This Organized Life: Decluttering Tips for Moms, Entrepreneurs and Professional Organizers

Hi Friends! Joining me today is my friend, Karen Cahn. If there is one word I would use to describe Karen, it would be “powerhouse.” Karen is the Founder & CEO of IFundWomen, the go-to funding marketplace for women-owned businesses and all the people who want to support them, from individuals to enterprises. IFundWomen provides online fundraising services, expert business coaching, and a powerful network of women business owners. Karen spends her day advocating for women-owned businesses (can I get an amen!)-she is a voice for the marginalized, and a trailblazer in the pursuit of equality for all women. She is also a mom to 2 kids and is struggling like the rest of us navigating life during COVID-19 and doing the best we can. During our conversation we talked about life under quarantine (yes, when we recorded we were still in lockdown). ● How she has had to pivot her own business and routine without warning ● The challenges of separating work and home when you are literally doing both under the same roof ● Where she struggles with organization in her own home. We also talked about the entrepreneurial landscape, the role of Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs and why we are craving comfort in a world filled with uncertainty. Karen and I had an on-air mini coaching session about her struggles with opening the mail on a daily basis, which goes to show that everyone has areas in their lives where they feel like a bit of a Hot Mess. It was a real, honest and fun conversation, and I hope you enjoy it enough to leave us a review and share with your people! XOXO- Laurie P.S. Make sure to check out the links below to help us celebrate our 200th episode celebration! Connect with IFund Women   WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | LINKEDIN   Connect with Karen INSTAGRAM | LINKEDIN HELP US CELEBRATE OUR 200th EPISODE!!! Our 200th episode is just around the corner and we want to hear from you! All you have to do is call 1-800-509-8171 and leave a personalized message. If you are outside of the US, Canada, or Carribean, or if you want to make your recording using a voice recorder, please visit https://lifeonrecord.com/this-organized-life/.  This service is sponsored by LifeOnRecord – a meaningful audio keepsake of phoned in stories, memories, and well-wishes from family and friends telling the recipient why they are special. For more information visit, https://lifeonrecord.com. Other Promo Codes Exclusive to the TOL Community! Stop drowning in email clutter: STREAMLINE YOUR INBOX WITH INBOX DONE Say goodbye to the clothes that aren’t doing you any favors: 10% OFF YOUR COLOR GURU WITH CODE “ORGANIZEDLIFE” Please Support Us! SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week! REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show! Struggling with Clutter? Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz! Stop feeling like a Hot Mess! HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls.  Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back. Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold. Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

    Hi Friends! Joining me today is bestselling author, and leadership speaker, Marissa Orr. I asked Marissa to join me on This ORGANIZED Life Podcast to talk about life as a single mother of 3, what prompted her speak out about the inequalities she experienced during her time at Google & Facebook, and what eventually led her to write her breakout book: Lean Out, The Truth About Women, Power, & the Workplace. ● Marissa candidly shared her story, and we talked about her own struggles with clutter. ● She explains why she named her podcast “Nice Girls Don’t Watch the Bachelor” (it’s probably not what you think!) ● We talked about creating margin, giving ourselves permission to not be perfect, and how her future self “Doris,” helps to keep her in check! I could have talked with Marissa for hours (not to worry, we are having her back on our show in a few months!). If you enjoyed our conversation, please share it with a friend. Be sure to check out the links below to connect with Marissa, buy her book, and check out her podcast. XOXO- Laurie         Links Mentioned in this Episode       NICE GIRLS DON’T WATCH THE BACHELOR | BLOG | LEAN OUT BOOK  Connect with Marissa WEBSITE | TWITTER | LINKEDIN  Other Promo Codes Exclusive For The Tol Community! Stop drowning in email clutter: STREAMLINE YOUR INBOX WITH INBOX DONE Say goodbye to the clothes that aren’t doing you any favors: 10% OFF YOUR COLOR GURU WITH CODE “ORGANIZEDLIFE”  Help Us Celebrate Our 200th Episode!!!! To leave a personalized message: Please dial 1-800-509-8171. If you are outside of the US, Canada, or Carribean, or if you want to make your recording using a voice recorder, please visit https://lifeonrecord.com/this-organized-life/. This service is sponsored by LifeOnRecord – a meaningful audio keepsake of phoned in stories, memories, and well-wishes from family and friends telling the recipient why they are special. For more information visit, https://lifeonrecord.com. Feel free to answer as many questions as you’d like! Phone lines are open through September 15, 2020 1. What was your favorite episode of TOL? And why? 2. Is there a guest you would like to have back on the show? 3. What topics would you like us to discuss in future episodes? 4. Who would like to be interviewed on TOL? 5. What do you love most about our podcast? And of course, “Where do you feel like the biggest HOT MESS & Where do you feel the most organized?”  Please Support Us!  SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!    REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!  Struggling with Clutter? Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!  Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls.  Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back. Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.  Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! Joining me today is Swarna Anthan. Swarna is a mom to a 6 year old son, and founder and CEO of MagicPolygon-a storytelling platform available in the AppStore. Like so many start-ups, Swarna created this app when she realized that her son preferred STORYTELLING to STORY READING. Recognizing a gap in the marketplace, she set off to create a storytelling platform for kids where grandparents, friends and families living far away can tell stories in their own voice using the interactive picture books available in the app. Prior to starting MagicPolygon, Swarna worked for Motorola, iHeart Radio, Samsung, & NYTimes. As one of the first Engineers of the tech fitness company Peloton, Swarna left Peloton 3 years ago to start MagicPolygon. During this time of quarantine, social distancing, and e-learning, who could have imagined the importance of personalized content and connection derived from digital platforms. MagicPolygon App is also being used in classrooms as a way to bridge creativity, connection and collaboration among students and teachers. During our conversation we talk about: ● Her decision to leave a successful, secure career to embark on a start-up journey ● How educators and parents are using the app to connect with loved ones beyond platforms such as zoom, facetime and skype ● Why kids ages 3-7 are her core demographic Swarna also opens up about her own struggles juggling life as a mom and entrepreneur managing a full-time career. As a champion of women, and women entrepreneurs, I hope you find inspiration in her story, and support her work by clicking the SHARE button! xo - Laurie      Links Mentioned in this Episode WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | FACEBOOK | PINTEREST DOWNLOAD THE MAGICPOLYGON APP  Other Promo Codes for You!  STREAMLINE YOUR INBOX WITH INBOX DONE | 10% OFF YOUR COLOR GURU WITH CODE “ORGANIZEDLIFE”   Please Support Us!  SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!    REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!  Struggling with Clutter? Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!     Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls.  Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back. Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.  Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

Hi Friends! Joining me today is Renee Appelle, wife, mom, and SVP, Global Partnerships & Strategy at VOX media. Rennee (normally) lives in NYC with her handy husband and their 2 adorable boys, but they have temporarily relocated due to COVID. I invited Renee on our show to talk about life as a working mom, what it looks like to live in NYC during a pandemic, delivering a baby under quarantine, and how her organization skills have helped her juggle career and motherhood. During our conversation we talked about: ● Delivering a baby without her husband there (thank you covid!) ● Uprooting her family 2 days after delivering a baby to get out of the epicenter of NYC ● Having 2 working parents at home with a toddler and newborn (Jesus take the wheel!) ● How routines have saved her life ● Shifting priorities Plus, Renee shares some specific organizing and time management tips that everyone should hear! I’d love to hear your thoughts on the episode. Feel free to comment below, and if you enjoyed the episode, remember to share the link with your peeps! XOXO- Laurie

    Hi Friends! Penny Williams is a coffee-lovin’, atypical-parenting-obsessed momma on a mission! Having walked through her own parenting struggles, she now helps families on this always chaotic, often stressful, anything-but-ordinary parenting journey. Through her podcast, award-winning books, online parent training programs, parent coaching, and mom retreats, she has helped thousands of families survive and thrive in the face of ADHD. During our conversation Penny and I talk about  Parenting during a Pandemic How to develop and maintain routine when the world is off its axis How to embrace your kids uniqueness without losing control The importance of self-care (yes moms! I am talking to you!) and what she’s doing to help other mamas feel less alone and more energized.  It’s an honest conversation that I could relate to on so many levels. If you, or someone you know, is struggling with parenting a child with ADHD or Autism, please do them a favor and share this episode with them!         xo - Laurie         Links Mentioned in this Episode  STOP BATTLING 8 WEEK COURSE|MAMA RETREAT | BEYOND BEHAVIORS BOOK  Connect with Penny WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM |PODCAST   Other Promo Codes for You! 10% OFF YOUR COLOR GURU WITH CODE “ORGANIZEDLIFE” STREAMLINE YOUR INBOX WITH INBOX DONE   Please Support Us!  SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!    REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!  Struggling with Clutter? Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!     Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls.  Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back. Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.  Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

        Hi Friends! Today I am joined by Michaela Foster Marsh.  Michaela  is an acclaimed musician with three albums to her credit. Her work has appeared in television and film, including Dawson’s Creek, Breaking Amish and The Matthew Sheppard Story. She has been invited to sing at the Monaco International Film Festival, the Cannes International Film Festival, and for Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth. Most notable, Michaela is known for her philanthropic work in Uganda. Michaela is the founder and Executive Director of Starchild Charity, which works to support vulnerable children and women by providing education and support; and did I mention that her foundation is responsible for building a School for Creative Arts in Uganda?! I invited Michaela onto TOL to share her story of growing up white with an adopted black brother only weeks apart, and being raised as twins in the late 60’s. We talk about their life together as kids in Scotland, and how her brother’s tragic death in a house fire led her on a quest to find his birth family in Uganda. She shares the impact that first visit to Uganda had on her life; how it led her to write a book, start a charity, and build a school that now serves hundreds of kids and families in Uganda. She shares about what she calls “The Magic in the Universe,” and how her perspective on life, material possessions, and success has evolved and changed over time. Our conversation is filled with joy, loss, and inspiration. I invite you to share this episode with your people, and if you feel so inclined, leave us a comment or review. With Gratitude,         xo - Laurie Connect with Michaela         WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER  Starchild Charity WEBSITE | PROJECTS | THE BOOK   Other Promo Codes for You! 10% OFF YOUR COLOR GURU WITH CODE “ORGANIZEDLIFE”   Please Support Us!  SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!    REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!  Struggling with Clutter? Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!     Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls.  Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back. Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.  Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

    (*this episode was recorded pre-COVID, so some of the specific examples cited in the episode  may look different today, however, the guiding principles still apply.)     Hi Friends! Today we are joined by Chanelle Neilson, host and creator of the Moms Who Know Podcast, author of Parenting with Purpose, who’s married to her best friend and mom of 5 adorable kiddos! She loves helping moms take care of themselves and grow so they can take better care of their families. I invited Chanelle to chat with us about what being organized with a big family looks like, her mission for other moms, and how she still manages to carve out guilt free time for herself–an area where many of us struggle. Chanelle talks about her breaking point, and how she learned to absolve herself of the “supermom complex.” Chanelle gives us a front row seat into what life looks like in the following areas:  Meal Prep Laundry Household Chores Chauffeuring Kids to Activities Homework Morning/Bedtime Routines Self-Care  We talk about the importance of establishing boundaries, and setting up routines, not just for the kids, but for herself too! Whether you have 1 kid or 10, no one is immune to feelings of guilt and overwhelm. I hope you find this conversation helpful and inspiring!         xo - Laurie           Connect with Chanelle WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | PODCAST   Other Promo Codes for You! 10% OFF YOUR COLOR GURU WITH CODE “ORGANIZEDLIFE”   Please Support Us!  SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!    REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!  Struggling with Clutter? Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!     Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls.  Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back. Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.  Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

    Hi Friends! Brit Kolo is the Creator of the Marketing Personality Type™ Framework at MarketingPersonalities.com. Brit helps small business owners craft their messages authentically by aligning their marketing strategy to their Myers-Briggs Personality Type…..and you know how much I love talking about personality type! During our conversation Brit shares:  An overview of the Myers-Briggs Personality Assessment She explains what the 4 letters stand for (I’m an ENTJ btw) How you can find your Myers-Briggs Personality Type The benefits to understanding your personality type, and those around you Brit shares her thoughts on whether certain personality types are prone to clutter based on their behavior  We recorded this conversation pre-COVID, and I’m glad to finally get a chance to share it with you!         xo - Laurie         A special thanks to our good friends at BeWELL Psychotherapy  for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! Visit BeWELLpsychotherapy.com or text BeWELL to 484848  to get connected with a therapist today  For sponsorship inquiries and collaborations with This ORGANIZED Life click here.           Links Mentioned in this Episode 16PERSONALITIES.COM | TAKE THE CLUTTER QUIZ Connect with Brit WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK    Please Support Us!  SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!    REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!  Struggling with Clutter? Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!     Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls.  Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back. Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.  Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

    Hi Friends! Today we are joined by Robbin McManne, author, podcaster, speaker and certified parent coach.  Robbin’s work focuses on building and strengthening the parent child relationship so that children grow up with resilience, confidence and strong emotional intelligence.  She works with parents to help them understand their own emotions and frustrations in parenting, so they can help build their children’s sense of self without losing themselves in the process! In October of 2018 Robbin released her first book, “The Yelling Cure – How stress less and get your kids to cooperate without threats & punishments.” Her book is being read by parents all over the world 100,000 copies sold to date. During the time of our conversation we were knee-deep in quarantine, so anxiety for kids and parents were at an all-time high. We talked about things like:  The important role of routines Advice for the parent who says “the only way my kids listen is when I yell” How to meet your kids where they are  Robbin shared so many great nuggets of wisdom, I hope you find value in the resources below!         xo- Laurie         A special thanks to our good friends at BeWELL Psychotherapy for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! Visit BeWELLpsychotherapy.com or text BeWELL to 484848  to get connected with a therapist today For sponsorship inquiries and collaborations with This ORGANIZED Life click here.           Links Mentioned in this Episode  THE YELLING CURE BOOK | PODCAST   Connect with Robbin WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK   Please Support Us!   SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!    REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!  Struggling with Clutter? Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!      Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls.  Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back. Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.  Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST

    Hi Friends! Today I am joined by Chris-Tia Donaldson-who is by far, one of the most inspiring women I know! Chris-Tia’s story is both amazing and inspiring; coming from humble beginnings, to earning an A.B. in Economics from Harvard University with high honors,  to then graduate from Harvard Law School. Currently Chris-Tia is the founder and CEO of Thank God It’s Natural, maker of hair and body products that uses only natural ingredients. Her products are sold in over 10,000 stores including Walmart, Target, Whole Foods, Sally’s Beauty, Walgreens and ULTA. Chris-Tia is also a breast cancer survivor.   She has turned her personal journey into activism by raising awareness and the importance of early detection amongst women of color. Chris-Tia is the author of the best-selling book, This Is Only a Test: What Breast Cancer Taught Me About Faith, Love, Hair and Business. I cannot think of a more appropriate person to kick off our series on women overcoming adversity than Chris-Tia! During our conversation we talk about:  What her life was like growing up Why women of color (specifically in urban areas) don’t have the same access to quality healthcare as in suburban areas How she is serving a marginalized group of women, and the impact that makes on a daily basis The role that organization plays in her life How her relationship with “stuff” has changed throughout her journey Who inspires her, and what keeps her motivated  Chris-Tia wraps up the show by sharing her advice and suggestions for all women, aspiring entrepreneurs and change-makers on where to begin in their own journey. To learn more about Chris-Tia, make sure to check out the links below.         xo - Laurie       A special thanks to our good friends at BeWELL Psychotherapy  for sponsoring this episode of This ORGANIZED Life! Visit BeWELLpsychotherapy.com or text BeWELL to 484848  to get connected with a therapist today For sponsorship inquiries and collaborations with This ORGANIZED Life click here.           Links Mentioned in this Episode TGIN FOUNDATION | BOOKS  Connect with Chris-Tia WEBSITE | INSTAGRAM | FACEBOOK | LINKEDIN | TWITTER     Please Support Us!  SUBSCRIBE to TOL to have new episodes downloaded each week!    REVIEW.  Social influence is the most impactful way to help others find our show!  Struggling with Clutter? Click HERE to take our FREE clutter quiz!     Stop feeling like a Hot Mess!  HOT MESS: A Practical Guide to Getting Organized is my witty little survival guide that helps you get to the root of your clutter. Learn about the 3 types of clutter, Physical, Emotional, and Calendar, along with how to avoid the 5 Clutter Pitfalls.  Now is the time to reclaim time, find freedom, and feel empowered from the “stuff” that is holding you back. Available on amazon, barnes & noble or wherever books are sold.  Connect with Me WEBSITE | FB | IG | PINTEREST