Meet Whitney Rice

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Whitney Rice a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

We Whitney, sincerely appreciate your selflessness in agreeing to discuss your mental health journey and how you overcame and persisted despite the challenges. Please share with our readers how you overcame. For readers, please note this is not medical advice, we are not doctors, you should always consult professionals for advice and that this is merely one person sharing their story and experience.
Anxiety has always been my biggest enemy, so starting a new business and career at 35 seemed practically unimaginable. However, I had many friends and family members encouraging me to take the leap, so I focused on their support and my desire to overcome my fears and turned Simplified Austin from a side-hustle to my full-time job in July of 2021. The first few months were scary to say the least! From figuring out where I would find new clients to managing the accounting, website and social media side of the business, I knew I had a lot to learn. I focused on the small wins – the excitement of getting new organizing jobs, getting a 5-star review on Google or just getting positive feedback on my social media posts. I have also found support from other organizers and my friends at The Container Store. While I still struggle with anxiety, it sure felt good to tell it, “No, thanks. I’ve got this.”.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am a full-time professional organizer at Simplified Austin where I help busy families and individuals achieve their home organizing goals. We start with a consultation where clients can show me the areas of their home they need help organizing, while I develop a project plan and estimate. Some of the most popular spaces requested include pantries, kitchens, refrigerators, closets, garages and bathrooms. Many clients choose to work along side me in the decluttering process, while others request that I manage the project from start to finish. I handle all of the donations, shopping for organizing supplies and finishing touches, like custom labels. It’s so fun for me to get to know my clients through our work together and they all agree that getting their spaces organized is therapeutic. I love feeling like I have really helped someone cross a big project off of their to-do list. It keeps me going.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Dedication, bravery and willingness to learn are three qualities that have helped me tremendously on my journey as a new business owner. I knew if I truly wanted to succeed, I just needed to stick with it and get out of my comfort zone, which has taken a lot of bravery. I reached out to others in the industry for help and they were happy to pass along what they had learned. Now, I try my best to help others who are starting their entrepreneurial journeys, because it really does take a village and I love helping others.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
As a small business owner, I have to wear many hats – accountant, social media manager, marketing expert, supply purchaser and, of course, professional organizer. It can get very overwhelming! When I feel overwhelmed, I love talking to my husband. I list out everything I need to get done and he helps me break it into manageable chunks. Sometimes you just need to talk through it! I also love making lists of tasks I need to do. Seeing it on paper helps me prioritize what needs to be done and I love the feeling of crossing off a completed task. Last, while I do dread them, my workouts at Orangetheory really help reduce my stress and leave me feeling empowered. It’s a form of self care that I definitely need to succeed.

Contact Info:

Image Credits
Headshot, J Renee Photography Austin, TX

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