Comments on: Can I Run My Organizing Business Part Time? http://organizedassistant.com/2009/05/04/can-i-run-my-organizing-business-part-time/ Virtual Partner to Your Organizing Business Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:31:27 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Janet Barclay http://organizedassistant.com/2009/05/04/can-i-run-my-organizing-business-part-time/comment-page-1/#comment-2398 Janet Barclay Thu, 24 Mar 2011 11:33:36 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=194#comment-2398 I'm happy you found us here, Elise, and I love what you say about organizers paying more attention to intentions than some other professionals. It's something I hadn't thought about, but it could certainly explain why there has been such a lively discussion on this post! I’m happy you found us here, Elise, and I love what you say about organizers paying more attention to intentions than some other professionals. It’s something I hadn’t thought about, but it could certainly explain why there has been such a lively discussion on this post!
Read Janet Barclay’s post: Basic Guide to Networking on Twitter

]]> By: Elise Adams http://organizedassistant.com/2009/05/04/can-i-run-my-organizing-business-part-time/comment-page-1/#comment-2388 Elise Adams Wed, 23 Mar 2011 05:26:22 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=194#comment-2388 Love this article AND all the comments following it! As professional organizers I think we pay more attention to our INTENTIONS (why we've gone into business for ourselves, our personal mission/message for our clients etc) than some in other personal professions. I so appreciate the descriptions from so many on this comment thread about working this business around our lives. In order to build a sustainable personal service business I believe that very clear goals are key. We do get out of it what we put into it, but to borrow a phrase from a parenting fade from awhile back...quality time really does pay off when we know what we need to do (all those management tasks everyone has mentioned) and WHY we are doing it (freedom, our families and more simple lives). Thanks for sharing such a rich discussion Janet! I'm so happy to have found your supportive, educational and instructive site. Love this article AND all the comments following it! As professional organizers I think we pay more attention to our INTENTIONS (why we’ve gone into business for ourselves, our personal mission/message for our clients etc) than some in other personal professions. I so appreciate the descriptions from so many on this comment thread about working this business around our lives. In order to build a sustainable personal service business I believe that very clear goals are key. We do get out of it what we put into it, but to borrow a phrase from a parenting fade from awhile back…quality time really does pay off when we know what we need to do (all those management tasks everyone has mentioned) and WHY we are doing it (freedom, our families and more simple lives).

Thanks for sharing such a rich discussion Janet! I’m so happy to have found your supportive, educational and instructive site.
Read Elise Adams’s post: Papers- books and magazines

]]> By: Janet Barclay http://organizedassistant.com/2009/05/04/can-i-run-my-organizing-business-part-time/comment-page-1/#comment-2126 Janet Barclay Wed, 09 Feb 2011 16:34:17 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=194#comment-2126 Kristin, thanks for joining the discussion! You're absolutely right, that you can find unprofessional people in any industry, whether they're in business full time or part time. However, there seems to be a perception out there that if you're only in business part time, you're not as serious or committed as those who are doing it full time. Unfortunately, this can present you with the added challenge of proving that you don't fit the stereotype. Kristin, thanks for joining the discussion!

You’re absolutely right, that you can find unprofessional people in any industry, whether they’re in business full time or part time. However, there seems to be a perception out there that if you’re only in business part time, you’re not as serious or committed as those who are doing it full time. Unfortunately, this can present you with the added challenge of proving that you don’t fit the stereotype.
Read Janet Barclay’s post: Professional Organizers Blog Carnival for February 2011- Motivation

]]> By: Kristin http://organizedassistant.com/2009/05/04/can-i-run-my-organizing-business-part-time/comment-page-1/#comment-2125 Kristin Wed, 09 Feb 2011 12:38:44 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=194#comment-2125 Running your own business is an incredible amount of work. I would say the PT status depends very much upon how you are looking at that time. I am a PT organizer while my kids are young. Once my youngest enters 1st grade, then I'll take more clients. There are some important factors that make this work for me 1. We are not depending on the extra income 2. I inform my potential clients up front about my working hours so there are no surprises. 3. I'm a former operations manager and have set up a company from the ground up before. I have a learning curve, but understood a lot of the back end work before jumping in. I do disagree with Jacki. I think you can find unprofessional people in any industry full or part-time. It has nothing to do with the amount of hours, but rather the individual. I take my work very seriously and give my clients 200%. I know other PT organizers that are in a similar situation. We have been in the business world, had successful careers and are in the process of establishing our own businesses. Running your own business is an incredible amount of work. I would say the PT status depends very much upon how you are looking at that time. I am a PT organizer while my kids are young. Once my youngest enters 1st grade, then I’ll take more clients. There are some important factors that make this work for me 1. We are not depending on the extra income 2. I inform my potential clients up front about my working hours so there are no surprises. 3. I’m a former operations manager and have set up a company from the ground up before. I have a learning curve, but understood a lot of the back end work before jumping in. I do disagree with Jacki. I think you can find unprofessional people in any industry full or part-time. It has nothing to do with the amount of hours, but rather the individual. I take my work very seriously and give my clients 200%. I know other PT organizers that are in a similar situation. We have been in the business world, had successful careers and are in the process of establishing our own businesses.

]]> By: Tweets that mention Can I Run My Organizing Business Part Time? | Your Organizing Business | Organized Assistant Blog -- Topsy.com http://organizedassistant.com/2009/05/04/can-i-run-my-organizing-business-part-time/comment-page-1/#comment-2123 Tweets that mention Can I Run My Organizing Business Part Time? | Your Organizing Business | Organized Assistant Blog -- Topsy.com Wed, 09 Feb 2011 08:15:21 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=194#comment-2123 [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Janet Barclay, The Paper Tiger. The Paper Tiger said: RT @JanetBarclay: Can I Run My Organizing Business Part Time? http://is.gd/lN0mTV [...] [...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Janet Barclay, The Paper Tiger. The Paper Tiger said: RT @JanetBarclay: Can I Run My Organizing Business Part Time? http://is.gd/lN0mTV [...]

]]> By: Part-Time Organizing | Organizer U by The Professional Organizer http://organizedassistant.com/2009/05/04/can-i-run-my-organizing-business-part-time/comment-page-1/#comment-45 Part-Time Organizing | Organizer U by The Professional Organizer Mon, 11 May 2009 14:40:28 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=194#comment-45 [...] would be considered less than 30 hours per week, including your desk time. Recently a discussion on a new blog about organizing posed the question about whether it is possible to be an organizer part-time and my answer is YES. [...] [...] would be considered less than 30 hours per week, including your desk time. Recently a discussion on a new blog about organizing posed the question about whether it is possible to be an organizer part-time and my answer is YES. [...]

]]> By: Janet Barclay http://organizedassistant.com/2009/05/04/can-i-run-my-organizing-business-part-time/comment-page-1/#comment-44 Janet Barclay Thu, 07 May 2009 18:50:43 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=194#comment-44 I hear you, Moreen! Anyone who thinks self-employment is all fun and games is sadly mistaken, but loving what you do makes it all worthwhile. I hear you, Moreen! Anyone who thinks self-employment is all fun and games is sadly mistaken, but loving what you do makes it all worthwhile.

]]> By: Moreen Torpy http://organizedassistant.com/2009/05/04/can-i-run-my-organizing-business-part-time/comment-page-1/#comment-34 Moreen Torpy Thu, 07 May 2009 15:49:41 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=194#comment-34 40 hours a week doing hands-on organizing--impossible for all the reasons you mentioned Janet. I can mange only about 15 max. The rest of the time is when I do my office admin work, marketing, networking, writing, continuing learning, etc. (after a break to dump the mental baggage I may have carried from the residential client's home). Corporate is much easier because the emotional component isn't there, except for the staff who resist change that their manager wants, and that's not my problem. :) I probably put in 50+ hours weekly into my business, all told. I can only do this because there is no family requiring my time and attention. Like life itself, a business is what one makes of it. Sometimes even with all the dedication in the world it's a tough slog. But, I wouldn't give it up for anything. Well, almost anything. :) 40 hours a week doing hands-on organizing–impossible for all the reasons you mentioned Janet. I can mange only about 15 max. The rest of the time is when I do my office admin work, marketing, networking, writing, continuing learning, etc. (after a break to dump the mental baggage I may have carried from the residential client’s home). Corporate is much easier because the emotional component isn’t there, except for the staff who resist change that their manager wants, and that’s not my problem. :)

I probably put in 50+ hours weekly into my business, all told. I can only do this because there is no family requiring my time and attention.

Like life itself, a business is what one makes of it. Sometimes even with all the dedication in the world it’s a tough slog. But, I wouldn’t give it up for anything. Well, almost anything. :)

]]> By: Janet Barclay http://organizedassistant.com/2009/05/04/can-i-run-my-organizing-business-part-time/comment-page-1/#comment-43 Janet Barclay Thu, 07 May 2009 15:26:54 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=194#comment-43 Samantha, you're so right - I can't imagine <i>anyone</i> spending 40 hours a week organizing! It is often very physically demanding, and with some clients, emotionally exhausting as well. Samantha, you’re so right – I can’t imagine anyone spending 40 hours a week organizing! It is often very physically demanding, and with some clients, emotionally exhausting as well.

]]> By: Samantha http://organizedassistant.com/2009/05/04/can-i-run-my-organizing-business-part-time/comment-page-1/#comment-42 Samantha Thu, 07 May 2009 03:00:39 +0000 http://organizing-business.com/?p=194#comment-42 I define full-time as if organizing is your main income. I started my business part-time, but soon found that most the clients I wanted only wanted someone to work during the day. So when I was laid off some years ago I decided to dive in full-time. Meaning that Organizing is my main source of income. If you truly want a thriving business you will have to dive in full-time just to be able to network and market and service clients. Just my 2 cents. I would not want to work 40 hours organizing. You would be burnt out before a year would go by. You have to count the unbillable hours of admin work toward your business. I define full-time as if organizing is your main income. I started my business part-time, but soon found that most the clients I wanted only wanted someone to work during the day. So when I was laid off some years ago I decided to dive in full-time. Meaning that Organizing is my main source of income. If you truly want a thriving business you will have to dive in full-time just to be able to network and market and service clients. Just my 2 cents. I would not want to work 40 hours organizing. You would be burnt out before a year would go by. You have to count the unbillable hours of admin work toward your business.

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