This transcript was generated from the episode audio and may contain minor errors.
[Music]
Welcome, friends. Welcome to Side Hustle School. My name's Chris Guillebeau. Welcome as well to Throwback Thursday, our weekly segment, where we take an in-depth look at someone whose story has evolved since we first featured them. Now, last week we heard from the owner of a Minneapolis-based office cleaning service that polished its approach to staffing, customer retention, and sustainability.
Today, in our latest feature, we'll hear from an organizational advisor who starts with home consults, but transitions to businesses when she spots high demand. So basically, she goes from B to C to B to B, business to consumer, business to business. What's happened since we first heard from Michaela? Let's hear the update directly from her, and I'll come back at the end with a wrap-up. [Music]
Greetings, I'm Michaela, and it's been an incredible three years since I've ventured into the world of professional organization.
If my last update was about finding my footing, this chapter is all about growth and refinement in my organizational advisory business. When I started, my focus was mainly on home organization. However, as I gained more experience, I noticed a significant demand in the small business sector, too. Entrepreneurs and startups were looking for someone to streamline their processes and declutter their workspaces. Identifying this niche was crucial.
It allowed me to shift gears and cater to a market that wasn't just looking for a one-time service, but ongoing consultancy. Pricing models evolved significantly during this phase. I moved away from hourly rates, which were unpredictable for both me and my clients. Instead, I introduced package deals. For instance, a business efficiency package that includes workspace organization, digital file management, and workflow optimization.
These packages ranged from $500 to $2,000, depending on the scope and complexity, of course. Building a strong online presence was another key development for me. While word of mouth had been my primary marketing tool, I realized the potential of LinkedIn for B2B engagement. Sharing before and after photos of office spaces, tips on organizational efficiency, and client testimonials helped me tap into a wider market. I also started a biweekly newsletter offering organizational tips, which steadily grew my email list and, in turn, my client base.
The most significant learning curve for me was developing a scalable service model. Initially, every project I took on was highly customized, which, while it was great for client satisfaction, it wasn't time efficient. To streamline my services, I created an assessment form to quickly identify a client's organizational pain points. This standardization allowed me to offer more consistent and quicker services for my clients, increasing my capacity to take on even more clients in return. So for those looking to step into this field, here's my advice.
Understand that every client is unique, and being adaptable is key. Also, investing time in building a solid online presence is really non-negotiable in today's digital world. And finally, never stop learning, be it new organizational techniques, software tools, or understanding market trends. Today, my business is not just about organizing spaces. It's about creating systems that help businesses operate more efficiently.
It's been a fulfilling journey, both personally and professionally. Thank you for letting me share my story. I hope it inspires others to find their own path in the world of professional organization. [Music]
Thanks so much, Michaela. I appreciate you sharing those updates with us.
Listeners, I appreciate you as well. Let me know what you think and who you'd like to see featured from our archives of more than a thousand stories. If you have a question and update for us about your hustle or anything else, sidehustleschool.com/questions. You can also follow me on Instagram, Facebook, LinkedIn, all those places, usually under my name, Chris Gillibow, or 193 countries, 193 countries on Instagram. Lastly, today's notes, sidehustleschool.com/2539.
Thanks so much for listening. Thanks for being out there. You're amazing. New episode coming out tomorrow. You can find it on all the platforms completely free.
My name's Chris Guillebeau. This is Side Hustle School. [Music]
From the Onward Project.
