An Affinity for Neat

Having an organized space means that there is nothing hindering me from getting a job or plan finished. And because I feel good—and quite accomplished—when I have finished a particular task, I make sure that my space allows me to succeed. This is true in both my personal and professional lives. 

My name is Carolyn Williams, and I want to help you to achieve and maintain a sense of accomplishment in your life and work. I want to help you create functional spaces for yourself. Let me tell you a little about myself so that you can see how my experiences can work for you. 

I first noticed my affinity for organization when I got married. We started out with very modest means and had to live in the back room of my in-laws’ craftsman bungalow. Small space! We didn’t have a closet so my husband when out and bought a particle board one that had to be assembled. We had a complete bedroom set with a dresser, nightstand, and a large armoire. The room had no air conditioning or heating, so we had to add a window unit. My husband also cut a hole in the wall for a portable heating unit. I made sure that we used all of the space we had efficiently. Our room became the favorite room in the house. Guests would choose to stay in our room, and I’d often find visitors for big occasions napping there. Considering the fact that this was the smallest room in the house with all of our worldly possessions in it, I was proud to know that I had created a space that was both inviting and fully functional. 

When I had my first child, we moved into an apartment. We have very little furniture, and every room seemed empty. I grew to like clear space—no clutter. I used whatever we had to make sure things were stored away. Later, I had twins. Now that was a challenge. With three children, a four year old and newborn twins in a very spacious three-bedroom apartment, I had to be creative—and very busy—to keep the space clean and functional. I was thrilled with the challenge. I had not yet put a name to this organizational gift of mine. In my mind, in order for things to work well, there had to be order. So I created order. I began to use a crock put to cook meals while at work. I had a schedule for laundry that required every item to be put away before I could call it done. And again, I used every bit of space available to organize my family’s life from morning until night. My household ran very smoothly. 

All the while I was working. After spending several years as a clerk in the world of property management, I became a manager myself. In order to get the position I had to take a test. It wasn’t until I got the results—over a decade after that first newlywed organizing experience—that I was able to put a name to my skills. I did very well on the test, but I scored highest in the area of organization. I was fortunate to do so well in that area because it pretty much defined my job. There was A LOT of paper in my day. With as many as 1,216 units to manage over the years, there was always an emergency. And with several different levels of government agencies needing to review my records from time to time, everything had to be in place. Over time I realized that I was being placed on the worst properties because of the way I was able to get organized quickly and turn the properties around, so that they would run more efficiently. 

These are just a couple of examples from my life. As a wife, mother, property manager, and volunteer, I have put my organizational skills to use for the benefit of my family and community. Now I am offering those skills to you. 

Give me a call, and let’s discuss how I can help you to create your own functional spaces.