Meet Tabi Berkey (they/them)

 

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tabi Berkey (they/them). We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Tabi, so great to have you with us today. There are so many topics we want to ask you about, but perhaps the one we can start with is burnout. How have you overcome or avoided burnout?

Avoiding burnout as a solopreneur is a priority, and a topic often revisited when I lead one of Rainbow UA’s Business Group’s open networking events, and when I meet up individually with local business owners. One thing that I know many small business owners struggle with is social media – what to post, how often to post, and how to keep on top of any kind of posting schedule. I’ve discovered a few tips for a consistent social media presence since 2022 that work for me, and I encourage others to try different things to see what works for them, and explore ways for continuing your marketing education long-term.

Tip 1: Create series of posts with tips, pictures from your work/merchandise, and explore common hashtags and similar businesses’ posts for inspiration.
Tip 2: Put time on your schedule for content creation, as well as the time to set up pre-scheduled content with a caption. Once you feel caught up, that release of pressure allows your creativity room to breathe, and I’ve found that I’m emailing myself new content ideas soon after I’m ready for the next month.

Discovering ways to take the pressure off of working on the business allows me to consistently be ahead, meaning I’m able to take on extra clients when they need me most, or I’m able to take a sick day if needed, helping me to prevent burning out.

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?

I’m Tabi Berkey (they/them), Owner/Operator of Organization Pending, a home organizing service offering in-person and virtual service options from Columbus, Ohio. Clients appreciate the focus on sustainable solutions, including recycling and donation options, as well as Training Sessions and Kid Organization Sessions for long-term results, skill building, and tips personalized to their families.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Connection, Communication, and Honesty.

Connection with fellow business owners has been a great way for me to hear about other local experiences with SEO and upcoming local networking opportunities, and to sometimes simply hear that we are all on similar journeys, and to trade knowledge and advice based on our own struggles. Connections with my local community, especially as a home organizer, have also allowed me to offer several unique donation opportunities for clients, including supporting Columbus Fashion Academy’s sustainable fashion education with end-of-life textile, clothing, and accessories donations, donations of stuffed animals and fidget toys to support a local classroom with incentives and their yearly “Santa Shop”, as well as items I’m able to resell at Half Price Books® to donate funds to Rainbow UA, supporting our yearly Pride events and community outreach efforts. I’ve been a proud sponsor since 2023, and a Board Member since October of last year.

Clear communication for me means my clients and I are on the same page as much as possible. I use transparent pricing and service options on my website, as well as making sure each new client receives a brief introduction to myself and service options when they first reach out. I also offer free virtual assessments so potential clients have a chance to ask me their questions, and we can go over their areas of frustration, making sure their goals are my goals, allowing me to start forming a plan before our first session.

Achieving an A+ rating as a Better Business Bureau® Accredited Business was another key part of showing clients my commitment to excellence. With real people vetting reviews, you know you’re seeing your actual neighbors’ honest opinions of what it’s like to work with me, and what their results have been. Coupled with clear communication and community connections, potential clients have an accurate picture of who I am before they reach out (vitally important when working with someone one-on-one in your home), and current clients know I stand behind the values I talk about during sessions.

For new business owners – stay curious! You’re the one in charge, and your business must be open to change – stay committed to continuing your education to better support your business, and be constantly striving to discover better and more simplified practices whether on the job or behind the scenes.

Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?

Managing my schedule so I’m able to work ahead helps create buffer space in my schedule to deal with pressing or timely to-do items as needed, but things do come up, and even a well-managed and balanced schedule can go awry at times. What works well for me is to know how far out I need to be looking for different behind-the-scenes action items: 3-6 months for the blog, 1 month for social media, 48 business hours for client responses and session wrap-ups, etc. When I’m feeling overwhelmed, or I’m flooded with ideas, knowing my timelines helps me prioritize smaller action items. Also – get outside! Even pacing around for ten minutes in my backyard, staring at something other than my screen can be helpful, especially for transitioning tasks and resetting the mind.

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