We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Julianna Strickland. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Julianna below.
Julianna , thank you so much for joining us. You are such a positive person and it’s something we really admire and so we wanted to start by asking you where you think your optimism comes from?
I was definitely born a “half glass full” kind of person, but I also actively work hard to stay optimistic. I think an important key in success is being as flexible and resilient as possible, and if you don’t have a healthy dose of optimism it’s really hard to consider alternate paths when problems arise. I try to keep my head clear and stay positive, especially when things are hard, because that’s when I’m best at problem solving.
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 the owner and founder of the home organizing company Space Camp Organizing. We have been around for nearly four years and have organized hundreds of homes and businesses in the LA area and beyond. We are a team of tight-knit creatives with a passion for helping our clients love their homes and find more space and time to do what makes them happy. We also recently opened a side business called The Space West Adams. It’s a gorgeous creative space for photo shoots, events and crafting classes. We’ve been having the best time connecting with our community and bringing more opportunities for connection to the area.
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?
I think an open mind and a determination to solve any problem that comes up is the most important thing you can do if you want to be successful in business. I try to stay as flexible and creative as possible and open to tackling any problem that arises. This also is super helpful in our organizing work. Our clients often come to us with awkward spaces and complicated issues and we are determined to solve every problem that we encounter with thoughtfulness.
Connected to this is empathy. Being able to empathize with clients and read the room is so incredibly important. We always do our best to connect with each individual client and really understand where they’re coming from. Not only does this make our business interactions more pleasant, but it really allows us to tailor our service to each specific situation and make sure everyone we work with feels seen and heard.
Lastly, building your team slowly and thoughtfully is so important. Also it’s important to remember that the work isn’t done once you’ve made a hire. As a leader, one of your most important jobs is to help identify your team members’ strengths and help pair them with opportunities where they can thrive. Also I really try to keep an open thread of communication with everyone on my team. They know they can come to me with any issues or concerns and I will listen and do everything in my power to make their working environment as healthy and happy as possible. Businesses are nothing without a strong and thriving team, so focusing on this has been a huge priority for me in the last few years.
Who is your ideal client or what sort of characteristics would make someone an ideal client for you?
We have such an amazing roster of clients and have learned a lot about what is a great fit for us. Clients who trust our expertise and are ready and excited to organize are the most important characteristics we look for. We also love when our clients are communicative and have clarity about how they want their space to feel and function (we also ask a lot of great questions to help guide them towards understanding their preferences here). Lastly, we absolutely love hearing from clients after a project is finished! We love to organize because we love helping people, and feedback after we’ve finished up a job is so rewarding.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://spacecamporganizing.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makebetterspace/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-A0GmwzRiKsgJ6MGVEBnxw
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@makebetterspace
Image Credits
Juliana Slemenda, Katherine Miles Jones
