20 minutes with Tanya S., Founder of Organised Joy

Tanya, the founder of Organised Joy, is a coach, professional organiser and KonMari® consultant certified by Marie Kondo.

Can you tell us how your business came about and the inspiration behind it? 

My enthusiasm for decluttering become apparent in 2016. At the time, I worked long hours in a large investment bank. Despite my preference for novels over non-fiction, I found myself picking up Marie Kondo’s book in my local Waterstones. I applied the revolutionary KonMari Method® of decluttering and organising every single possession in a systematic order, asking myself whether each item sparked joy.

A few months later, I had decluttered half the contents of my London flat and it felt amazing! Confronting my worldly possessions had a more profound impact than I could have predicted. After making thousands of decisions on what to keep, I had clarity about what truly brought me joy. I gained confidence in my decision-making, not a natural strength of mine.

I felt more in control over how I wanted to live.

Fast forward five years and two young children, I trained in the KonMari Method® and launched my own professional organising company, Organised Joy, which helps people make more space for joy, physically and mentally.

What sets your products/service apart from others in the market?

First, client results. In 2 years, I have >1300 hours helping clients one-to-one without a hint of judgement in their homes. My clients describe the weight off their shoulders and mental clarity which is why I love this work.  Second, my personal experience and knowledge. Simplifying our lives and rewiring our relationship to our stuff is largely about mindset. As well as my KonMari certification, I bring my psychology knowledge to support my clients (I’m halfway through my MSc in Applied Positive Psychology) and when you book Organised Joy, you get… well, it’s just me! I have decided to hold off the responsibility of hiring additional organisers alongside part-time studies and parenting. Third, I speak my clients’ language. They are typically busy London professionals and entrepreneurs juggling the demands of work, family and life admin.

I worked on the trading floor for 12 years and launched a start-up before running my current solo business as a parent. I see the plates they are spinning.

I am there to listen, help them prioritise and turn chaos into calm.

What were the biggest challenges and turning points you encountered in the journey so far?

Building a full client schedule required me to learn by doing. For me the biggest challenge was (and sometimes still is) my insecurities as a solopreneur. Previously, my identity was tied up with the brand recognition and lucrative pay of a large corporate. Selling my own skills and showing up as an individual is quite different. 

It can be hard to avoid negatively comparing yourself to the person ten steps ahead in their business journey. This is still something I need to be mindful of. Sometimes my impatient self has to remind myself how delighted 2019-stuck-at-the-trading-desk-Tanya would be to see what my days and weeks look like now!

What are your current focus areas for the business?

I hope to expand the relatively new executive and life coaching side of my business as I complete my MSc programme this year. I already coach clients who find me through word of mouth but do not yet publicise this offering. I plan to fine-tune my services and update my website soon!

What advice would you give to other aspiring female entrepreneurs?

If you find yourself comparing your own business to more established businesses within your field, ask yourself is it energising, inspiring and motivating (it often is!) or is it demotivating you and preventing you from moving forward? When it is the latter, intentionally take time to focus and reflect on yourself, your offering and your unique set of skills and experiences.