Meet Camille Sahnow

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

Hi Camille, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?

I learned early on that self-discipline is one of the best forms of self-care. Self-discipline is caring for the future you and doing what must be done—even when you don’t feel like it—for the benefit of your future self. It’s habitually deciding that your future self is worth the present effort. It’s also appreciating that not every day is promised and that procrastination is, in some ways, arrogance. Of course, self-care also means knowing and respecting our limitations. Self-discipline, then, is the balance between keeping our commitments and protecting our well-being. In college, I learned to begin, if not complete, projects or essays as they were assigned; I learned to prioritize regular exercise for my long-term health; and I discovered the power of small daily habits to generate drastic transformations over time. Self-discipline is making promises to ourselves and keeping them, increasing our self-confidence and self-trust in the process. In short, my self-discipline comes from a root of self-love and many years of intentional practice.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

My family is French and I was born in Belgium. Though we relocated often throughout my childhood, Arizona became our home base. We lived in France, Chile, and various states, but ultimately my parents loved the Arizona sun. I grew up learning French and English simultaneously and later learned Spanish while living in South America. I’ve always loved to create, and in school, I found I loved my math classes. In 2021, I met my husband at our church in Scottsdale, and he has changed my life for the better in countless ways. It was by his inspiration that EXQUIS Home Organizing was born. The name is derived from the French translation of “exquisite” and the work itself is truly an answered prayer. Professional organizing is a combination of creativity and logic, imagination and problem-solving. In EXQUIS, I am able to reconcile both my artistic and analytical sides and help my community find peace, comfort, and balance in their work and living spaces.
To better serve our clients, I have also recently partnered with Abigail Valentine at Joy and The Valentine, to create Closet: Refined—a two-in-one luxury service designed to wholly transform a wardrobe through both personal styling and professional organizing. Getting to work with Abigail has been a blessing, and offering our clients both services in one even more so.

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?

Three qualities that were most impactful in my journey were self-discipline, a love of learning, and faith. Self-discipline and faith taught me to keep planting seeds daily, even if the results are yet intangible. With self-discipline and faith, I learned to keep moving forward, even when my efforts seemed in vain and my motivation was low. I learned to feel the doubt and the fear and to keep going anyway.
My love of learning encouraged me to search for new ways to improve myself and my business. It has humbled me and helped me remember that I don’t know everything and that there are always different ways to view a situation; various solutions to a problem. It has helped me assess where I am and where I would like to be and seek the lessons that will help me bridge that gap.
I still consider myself early in my journey, but if I were to give any piece of advice it would be to be curious about everything—even about ourselves. It is much easier to judge someone, something, or ourselves, based on our limited understanding but it is far healthier to be curious about that person, situation, or our own habits and mindsets and learn from them instead. Being curious will encourage that love of learning, which will, in turn, encourage personal growth and development.

Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?

I am relatively new to my faith but in just three years, my life has transformed in ways I never could have imagined. Through the many challenges, God has been my guide. He has developed those essential qualities in me that have helped me along my journey and He has helped strengthen me through a loving community of friends and family. My husband, Tucker, has also been a pillar for me through the highs and lows of starting a business. He has been by my side through every stage of building EXQUIS and has taught me to be steadfast, faithful, and courageous amidst hardships. Of course, I would be remiss if I did not also mention my parents, whose unwavering support has always encouraged me to keep moving forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.exquis.online
• Instagram: @scottsdalehomeorganizer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/camille-exquisproorganizing/

Image Credits

My headshot and family photo was taken by photographer Stacy Ryan (@stacyelizabethphotography). All other pictures I took myself.