizedbyaj
Other: Angis List: https://www.homeadvisor.com/rated.organizingbyajcom.119221232.html
Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
