While taking a much needed stroll around my neighborhood, I was approached by my next-door neighbor, whom I hadn’t seen in a couple of months. “Amy, Amy,” he shouted, “Guess what? I finally understand what you do after reading an article in Business Week about Marie Kondo.” So I now feel forever indebted to Ms. Kondo for shedding light on an industry that has largely been unknown.

Professional organizing officially came to fruition by a group of women offering organizing services in the Los Angeles area back in the 1980’s. They went on to form NAPO, the National Association of Productivity and Professional Organizers. There are currently 3,500 members dedicated to “helping people and organizations bring order and efficiency to their lives.” I don’t think that Marie Kondo is a member of NAPO, but there are many NAPO members that are certified KonMari Consultants.

For my family, friends and clients that do understand my business, many have reached out to ask my view of Ms. Kondo and her magic ways. As with any methodology, there are pros and cons. Here are my two favorite rules within her approach:

Tidy by category, not location (Kondo’s Rule #4) - This is what I refer to as, “the power of aggregation.” When the same category of items lives in several different places within your home, it’s seemingly impossible to keep track of it all. That’s where Kondo’s rule #4 comes into play… When you organize a particular category of items, i.e. clothing, bring it all together to review in one place. I absolutely love this approach and have seen it’s power time and time again. However, sometimes it can be too overwhelming for clients. It’s all about what works best for you.
Ask yourself if it sparks joy (Kondo’s Rule #6) - While some people find this a little hokey, I feel there’s a lot of merit in this concept of only keeping the things that you love. At the end of the day, your space should be filled with stuff that makes you happy and elicits positive energy. It’s ultimately about choosing what you want to keep instead of determining what you want to discard.

I am grateful to Marie for raising awareness about the power of an organized place and the positive impact it has on everyday life. I’d like to conclude with this brief ode to sparking joy:

Cheers to the KonMari Method™

And how it may transform a room

If this method doesn’t work for you

Try my process to Let Your Space BLOOM🌸