February 20, 2024 • 22 mins
One of James' first guests (and the only male Organizer) of this show Vinnie Giacalone, The Organized Guy, reunites on camera and mic with James! They talk business and whats important to them being men in the PO industry. Also they reminsce a bit.
Serving Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island, The Organized Guy is a leader in the organizing and decluttering field and offers comprehensive services to homeowners, professionals, seniors and caregivers. The Organized Guy’s staff are highly trained in developing and implementing organizing and decluttering strategies in the home and workplace; including the organization of digital, desktop and cabinet filing systems.
theorganizedguy.com
Serving Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn and Long Island, The Organized Guy is a leader in the organizing and decluttering field and offers comprehensive services to homeowners, professionals, seniors and caregivers. The Organized Guy’s staff are highly trained in developing and implementing organizing and decluttering strategies in the home and workplace; including the organization of digital, desktop and cabinet filing systems.
theorganizedguy.com
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:04):
Hi, everybody. This was JamesLot Junior. This is the ser Show
with James Lot Junior. I'm thesuper organizer and I'm here. You know,
folks, I to bring back formerguests. But first I want to
tell you first is February twentieth,twenty twenty four. We're heading towards March.
What's going on here? It's aleap week now, Well, next
week's sleep week. Next week isleap this week, next week is leap
(00:24):
week. They have a leap dayand I have some Leap Day stuff coming
up, so stay tuned on JailJimminya for that. But I decided to
bring a former guest. Well,I say it the other day on my
show Guess two weeks ago, Yeah, two weeks ago. I said,
he's one of the people that cameon my show eight years ago the first
time when I rebooted my show,Change, I changed the name a little
(00:44):
bit and changed the dates or whatever. And he's been on a couple of
times since that, but it's beena while since you've been on. H
He's the organized guy. He's fromthe East Coast. He always says he
covers the East Coast. I coveredthe West Coast. It's Vinnie Jack Coloney.
Hi Vinnie, how are you?It is no good? All right?
So before we do this, Iwrit thanks some gratitude, and I
want to give my thanks and gratitudeto NAPO San Diego. I just spoke
(01:07):
at their their chapter meeting. Italked about self care and super organizer and
we had the oh I got.We had the best time. And I
want to I really gratude because usualthe question answer appearance like five ten minutes.
It went on for an hour.Uh so apparently liked what I said.
I liked what my the interest ofmy life. So to all the
ladies and gentlemen who came, andto Bethel Swift to as the chapter president,
(01:30):
and to everybody who just which isso wonderful to me. They put
me up at the at the DanaMission Bay Hotel in San Diego, which
I didn't want to leave, sogratituded them too. I had a good
extra day there relaxing in the sun. Gratitude for the West Coast, and
thank you so much. And Iwant to thank all of them for their
support. All the chapters always supportme. I've spoken at many chapters.
(01:53):
I'm available for speaking to you.Okay, that's done, all right.
So Vinnie were talking beforehand and afterI want to talk because because he was
asking me some questions, I wantto answer them on camera so people kind
of know what's going on too thathe knew when I started out on the
radio on Adrenaline Radio dot Com.I feel like it's like a ten thousand
years ago. I reached out tohim, he reached back, well,
(02:15):
a few guys in the business,a few of us running around, and
we came in. So do youremember, do you remember that time period
when I came I reached out towell, you shocked those another old male
organized. I can't remember back thenwhat you thought. Yeah, no,
I agree. I mean I'm inan April member now, almost ten years.
So yeah, when I look onthe directory, you know, it's
(02:38):
very rare that you see men popup. And I remember how exactly you
and I hooked up. I thinkwe were getting I think I saw a
thread that came through, like youknow, the NAPO point. I think
that's where I found you, andthen you and I just connected and it's
been that way ever since. Soyou know, yeah, that's where started.
(03:00):
Yeah, I mean, because Ihad the only radio show in organizing.
I mean, ever, I stillstill have it. Rowing one person
had it, but yeah, Ithink we saw trying to threat. I
was like, man, I thinkI was like, I need you come
on here. You know, you'rea man us talk because I mean it's
a female dominated industry, and Imean, and they started it, and
so we came in on it.And I remember your your and you were
(03:23):
different than me in terms of yourapproach to the business. What you offer
compared to mine. Can you explainto folks what the who the what the
organized guy offers? You know?And James, I still believe that it's
the same thing. I still offerthat difference in this industry of being a
male, and it's a positive thing. I mean, listen, there are
(03:46):
a lot of great women in thisindustry. I give them tons of credit
for everything that they do and whatthey bring to the table. And I
understand in many respects why this isa female dominated industry in terms of how
women approach things versus men. Imean, let's face it, you know,
we're men a little more rougher onthe edges in many ways. However,
(04:09):
that doesn't change the fact that wecan't be compassionate. We can't exhibit
the same feelings of empathy and sympathyfor our clients and their situations. But
that little difference I have, Andagain this is believe me, this is
not a knock against any of anyof the ladies in our group, is
that I truly do get asked todo a little more of what I always
(04:29):
call the heavy lifting type projects.You know, so when the garage comes
up, it's like, you know, it just seems like I'm a perfect
fit for that. I'll do themall day long. But I do really
anything under the roof of the house. Yeah, it's one of those things
where we've had to kind of proveourselves a little bit that we are that
anybody can organize. No matter whatgender you can do. Both matter what
(04:53):
age you can you can't organize.But I know we do think differently,
Yes, we do different and Iand I know I do. And but
I always say because I used tobe a nurse, so I helped me
a little bit. And I alsohave daughters. That helps a little bit
too. And you have a daughter, it does help. It does a
moment you know how to react tothat. But I like you said that
(05:15):
men also can be compassionate and empatheticand sympathetic. And I know about for
you, but I know for someof my female clients, they're just like
having a male around to kind ofhere, except the same for you too.
Yeah, No, I do findthat that as well. I think,
(05:35):
you know, with some of mymy female clients, I think they
feel a little sense of comfort,you know, But I do attribute that
to well, honestly, I feellike I'm pretty I'm a pretty good listener,
and I think at the foundation ofwhat we do, Jeames, you
have to listen to what these peopleare talking about, because it's not always
(05:56):
about oh, you know, lookmy closets all clogged up. Okay,
fine, that's a visual we couldsee that. But I think it's what's
most important is you really have tolisten, whether it's male or female,
what their problem is, because youknow, like you said, you're doing
this as long as I have.I'm in the mindset that, especially with
my repeat clients, inevitably, ifyou're listening, if you're listening deeply to
(06:23):
them, you always get the backstoryof what's really happening and what's causing the
visual clutter that they have going on. In their lives. Whatever it is,
there's always a backstory and that's reallywhere the rubber meets the road in
terms of how you can really helpmake a difference in their life. But
you have to listen to your clients. I teach a course on active listening.
(06:46):
So it's funny you say I do. It's a it's it's a really
serious thing. Actually, when youcoach your clients, you have to listen.
And now I say listen, you'relistening with your eyes, listening with
your ears, thing with their bodylanguage. You're listening. It's like you're
watching you if you're listening. Andsometimes the things they don't say that you
(07:06):
have to hear. So I thinkit's I love that you said that.
I guess for anybody. It's greatadvice for anybody, any new organizers in
there, just you know, areany new coaches out there, just like
listening is a great thing, andactually doing this business has made me a
better listener outside. Oh yeah,I agree one hundred percent. You know,
it's funny you say that you teachclasses in that because I took a
(07:28):
class, became a staff member andalso a director of one through the Boy
Scouts. You know, many manyyears ago. And one of the segments,
the modules, because it's a leadershipdevelopment course, one of the modules
on it was about active listening andcommunication and two way communication. So you
know, I use those tools andthey work and they and it really does
(07:53):
make you, I believe, morevaluable to your clients because you now become
that trusted advisor, you know.And it's so in the case is if
I think about any of the clientsthat I have, that I have ongoing
and I've got, you know,like like I'm sure you do you have
you know, I have a handfulof clients have had for years. And
it's funny is that, you knowwhen I tell other people not their names,
(08:16):
you know, we all protect theinnocent our industry, but I have
business associates or you know, peoplethat come across and they're actually very surprised
though from the time they said,you actually have someone that you work with
for years and I go, yeah, so, well, what are you
doing with them? And I said, that's what you don't understand. It's
yes, we're working, we're organizing, we have projects to do. But
(08:37):
some of these people, it becomeswhich I'm sure you can appreciate therapeutic.
You know, you're you're the soundingboard. You're listening and some of these
people have, you know, maybeno family or they don't have a good
connection with their family, and essence, you become kind of the quasi therapist,
the quasi family member, and soyou know, you can't to score
(09:00):
that and minimize that. It's hugeto be able to gain that kind of
insight and trust with your clients.Well, I try to explain to somebody,
to a new person, I gogonna go, how do you have
Basically it's retention, So how doyou have retention? That's a total business
thing. I go. But ifyou if you organize them and don't you
guys don't understand life changes m hm. So they're married, one of one
(09:24):
of the the husband dies. Youmean not to sound more of it,
but you want them to think ofyou to help with that process. Or
they're single when you first meet them, and they get married at some point,
you want them to think of youfor downside or they have to downsize,
or they're retiring, or they havea child or a child leaves like
(09:46):
you want them to. You wantthem to we not work with them every
single day all the time. Butyou want them when they need you for
a project. Vinnie got it.I'm gonna call it Vinnie so and so
moving out. We gotta get gottahelp us with a pack. That's kind
of the point, right, AndI think, and if you're if you're
good, like like a plumber ora gardener or an electrician, you like
it. You don't work with themevery day, but she could work with
(10:09):
them for years. I mean,I have clients I've had for at least
ten I think I have one client. I think it's at thirteen years fifteen.
Just when life changes or they moveor get a new job, and
like it's I'm right there, theycall you. They call you. Oh,
I just had that happen to me. In December, I sent out
you know, my email blast toyou know, my my list. And
(10:31):
I had a client who hired meeight years ago, right after her parents
had passed, and I helped her, you know, downsize the house because
she had to get it cleaned outto be sold. Well, lo and
behold, she got my email blastand she contacts me and she says,
you know, she goes, I'vebeen thinking about you and thinking about you.
She goes, I haven't picked upthe phone, she goes, I
(10:52):
got your email. She goes,guess what I'm like? Okay here and
I and she was. I lovedworking with her. She was so much
fun. Yes, she said,well, I had some stuff left off
my parents' house and I put itin storage. Yeah for eight years.
Of course that happens. Of course, So now I'm working with her again
because the goal is to get toclean, you know, make decisions on
(11:13):
this stuff and get rid of thestorage. You have to save her money.
She lives in the city and she'sgot a storage unit out here on
the island. But to your point, it was that I you know again,
eight years went by, eight yearsand then it just you know,
she gets my email, you know, my my newsletter last and next you
(11:35):
know, the phone gets picked upand she goes, I need to see
you again. So you're one hundredpercent right. You want them to think
about you. And it clicked inher head and she realized that she had
to make a change because life isshifting again. And I got the call.
Yeah, I've eased, be fortunate. I tosse my one before it.
Yeah, I do. Those littleemail things are little a little rest
(11:56):
a while too. It was ohmy god, yes I remember, yes,
can I need you? I needyou or my friend needs you.
I was thinking about your name.I can remember your phone number. My
friend could use it. I'm gladyou contacted. A lot of the lot
times are happening to hear from youand just even say hi. They're like,
oh, yeah, you doing.I'll be checking out how you're doing
over there, what's going on?And they'll say fine. But I just
think that there's life is always movingand changing, and you're not. You're
(12:20):
not. We're not here to curenobody. That's not the thing. We
can organize and then that's it,see you later. Our job is done.
It's like, well no, it'shopefully they're empowered to continue organization.
But I'm saying that the things docome up so that this is a maintenance
issue. And I mean I wouldbe like, I was busy for five
(12:41):
months and also my clot's mess.Can you help me kind of get it
back into shape, freshen it up. That's that's fine you, I mean,
that's that happens. Also, there'sone thing that you were doing,
I don't do I have that becauseyou were like full service, so you
like I look at when we talkedlast time, you're also you would be
like my garage and building closets orbuild back closets, shelves and put It's
(13:03):
like, I don't do that,but so you do have sometimes too,
right, you could like organize thecloset, organize the garage and say,
okay, I can put some shelvesup to me to right. Yeah,
Like I tell people, listen,you know, I'm not a carpenter,
okay, but I do know mymy the right end of a hammer.
I'm honest with my clients. Ijust lay it out to them and based
on you know, they tell mewhat they they want, and if it's
(13:24):
in my wheelhouse, yes I willdo it, you know I I you
know, so to the extreme.Yeah, I've had clients or leads call
me up and they say, oh, I really want some cabinets installed.
I tell my listen, all therespect, it's not what I do.
And really, honestly, James,I I've learned over almost being in business
ten years with this that I it'snot really what I want to do.
(13:48):
So I don't really push that servicewith my clients so that I want to
do it. However, you know, yeah, putting some racking in,
putting a couple of shelves up,you know. And yeah, if you
know, I have my senior clients, like I always call them my effection
my grandma clients. Yeah, Ihave my tool bucket with me because they
always need something fixed. Always.Yes, if I could do it,
yes I will do it. Butno, I'm not the electrician. I'm
(14:11):
not the plumber, you know.But if I could do it, I'll
do it. Same here. Howis it for you touring the pandemic briefly?
How was it? How was afraidto Oh, my goodness, that's
a great question. Yeah. Soyeah, when everything shut down, that
marches like I'm sure, like youare, we were all just sitting home,
(14:31):
so I did. I was justdoing videos at the time. I
just kept doing these one two minutevideos, you know, just to have
something to put out there. AndI can't explain well, no, I
can't explain it. Three months laterthe phone started ringing off the hook and
I was literally for over a year, was working almost seven days a week,
(14:54):
and I didn't really think much aboutit in the beginning, but one
I looked back upon it, Ithink it was pretty easy to explain which
is that when I look at itnow, you know, you think about
it. Everything was shut down.So nobody was going out. Nobody was
going, yeah, they're getting apaycheck, they're going to work and work
remotely. But there's no restaurants,there's no sporting events, there's no place
(15:16):
for people to spend their money.And now they're stuck in the house.
So all the things that they lookedat, whether it was the garage,
at the closet, it doesn't matterwhat room, they're looking at their house.
And now they're going, I'm stuckin the house and I can't even
stand my own house. And thephone just kept ringing and people were calling
up, I need this fixed,I need that organizing, and I just
(15:37):
I was like okay, and Ijust it was like, like I said,
six almost sometimes sometimes seven days aweek. I was out with clients
one on one, you know,I mean we wore the masks, wore
the gloves, you know, wedid everything that we could be safe.
But it got it was crazy forover a year, Wow, said,
I didn't organize for a year.And then when the vaccinations came, like
(15:58):
a LA was really shut and itwas like bad. Yeah. And then
when my clients were not. Theyweren't even They were like, don't come
to my house. So they werelike not into it. But then when
the back stations are happening, thenI was busy, Like you said,
the office were I was like,okay, all of a sudden, my
my my group of clients were like, okay, now we're ready, and
you're right, we're home. Wesee everything. Everything's to get fixed.
(16:22):
Yes, So I do understand that, So I'm glad you. But I
just thought that us on the coast, especially New York State, California,
we were like it was very muchshut down. There was a lot of
stuff going on. You know.I think people I had a few clients
they were I had people on bothends of the spectrum. You know.
Some people were like really, youknow, super like you gotta stay away
(16:47):
from me, and and but theybut they're like, I want you to
work, but you can't come nearme. I'm like, all right,
we'll figure it out. You know, we'll figure it out. We'll figure
it out. I'll figure it out, you know. And I you know,
I I wore to booties and II wore sometimes it wore the suits.
I mean, listen if That's whatmade them comfortable. People were still
well because you know, listen,people were still living. You know,
(17:08):
I still have people that, hey, I'm moving. I know we're going
to move a pandemic, but Ihave to move. Okay. Well,
you know, then we got tofigure out how do we do this safely
so everybody's comfortable, and we madeit work. I know the people they
were just like, ah, whatever, just come on over. Yeah that's
true. So whatever, you know, whatever floated their boat. You know,
(17:29):
last night so fast, I said, I only have four short time
folks, but I wanted to bringit back on it because I just I'm
a big fan. This is aboutme now, I shel So you have
followed me, but seriously, youhave fouled me almost almost ten years?
What is you see me come fromthis? This? Those small things where
I am today? So like,what are some of your thoughts about me?
When you see my stuff online?Wow? You know what? You
(17:52):
always amazed me because I mean,well, yeah, we're connected on social
media obviously on several platforms. Soyou know, over the years, whether
we've actually spoken or not, doesn'tyou know we've still connected. We've still
stayed connected. And I had youknow, you had the show. I
remember at one point you were doingI have this vague memory of you doing
some kind of like red carpet interviewing. I know, uh oh, yeah,
(18:18):
that's right. I remember for awhile as while I was following you
because you were I guess like documentingwhen you were having the Bell's Polesy.
Yes, right, so I wasfollowing you on. Now. I was
very concerned about you then, becauseyou know, I know, things weren't
you know, in the best.Yeah, you know, I see you
doing ten times, you know,and I read it and because of you,
I actually read about what Bell's Polesyis. You never heard of that,
(18:41):
yeah, so I well I readabout it because when I saw that
you had it, I got concerned. I said, oh, what's wrong
with him? And I said,well, let me read about what this
is. And I said, it'srecoverable. Okay, good, he's got
there's a chance here. He's goingto come out of this. He's got
to come out of it. AndI saw it you did. I was
so happy for you. I knowyou've had some you know, other issues
in your life, losses and thingsof that nature, but so you just
(19:02):
you know, and I've seen youtraveling around and you've been from California back
to your hometown in Pittsburgh, andyou know, and again, I just
I love following you on social mediabecause I always feel like you're just You're
all over. You know, you'renot corned in one little place. Shit.
You know, You're always moving around. And I'm really impressed me.
You know, I just kind ofI'm on the road and I'm just let
(19:23):
me go to organized. You know. It's why I always like following you.
I kind of live like cariously insome way through you know, your
life. I lived my life throughyou was I was just I'm always curious,
I say, cause people find youguys, I see you know me
for a long time and always thinkwhat think about me? As I always
post all this stuff, and youknow, I was on Jimmy Kimmel and
I was only through things. I'mlike, I do they how do they
(19:47):
make the connections? Man? I'mimpressed. I'm trying. I'm trying for
our industry. I'm trying. Andso you're still You're in the circle.
So that will never I will neverleave, I tell you. I think
a long time ago. But Vinny, thank you so much for it coming
on the show and just being afriend to the show and a friend of
me obvious years. No, Jane'smy pleasure. I just love the fact
that you and I have just stayconnected for so long, and and you
(20:08):
know, even though we've never metin person, it doesn't matter, you
know, it doesn't matter at somepoint, you know what, at some
point you one hundred percent right,you gotta do it. Uh So,
tell folks where you can find theOrganized Guy and all that. I want
them to follow you, and I'llput it in the great thank you.
So you go to my website,it's the Organized Guy dot com. You
(20:33):
can also find me on Facebook atthe Organized Guy, Instagram The Organized at
the Organized Guy. Those are reallythe best places to find me. Google,
just I guess you find me wherever. Just put the Organized Guy in
your search and I'm usually gonna popup with you like it, and I
(20:53):
you're like me Organized at the OrganizedGuy. We are we're first page,
folks, the first page on Google. So don't worry his first page are
Google. You'll find him, youknow, so you can. I love
what I do. I know youfeel exactly the same way because I know
at the end of the day.We and you, I know you agree
with this is that you know wedo make a difference. And I really
(21:15):
believe that's that's why any organizer shouldbe in this business, is because they
make a difference in their clients' lives. Yes, I agree. And also
if you want education and camaraderie,there's also NAPO dot nets you can check
it out out the Association a ProfessorOrganizer Well Productivity and Organizing. There's also
I c D. There's Native Man, There's a bunch of there's a bunch
(21:36):
of different organizations that are highly respectedand have all kinds of things in the
organizing world. So check all ofthose out. Uh. I'm James LOUNGNR
and you can foind me. We'reall. James Nier is a soul that
James lot Junior on all social platforms. Super Organizers there too, jlj Meidia
is there also and a lot ofhelp dot com slash super Organizer. We'll
see you all next time. Thanksfor joining us.
Hi, everybody. This was JamesLot Junior. This is the ser Show
with James Lot Junior. I'm thesuper organizer and I'm here. You know,
folks, I to bring back formerguests. But first I want to
tell you first is February twentieth,twenty twenty four. We're heading towards March.
What's going on here? It's aleap week now, Well, next
week's sleep week. Next week isleap this week, next week is leap
(00:24):
week. They have a leap dayand I have some Leap Day stuff coming
up, so stay tuned on JailJimminya for that. But I decided to
bring a former guest. Well,I say it the other day on my
show Guess two weeks ago, Yeah, two weeks ago. I said,
he's one of the people that cameon my show eight years ago the first
time when I rebooted my show,Change, I changed the name a little
(00:44):
bit and changed the dates or whatever. And he's been on a couple of
times since that, but it's beena while since you've been on. H
He's the organized guy. He's fromthe East Coast. He always says he
covers the East Coast. I coveredthe West Coast. It's Vinnie Jack Coloney.
Hi Vinnie, how are you?It is no good? All right?
So before we do this, Iwrit thanks some gratitude, and I
want to give my thanks and gratitudeto NAPO San Diego. I just spoke
(01:07):
at their their chapter meeting. Italked about self care and super organizer and
we had the oh I got.We had the best time. And I
want to I really gratude because usualthe question answer appearance like five ten minutes.
It went on for an hour.Uh so apparently liked what I said.
I liked what my the interest ofmy life. So to all the
ladies and gentlemen who came, andto Bethel Swift to as the chapter president,
(01:30):
and to everybody who just which isso wonderful to me. They put
me up at the at the DanaMission Bay Hotel in San Diego, which
I didn't want to leave, sogratituded them too. I had a good
extra day there relaxing in the sun. Gratitude for the West Coast, and
thank you so much. And Iwant to thank all of them for their
support. All the chapters always supportme. I've spoken at many chapters.
(01:53):
I'm available for speaking to you.Okay, that's done, all right.
So Vinnie were talking beforehand and afterI want to talk because because he was
asking me some questions, I wantto answer them on camera so people kind
of know what's going on too thathe knew when I started out on the
radio on Adrenaline Radio dot Com.I feel like it's like a ten thousand
years ago. I reached out tohim, he reached back, well,
(02:15):
a few guys in the business,a few of us running around, and
we came in. So do youremember, do you remember that time period
when I came I reached out towell, you shocked those another old male
organized. I can't remember back thenwhat you thought. Yeah, no,
I agree. I mean I'm inan April member now, almost ten years.
So yeah, when I look onthe directory, you know, it's
(02:38):
very rare that you see men popup. And I remember how exactly you
and I hooked up. I thinkwe were getting I think I saw a
thread that came through, like youknow, the NAPO point. I think
that's where I found you, andthen you and I just connected and it's
been that way ever since. Soyou know, yeah, that's where started.
(03:00):
Yeah, I mean, because Ihad the only radio show in organizing.
I mean, ever, I stillstill have it. Rowing one person
had it, but yeah, Ithink we saw trying to threat. I
was like, man, I thinkI was like, I need you come
on here. You know, you'rea man us talk because I mean it's
a female dominated industry, and Imean, and they started it, and
so we came in on it.And I remember your your and you were
(03:23):
different than me in terms of yourapproach to the business. What you offer
compared to mine. Can you explainto folks what the who the what the
organized guy offers? You know?And James, I still believe that it's
the same thing. I still offerthat difference in this industry of being a
male, and it's a positive thing. I mean, listen, there are
(03:46):
a lot of great women in thisindustry. I give them tons of credit
for everything that they do and whatthey bring to the table. And I
understand in many respects why this isa female dominated industry in terms of how
women approach things versus men. Imean, let's face it, you know,
we're men a little more rougher onthe edges in many ways. However,
(04:09):
that doesn't change the fact that wecan't be compassionate. We can't exhibit
the same feelings of empathy and sympathyfor our clients and their situations. But
that little difference I have, Andagain this is believe me, this is
not a knock against any of anyof the ladies in our group, is
that I truly do get asked todo a little more of what I always
(04:29):
call the heavy lifting type projects.You know, so when the garage comes
up, it's like, you know, it just seems like I'm a perfect
fit for that. I'll do themall day long. But I do really
anything under the roof of the house. Yeah, it's one of those things
where we've had to kind of proveourselves a little bit that we are that
anybody can organize. No matter whatgender you can do. Both matter what
(04:53):
age you can you can't organize.But I know we do think differently,
Yes, we do different and Iand I know I do. And but
I always say because I used tobe a nurse, so I helped me
a little bit. And I alsohave daughters. That helps a little bit
too. And you have a daughter, it does help. It does a
moment you know how to react tothat. But I like you said that
(05:15):
men also can be compassionate and empatheticand sympathetic. And I know about for
you, but I know for someof my female clients, they're just like
having a male around to kind ofhere, except the same for you too.
Yeah, No, I do findthat that as well. I think,
(05:35):
you know, with some of mymy female clients, I think they
feel a little sense of comfort,you know, But I do attribute that
to well, honestly, I feellike I'm pretty I'm a pretty good listener,
and I think at the foundation ofwhat we do, Jeames, you
have to listen to what these peopleare talking about, because it's not always
(05:56):
about oh, you know, lookmy closets all clogged up. Okay,
fine, that's a visual we couldsee that. But I think it's what's
most important is you really have tolisten, whether it's male or female,
what their problem is, because youknow, like you said, you're doing
this as long as I have.I'm in the mindset that, especially with
my repeat clients, inevitably, ifyou're listening, if you're listening deeply to
(06:23):
them, you always get the backstoryof what's really happening and what's causing the
visual clutter that they have going on. In their lives. Whatever it is,
there's always a backstory and that's reallywhere the rubber meets the road in
terms of how you can really helpmake a difference in their life. But
you have to listen to your clients. I teach a course on active listening.
(06:46):
So it's funny you say I do. It's a it's it's a really
serious thing. Actually, when youcoach your clients, you have to listen.
And now I say listen, you'relistening with your eyes, listening with
your ears, thing with their bodylanguage. You're listening. It's like you're
watching you if you're listening. Andsometimes the things they don't say that you
(07:06):
have to hear. So I thinkit's I love that you said that.
I guess for anybody. It's greatadvice for anybody, any new organizers in
there, just you know, areany new coaches out there, just like
listening is a great thing, andactually doing this business has made me a
better listener outside. Oh yeah,I agree one hundred percent. You know,
it's funny you say that you teachclasses in that because I took a
(07:28):
class, became a staff member andalso a director of one through the Boy
Scouts. You know, many manyyears ago. And one of the segments,
the modules, because it's a leadershipdevelopment course, one of the modules
on it was about active listening andcommunication and two way communication. So you
know, I use those tools andthey work and they and it really does
(07:53):
make you, I believe, morevaluable to your clients because you now become
that trusted advisor, you know.And it's so in the case is if
I think about any of the clientsthat I have, that I have ongoing
and I've got, you know,like like I'm sure you do you have
you know, I have a handfulof clients have had for years. And
it's funny is that, you knowwhen I tell other people not their names,
(08:16):
you know, we all protect theinnocent our industry, but I have
business associates or you know, peoplethat come across and they're actually very surprised
though from the time they said,you actually have someone that you work with
for years and I go, yeah, so, well, what are you
doing with them? And I said, that's what you don't understand. It's
yes, we're working, we're organizing, we have projects to do. But
(08:37):
some of these people, it becomeswhich I'm sure you can appreciate therapeutic.
You know, you're you're the soundingboard. You're listening and some of these
people have, you know, maybeno family or they don't have a good
connection with their family, and essence, you become kind of the quasi therapist,
the quasi family member, and soyou know, you can't to score
(09:00):
that and minimize that. It's hugeto be able to gain that kind of
insight and trust with your clients.Well, I try to explain to somebody,
to a new person, I gogonna go, how do you have
Basically it's retention, So how doyou have retention? That's a total business
thing. I go. But ifyou if you organize them and don't you
guys don't understand life changes m hm. So they're married, one of one
(09:24):
of the the husband dies. Youmean not to sound more of it,
but you want them to think ofyou to help with that process. Or
they're single when you first meet them, and they get married at some point,
you want them to think of youfor downside or they have to downsize,
or they're retiring, or they havea child or a child leaves like
(09:46):
you want them to. You wantthem to we not work with them every
single day all the time. Butyou want them when they need you for
a project. Vinnie got it.I'm gonna call it Vinnie so and so
moving out. We gotta get gottahelp us with a pack. That's kind
of the point, right, AndI think, and if you're if you're
good, like like a plumber ora gardener or an electrician, you like
it. You don't work with themevery day, but she could work with
(10:09):
them for years. I mean,I have clients I've had for at least
ten I think I have one client. I think it's at thirteen years fifteen.
Just when life changes or they moveor get a new job, and
like it's I'm right there, theycall you. They call you. Oh,
I just had that happen to me. In December, I sent out
you know, my email blast toyou know, my my list. And
(10:31):
I had a client who hired meeight years ago, right after her parents
had passed, and I helped her, you know, downsize the house because
she had to get it cleaned outto be sold. Well, lo and
behold, she got my email blastand she contacts me and she says,
you know, she goes, I'vebeen thinking about you and thinking about you.
She goes, I haven't picked upthe phone, she goes, I
(10:52):
got your email. She goes,guess what I'm like? Okay here and
I and she was. I lovedworking with her. She was so much
fun. Yes, she said,well, I had some stuff left off
my parents' house and I put itin storage. Yeah for eight years.
Of course that happens. Of course, So now I'm working with her again
because the goal is to get toclean, you know, make decisions on
(11:13):
this stuff and get rid of thestorage. You have to save her money.
She lives in the city and she'sgot a storage unit out here on
the island. But to your point, it was that I you know again,
eight years went by, eight yearsand then it just you know,
she gets my email, you know, my my newsletter last and next you
(11:35):
know, the phone gets picked upand she goes, I need to see
you again. So you're one hundredpercent right. You want them to think
about you. And it clicked inher head and she realized that she had
to make a change because life isshifting again. And I got the call.
Yeah, I've eased, be fortunate. I tosse my one before it.
Yeah, I do. Those littleemail things are little a little rest
(11:56):
a while too. It was ohmy god, yes I remember, yes,
can I need you? I needyou or my friend needs you.
I was thinking about your name.I can remember your phone number. My
friend could use it. I'm gladyou contacted. A lot of the lot
times are happening to hear from youand just even say hi. They're like,
oh, yeah, you doing.I'll be checking out how you're doing
over there, what's going on?And they'll say fine. But I just
think that there's life is always movingand changing, and you're not. You're
(12:20):
not. We're not here to curenobody. That's not the thing. We
can organize and then that's it,see you later. Our job is done.
It's like, well no, it'shopefully they're empowered to continue organization.
But I'm saying that the things docome up so that this is a maintenance
issue. And I mean I wouldbe like, I was busy for five
(12:41):
months and also my clot's mess.Can you help me kind of get it
back into shape, freshen it up. That's that's fine you, I mean,
that's that happens. Also, there'sone thing that you were doing,
I don't do I have that becauseyou were like full service, so you
like I look at when we talkedlast time, you're also you would be
like my garage and building closets orbuild back closets, shelves and put It's
(13:03):
like, I don't do that,but so you do have sometimes too,
right, you could like organize thecloset, organize the garage and say,
okay, I can put some shelvesup to me to right. Yeah,
Like I tell people, listen,you know, I'm not a carpenter,
okay, but I do know mymy the right end of a hammer.
I'm honest with my clients. Ijust lay it out to them and based
on you know, they tell mewhat they they want, and if it's
(13:24):
in my wheelhouse, yes I willdo it, you know I I you
know, so to the extreme.Yeah, I've had clients or leads call
me up and they say, oh, I really want some cabinets installed.
I tell my listen, all therespect, it's not what I do.
And really, honestly, James,I I've learned over almost being in business
ten years with this that I it'snot really what I want to do.
(13:48):
So I don't really push that servicewith my clients so that I want to
do it. However, you know, yeah, putting some racking in,
putting a couple of shelves up,you know. And yeah, if you
know, I have my senior clients, like I always call them my effection
my grandma clients. Yeah, Ihave my tool bucket with me because they
always need something fixed. Always.Yes, if I could do it,
yes I will do it. Butno, I'm not the electrician. I'm
(14:11):
not the plumber, you know.But if I could do it, I'll
do it. Same here. Howis it for you touring the pandemic briefly?
How was it? How was afraidto Oh, my goodness, that's
a great question. Yeah. Soyeah, when everything shut down, that
marches like I'm sure, like youare, we were all just sitting home,
(14:31):
so I did. I was justdoing videos at the time. I
just kept doing these one two minutevideos, you know, just to have
something to put out there. AndI can't explain well, no, I
can't explain it. Three months laterthe phone started ringing off the hook and
I was literally for over a year, was working almost seven days a week,
(14:54):
and I didn't really think much aboutit in the beginning, but one
I looked back upon it, Ithink it was pretty easy to explain which
is that when I look at itnow, you know, you think about
it. Everything was shut down.So nobody was going out. Nobody was
going, yeah, they're getting apaycheck, they're going to work and work
remotely. But there's no restaurants,there's no sporting events, there's no place
(15:16):
for people to spend their money.And now they're stuck in the house.
So all the things that they lookedat, whether it was the garage,
at the closet, it doesn't matterwhat room, they're looking at their house.
And now they're going, I'm stuckin the house and I can't even
stand my own house. And thephone just kept ringing and people were calling
up, I need this fixed,I need that organizing, and I just
(15:37):
I was like okay, and Ijust it was like, like I said,
six almost sometimes sometimes seven days aweek. I was out with clients
one on one, you know,I mean we wore the masks, wore
the gloves, you know, wedid everything that we could be safe.
But it got it was crazy forover a year, Wow, said,
I didn't organize for a year.And then when the vaccinations came, like
(15:58):
a LA was really shut and itwas like bad. Yeah. And then
when my clients were not. Theyweren't even They were like, don't come
to my house. So they werelike not into it. But then when
the back stations are happening, thenI was busy, Like you said,
the office were I was like,okay, all of a sudden, my
my my group of clients were like, okay, now we're ready, and
you're right, we're home. Wesee everything. Everything's to get fixed.
(16:22):
Yes, So I do understand that, So I'm glad you. But I
just thought that us on the coast, especially New York State, California,
we were like it was very muchshut down. There was a lot of
stuff going on. You know.I think people I had a few clients
they were I had people on bothends of the spectrum. You know.
Some people were like really, youknow, super like you gotta stay away
(16:47):
from me, and and but theybut they're like, I want you to
work, but you can't come nearme. I'm like, all right,
we'll figure it out. You know, we'll figure it out. We'll figure
it out. I'll figure it out, you know. And I you know,
I I wore to booties and II wore sometimes it wore the suits.
I mean, listen if That's whatmade them comfortable. People were still
well because you know, listen,people were still living. You know,
(17:08):
I still have people that, hey, I'm moving. I know we're going
to move a pandemic, but Ihave to move. Okay. Well,
you know, then we got tofigure out how do we do this safely
so everybody's comfortable, and we madeit work. I know the people they
were just like, ah, whatever, just come on over. Yeah that's
true. So whatever, you know, whatever floated their boat. You know,
(17:29):
last night so fast, I said, I only have four short time
folks, but I wanted to bringit back on it because I just I'm
a big fan. This is aboutme now, I shel So you have
followed me, but seriously, youhave fouled me almost almost ten years?
What is you see me come fromthis? This? Those small things where
I am today? So like,what are some of your thoughts about me?
When you see my stuff online?Wow? You know what? You
(17:52):
always amazed me because I mean,well, yeah, we're connected on social
media obviously on several platforms. Soyou know, over the years, whether
we've actually spoken or not, doesn'tyou know we've still connected. We've still
stayed connected. And I had youknow, you had the show. I
remember at one point you were doingI have this vague memory of you doing
some kind of like red carpet interviewing. I know, uh oh, yeah,
(18:18):
that's right. I remember for awhile as while I was following you
because you were I guess like documentingwhen you were having the Bell's Polesy.
Yes, right, so I wasfollowing you on. Now. I was
very concerned about you then, becauseyou know, I know, things weren't
you know, in the best.Yeah, you know, I see you
doing ten times, you know,and I read it and because of you,
I actually read about what Bell's Polesyis. You never heard of that,
(18:41):
yeah, so I well I readabout it because when I saw that
you had it, I got concerned. I said, oh, what's wrong
with him? And I said,well, let me read about what this
is. And I said, it'srecoverable. Okay, good, he's got
there's a chance here. He's goingto come out of this. He's got
to come out of it. AndI saw it you did. I was
so happy for you. I knowyou've had some you know, other issues
in your life, losses and thingsof that nature, but so you just
(19:02):
you know, and I've seen youtraveling around and you've been from California back
to your hometown in Pittsburgh, andyou know, and again, I just
I love following you on social mediabecause I always feel like you're just You're
all over. You know, you'renot corned in one little place. Shit.
You know, You're always moving around. And I'm really impressed me.
You know, I just kind ofI'm on the road and I'm just let
(19:23):
me go to organized. You know. It's why I always like following you.
I kind of live like cariously insome way through you know, your
life. I lived my life throughyou was I was just I'm always curious,
I say, cause people find youguys, I see you know me
for a long time and always thinkwhat think about me? As I always
post all this stuff, and youknow, I was on Jimmy Kimmel and
I was only through things. I'mlike, I do they how do they
(19:47):
make the connections? Man? I'mimpressed. I'm trying. I'm trying for
our industry. I'm trying. Andso you're still You're in the circle.
So that will never I will neverleave, I tell you. I think
a long time ago. But Vinny, thank you so much for it coming
on the show and just being afriend to the show and a friend of
me obvious years. No, Jane'smy pleasure. I just love the fact
that you and I have just stayconnected for so long, and and you
(20:08):
know, even though we've never metin person, it doesn't matter, you
know, it doesn't matter at somepoint, you know what, at some
point you one hundred percent right,you gotta do it. Uh So,
tell folks where you can find theOrganized Guy and all that. I want
them to follow you, and I'llput it in the great thank you.
So you go to my website,it's the Organized Guy dot com. You
(20:33):
can also find me on Facebook atthe Organized Guy, Instagram The Organized at
the Organized Guy. Those are reallythe best places to find me. Google,
just I guess you find me wherever. Just put the Organized Guy in
your search and I'm usually gonna popup with you like it, and I
(20:53):
you're like me Organized at the OrganizedGuy. We are we're first page,
folks, the first page on Google. So don't worry his first page are
Google. You'll find him, youknow, so you can. I love
what I do. I know youfeel exactly the same way because I know
at the end of the day.We and you, I know you agree
with this is that you know wedo make a difference. And I really
(21:15):
believe that's that's why any organizer shouldbe in this business, is because they
make a difference in their clients' lives. Yes, I agree. And also
if you want education and camaraderie,there's also NAPO dot nets you can check
it out out the Association a ProfessorOrganizer Well Productivity and Organizing. There's also
I c D. There's Native Man, There's a bunch of there's a bunch
(21:36):
of different organizations that are highly respectedand have all kinds of things in the
organizing world. So check all ofthose out. Uh. I'm James LOUNGNR
and you can foind me. We'reall. James Nier is a soul that
James lot Junior on all social platforms. Super Organizers there too, jlj Meidia
is there also and a lot ofhelp dot com slash super Organizer. We'll
see you all next time. Thanksfor joining us.
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