April 25, 2025 • 14 mins
This episode was sponsored by Ja, Wol. I promote my own services and products in my podcast rather than working with sponsors. I will share the odd-discount for things I fully support and use.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
This episode is part of a special series where I walk
you through the Yabbleframework, which is the way I
help small business owners buildinspiring, fun and sustainable
businesses that actually fittheir lives.
If you missed episode two, wetalked about wayfinding, the W
in W-O-L and how to reconnectwith your why.
(00:21):
Today we're moving on to the Oorganize and no, not in the
color-coded Pinterest perfectway.
We're talking about makingspace for what really matters.
Hey there and welcome toPattern Shift, the podcast where
creative business owners likeyou learn to build a business
that's inspiring, fun andsustainable.
(00:43):
I'm Saskia de Feiter, abusiness strategist, guide maker
and all-round creativeentrepreneur.
I help business owners in theneedle and fiber craft world,
just like you, navigate allthose icky words, branding,
marketing and strategy in a waythat actually works for your
creative brain.
(01:04):
Here we talk about everythingfrom running a values-driven
business to simplifying yourmarketing without burning out.
Whether you're just startingout or looking to refine your
business, you're in the rightplace.
So settle in, grab a cup of tea, coffee or, you know,
broekladich you do, you andlet's get started.
(01:26):
So about clearing space tosupport what really matters.
As a small business owner in thetextile craft world, I've had
so many moments where everythingjust felt heavy, overwhelming,
like wading through thick mud,and sometimes I can't tell
myself if I'm exhausted andmotivated or just drowning in
(01:50):
decisions, and it's probably allof those things at once.
We accumulate so much tasks,tabs, digital clutter, emotional
weight.
When I had the shop I had somuch stuff that I used for
decorating the windows, the shop.
(02:10):
There was just stuff everywhere.
We're so busy keeping up thatwe don't even feel like we can
pause to clear any of it.
But organizing I mean realorganizing isn't about tidying
for the sake of it.
It's about creating space,space to breathe, space to focus
(02:30):
, space to build your businessaround your energy and your
values, to stop working in yourbusiness and start working on
your business.
So what does organizing actuallymean in business?
It isn't about having theprettiest notion set up or the
most aesthetic calendar, thoughI really love both of those
(02:55):
things.
I actually designed thecalendar and I love my notion,
but it's a rabbit hole coveredin chocolate.
It's delicious and it'sdangerous.
And here's what I've learnedover almost hole covered in
chocolate.
It's delicious and it'sdangerous.
And here's what I've learnedover almost two decades in
business Good enough is enoughand consistency beats
reinvention.
(03:15):
Every single time.
It's easy to fall into the trapof thinking the next tool or
the next app will magicallysolve it all, but I can tell you
you still have to do the work.
What works for me is a simple,flexible combo.
Bullet journaling bringstogether mindfulness and
productivity in a day-to-day,week-to-week, month-to-month
(03:39):
reflection process.
A digital calendar bringsstructure, and Notion is for
planning bigger projects, whereI want to kind of build a
database and connecting thingstogether.
So these tools each serve apurpose.
I have tried Trello and Asanaand Apple Notes, but I've always
(04:01):
come back to what actuallyworks for me.
So when we talk about organizing, what I'm really saying is
build systems that support you,your brain and your real, actual
life.
Find what's good enough andstop trying to perfect it and,
most of all, make space for whatmatters.
Why?
Simplicity is kindness andperhaps especially for
(04:26):
neurodivergent brains, the thingabout simplicity is that it can
feel like a relief and arestriction at the same time,
and a restriction at the sametime.
As someone with ADHD, I cravesimplicity, but I also secretly
fear it.
What if I get bored?
What if this feels limiting?
(04:47):
And I've come to understandthis that clutter means friction
, and friction isn't helpful formy kind of brain and, I dare to
say, for no one.
Mess, whether it's physical,mental or digital, really just
slows me down.
(05:07):
A messy desk Hard to think.
A full drive it can make mybrain feel overloaded.
Notifications, random to-dolists, yarn piles, friction
everywhere.
And when I started reallyactually decluttering not just
my space but also my systems andmy calendar, a huge shift
(05:29):
happened.
I moved from working in mybusiness to actually working on
it.
I stopped doing busy work andstarted returning to what brings
me joy creativity and alignment, because we sometimes forget
why we even started this in thefirst place.
Keeping things clear anduncluttered gives you the space
(05:53):
to work on the things that youactually love doing, things that
you actually love doing.
But there's an emotional sideto decluttering.
It's not easy and there'sfeelings of guilt, fear, fomo,
the shoulds.
All those things come up,especially when it comes to
(06:13):
things like social media or howwe're supposed to show up online
.
You don't have to do it likeeveryone else.
In fact, I believe you reallyshouldn't.
The more you build yourbusiness around what feels
energizing and motivating, thebetter your business will feel,
not just to you, but to thepeople you are trying to reach
(06:34):
as well.
So take the time to listen toyour body, your energy, your
actual needs, not what'strending, not what your
competitor is doing.
What do you need?
(06:54):
And being brave and thedecluttering is a huge part in
getting more clear about you,who you are in your business and
what you need.
It kind of all works together.
So if you make small shifts,they can create big spaces.
(07:18):
If this is resonating with you,I wanted to give you permission
not just to start throwingeverything away and like
clearing your desk in one bigswipe.
I know how that can work.
Sometimes you get inspired bylistening to a podcast or
(07:38):
something and you're like I'mgoing to do it completely
different from now on.
But that can usually leave youreally tired in a room full of
mess everywhere.
This happens to me and it mightnot be the best way forward.
So just let me say this smallshifts are really powerful.
Recently I've made a few smallshifts that created so much more
(08:03):
calm and clarity and space inmy business.
I've been restructuring how Isent newsletters.
I've been simplifying my offers.
I'm redesigning my week to fithow I actually function Now,
organizing as a creative act.
Let me talk about that.
Planning and structuring yourbusiness might feel like admin,
(08:26):
like boring, but no, it'screative work, it's an act of
care and having systems andboundaries gives you freedom.
They create breathing room,space to think, to play, to rest
, to do what makes you tick.
I don't work weekends and I trynot to work evenings.
(08:47):
That space is sacred.
I need it not just to rest butalso to integrate what I've been
doing, to simmer a little bit,to get some other input.
That is not just about work,because when you're always on,
(09:08):
always going, it's so easy toburn out.
And I used to say burnout willnever happen to me.
I'm enjoying myself way toomuch and I think I even said
burnout doesn't exist, yeah, andthen it happens to me, and it
happens multiple times.
When I reflect back, I know nowthat what we called different
(09:35):
things in the past has beenburnout for me and it's been
connected to many things.
It's been connected to aneurodivergent brain, but also
to, yeah, keep just going, going, going, going and never
allowing myself to stop, to bethat perfectionist that's never
(09:56):
happy with what they've done.
I am so glad to say I'm notthat person anymore.
Of course, I still have to payattention to signs of when I'm
doing too much, but now I see itas a creative opportunity.
When I feel like something isoff, I don't feel good.
Like something is off, I don'tfeel good, I feel like I'm
(10:22):
rushed all the time.
I see it as an opportunity todo something creative that will
help me and my clients to live abetter life.
So, yeah, try to make thosethings work for you.
When you declutter your space,your business, your life, your
mind, your everything, you getto create a spacious business.
(10:42):
Your business can be soft andslow and structured, and not
rushed and spiky and chaotic,and you don't have to choose
between frolicking in the fieldsof flowers and getting stuff
done.
This is not about doing less.
(11:03):
It's about creating room forwhat you love.
This isn't all necessarilyabout doing less.
It's about creating room forwhat you love to do, so that you
can be yourself in yourbusiness, you can shine and
people will find you because youare uniquely you and you take
(11:25):
care of yourself.
I always like to give yousomething to try out.
So here's a journaling promptfor your journal.
Whether you have a bulletjournal or just a piece of paper
or whatever, you need pen andpaper.
I recommend writing because theact of writing multiple times
(11:48):
have been discovered, that itjust lodges in your brain more
than when you type.
So here we go.
You type, so here we go.
What's one thing I keep doing inmy business that's no longer
(12:08):
serving me, and what would itlook like to let that go or make
that easier?
How can things be more simple?
Okay, let that simmer.
You don't have to do this rightaway.
It's something to think aboutin the coming week and I'd love
to hear what you come up withand if you've done the exercise,
(12:29):
just let me know.
So this episode is yourinvitation to simplify with
intention, to organize, not forperfection, but to give you some
peace, some space.
And if you would like to dothat in good company, come join
us in the Yevo community.
It's where we explore this kindof work together, with care and
(12:52):
curiosity and lots of fun.
Next time we'll step into thelaunch phase, bringing your
ideas into the world in a waythat aligns with your capacity
and your vision.
Until then, breathe, simplify,keep knitting and eating your
fibers and show up in your ownway.
Thanks for listening.
This episode is part of a special series where I walk
you through the Yabbleframework, which is the way I
help small business owners buildinspiring, fun and sustainable
businesses that actually fittheir lives.
If you missed episode two, wetalked about wayfinding, the W
in W-O-L and how to reconnectwith your why.
(00:21):
Today we're moving on to the Oorganize and no, not in the
color-coded Pinterest perfectway.
We're talking about makingspace for what really matters.
Hey there and welcome toPattern Shift, the podcast where
creative business owners likeyou learn to build a business
that's inspiring, fun andsustainable.
(00:43):
I'm Saskia de Feiter, abusiness strategist, guide maker
and all-round creativeentrepreneur.
I help business owners in theneedle and fiber craft world,
just like you, navigate allthose icky words, branding,
marketing and strategy in a waythat actually works for your
creative brain.
(01:04):
Here we talk about everythingfrom running a values-driven
business to simplifying yourmarketing without burning out.
Whether you're just startingout or looking to refine your
business, you're in the rightplace.
So settle in, grab a cup of tea, coffee or, you know,
broekladich you do, you andlet's get started.
(01:26):
So about clearing space tosupport what really matters.
As a small business owner in thetextile craft world, I've had
so many moments where everythingjust felt heavy, overwhelming,
like wading through thick mud,and sometimes I can't tell
myself if I'm exhausted andmotivated or just drowning in
(01:50):
decisions, and it's probably allof those things at once.
We accumulate so much tasks,tabs, digital clutter, emotional
weight.
When I had the shop I had somuch stuff that I used for
decorating the windows, the shop.
(02:10):
There was just stuff everywhere.
We're so busy keeping up thatwe don't even feel like we can
pause to clear any of it.
But organizing I mean realorganizing isn't about tidying
for the sake of it.
It's about creating space,space to breathe, space to focus
(02:30):
, space to build your businessaround your energy and your
values, to stop working in yourbusiness and start working on
your business.
So what does organizing actuallymean in business?
It isn't about having theprettiest notion set up or the
most aesthetic calendar, thoughI really love both of those
(02:55):
things.
I actually designed thecalendar and I love my notion,
but it's a rabbit hole coveredin chocolate.
It's delicious and it'sdangerous.
And here's what I've learnedover almost hole covered in
chocolate.
It's delicious and it'sdangerous.
And here's what I've learnedover almost two decades in
business Good enough is enoughand consistency beats
reinvention.
(03:15):
Every single time.
It's easy to fall into the trapof thinking the next tool or
the next app will magicallysolve it all, but I can tell you
you still have to do the work.
What works for me is a simple,flexible combo.
Bullet journaling bringstogether mindfulness and
productivity in a day-to-day,week-to-week, month-to-month
(03:39):
reflection process.
A digital calendar bringsstructure, and Notion is for
planning bigger projects, whereI want to kind of build a
database and connecting thingstogether.
So these tools each serve apurpose.
I have tried Trello and Asanaand Apple Notes, but I've always
(04:01):
come back to what actuallyworks for me.
So when we talk about organizing, what I'm really saying is
build systems that support you,your brain and your real, actual
life.
Find what's good enough andstop trying to perfect it and,
most of all, make space for whatmatters.
Why?
Simplicity is kindness andperhaps especially for
(04:26):
neurodivergent brains, the thingabout simplicity is that it can
feel like a relief and arestriction at the same time,
and a restriction at the sametime.
As someone with ADHD, I cravesimplicity, but I also secretly
fear it.
What if I get bored?
What if this feels limiting?
(04:47):
And I've come to understandthis that clutter means friction
, and friction isn't helpful formy kind of brain and, I dare to
say, for no one.
Mess, whether it's physical,mental or digital, really just
slows me down.
(05:07):
A messy desk Hard to think.
A full drive it can make mybrain feel overloaded.
Notifications, random to-dolists, yarn piles, friction
everywhere.
And when I started reallyactually decluttering not just
my space but also my systems andmy calendar, a huge shift
(05:29):
happened.
I moved from working in mybusiness to actually working on
it.
I stopped doing busy work andstarted returning to what brings
me joy creativity and alignment, because we sometimes forget
why we even started this in thefirst place.
Keeping things clear anduncluttered gives you the space
(05:53):
to work on the things that youactually love doing, things that
you actually love doing.
But there's an emotional sideto decluttering.
It's not easy and there'sfeelings of guilt, fear, fomo,
the shoulds.
All those things come up,especially when it comes to
(06:13):
things like social media or howwe're supposed to show up online
.
You don't have to do it likeeveryone else.
In fact, I believe you reallyshouldn't.
The more you build yourbusiness around what feels
energizing and motivating, thebetter your business will feel,
not just to you, but to thepeople you are trying to reach
(06:34):
as well.
So take the time to listen toyour body, your energy, your
actual needs, not what'strending, not what your
competitor is doing.
What do you need?
(06:54):
And being brave and thedecluttering is a huge part in
getting more clear about you,who you are in your business and
what you need.
It kind of all works together.
So if you make small shifts,they can create big spaces.
(07:18):
If this is resonating with you,I wanted to give you permission
not just to start throwingeverything away and like
clearing your desk in one bigswipe.
I know how that can work.
Sometimes you get inspired bylistening to a podcast or
(07:38):
something and you're like I'mgoing to do it completely
different from now on.
But that can usually leave youreally tired in a room full of
mess everywhere.
This happens to me and it mightnot be the best way forward.
So just let me say this smallshifts are really powerful.
Recently I've made a few smallshifts that created so much more
(08:03):
calm and clarity and space inmy business.
I've been restructuring how Isent newsletters.
I've been simplifying my offers.
I'm redesigning my week to fithow I actually function Now,
organizing as a creative act.
Let me talk about that.
Planning and structuring yourbusiness might feel like admin,
(08:26):
like boring, but no, it'screative work, it's an act of
care and having systems andboundaries gives you freedom.
They create breathing room,space to think, to play, to rest
, to do what makes you tick.
I don't work weekends and I trynot to work evenings.
(08:47):
That space is sacred.
I need it not just to rest butalso to integrate what I've been
doing, to simmer a little bit,to get some other input.
That is not just about work,because when you're always on,
(09:08):
always going, it's so easy toburn out.
And I used to say burnout willnever happen to me.
I'm enjoying myself way toomuch and I think I even said
burnout doesn't exist, yeah, andthen it happens to me, and it
happens multiple times.
When I reflect back, I know nowthat what we called different
(09:35):
things in the past has beenburnout for me and it's been
connected to many things.
It's been connected to aneurodivergent brain, but also
to, yeah, keep just going, going, going, going and never
allowing myself to stop, to bethat perfectionist that's never
(09:56):
happy with what they've done.
I am so glad to say I'm notthat person anymore.
Of course, I still have to payattention to signs of when I'm
doing too much, but now I see itas a creative opportunity.
When I feel like something isoff, I don't feel good.
Like something is off, I don'tfeel good, I feel like I'm
(10:22):
rushed all the time.
I see it as an opportunity todo something creative that will
help me and my clients to live abetter life.
So, yeah, try to make thosethings work for you.
When you declutter your space,your business, your life, your
mind, your everything, you getto create a spacious business.
(10:42):
Your business can be soft andslow and structured, and not
rushed and spiky and chaotic,and you don't have to choose
between frolicking in the fieldsof flowers and getting stuff
done.
This is not about doing less.
(11:03):
It's about creating room forwhat you love.
This isn't all necessarilyabout doing less.
It's about creating room forwhat you love to do, so that you
can be yourself in yourbusiness, you can shine and
people will find you because youare uniquely you and you take
(11:25):
care of yourself.
I always like to give yousomething to try out.
So here's a journaling promptfor your journal.
Whether you have a bulletjournal or just a piece of paper
or whatever, you need pen andpaper.
I recommend writing because theact of writing multiple times
(11:48):
have been discovered, that itjust lodges in your brain more
than when you type.
So here we go.
You type, so here we go.
What's one thing I keep doing inmy business that's no longer
(12:08):
serving me, and what would itlook like to let that go or make
that easier?
How can things be more simple?
Okay, let that simmer.
You don't have to do this rightaway.
It's something to think aboutin the coming week and I'd love
to hear what you come up withand if you've done the exercise,
(12:29):
just let me know.
So this episode is yourinvitation to simplify with
intention, to organize, not forperfection, but to give you some
peace, some space.
And if you would like to dothat in good company, come join
us in the Yevo community.
It's where we explore this kindof work together, with care and
(12:52):
curiosity and lots of fun.
Next time we'll step into thelaunch phase, bringing your
ideas into the world in a waythat aligns with your capacity
and your vision.
Until then, breathe, simplify,keep knitting and eating your
fibers and show up in your ownway.
Thanks for listening.
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