Interview with Kathi Burns: Speaker, Author, Professional Organizer and Image Consultant
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Today I’m pleased to feature Kathi Burns of Organized and Energized! in San Diego, California. I previously interviewed Kathi in 2009, but not surprisingly, her business has evolved over the past 15 years. She currently offers virtual and in person organizing and image consulting.
Hi Kathy, and thanks so much for coming here to share your experience with my readers! How did you come up with your business name?
I began my career as addSpace To Your Life! because I knew that if you have space, you can grow and thrive.
During Covid I lost my mojo so decided to rebrand myself as Organized and Energized! I did this for myself to create new energy around my business.
How else has your business changed since you started out?
I morphed to more online products and services during Covid. I am now a paid speaker for national and local conferences, workshops and lunch and learns.
What’s your specialty?
I help smart, creative, female entrepreneurs go from overwhelmed, indecisive, and disorganized to clear automated systems and strategies that easily generate income!
Do you offer any products or services for other organizers?
Yes. I am a certified paper flow specialist and train other organizers to use the Freedom Filer filing system. It is an amazing product that I still use with almost 90% of my clients, and it was a huge part of the growth of my business to what it is now. Without Freedom Filer, I might not even still be in business because – guess what? Anyone over 30 has paper challenges, and this is a solution for almost every potential client.
What other services or products do you offer?
I have several online courses and am the author of three books and co-author of four more titles. You can see my products list here.
How do you approach a new organizing project?
I ask massive amounts of questions and work with the client to create an end goal in writing so that I can shine the light on that goal and help them as a way-shower towards their dream.
What is the biggest challenge you currently face in your business?
Still on the quest to finding work/ life balance that shifts and works for me now
What would you do differently if you were starting your business today?
Learn to focus on only one thing at a time – as someone with ADD, it is easy to get sidetracked. In the beginning I was literally all over the place trying to do it all on my own and was constantly chasing squirrels!
What’s the most surprising thing you’ve discovered about running an organizing business?
It is still fun and exciting after 20 years. I am easily bored and this career is anything BUT boring!
What’s your favorite organizing product? Why?
I love Freedom Filer! It works for every single client whether it is a corporation, solopreneur or retirees. Everyone needs to know how and when to ditch the papers they do not need and this is the only self-purging file system in the world!
What professional associations or other organizations do you belong to?
What do you like to do when you’re not working?
Sailing and spending time travelling in our sprinter camper van.
What else should we know about you?
I LOVE change and I think this is why I am good at what I do. Most people are afraid of change so I help them become empowered changers and controllers of their own destiny, whatever that may be!
Thank you, Kathi!
Would YOU like to be interviewed for Your Organizing Business?
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As always, so fun to learn about other organizers. I didn’t realize Kathi had so many books and products available. I have to agree that this job is never boring. I love that about organizing as well. There is always a new challenge, and getting to work with different people all the time is such a treat. People are the best. Thanks for sharing this interview!
She’s been busy, hasn’t she! I love staying connected to the industry (including you, of course!) through this blog.
Very interesting interview, Janet.
What an uplifting and inspiring interview! I’ve known Kathi for years and it’s wonderful to see the ways she’s evolved herself and business.
I especially love how she embraces change and empowers her clients to do that too.
Yes! I was so pleased to see her name in my inbox. 🙂
It is so fun to see other entrepreneurs and how they evolve their businesses. It is encouraging for everyone struggling with their business advancement. It shows that being flexible in your offerings will promote more growth. Thank you for sharing!
I couldn’t agree more about being flexible! We need to evolve to meet the changing needs of clients and potential clients, and to ensure we continue loving what we do.
It’s always a delight to read these interviews with my colleagues, whether I only know their names from NAPO or online, or whether we’ve known one another forever. I am so impressed with how Kathi took the opportunity to rebrand post-COVID. While many of us “went virtual,” Kathi has pivoted to a new audience, a new focus, and a approach. I actually felt the “energize” part of her new brand while reading about her change in direction. I’m sure her entrepreneurial clients feel jazzed to work with her!
Janet, thank you for sharing these great industry profiles!
I’m constantly seeing different ways the world has changed since COVID, in business and elsewhere. Many of shifted have working virtually all or most of the time, but for others, like Kathi, the pause provided an opportunity to reflect on what they really wanted. It hasn’t all been bad!