Meet Amélie Saint-Jacques

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Amélie Saint-Jacques. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, so we’re so thrilled to have Amélie with us today – welcome and maybe we can jump right into it with a question about one of your qualities that we most admire. How did you develop your work ethic? Where do you think you get it from?

As a child, I always wanted to do well in school, so I very quickly developed the internal motivation to succeed. This serves me very well now as an entrepreneur and service provider because I care about doing a good job. I am responsible, honest, disciplined, and strive to provide quality services – customer satisfaction is the top priority! Plus, on personality tests, I always score high on conscientiousness, a trait that serves me very well as an organizer. Finally, I observe the Golden Rule, which is to say that I treat my clients in the way that I would like to be treated. That’s one of the reasons why I take my continuing education so seriously, as well as memberships to professional organizations that help me maintain high standards in my work.

Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?

So many people are overwhelmed by the clutter in their home! I help my clients put their home in order and simplify their life. While what I do is physical (decluttering, organizing, setting in place new systems that are easy to maintain), the effects go so far beyond that! People often tell me they feel calmer, more clear-headed, and that their whole life improves after we get their space under control. I love being able to bring such changes to their lives!

Keep in mind that there are dozens of reasons why someone’s home might be cluttered. It could be because of a big life transition (birth of a new baby, death of a loved one, divorce, demanding new job, etc.). It could be that there are a lot of people using a space and they need to get on the same page regarding how to use it, while being realistic about everyone’s abilities. It could simply be that some people never learned how to be organized and need to practice that skill a bit (because yes, it can be learned!).

Often, changing a little space like a play area or a pantry leads to bigger changes in the home, and clients want to continue improving. Those who do a tidying festival (i.e., a comprehensive decluttering of all their belongings) say that it helps them feel more like themselves and gives them a fresh start. My goal is always to help people create an organized space that will make their life easier and more peaceful.

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?

First, I think it is very important to connect with people in the same field, to receive education and training, and to have access to best practices guidelines. For me, that meant a membership in NAPO (the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals), which is worth every penny. I also got more specialized training when I became certified as a KonMari® Consultant – let me tell you, Marie Kondo has high standards, and rightfully so! I’ve heard a few horror stories from clients who had hired organizers without credentials, and I think people deserve better.

Second, it’s important to learn how to run a business. After all, we know we will be working in our business, but we often don’t realize all the work that goes on behind the scenes! We’ll be working on our business just as much as in it, at least in the beginning. Entrepreneurs have to find resources to help them run their business and mentors to help them grow.

Finally, it’s important to have a job for which you are well suited. In my case, I’ve always had the skills necessary to be a good organizer (though I continue to improve upon them), and it’s also something that I love doing. Being an organizer is often something that people come to as a second career, and so I find most of my colleagues to be passionate about the field!

As we end our chat, is there a book you can leave people with that’s been meaningful to you and your development?

I would have to say it was Marie Kondo’s “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up.” I had read a lot of books on organizing before, but this one offered a fresh perspective, and it really resonated with me. I ended up doing my own tidying festival, and I liked it so much that it’s what made me decide to become an organizer! It wasn’t a straight path to becoming a KonMari® Consultant, though – I started by researching professional organizing in general, and joined NAPO first. It was only when KonMari® offered its first virtual workshop (as opposed to in-person) that I was able to start my training.

Some nuggets of wisdom from that book are to focus on what items you are keeping, instead of on what to discard. Keep those that spark joy and that most resonate with who you are today. The book also gives you permission to let go of items with gratitude instead of guilt, which was huge for me.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amelieorganizes.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amelieorganizes/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ameliesaintjacquesprofessionalorganizer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/am%C3%A9lie-saint-jacques-70258b18/