How did you get into the business of organizing and how long have you been organizing?
I learned my organizing skills from my grandmother. I was inspired by her drive to always help her family, her community, and others better themselves and their lives. She accomplished so much in her 92 years, and the main reason she was able to do so much was her passion and her organizational skills. Growing up in West Point, Mississippi, I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology from Centenary College of Louisiana. After college, I worked for eight years for the federal government and was always looking for ways to save the office time and money. I developed a knack for implementing different office systems. I learned early on that you can accomplish anything in life that you want.
After moving to the Memphis area, I began helping people organize their home and business offices, branching into organization, design consultation, and became a top sales person for Creative Memories. After the sudden loss of my husband, I decided it was time to pursue my passion for organizing full time and launched Organize It! by Frances Livesay in 2004. Having first-hand experience through my husband's death that life can quickly change, I too needed to make changes in my own life and learn to do life as a single parent of two young children. With the tools and systems I taught for years, it was time to implement those into my personal life. I began a full-time career while still balancing being at home with my children. I also developed the Life Notebook; a tool for keeping life's most important documents easily accessible.
Who do you work with exactly?
I primarily work with busy moms who want to be there for their children and husbands and still make time to make a difference in the world by doing volunteer work, chairing a fund-raising event, and/or making time to decorate, entertain, travel, or playing tennis with their friends.
My clients typically have to manage their estate, a vacation home, and are passionate in helping their parents simplify their lives, so they can get the most out of their years. They are ready to make serious changes and want to get their lives in total order so they can pass these skill on to their children. They would rather spend their time with their families, rather than being stressed out over the management of their estate.
I also work with motivated business owners who see the whole picture and want to learn systems for time management, so they can be more productive.
What makes you different from other "organizers"?
My passion! I am so passionate about helping others live a better, more simpler life. The number one thing most of my clients say to me is, "You made me feel so comfortable." I never judge anyone from where they have come from, but look at the potential of where they can go. I too felt my life was out of control right after the death of my husband. With so many new things I had to manage, I just wanted to give up at times and avoid the numerous tasks around me. I reached out for help to get my life back on balance and quickly saw the importance of having someone by my side for awhile that believed in me. I saw an immediate difference and I feel my clients get that immediate feeling that I truly care about them and don't look at their faults, but at their success and what they do well.
I made an investment in learning everything I can about being an organizer became a Certified Professional Organizer (one of 10 in the state of Tennessee). I take the confidentiality code of ethics for all professional organizers very seriously:
Confidentiality
- I will keep confidential all client information, both business and personal, including that which may be revealed by other organizers.
- I will use proprietary client information only with the client's permission.
- I will keep client information confidential and not use it to benefit myself or my firm, or reveal this information to others.
Who will get the most out of hiring Frances Livesay Smith with Organize It?
You will get the most out of hiring me if you want top-notch service with a professional that is ready to help you. Being a certified professional organizer, I am trained in knowing what type of learner my client is and what will work best for them. Each person has a special way of learning that is unique for them and not all organizing systems will work for each individual. By developing strong relationships with you, I will quickly learn what works best for your brain type, lifestyle, and family. I offer very practical, simple solutions that are easy to implement.
You will get the most out of my services if you:
- want simple solutions that are easy to follow
- recognize that there may be another way to do something faster and more accurately
- are finished reading all the organizing books and realize that, "books will not get you organized." This quote is from my friend Maryanne Macdonald.
- are tired of not being able to find important papers
- feel overwhelmed and stressed every time you walk into your home or office
- are ready to make an investment in your time and your life
Who will not benefit from working with Organize It!?
I feel everyone needs my professional services, however, I realize I may be too busy to help each of you so I have free documents for download and recommended products that anyone can benefit from.
If you don't feel you are ready to make some changes in your life, or if you are perfectly happy with the way your lifestyle is, then you would not benefit from my services.
Also, I am a positive, optimistic person who never gives up on a client. If I feel I cannot help someone, I am determined to find the right person for them. I am honest with my clients and don't try to sugar coat everything and give them unrealistic expectations that cannot be met. I thrive to better each of my clients, and look for all avenues and services that can help them.
Are your services affordable?
Yes! We have multiple programs for home and business owners. There are many programs that give you the ultimate flexibility in choosing a service that is right for you. In fact, most clients can recover their investment with their time in just two months. Your time is your money and you should spend life doing things that you love doing and letting experts help you with things that are not your speciality. Just as you probably would not attempt to rebuild your computer, (you would call in the expert and I know a great one) then you would not attempt to put together a home management system without calling in the expert.
Do you have payment plans?
Of course! We want to make your home or office organization affordable as possible. I strongly believe in my heart that by living an organized life, you will have a richer, more fulling life, and make it easy for you to invest in a monthly program, so you can pay-as-you-go.
What if I have a limited budget?
If you have a limited budget for organizing, you may eventually find that you are spending more time and money trying systems that are not right for you, and feeling frustrated and overwhelmed. You may keep re-creating the wheel instead of working to get organized, which always lets you down.
To break this cycle, you must find the means to invest in your home and business.
Just as I didn't want to make decorating mistakes when I bought my first home 20 years ago, I called in the professional decorator so I would not buy furniture that I would throw away in 10 years; therefore, if you don't want to continue to spend your day looking for lost items, over buying, and making mistakes, you must call in the expert. I see so many people throw away thousands of dollars of supplies, organizing gadgets, and plastic containers that do not last and it saddens me to see their money go out the window. By the way, I still have the furniture I bought 20 years ago and have not thrown out one thing that was suggested by the professional decorator.
If you still cannot make the investment right now there are options available to all our clients:
Facts about Frances
Frances is also a writer, having penned the book Living With No Regrets. Moving, inspirational and candid, Living With No Regrets is about loving to the fullest, surviving times of grief and how self-nurturing and trusting in God's teachings can open the door to a new and joyful life.
Frances is a member of the Germantown United Methodist Church, where she served on the board, assists with the church related Emmaus community and taught Sunday school for children and adults. Professionally, she is currently a Certified Professional Organizer, a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization (NSGCD), Ambassador of the Memphis Business Network International (BNI) group and is a Certified Family Manager Coach. She is also a member of Faithful Organizers, Toastmasters International, National Association of Professional Women (NAPW), and serves on Centenary College's Recruitment Board.
Contributing a weekly article on "Ask the Organizer" in the Daily Times Leader newspaper, and a monthly magazine, Delivered, Frances has over 20 published articles. She has also been featured in Mid-South magazine, Commercial Dispatch, Builder/Architect, and The Commercial Appeal. She has been featured on Love Matters, and Channel 3's Live at 9. She has also been a guest speaker at Mary Kay, AICPA Controller's Convention in Las Vegas, Tribe Camp, numerous churches, garden clubs, and women's groups. Frances currently resides near Memphis, Tennessee with her husband and their teenage children.
Frances is involved in the following organizations:
NAPO (National Association of Professional Organizers)
BCPO (Board of Certified Professional Organizers)
ICD (Institute for Challenging Disorganization)
Mid-South Organizers
National Association of Professional Women
BNI Memphis
Premier Referrals BNI
Faithful Organizers
Centenary College of Louisiana
Toastmasters International
