We recently connected with Jamie McPhaul and have shared our conversation below.
Jamie, so great to have you on the platform and excited to have you share your wisdom with our community today. Communication skills often play a powerful role in our ability to be effective and so we’d love to hear about how you developed your communication skills.
I’ve always been a bit of an over-explainer—partly because I want people to be fully informed, and partly because (if I’m honest) I want to feel understood myself. Over time, especially through working one-on-one with clients, I’ve learned how to use that tendency in a helpful way: listening closely to what people need, then explaining things in a way that makes sense to them. I’ve also learned when to dial it back. Too much information or too many options can overwhelm people, especially when they’re already stressed or unsure.
One of the biggest lessons for me has been not to avoid the harder conversations. When you sidestep an uncomfortable topic—whether it’s resetting expectations or admitting a mistake—you’re not just doing the other person a disservice; you’re carrying the weight yourself. The issue keeps buzzing in the background and building up in your head, which just breeds anxiety. Facing it early, plainly, and with empathy clears the air and deepens trust.
Communication isn’t just about saying the right thing; it’s about listening in order to know when, how, and how much to say—and I’m always fine-tuning that balance. I aim for my clients to walk away not only informed but genuinely heard—because feeling understood is what we’re all after, and it’s the quickest path to calm, collaborative progress
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
I help busy families declutter and set up easy-to-maintain systems that really last. Whether we’re tackling one room or an entire home, the goal is always the same: to create more calm, more function, and a little extra breathing room in everyday life.
My favorite part is the transformation—not just the look of the space, but the way people feel when they realize what’s possible. By listening closely to each client’s needs, I make sure the “after” fits seamlessly into their routines. It’s not about picture-perfect spaces for Instagram; it’s about creating a home that truly works for the people who live there.
What sets my approach apart is meeting clients exactly where they are—no judgment, no pressure—and designing systems that feel intuitive and sustainable for them. Organization should support your life, not control it.
Right now, I’m excited to be onboarding new team members so we can take on larger-scale projects, especially move management. Helping families through the chaos of listing their home, relocating, and settling in again is one of the most impactful parts of what we do, and expanding the team means we can serve even more people in that season of transition.
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 have been most impactful in my journey are resilience, self-awareness (especially around how my ADHD shapes my work), and the ability to find humor even in tough moments.
Resilience has helped me keep going through the ups and downs of building a business, especially when progress feels slow or setbacks happen. One piece of advice I live by is that whatever is happening in your business right now is a direct result of what you were doing three months ago. This mindset helps me stay patient and focused on consistent action, even when results aren’t immediate.
My ADHD has been a double-edged sword — on one hand, it’s given me a unique understanding of clients’ needs and helped me hyperfocus on the most important tasks. It’s also taught me how simple and sustainable systems have to be for people to actually keep up with them, because I need that simplicity myself. On the other hand, it can lead to burnout and distraction, so learning to manage my energy and set boundaries has been critical.
Lastly, the ability to laugh through the hard times has kept me grounded. When you can find moments of humor in challenges, it lightens the load and makes the journey more enjoyable.
For anyone starting out, I’d say focus on building resilience by staying consistent and patient, cultivate deep self-awareness to understand your own strengths and limits, and remember to find joy and laughter in the process. These qualities will keep you moving forward even when things get tough.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal clients are overwhelmed moms—whether they work outside the home or stay home full-time. It doesn’t matter if they used to be organized or feel like they don’t have an organized bone in their body. What really matters is that they’re ready to invest in themselves and trust the process, believing that lasting change is possible when they lean in and commit.
I want moms to know that working with us won’t mean giving up hours of their time, taking off work, or figuring out childcare. We’ve designed the whole process with busy lives in mind. First, we pull everything out and sort it into simple categories, making it easier to decide what stays and what goes. Most clients prefer to let us handle the heavy lifting, only stepping in for quick decision blocks of about 20 minutes a couple of times during the day.
Next, we organize by creating thoughtful zones and giving every item a home—always keeping your family’s routines and lifestyle in mind. Then we design systems that aren’t just functional and pretty, but so simple and intuitive that even kids and husbands can follow along with ease. We bring in products and labels that help keep things running smoothly for everyone in the house.
Our goal is to create organized spaces that fit naturally into your life, lighten your load, and work for your whole family.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tidycrescentco.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tidycrescent.co/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tidycrescent.co/
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