We recently connected with Dharma Sanchez-Flores and have shared our conversation below.
Dharma , thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
Interestingly enough, I have never thought of myself as resilient until this question. But as I take this moment to reflect on my life and the experiences I have had, I can see that I have been resilient for a very long time and I have honestly not given myself enough credit. I can also see where my resiliency began. “Resiliency” is an unusual word; in my understanding (and thanks to the dictionary), it refers to how one can get back on track, continue living, or create a new lifestyle after encountering a major or unexpected setback.
Life has served as my school in this area. My first significant setback was experiencing my parents’ divorce when I was only 10 years old. I had to navigate a multitude of emotions while continuing to live my young life. This was not only important for maintaining my sanity at school and fulfilling my responsibilities as a student, but also for being there for my two younger sisters and, at times, even for my parents, whom I loved and still love very much. I had to grow up quicker than most kids my age. Singing, artwork, and friendships were important factors that helped me successfully overcome this stage in my life.
Like anyone else, I have encountered many opportunities in my life where I had to decide what to make of those significant experiences and setbacks, understanding that no matter what life throws your way, it continues, and we must give it the chance to show us that it is not yet the end.
As an adult, I have found inner strength through my creativity, and getting to express myself through my passions has helped me overcome moments of intense pain and sadness. My family, including my wonderful husband and two amazing children, has played a crucial role in this journey. Additionally, that inner voice within me has urged me to not remain stagnant and instead to pursue new opportunities. I realized that when it came down to it, if I couldn’t find the opportunities anywhere, I had to create them.
My new business, Homes by Dharma, was born after I lost my job as a Speech-Language Pathologist when the company went through a funding crisis shortly after COVID. In that moment, after 27 years as a Speech-Language Pathologist, instead of searching for a new job in the same area, I decided to take a chance on something I had wanted to do for a long time. I decided to take a chance on myself.
It has not been easy to start a new business at this stage of my life. It’s taken long hours of research, obtaining different certifications, learning to create things from scratch like my website, and a lot of time building my clientele. I can honestly say, though, that overall, this journey has been the most amazing and gratifying experience of my professional life. And I am just getting started!
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 want people to fall in love with their homes and learn that it is possible to have a nice and comforting place using what they already possess.
I have always been a home lover and an organizer. I remember feeling upset as a child when I watched cartoons where beautiful little houses were destroyed. Growing up, I frequently organized and styled my own bedroom. As the years went by, I transitioned from organizing baby dolls and their accessories to redecorating my Barbie camper and eventually began embellishing the walls with pictures of my favorite artists. When I got older, I established a weekend routine for cleaning and reorganizing the house I shared with my mother and sisters. Initially, I started this routine to help my mom, but I soon discovered that I genuinely enjoyed the feel of an ordered and sparkling house.
My husband and I got married when still in college. Yes, we have been together for a lifetime!
We were very young and quite poor, but that did not stop me from creating the most beautiful home I could have. Since I was not in a situation of buying new things, I collected hand-me-downs from my family and a few friends. Somehow, I was able to put together a nice and comfortable home. In fact, I did this for many years!
Presently, I continue to be a home lover!
I’m a fan of warmth, coziness, relaxation, puppies, and kitties.
If I have a choice, I would rather stay home!
I noticed the need for organization ideas and redesign services during my many home visits as an SLP, as well as among my real estate clients, friends, and family members.
After losing my job as a Speech and Language Pathologist, I pursued certifications as a Professional Home Organizer, a Home Staging Expert®, and an Interior Redesigner. I am also a licensed Real Estate Referral Agent in the state of NY.
That’s how Homes by Dharma was born!
In a nutshell, Homes by Dharma not only helps clients get their spaces organized but also transforms them into beautiful and comfortable areas that fit their daily activities and needs. I have recently expanded my services to include moving and relocation assistance by helping customers decide what belongings to keep and what to discard, based on their next life chapter. After that, I can assist them in unpacking and creating a fresh space in their new home. It is very rewarding! Other services that I greatly enjoy offering include my One-Day Makeover and Rooms and Tables Made Easy, where I transform a dining table or a room for a special gathering or celebration.
My background in education and health has taught me to set goals. I assist my clients in identifying and implementing creative solutions to meet their home organization and styling needs.
After discussing my clients’ wants and needs, I establish a main goal and create a plan to achieve it. If I am reorganizing, redesigning or staging a space, I develop a design that allows my clients to visualize the final result. Once any necessary modifications are made and I receive the client’s approval, I prepare a list of suggested items to use. We often begin this process with a trip to the house’s storage areas. In most cases, my clients find that they do not need to purchase anything new! They do not know it, but the items needed to enhance the beauty of a room are often stored in other areas of their home, such as the basement, attic, or garage.
The most exciting part of my job is witnessing the joy on my clients’ faces at the end of a project. Their eyes shine with happiness, and sometimes with tears of joy and emotion. Indeed, transforming the look of a space can truly change a person’s life! Research shows that decluttering can lead to a healthier lifestyle. When your space is less cluttered, you feel less stressed, which can lead to increased productivity. I love knowing that my clients continue to enhance their spaces with new ideas long after I’m gone. That brings me great happiness.
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?
The three most important qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that have impacted my journey are:
*Natural inclination to organize and to create a comfortable surrounding
If you can approach the tasks naturally and intuitively, you will always know what to do, and that will help reduce the stress, making the process feel effortless. Can you imagine doing something you love for a living?
Don’t take me wrong; organizing and recreating a space can be overwhelming for many people and requires a significant amount of work and commitment. However, if you are naturally able to break down a large task into smaller, manageable ones and stay focused on your goal, it will make the job easier and more enjoyable.
Your body might ache a little at the end of the day, but your spirit will feel uplifted!
This first point brings me to my second one.
*Self-motivation and creativity
When you are inclined to accomplish something, your motivation and creativity will naturally emerge. It’s as if one aspect nurtures the other.
This has been true for me, whether I decided to change careers or in my daily work. If I am motivated to redesign an entire room or even a closet, which requires me to think creatively about how to achieve my goals, I don’t need anyone to encourage me; I do it because I genuinely want to, and I love the results. That’s where my motivation comes from! I simply need to make a decision and explore the possibilities. This leads me to my third point.
*A genuine desire of learning more every day about what excites me
I knew what I was good at, I had already decided I wanted to pursue a different path from my previous career. I was thirsty for knowledge. Thankfully, these days, you can learn anything you want from the comfort of your own home. I talked to people, discovered what others in my field were doing, purchased all kinds of books, and took online professional courses. The more I learned, the more I saw myself reflected in my new area of work, and the stronger my desire to continue learning became.
That is what happens when you can identify what you like and enjoy doing, and what comes naturally to you; you find satisfaction in discovering new information and exploring ways to improve your skills and feel better about your job.
I am in love with my new career and never get tired of learning!
My advice is to identify your passions, interests, and activities that bring you joy. Once you have a clear understanding of what excites you, take the initiative to pursue it. Prepare yourself by gathering all the necessary resources, learning the relevant skills, and practicing diligently until you become proficient in your chosen field.
All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?
The number one challenge that I am currently facing is effectively promoting my business to a wider audience. So far, my current clients have been so happy that word of mouth has been my main source of new clients. I recognize the need to enhance my marketing efforts, particularly by dedicating more time to developing my social media presence. I’m currently researching and studying social media, but it’s time-consuming, so I might need to hire someone to help me out. But hey, one day at a time! Right?!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://homesbydharma.com/home-organization
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/homesbydharma/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomesbyDharma/
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