An Interview With Peter Walsh - Part One

I had read quite a bit about Peter prior to our interview. Mostly about the work he had done, his books and what his does as a speaker and organizer. What I didn’t find, was who is Peter Walsh and how did he get to be the Guru of Organization? I wondered just how he was different from other Professional Organizers and what interested Oprah enough to choose this man to be her expert in helping others to get organized. His background is extremely interesting, as it relates to who Peter is today.

After just ten minutes into my interview with Peter, I knew the answers to my questions. He is no ordinary person and he is no ordinary organizer. Peter can help rid people of their clutter and change their lives, if they are willing. “You must decide what you want from your life”, says Peter. As he continues, he asks his clients to “Talk to me about the life you want for yourself.” Then, Your house? Your space? Immediately, you realize that Walsh is not counting the number of storage bins you need, but helping his clients to understand what they need, want, and what to rid themselves of to allow them to have the life they want for themselves and their families. 
 
What we learned from Peter? Step One:

The first thing you want to do is get a vision of the life you want. If you saw “The Hoarders” Episode on Oprah, you heard Peter say, “if organizing doesn’t start with a vision, it can’t have lasting effects”. If you are seeking order and harmony in your home, the vision becomes a little easier and the stuff becomes less important. Make sense?

How do you begin to get organized?

Begin with just one room. If it is your home office that bothers you, then ask yourself - what you want this room to be and start by removing anything that you don’t need. From there, create the room that you want it to be and add things that make you feel good. Give yourself the tools to keep things in order on and in your desk. You’ll find yourself wanting to spend more time in this room because it feels good. I promise!

NEAT Tip: 
Contain Everything! If everything has a home, it is easier to stay organized. Use drawer organizers, storage boxes on your desk and shelves, media storage for your magazines and label these items. You will find and return them to their designated areas when “it’s easy”.

I would love to hear from you about the steps you’ve taken to begin to organize your life or home. If you have a story to tell or a tip, please share it with me and our readers! 
I wish you success and look forward to your stories.

-Mrs. O 

January 3, 2008 on 7:23 am | In All, Featured Guests, Interviews