When was the last time you ever asked yourself if you’re passionate about what you’re currently doing?
If that’s recent, then you probably looked back at summer before fifth grade, when you were singing your heart out with a cassette mixtape playing on the background, or when you collected stickers to trade with your friends. You probably time travelled to your fourth year high school, the time when you were still unsure about what course to take in college. Maybe, you even recalled the days before college graduation when you repeatedly told yourself you wanted to start working to earn your own money, only to find out you’d rather be studying again.
Don’t we all wonder what really inspires and motivates us?
I’m sure you stopped at one point in your busy professional life to ask yourself what everything would be like if you braved a different path…
I quit being an HR practitioner when I wanted to be a full-time mom. When I was living in Hong Kong, I had a lot of time to think (Literally, lots of time! On most days, I’d get really excited every time my husband would come home from work so that I have another adult to talk to!). I thought a lot of what else I would want to do. Later on, I discovered my passion for sales and became a financial advisor. It became a joy to talk to people and to help them make the right decision in securing their future or simply taking care of their health.
Let’s fast forward to the day I told a friend that I wanted to become a Professional Organizer. Her initial reaction was to consider it as a “service for the rich.” I was puzzled. Why would organizing be seen as a luxury given that it is challenging and oftentimes dirty?
Then she said that in doing it, I will be able to translate something that I love into a business while inspiring others.
WOW. It feels great hearing it (and writing and reading it right now) like that, but the starting journey was not a piece of cake!
I had to assess and reassess myself if I am really eligible to do it, especially because the profession is only known in the US and Canada. There’s no formal school that teaches people how to become a Professional Organizer outside North America (What is a Professional Organizer? click this link). I needed to ask several people, do a lot of research, and ask myself time and again if this is something I can really do. Committing to this means less time with the kids and that bothers me a lot as a mom. I did a lot of trial and error at home and I had to get validation from my greatest critique when it comes to cleaning – my dad. Of course, I also had to go through never-ending conversations with my best adviser – my husband. He practically assured me to follow my heart and never even consider that lesser time with kids means lesser love. The idea is to make quality time and not just the length of time being in the same room. Believe me, the support I got from him is everything that I need to make anything work… I guess, that’s what you call marriage, huh?
If you’ve been following my journey, you’d know I have been given multiple times to share the passion that was once just in my heart. To share everything about it, the good and the bad. It really pays to have a strong desire and a stronger support system.
I guess I am fortunate to have had a very supportive husband. He really knows how to guide me when it comes to my business endeavors. In this journey, he made sure that I am equipped not by talent alone, but also with technical know-how. He directed me to certificate courses that will enhance my knowledge as I enter this new venture. Right now, I already got my IAPO (International Certifications for Professional Organizer) certificate from New Jersey, and currently working on my NAPO (National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals) certifications. I am also waiting for a seat in the Marie Kondo Seminar for Professional Organizers in 2019. (I really hope I can get one… I really do!)
This blog entry might not do my real journey justice, but I hope it pretty much gives you the picture of how something I love turned into something I decided to pursue. I always believe that when you are willing to go the extra mile to learn more, that’s when you can say that you are passionate about what you are doing.
So is Professional Organizing really for the rich? I would say no… My passion, though time-consuming and resource intensive having all the planning and people who help me and all the training we all have been doing, is not just confined in the four walls of a room we are organizing, it goes beyond it. This blog, my instagram account, my facebook account, and my twitter are different channels which help me share with you the simple and complicated ways to organize your things at home or other places. What touches me the most are the simple messages of “keep it up, you inspire us to be neat at home!”, “Thank you for all the tips!”, and the best one yet “You gave me happiness and purpose in times where I only feel sadness…” That’s why being neat is for everyone. It’s a passion that is not just about how beautiful a home is, or how expensive the things in are in it, but rather, being neat is about seeing the things that mean to you, not losing track of it, and making more space for happiness to come in. Reminding you the senti moments you had with your cassette mixtape, crying because you broke up with your crush, or just imagining what your dream proposal would be, or that graduation gift your dad gave you which inspired you to finish college, or that very inexpensive bracelet that your then boyfriend gave you when you were in high school and now beside you, and for every day of your life… aren’t all these feelings so neat? neat as in good! neat as pure unadulterated joy…
This journey took a lot of courage. Mind you, it still does require a lot of courage. Are you thinking about taking a different path to pursue your passion? It’s never too late!
When the going gets tough, I remind myself of the beautiful things this journey has produced…
Seeing a spic and span space after hours of work, hearing a “Job well done!” from people personally and virtually, and inspiring people from all walks of life to live a life of order makes me confidently say I did the right thing when I decided to pursue this journey, and I am strongly passionate about what I am doing.
You might have read this on social media: “Allow your passion to become your purpose, and it will one day become your profession.”
Organizing is my passion turned purpose turned profession.
What’s yours?
Stay Neat, always!
NEAT OBSESSIONS 