Meet Nicole Pate

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Nicole Pate. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Nicole below.

Hi Nicole, really happy you were able to join us today and we’re looking forward to sharing your story and insights with our readers. Let’s start with the heart of it all – purpose. How did you find your purpose?

I found my purpose during COVID. When the world shut down, my husband and I welcomed our two children into our home. I envisioned adopted children as part of my story since my late 20s but by the year 2020, I was 44 and had no idea what impact my children would have on my life. They were in first and second grade at the time and unfortunately, they had been separated from 4 other siblings since being placed in CPS custody. It is very hard to keep large sibling groups together in the foster care system. When a child experiences this level of trauma, it is hard for them to find peace and safety. With God’s grace and guidance, my children and I fumbled through getting to know each other. In May of 2021, we officially adopted them both. Unfortunately, that same year I also made the extremely difficult decision to file for divorce. Once again my children found themselves having to work through their emotions and manage their way through more change.

In March 2022, as a single mom I started my professional organizing business, Space To Breathe, which serves residential and commercial clients in the greater Houston area in need of assistance with decluttering; and, establishing systems within their space to increase functionality and efficiency. This entrepreneurial path was such a gamble with two precious children counting on me. However, I knew I had the experience needed to both organize spaces and run a business. As a small business owner, I could create the life I wanted and make my own schedule.

My purpose in life is giving my children the childhood and the love they deserve. In fulfilling this purpose, I also get to use my God-given talents to help clients every day find space to breathe!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I love all aspects of organization! From setting up busy families for success by making a pantry easily accessible for all family members to getting dirty in a garage by pulling out (and usually purging) all the items a client hasn’t seen in ages. I can’t tell you how honored I feel when I am asked to walk through someone’s difficult journey of having to let go of a loved one’s belongings after they are gone. These intimate and solace moments must be handled with respect and sensitivity. On the other hand, I get excited to help a couple or individual start a new chapter of their lives as empty nesters. I truly love it all!

Our unpacking services help our clients settle into their new home quickly. After a move, which is extremely stressful in and of itself, imagine having a team unpack every box and organize every space within days. It allows my client to remain focused on other aspects of their move while we manage the challenges of finding a permanent home for all their cherished items.

As a former educator, I have a heart to serve others. I get so much joy out of helping clients get unstuck. I actually see the stress level start to diminish when they see their space reinvented and organized. Some of our clients may know how to organize but simply do not have the time. While others simply know the space isn’t functional the way it is. Either way, my team and I can find realistic organizational solutions that will work for our client’s lifestyle.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

These are the 3 qualities that I feel will be impactful to someone aspiring to be a successful entrepreneur.

1. Resilience

You can’t allow failure to deter you from achieving your goals. Check your ego at the door then move forward with courage and focus. You will fail at many things and chances are that not all your choices will get you to exactly where you thought they would. Some parts of your journey may leave you deflated and exhausted. The key to success is pulling yourself back together quickly after a disappointment. Find the lessons in the situation then move forward armed with a new and fresh perspective. The road to success is scattered with some lessons we would rather not have to learn but, nonetheless, they will give us the grit and determination to keep going. I have learned much more from my failures than from my success.

2. Self Discipline

I come from a long line of hard-working people that considered the day to be over only when the job was done. My family took pride in their work and showed up even when it was difficult. Growing up as the daughter of a rice farmer and an administrative assistant, I absorbed this work ethic through daily life and watching my parents. Actions always spoke louder than words. I carried that into my professional life. Whether it was waiting tables, sales, teaching, or organizing; facing challenging and exhausting tasks builds self-discipline, as it teaches you about your own capabilities and limits.

3. Motivation

The younger version of me was always pushing through to complete the next step: high school graduation, college graduation, first career job, completing my MBA, get a better job etc. Exhausted though I was, I kept going because I was driven to make it to the next step. As I get older, I am motivated, but I do move at a slower pace! In addition, I now take time to celebrate my victories. Appreciate the view from your current mountain top before charging up the next!

To close, maybe we can chat about your parents and what they did that was particularly impactful for you?

The most significant thing my parents taught me was self-sufficiency. Growing up with divorced parents, I often moved between households where money was tight. By the time I started high school, I realized that if I wanted something, I had to find a way to afford it. By 16, I was already working and managing my own bills. After graduating high school, I moved out on my own and began college. The lessons I learned during those years, from 16 to 22, shaped me in ways I might not have experienced in a different environment. Although it was challenging at the time, I now see it as the greatest gift my parents could have given me. I discovered early on that I was capable of tackling tough challenges and making hard decisions. While my parents may not have intentionally aimed to teach me self-sufficiency at such a young age, it was an invaluable lesson born from my circumstances, and I’m incredibly grateful for it.

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Image Credits

Liz London Photography (family photo)

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