Julie is originally from western Massachusetts and moved to this area after graduating college, about 25 years ago. She has two teenage girls, Sophia (13) and Isabella (16). Julie is a Professional Home Organizer. She balances being a mom and running her own business, Love Your Home Organizing.
◇ What is your favorite thing about living on the South Shore?
I love living in the South Shore because it is so close to Boston and the Cape. I also love that you can go to the beach so close by. We love the beaches in Marshfield, Hull and Scituate.
◇ What do you love to do with your family around town?
We like to go on hikes at Blue Hills. During the summer we love to go to the beaches around the South Shore. We also enjoy visiting museums and shopping in Boston.
◇ What is your favorite moment as a mom to two girls?
I have many favorite moments as a mom. The expression ‘the days are long but the years are short‘ could not be more true. I can’t believe how fast it has gone. I’m enjoying the teenage years more than I thought I would. However, I’m not going to say it doesn’t come without its challenges! But now that my girls are older, we can have real conversations about important things, we can watch the same tv shows and movies, read and discuss the same books, listen to the same music and go to concerts together. It’s fun! We’re also teaching our 16 year old to drive…not so fun!
◇ Tell us about your business and how it came to be.
I knew I wanted to be an organizer for a long time because it was just something I loved to do… and I was good at it! After working several part time jobs that I just didn’t like, I decided to take the leap and start my own organizing business. I joined NAPO, took classes and made a website to get started.
◇ Why do you love what you do?
I love helping people simplify their lives, especially moms, because I know firsthand how overwhelming it can be to keep a house with children organized. Kids generate so much stuff… toys, artwork, memorabilia, sports equipment, clothes, and it just keeps coming into the house. I help moms keep only what they need, use and love and let go of the rest so they have more time to spend with their kids and not have to spend all their time housekeeping. I try to teach the concepts of less is more, quality over quantity, and the ‘one in/one out’ rule so that after a space it edited, it stays that way. Organizing doesn’t always have to be an arduous task. I have a lot of fun with my clients; we drink coffee, we laugh a lot. I’ve met so many great people in this business. To transform, a cluttered, disorganized space into a space that’s functional, clean and pretty is hugely rewarding.
◇ What is the toughest part about being a business owner?
The toughest part about being a business owner is you have to do it all! Switching gears between marketing, bookkeeping, networking and actually working with clients can be challenging. I used to try to do a little of everything everyday but it was ineffective. Now I try to schedule certain days for certain tasks. For instance, Mondays I’ll work on marketing in between clients, Fridays, I’ll try to do all the bookkeeping. Now I focus on one task for a longer period of time. It’s really easy to want to work all the time because it’s your passion and your success really does depend on what you put into it. I’ve learned that to keep a healthy work-family balance, I have to set a schedule for “work hours” so my family doesn’t feel neglected.
◇ What is the best advice you have for mom-preneurs?
My three best pieces of advice for entrepreneurs are 1. Don’t give up! I’ve learned that it takes a long time to grow a business and get a regular stream of clients. If you’re feeling discouraged that your business isn’t thriving like you hoped it would, it might be helpful to join a local networking group, where you can meet other business owners and learn from what they’re doing. I recently joined The South Shore Women’s Business Network and find it’s a great way to stay inspired and get advice. 2. Don’t get caught in the comparison trap. Sometimes it’s hard not to compare your business to others in the same field. Their social media accounts have thousands of followers and their photos are all beautiful. I have found that if you focus on yourself and are authentic, you’ll attract the clients you like best to work with. The beauty of having your own business is being able do things your way and in your style. 3. Start before you feel ready. I probably waited too long to launch my business. It took me months to perfect my website, set up all my social media accounts, figure out how I was going to do my billing etc. The best way to learn is by doing. If I had to do it over again, I would have started working with clients right away and figured things out as I went along.
◇ What is something people would be surprised to learn about you?
When my kids were little, I taught myself, through You Tube videos, to make jewelry. I made earrings, necklaces and mother’s bracelets with their child’s name and birthstone on them. For years I designed, made, sold and donated jewelry to fundraisers in the area. Every year when my kids were in elementary school, I sold my designs at their Holiday Bazaar to make money for the school. I still see moms around town wearing some of the jewelry I made them back then!
Thanks, Julie!
Contact Julie for more information.
