Some people have the gift of organization, while others live in frustration among piles, stacks and boxes of clutter. It doesn’t matter whether the mess comes from lives moving at the speed of light or from allowing inner pack rats to run the show. The fact is, disorganization can hold people back from achieving their full potential or, at the very least, drive them nuts.
The good news is, there are people out there who are really good at organizing spaces and they built businesses around this coveted skill.
Jenny Rushizky is one of them. The Bay View-based woman started her business, called Mighty Organized, last year.
“I always had a knack for organization, and I am often recruited by friends and family to help them get rid of clutter,” says Rushizky. “It is something I really enjoy doing.”
Rushizky, who is a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), specializes in residential organization, meaning she focuses on the decluttering of kitchens, closets, kids’ rooms, garages, basements, photos and collections.
“Part of the process is identifying what is causing the clutter,” says Rushizky. “For example, the client may have inherited belongings from other family members, or is hesitant to discard anything because they think they might need it someday.
“Sometimes it is about ‘letting go,’ and that can be an emotional process. My job is to help the client stay focused on the goal: regaining control of their space and time by reducing the clutter.”
Sarah Moore is also a professional organizer, and she says supporting her clients emotionally is a big part of her job.
“Many of my clients have issues with letting go of things,” says Moore. “Paper and information is a big one for many people. They feel that if they let go of paper with information on it, they may never be able to find the information again. Many people may take fears from other areas of life, like change or being alone, and place them on objects or paper.”
Moore started consulting when she lived in San Francisco. A few years ago, she returned to Milwaukee, had a second son, and was once again drawn to the organization business.
“I offer household organizing, clutter coaching and support for hoarders. I help in the home moving, sorting, creating and maintaining filing systems, taking out garbage and recycling, what ever is needed,” she says.
Moore says she assigns “homework” to some of her clients to help them tackle their clutter in small chunks. She also checks in with them via phone or e-mail.
“Sometimes I even sing songs and I always give a goodbye hug,” says Moore.
The cost to hire a professional organizer ranges. Moore works on a sliding scale, generally charging between $20 and $40 per hour. Rushizky provides a free half-hour consultation, and then $40 per hour.
“I recommend starting off with a three-hour session,” says Rushizky.
Both Rushizky and Moore have busy lives including husbands and small children. Are their homes immaculate or do they struggle with the same issues in their personal lives as their clients do?
“I live with my husband and our 3-year-old son in a modest house, so staying organized can definitely be a challenge,” says Rushizky. “I find that if I can visit a few areas each day, I can keep my home organized. This can be something as simple as throwing out junk mail as it comes in instead of letting it pile up.”
Moore says she isn’t immaculate, but found a system for herself that works.
“No, my house is not super organized, but it needs to fairly organized or I would go berserk and not be able to do anything,” says Moore. “One of the reason I think I am a good organizer is because I am not naturally ‘Type A.’ I love to work and create and make a mess, lucky for me, I love to clean, too.”
Recently, Moore got a taste of what her clients experience when a friend helped her unclutter her closets.
“It was great. It was like going on a shopping spree. I had all these nice clothes I had been ‘saving’ that we decided I should just let myself wear more often,” says Moore.
“It was so helpful to hear her remind me if it isn't both attractive AND comfortable I could get rid of it. I knew this, but I wasn't doing it! Having a person there to support me kept me focused and energized me and helped me stick to my own values.”
Molly Snyder started writing and publishing her work at the age 10, when her community newspaper printed her poem, "The Unicorn.” Since then, she's expanded beyond the subject of mythical creatures and written in many different mediums but, nearest and dearest to her heart, thousands of articles for OnMilwaukee.
Molly is a regular contributor to FOX6 News and numerous radio stations as well as the co-host of "Dandelions: A Podcast For Women.” She's received five Milwaukee Press Club Awards, served as the Pfister Narrator and is the Wisconsin State Fair’s Celebrity Cream Puff Eating Champion of 2019.
