SOS: Stacie's Organizing Solutions

I thought I was too smart for organizing. Turns out, it's my superpower. 💪 Growing up, I loved organizing. You could often find me on bended knee in a kitchen (any kitchen), with my head and hands out of sight busily reworking a lower cupboard, or quietly rearranging your pantry. But back then, organizing wasn’t considered “career material.” People told me I was destined for something bigger, more challenging. So, I listened. What did I know? I excelled academically, initially set my sights on becoming a cardiologist, and then later followed progressively strategic corporate leadership paths. Despite enjoying tremendous career challenges and growth, achieving success on my evolving terms, receiving generous accolades, and having a résumé I am damn proud of, *something* was always missing. I was good at many things, so opportunities abound, but little satisfied me intrinsically. And what I *did* enjoy? No clear career paths. My natural inclination for organization was consistently recognized, praised, and leveraged throughout my career but always with this underlying clerical (i.e. limiting) connotation. Or it was looked upon as a Stacie-ism. I remember a time in my mid-20s when my roommates and I had an issue with our (psychotic) landlord. I initiated a filing with the Landlord and Tenant Board, documented, dated, and detailed *everything* that I neatly housed in a red file folder. While my roommates road-tripped across Canada, I bravely and confidently pled our case (yes…we won). These roommates - also at the time some of my besties - thought the red file folder, while impressive, was "so cute". For me, though, staying organized was second nature—and in this particular instance...necessary and obvious. My world changed when I discovered - not too long ago - that professional organizing is an actual industry, as I accidentally and serendipitously stumbled upon it. It was humbling. I assumed my natural talent was all I needed, but I quickly realized organizing professionally required far more. I had so much learning ahead, and that thrilled me. I dove headfirst, absorbing everything I could about the nuances of the industry and the client needs that created its growing demand. I was pleasantly surprised to find that not only could I parlay my corporate leadership skills into this new career, but that it was absolutely necessary. It is actually what most differentiates my company from the others. Seven years later, I’m not just an the owner/operator of an organizing business. I’m an industry problem-solver, innovator, thought leader, and aspiring disruptor. Organizing isn’t “cute.” It's transformative. Many clients will tell you our services have been life-changing. Others will swear we saved their lives. Have you discovered your superpower yet? Sometimes, it's hiding where you least expect. I'd love to hear your story. Iulia Stratan Victoria Desiri Stephanie Chong, C.Tech Vanessa Bravo Rachel Schwartzman Michael Cooper

DIY decluttering is like starting an endless puzzle with missing pieces. You start with good intentions. You buy all the cute bins. You order your own label maker from Amazon. You watch (study!) YouTube videos, going down rabbit hole after rabbit hole. And you follow every decluttering "expert" on Instagram and TikTok. Sounds like a great plan, with a well-informed you! So what's the problem? What happens? Life. That's what happens. Life happens. You get interrupted. Things pile up again. That "decluttering day" gets postponed—again. And again. And again... Why? Because decluttering is WAY more than just "putting things away." To so many people's surprise - DIYers and outsourcers alike - decluttering and organizing is a thinking job. It’s: → Decision fatigue → Confronting difficult emotions → Revealing broken or non-existent systems And here’s something people rarely talk about: Decluttering is HARD. It’s not just about "time." It’s labor-intensive, physically demanding, and emotionally draining: ✅ Sorting through endless piles (hours on your feet). ✅ Making hundreds of rapid-fire decisions (exhausts your brain). ✅ Removing the purge - hauling out heavy bags or boxes (physical work). DIYers often underestimate this part, and here’s why so many give up: They often don’t have, or find it difficult to maintain: ✔️ An unbiased perspective (too emotionally attached). ✔️ The know-how to create sustainable systems (bins don’t fix everything). ✔️ Energy alongside dealing with life (a superpower you don't need). Years ago, I used DIY solutions too. But I quickly learned that having “natural organizational skills” was only part of what is required (like, barely even half) and that effective decluttering/ organizing is the intersection of dozens of skills to create systems that WORK FOR LIFE. Which are as unique as the people who need them. Now, I help Gen Xers overcome by major life events - illness, the end of a relationship, homelessness, financial insecurity, and/or facing big transitions - downsizing, empty-nesting, or managing aging/deceased parents' homes -deal with these challenges. Preferably proactively and in a financially manageable way. Because decluttering isn’t about aesthetics. It’s about: → Spending your time where you most want to. → Freeing up space for what matters. → Alleviating anxiety, overwhelm, and fear. → Regaining peace you didn’t realize you’d lost. DIY seems like the way to go because these are fundamental tasks we *should* be able to manage on our own. There is shame and stigma in outsourcing organizing but, sometimes, the only way to get long-lasting results is to ask for help, call the professionals, and enjoy a return on your investment in real-time. What’s been your biggest hurdle with decluttering? Iulia Stratan Victoria Desiri Stephanie Chong, C.Tech Fiona Scott Vanessa Bravo

Hopefully these screenshots post in order so the sequence of events is easy to follow. 🤞 Thoughts? Do you think I was too harsh? How would you have responded? Career coaches, recruiters, employment agencies…please help! 🙈🙈🙈 #professionalorganizers #declutteryourmesswithSOS #shakingmyhead #whendidwegetsoeffinglazy #hiringwoes #sendhelpandwine Liza Voticky, CIR Lori Dassas Ponte HRM Brina Ludwig Prout Gabe Austerweil (Ross) Mary Belec, CHRL Amy Davies Mary Ann Kaczmarek Lisa Borden Lisa Brennan Victoria Desiri Iulia Stratan Stephanie Potter Stephanie Chong, C.Tech Fiona Scott

If you are interested in the opportunity below, how are you applying? Of 40+ applicants, how many do you think followed the instructions laid out? #professionalorganizers #declutteryourmesswithSOS #wearehiring #followinginstructions #thedeclineofjobcandidatequality Tracy Posner Lori Dassas Ponte HRM Lisa Brennan Liza Voticky, CIR Victoria Desiri Iulia Stratan Stephanie Chong, C.Tech Stephanie Potter Fiona Scott

As I write this, I realize I might be seen as a contrarian, but it’s not intentional. For instance, when I was a matchmaker, I was called the "anti-Valentine’s Day matchmaker" and, without any hesitation, I boldly told Tracy Moore on CityLine that “The Talk” should never happen—her reaction was priceless. In my organizing career, I minimize boasting about the new “systems” we’ll create for you - I loathe that expression and promise. I don’t put any energy or effort into cute and trendy memes with tips and tricks for you to use on your own. I don’t believe there is a DIY market worth catering to. Outsourcing is the future of organizing. And, similarly, I don't offer or see value in on-site consultations. While unusual in this industry, it’s been a key decision that I continue to stand behind despite having lost business as a result. As I “fell” into this industry, on-site visits were the norm for the company I was consulting for. Before I was informed enough to make a determination around their overall value, I did immediately implement a fee for them—because the time and travel involved was significant. It didn’t take me long to eventually phase them out entirely. At SOS, I’ve continued this practice. Initially, I struggled to explain this unpopular decision to prospects without sounding dismissive, but through the years my rationale has become increasingly clear and easier to communicate. The bottom line is that visiting your home or business doesn’t impact the quality of our work. If I cannot instill trust and comfort during our thorough and transparent phone consultations, we’re likely not a good fit. I’d rather identify that after a 15-30 minute conversation than invest the time to leave my comforts to (hopefully) give you a "warm and fuzzy” meeting that doesn’t guarantee a successful project. Here’s what doesn’t change in the absence of on-site consultation: --> Our enthusiasm for your project --> Our productivity and commitment --> Our strategic thinking and problem-solving --> Our skillset and toolkit --> Our process --> Our pricing At SOS, we skip on-site consultations because we prioritize efficiency, transparency, adaptability, and trust (and the sense of urgency often required for these projects). No visit needed. Does this surprise you? Would love to hear your reactions and thoughts below. Want to know more? Take advantage of our free phone consultations. 📞 Drop me a message and judge for yourself whether you’d feel better hiring us after an in-person meeting. 😉 #ProfessionalOrganizers #InnovativeLeaders #IndustryDisruption #DeclutterYourMessWithSOS #TrustTheProcess #PricingTransparency #OrganizedSpacesPeacefulPlaces Victoria Iulia Stephanie Fiona

Like most of the significant roles that have punctuated my colourful career journey, I "fell into" professional organizing. It turns out I thrive in ambiguous environments, but organizing felt immediately natural and comfortable to me—it was an oft reached-for tool in my proverbial toolkit. An asset I had consistently been recognized for leveraging creatively, efficiently, and consistently. My start came as an Executive Coach and Business Consultant to the CEO of an established professional organizing company in Toronto. She needed help managing the business side of things, while I delivered consultative and coaching services. But as I shadowed her, I quickly realized my "natural" organizing skills were more limited than I thought. Of our three-step process, I discovered I loved Step 1: sorting. But when it came to Steps 2 (editing) and 3 (putting away), I froze. Like so many of you, I thought organizing was about making things neat and tidy. Turns out, it’s very much a thinking job. There’s strategy. There’s Tetris. There’s a need for agility. There’s anticipating client needs. There’s project planning and execution. In fact, it requires use of all the skills inherrent in any other leadership position. Once I embraced the full scope of organizing, and reconciled it with my existing leadership skills, I was well-positioned to lead projects with clarity and creativity. If you’re curious about the real strategy behind organizing, let’s chat and explore how to make your space work for you. #ProfessionalOrganizers #StrategicOrganizing #DeclutterYourMessWithSOS #IndustryDisrpution #InnovativeLeaders #OrganizedSpacesPeacefulPlaces #BudgetFriendlyOptions #AccessibleToAll Victoria Iulia Fiona Stephanie