Meet Trailblazer Lisa Sharp

Today we’d like to introduce you to Lisa Sharp.

Lisa, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I think, for the most part, I’ve been an organized person since I was a kid. My parents divorced when I was 10 and consequently, we moved a lot. I found that I felt more happy, safe and secure when my personal space was organized and decorated to my liking. It was a way to express my creativity and I constantly rearranged my furniture, bought different bedding and swapped out my decor. Pier 1 was my favorite store as a teenager and whatever money I had gone to decor, music, and clothes, usually in that order.

It is my nature to customize whatever I own to my exact specifications. I cannot leave things alone and cookie cutter anything makes me cringe. I thoroughly enjoy the process of trying things, tweaking them and swapping them out if I tire of them or if they don’t work. To me, spaces are organic, living things that need to grow and change with each season of our lives.

In my early adult life, I continued to move around a lot and always cringe whenever I’m asked “where I’m from” because it’s a bit complicated. I’ve lived in 6 states: New York, West Virginia, Ohio, Arizona, Alabama, and Georgia. When I moved to Atlanta in 1994, I found my true home. I adore my adopted city and am a proud Georgian.

My background is in social work as well as Library and Information Science, two areas that I use every day in my work! When I first heard about Professional Organizing in 2010 I was immediately intrigued. People paid organizers to help them declutter and organize their stuff? I thought, sign me up for that gig. I’ve had a bookcase full of books on organizing, Feng Shui, productivity, home decor and design since I was a teenager. I was obsessed with creating beautiful, well-run spaces and had been doing just that for decades. I thought if I opened a business I’d call it Clear Calm Space because that was always my goal when creating a space. Fast forward to 2013 when I bought the domain, started blogging and told my friends and family that I was going into business for myself as a Professional Organizer. I have been the most rewarding thing I’ve done to date (besides having a family!) and I passionately believe that creating a home that you love is one of the best gifts you will ever give yourself.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
My business mantra is “It’s all learning.” I strongly believe that there are no mistakes or failures, just learning and growing. I’ve tried all sorts of things on my entrepreneurial journey and I can honestly say that the toughest obstacles have been my greatest teachers.

I think a lot of people start businesses and expect to be up and running and making a profit within a year and if they don’t (and they probably won’t), they feel like they’ve failed and abandoned the work. This is such a waste! It takes time to build something worthwhile. It pays to be patient and persistent and to have faith that the small day to day actions are moving your closer to success, even if you don’t see the results. Keep swimming.

It’s also imperative to find other like-minded entrepreneurial women who are interested in supporting each other. And if you can’t find a support group, start one. It can be online or in person too. I have some business BFFs that live in other states and countries that I’ve never met face to face. Running a business can be very isolating so get yourself some biz buddies asap.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Clear Calm Space – what should we know?
From the moment Clear Calm Space was born, I knew I wasn’t interested in any sort of cookie-cutter approach to my decluttering, organizing and beautifying process. Each client I work with has a unique way of dealing with their stuff and I customize our work to reflect their personality, way of thinking and particular style. People deeply trust me not only with their stuff but their stories and memories. I take that trust and confidentiality very seriously and strive to make my clients feel relaxed and excited to create the space they’ve been dreaming of.

It’s a funny skill being able to “see” a space as it could be rather than what it currently is. When I walk into a space, I instantly feel its’ energy and can hone in on the blockages quickly. What’s working, what’s not, where the trouble spots are and what we can immediately edit out to make a profound difference in the flow, efficiency, and energy of the space. I’m definitely much more efficient at it now that I’ve worked with over a thousand clients in the last 5 years and it has never once lost it’s magic for me.

I think people grossly underestimate the effect that space has on them. People often say to me things like, “My desk is a mess but I like it that way” or “I love all the stuff I have around me and it makes me so happy. I couldn’t possibly let go of any of it.” Then, we’ll start going through those so-called precious belongings and a different truth appears: a lot of it is far less important than at first glance. After going through everything they inevitably say something like, “I feel a hundred pounds lighter with all of that stuff gone” or “I’m so excited to keep going and clear even more stuff out because this feels so much better.” We simply can’t see it for ourselves which is why this process is so powerful and necessary. Shifting your stuff can be the catalyst for massive, positive change in your life.

Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
Both Gretchen Rubin and Laura Vanderkam’s books and podcast are fantastic.
Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui by Karen Kingston is one of my all time favorite books and it had a profound influence on how I saw my own space.

Audible is my favorite app because I listen to a ton of audiobooks in my car and at home while I’m doing domestic stuff. Tip: listen to books at 1.5x the normal speed. It usually doesn’t distort the reader’s voice and you can listen to more books!

If you aren’t using Google calendar to keep track of your home and work life, go do it right now! Life changing.

Regularly delete and uninstall apps that are hogging up precious digital space and making it harder to find what you really love to use.

Pricing:

• Hands-On Organizing: 4 half day sessions $1080
• 8 half day sessions $2040
• 12 half day sessions $2880
• Online group decluttering support group The Blueprint $24.99/month

Contact Info:

• Website: www.clearcalmspace.com
• Phone: 404-394-4817
• Email: lisa@clearcalmspace.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/clearcalmspace
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/clearcalmspace
• Other: www.pinterest.com/clearcalmspace

Image Credit:
Erin Zimmerman http://elephant-social.com/

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