Read Time: 7 minutes

Janet Bernstein is the founder of a successful professional organizing business, specializing in helping individuals and families navigate the stress of life’s biggest transitions, particularly moving. After facing a difficult divorce and financial hardship, Janet channeled her personal struggles into a thriving entrepreneurial venture. Through her unique expertise in minimalism and organization, she has built a company that’s not only about decluttering physical spaces but also about offering clients the emotional support they need during challenging times. In this interview, Janet shares valuable insights into scaling a business, creating a compassionate team culture, and the importance of work-life balance for entrepreneurs. Read on to discover how her journey can inspire your own path to success.

It’s a pleasure to have you with us today, Janet. Let’s start by diving into your entrepreneurial journey—can you share what inspired you to start your business?

Divorce and financial need! I had recently separated and suddenly found myself in dire straits. I didn’t really have an option to fail once I decided to create the business.

It’s evident that your personal circumstances played a major role in shaping your entrepreneurial journey. How have these experiences influenced your approach to running your business?

Up until the last 10 years, I had moved on average every three years. I developed a real expertise in minimalism, decluttering, packing and general organization. I saw how stressful moving can be and realized helping people with one of life’s most stressful events could be a great business.

What are the core values that drive your business, and how do you ensure they are reflected in your operations?

Professionalism – Our clients consistently comment on how professional we are. I’m really proud of this.
Going the extra mile – Our team strives to go out of their way to help each client. We genuinely care for their well-being.
Non-judgmental – It takes some of our clients months to muster the courage to call us. It’s really important that the client understands that we are a judgment-free zone and we are there to help.
Compassionate – We get to see and work with our clients at some of their most vulnerable times. Having compassion and empathy is at the heart of our services.

Your core values are clearly at the heart of your business. Given this strong foundation, what steps have you taken to scale your business successfully?

Learning to let go! Once I understood that I could no longer wear all the hats, we experienced dramatic growth. I’m now a huge believer in delegating to elevate. We are also picky with our clients and with our hires. This strategy alleviates a lot of headaches.
I’m also a major goal setter. I create one large yearly goal, something I absolutely do not want to do. I’m accountable to my team and this has helped us complete items I never would have done.

Delegating and setting clear goals seem to have played a significant role in your growth. So, when it comes to building your team, what qualities do you look for, and how do you foster a positive company culture?

We hire around our core values. During our interview, we will ask a potential candidate to share an experience of how they have previously adapted one of our core values. We also hire people whose passion is to help others. We can typically train someone to organize.

How do you ensure effective communication within your team, especially in a remote or hybrid work environment?

We transitioned to Microsoft 365 several years ago. We use it exclusively for communicating, client files, project management, etc. Having one centralized location has been key for keeping the team organized and connected.

How do you maintain a healthy work-life balance as a business owner, and what practices do you recommend to others?

I shut down my computer by 6pm in the evening and typically stay out of my home office on the weekend. I also try very hard to respect my team’s non-working hours.

Your focus on goal-setting and delegation seems to have been a major factor in your success. Along with these strategies, are there any personal development practices that have contributed to your growth as an entrepreneur?

Our work as business owners is never done. There’s always the next thing! Carving out time for things outside of work that you love to do is so important. I don’t want to look back and regret only focusing on the business. Developing other hobbies makes you more well-rounded as an individual.

In what ways do you believe entrepreneurs can make a positive impact on society, and how do you incorporate philanthropy into your business model?

I serve on the board of The Wardrobe, a local non-profit whose mission is to eliminate clothing insecurity. As professional organizers, we spend a considerable amount of time decluttering our clients’ closets. We then donate all the clothing to The Wardrobe. It has been the perfect non-profit for us as a company to get involved with.

It’s inspiring to see how you’ve integrated philanthropy into your business model. Looking back on your entrepreneurial journey, if you could give your younger self one piece of advice when you were just starting out, what would it be?

I would have charged more and hired an assistant sooner!

What resources (books, courses, mentors) have been most valuable to you in your entrepreneurial journey?

Traction by Gino Wickman and Organizational Muscle by Kevin Nolan. I also recently joined Entrepreneurs Organization.

Thank you, Janet, for sharing your valuable insights and personal journey with us. Your dedication to professionalism, compassion, and making a positive impact through your business is truly inspiring. We wish you continued success as you grow your business and make a difference in the lives of others.

Marc J. Bernstein JD, ChFC®, CLU®, CAP®

Financial Planner and Consultant, Bestselling Author, and Creator of the Forward Focus Forums

Marc helps high performing entrepreneurs and business owners create a vision for the future, accomplish their business and personal goals, financial and otherwise, and assists them in following through on their intentions.  Marc recently co-founded March, a forward-looking company with a unique approach to wealth management.  He captured his philosophy in his #1 Amazon Bestseller, The Fiscal Therapy Solution 1.0.  Marc is also the founder of the Forward Focus Forum, a suite of resources tailored specifically to educate and connect high performing entrepreneurs, and to help them realize their vision of true financial independence. The forum includes;

• the Founders’ Forward Focus Forum: a series of articles focused on entrepreneurship
• the Founders’ Forum Radio Show and Podcast: featuring interviews with some of the area’s top founders and their experiences in business
• the Manufacturers’ Forward Focus Forum: a specialized resource group for owners/founders of manufacturing companies, including a private Facebook group; a private discussion group for high performing leaders of manufacturing companies to share resources, news, network with each other, and collaborate