Organizers and coaches are in helping profession industries. Our clients reach out for our help in a variety of ways from navigating challenges to organizing space, thoughts, and time to discovering new perspectives. We are passionate about helping our clients succeed and grow. I was curious about what early influences encouraged my colleagues to enter their profession. To understand more I reached out to this generous, compassionate group of organizers and coaches – Andrea Sharb, Aby Garvey, Ellen Delap, Yota Schneider, and Seana Turner. I asked them, “What childhood influences led you to enter a helping profession?” Their responses are inspiring. My deepest gratitude goes to each of them for sharing their personal stories with us.

I asked my colleagues . . .

What childhood influences led you to enter a helping profession? . . .

Watching Others

“My parents were definitely the biggest influence.  As a child my mom volunteered in my school and for various non-profits.  As I grew, I watched both mom & dad volunteer at church and for organizations like the United Way.  Now in their seventies, they still value volunteering and still give countless hours in support of organizations and causes important to them.  I watched and learned.  When I left my previous career to become a full-time mom I began a regular practice of volunteering myself and the volunteering provided for a very natural progression into a helping profession eight years ago.”

Andrea Sharb, CPO-CD®, ACC®, COC®, CPO® – Professional Organizer & Productivity/ADHD Coach

Cultivating Interests

“I don't recall any particular person or outside influence that led me to enter a helping profession. Instead, I remember being innately interested in two particular helping careers, teaching and nursing. As I child I also loved organizing my closet and rearranging my room. Today I have combined two of those early interests, teaching and organizing, into a career that allows me to help people learn new skills and make meaningful changes in their lives.” 

Aby Garvey – Professional Organizer, Author & Online Class Instructor 

Modeling Values

“From as early as I can remember, serving and helping others has been a focus of my family.  As a child and teen, my parents always suggested ways for us to be involved, including Girl Scouts and Candy Stripers.  In college there were many ways to ‘give back’ including Gold Key Guides giving tours to perspective students.  My parents were committed community members, modeling involvement.  Giving back and philanthropy are a family trait.”

Ellen Delap, CPO® – Certified Professional Organizer, Productivity Consultant & Blogger

Overcoming Adversity

“Where do I begin? Maybe with the heartache of growing up with a twin sister who was handicapped. I spent my childhood trying to somehow set things right for everyone. That turned out to be quite an impossible goal and a heavy burden that I had to contend with my entire life. Eventually, and after many years of inner work, I realized that helping isn't about setting things right for others. Instead I could use my skills, creativity, and personal experience to help my clients own who they are and blossom.”

Yota Schneider – Life Coach, & Mentor & Blogger

Practicing Joy

“I was lucky enough to have adults in my young life who gave me the opportunity to bless others: by bringing a meal, holding a door open, sharing clothes, or simply visiting a homebound person. What I observed is that few things lift our spirits like getting our focus off of ourselves and onto someone else! Discovering that the very thing I LOVE doing brings pleasure and relief to others is frosting on the cake.  It is the unwritten law of the universe – in doing what we do best, and sharing it, we find our deepest joy.”

Seana Turner – Professional Organizer, Blogger & Life Coach

It’s fascinating how deep the desire to help runs and the obvious joy we derive from helping others. What have your experiences been? Are you more comfortable giving or receiving help? Are you equally comfortable in both roles? I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation!

What motivates you to act? What gets you from point A to point B? I’ve got my list. You’ve got yours. I’ll share mine. Come and share yours.

Linda’s Top 10 Motivators

1. Crossing It Off

Oh, yes! Give me a piece of paper and a red pen. Just knowing that I get to steer the pen through the “to do,” can be motivation in itself to get it done.

2. Anticipating Treat

Knowing that a “sweet treat” break (like ice cream or chocolate) is on the other side can motivate me to finish.

3. Upcoming Deadline

Using a timer, a calendar, or an appointment that imposes a fixed timeframe for completion can work motivational wonders.

4. Promising Others

Following through on my commitments and staying true to my word motivates me to action.

5. Promising Self

Accountability works when I’m accountable not just to others but also to myself. Setting goals motivates me to move forward.

6. Conjuring Up Fun

When fun is involved in the doing, it draws me in and motivates me to action.

7. Reducing Pain

If not doing is causing me stress or pain, it motivates me to move forward.

8. Harnessing Nice Days

I wake up more motivated and productive on clear, sun-filled days. I like to take advantage of that when possible.

9. Calling It Quits

There’s point of no return when productivity declines. It’s like pushing a wet noodle. I’m too tired, too stressed, and too too. It’s time to stop and relax so that I can become motivation-ready once again.

10. Cheering You On

I can experience a motivation surge when I’m close but not quite done with a project or task. The “You can do it!” cheer plays over and over in my head until I reach the finish line.

Do any of these motivators work for you? Do you have a different list? Come join the conversation. I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.

It’s time again to share our popular “Ask the Expert” interview series that connects you with dynamic thought leaders. This year we’ve spoken with Harold Taylor about time management, Erin Rooney Doland about clutter, Francine Jay about letting go, Todd Henry about next steps, Dr. Debbie Grove about change, and Joshua Becker about fresh starts. For July, I’m excited to have with us prolific author, speaker, and learning and human development expert, Dr. Thomas Armstrong to share his insights about motivation.

I had the pleasure of meeting Thomas almost two years ago when he spoke about Neurodiversity at the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD) conference in Denver. He’s a fabulous presenter who is knowledgeable and engaging. My gratitude goes to Thomas for taking the time from his busy travel schedule to join us. When we communicated this past spring, he was just returning from being away for a month lecturing in Abu Dhabi. Before we begin, here’s more about him.

Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D. is the Executive Director of the American Institute for Learning and Human Development, an award-winning author and speaker, and an educator for forty years. Over one million copies of his books are in print on issues related to learning and human development. He’s written fifteen books including The Myth of the A.D.D. Child and 7 Kinds of Smart. Dr. Armstrong has given over 900 keynotes and workshops in 44 states and 23 countries. You can connect with him on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, blog or website.

Linda Samuels:How has your expertise in neurodiversity and multiple intelligences influenced your ideas about motivation?

Thomas Armstrong, Ph.D.:  It’s clear to me that students are much more likely to be motivated to learn if they have an opportunity to learn using their most highly developed and/or most highly preferred intelligences.  Similarly, if a student has special needs (LD, ADHD, Autism etc.), they are more likely to be motivated in school if they are helped to learn using their strengths, rather than their weaknesses.  By focusing on words and numbers in the schools (rather than pictures, the body, music, nature etc.), we’re cutting off natural motivational channels for many kids.  And by employing a deficit orientation for kids with special needs, rather than a diversity perspective, we’re making it harder for these kids to get motivated.

Linda:  What motivates us to change?

Thomas: I’ve always liked Abraham Maslow’s schema on motivation, which he shared in the chapter ‘’Defense and Growth’’ in his book Toward a Psychology of Being.  He says you become motivated to change when a) you minimize the dangers of making a change, b) you maximize the dangers of not changing; c) you maximize the advantages of making a change, d) you minimize the advantages of not changing.  It’s a simple, elegant formula that anyone can use to develop a willingness to take a new job, exercise, not smoke, learn a new language, enter a new relationship, and so forth.

Linda:  What is one common motivation obstacle and a strategy for overcoming it?

Thomas:  Fear or anxiety seems to me to be the primary hurdle. There are many good strategies for overcoming fear/anxiety including meditation, strenuous exercise, psychotherapy, progressive relaxation, visualization, and yoga, just to name a few. I’ve used all of them, and to good effect.

Linda:  What has been your biggest personal motivation challenge?

Thomas: I’d prefer not to dig that deep into my past, but one very big personal challenge for me in the past several years has been my desire to write a novel.  I started sketching notes for a novel in 1990, began in earnest on it in the early 2000’s, and have been working intermittently on it ever since.  I’ve had to confront my own self-doubts about my ability to write fiction, my own difficulty in moving over from my left hemisphere (non-fiction) to my right hemisphere (novel), and my general difficulty in facing an empty page and moving into the unknown. I’m happy to report that I completed the first rough draft of my 120,000-word novel just last month while I was working in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. I celebrated by having lunch at Hemingway’s, a restaurant at the hotel dedicated to one of America’s greatest novelists.  Now, on to the revisions!

Linda:  What is your most surprising discovery about motivation?

Thomas: That you have to keep on re-motivating yourself. Motivation is not just one long surge. At least for me, it comes in spurts, and in different ways, and I guess, surprisingly for me, through dreams (which really helped motivate me to write my novel).

Linda:  What else would you like to add?

Thomas: So many parents ask:  how can I motivate my child to learn?  This is the wrong question. Your child was born with a natural motivation to learn, otherwise our species would have gone extinct. The question is, how do we re-motivate our kids, how do we reconnect them back to that intrinsic love of learning that they were born with. Here’s a hint:  tests, grades, ‘’rigorous’’ and demanding coursework, labeling, tracking, a standardized curriculum – these are not the ways!

Thomas, I love the positive, strengths-based approach you have about motivation and learning. Working from a place that energizes us makes so much sense whether we’re a child or an adult. Thank you also for highlighting Abraham Maslow’s model on motivation and change. Those ideas along with the strategies you shared for overcoming motivation obstacles are so helpful. I’m sure they’ll resonate with my readers.

Please join Thomas and me as we continue the conversation. Share your ideas about motivation, strengths-based being, and change. What are your thoughts?

What’s preventing you from letting go? Are you encumbered by cluttered thoughts, schedules, and spaces? If you’re struggling with letting go, you’re not alone. While this is a “hot” media topic, it’s also something that my clients frequently experience. If you want be motivated to let go of clutter, perhaps a perspective from one of these articles or interviews will provide the nudge you need. 

Understanding

“The Psychology of Clutter,” in The Wall Street Journal article I was recently interviewed for, talks about the “many powerful emotions that are lurking amid stuff we keep.” Challenges with letting go can cause overwhelm, anxiety, perfectionism, and procrastination. Understanding why it’s so difficult to allow our things to move on and practicing self-compassion can provide motivation to let go. Click here to read the article.

Questioning

Michael Cohen, radio host at WILS 1320 AM asked me in a recent interview, “How can you to get a grip on clutter?” We talked about setting boundaries and asking questions like:

• Do I need it?
• Do I want it?
• Do I use it?
• Can someone else use it instead?
• Is my “stuff” preventing me from living the life that I want?

Asking questions like these can provide not only answers, but the motivation needed to let go. Click here to listen to my interview.

Considering

By recognizing the potential harm caused to self or others by not making decisions can be an impetus to let go. This is highlighted in The New York Times article, “Firefighters Have Name for Deathtrap Homes.” While the piece is about an extreme hoarding situation, it underscores the tragic outcome about what can potentially happen if letting go is postponed. Click here to read the article.

By understanding, questioning, and considering more about our clutter, our attachments, and our things, we have the possibility of letting go and moving forward. I’d love to hear your thoughts. Come join the conversation. What motivates you to let go?