Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Popoola.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Christina. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
As a young girl, I remember being in the store with my mom and spotting shelves in disarray, then I would almost instinctively start putting the items in order. I would place items in order by brand, color, or size on the correct shelf to occupy my time while my mom shopped. These seemingly small actions started my obsession with organizing that continued through my childhood and young adult life. Moving forward to today, I started an organizing business because of the feedback I received from friends who visited my home or whose spaces I helped unpack and organize. That’s when I realized I needed to make my hobby, a business. So, two years ago, after researching about organizers and realizing that I could make a living off of being an organizer, I began organizing people’s spaces. I have enjoyed seeing and hearing from others how much of a difference it makes in their lives once they get rid of their clutter and have everything put in its place. As an occupational therapist who graduated from Howard University, where our motto is to have others live life to the fullest by helping individuals reach their full potential with disabilities, I realized I could continue my practice and combine my hobby. In occupational therapy, a person’s disability could be anxiety which could keep a student from getting organized in order to complete his/her homework for school. Or an elderly woman with paranoid schizophrenia has become a hoarder and needs help with decluttering her home. As a child, I always knew I would choose a career where I would help others. Helping others is my passion and path in life. So, it has been a wonderful experience and an intriguing journey to find my niche in occupational therapy and apply it to a hobby that I love and find joy in doing. I hope to touch many people by helping them get free from their clutter and teaching them organizational skills to maintain their spaces and lives.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My journey with building this organizing business has been a hilly road. There are times where I am busy and then there are times when I am not busy. Those not so busy times are where I push myself to sharpen and expand my skills to put into practice. I always remind myself that nothing worth having comes easy. My advice to other women, especially young women, is to learn as much as possible about your craft so that you can be your best at it and pass on the torch to another young woman. I would also say to trust in yourself to find your path. Do not let anyone get in the way of your dreams and what you find joy in doing.
Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
As an organizer, I organize individuals spaces (closets, offices, garages and etc). I will do everything from packing/unpacking a home, providing tips and tools to do it yourself, and assisting clients with getting rid of items they no longer need by donating. I specialize in helping moms get organized. As a mom myself, I know how difficult it is to juggle everything in your life from work, family and social life. I try to provide advice for moms to maintain their household in order to reduce stress. What sets me apart from others is my background in occupational therapy because I try to get to the root of the problem and work with the client to fix the problem so that they are able to maintain their organized spaces. As a service provider, I believe that well-rounded approach of organizing the space and helping address the client’s personal issues are what set me apart.
Do you feel like there was something about the experiences you had growing up that played an outsized role in setting you up for success later in life?
My parents were great role models for me to see how to start, run and build a business. My mother owned three beauty salons and my father owned two dry cleaning businesses and now has his own software company overseas where he does contract work for public entities. My parents showed me how working hard and smart pays off in the end. I learned that getting a good education can set you up and provide you with the tools to further your career and enhance your skills.
Contact Info:
- Email: Gettin.Smart@yahoo.com
- Instagram: @GettinSmart
Image Credit:
Monica Terry
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