We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Erica Thompson . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Erica below.
Hi Erica , thank you for being such a positive, uplifting person. We’ve noticed that so many of the successful folks we’ve had the good fortune of connecting with have high levels of optimism and so we’d love to hear about your optimism and where you think it comes from.
Being an entrepreneur requires a sense of optimism. It’s not a straight path – there are a lot of ups and downs and it’s not for the faint of heart. If you can cultivate a positive attitude you are 10 steps ahead in propelling your life and your business forward.
Where do I get my optimism:
Genetics: My Mom was such a positive person and genuinely happy with little things like a nice cup of coffee, a walk on the beach, a delicious meal or spending time with friends and family. She knew how precious these things were. I also look for specialness in moments like watching a sunset, making someone smile or listening to my dog snore.
Celebration: I’m a big believer in rewarding big and little wins. Whether that’s helping a client conquer something they haven’t been able to on their own for so long, making good on a promise I made to myself for self-care, tackling that to do list or trying something new. I like to see everything as a win and celebrate anything and everything I deem a success.
Gratitude: “Where your attention goes energy flows” – James Redfield.
Getting in the habit of focusing on all the good things helps keep me in a positive mind set. I’ve created rituals for noticing all that I already have and the beauty around me by having a daily gratitude practice. I found that eventually I started to seek and see my abundance rather than lack.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I have been helping people bring calm, beauty and order to their overwhelm as a home organizer for over 5 years. I am the founder of Organized by Design, a home organizing and interior stylist studio. I work in Southern California to create systems so clients feel calmer, function better and thrive in an environment that makes space for new possibilities. I use a non-judgmental approach. When someone reaches out to me to get organized I see it as a sign that this person is ready for the next phase in their life. I love helping people blossom and step into their new selves. It’s the butterfly effect in action.
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?
1) Embrace change: “The only thing that’s constant is change”.
Once you realize change is inevitable, you can more easily go with the flow. You’ll look for the positive and the opportunity for learning in every situation vs fighting to keep the status quo. Every time you change you get to know yourself again. Find beauty in every part of your life and the unexpected and amazing can come out of what seems like an unstable situation.
2) Seek balance: “You can’t do it all. Put on your own oxygen mask first”.
In world where it’s go-go-go and pushing yourself to your limit is rewarded or expected. The most important thing is taking care of yourself. Take time to find things or no-things outside of work and school that help you relax and stay healthy. You can’t give or be your best for others if you are depleted.
3) Accept challenges: “Challenge yourself; it’s the only path which leads to growth” Morgan Freeman.
Don’t shy away from challenges rather think of them as a sign of progress and a chance to learn and broaden your horizons. Every challenge, roadblock and setback that you over come is making you stronger than you were before. If you are going through a hard time in your life right now, take it as the time where you’ll grow the most and prove just how resilient you are.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I would love to connect with more interior designers. The projects where I’ve worked with designers I find the combined expertise of an interior designer with a home organizer results in a more cohesive and integrated product for the client. Addressing organizational challenges early in the process lends to a more tailored design that compliments each client’s lifestyle and preferences. The perfect design inside and out!
Connect with me.
https://www.organized-bydesign.com/
https://www.instagram.com/organizedbydesignsb/
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.organized-bydesign.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organizedbydesignsb/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericathompsonhb/
Image Credits
Lauren Taylor of Lauren Taylor Creative Corinne Cobabe of Corinne Cobabe Photography
