An Inspired Chat with Tina Staffon of Los Angeles

We recently had the chance to connect with Tina Staffon and have shared our conversation below.

Good morning Tina, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
Definitely integrity. You can always learn new things to gain intelligence, and find ways to increase your energy, but to me integrity is the cornerstone for my success, in not only business but life.
We work with people on a very intimate level, sorting through personal items. Clients need to be able to trust us and we don’t take that lightly.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My husband Greg and I started our business Home Organizers Plus close to 20 years ago. We both worked in the entertainment industry and after I was laid off, and he retired, we decided to do something together, and more meaningful. We both were highly organized in our industry jobs so we tried our hand at organizing people’s things using those skills. Our business is built on trust and creating a safe environment for clients. We believe that we can improve someone’s life one room at a time. By creating an organized environment, clients can reduce stress, concentrate on important things in life and not have chaos control them.
What makes us unique is that we are a husband and wife team, who work together. Essentially, clients get two organizers for the price of one. Plus, we offer many things other organizers charge for, like no charge for product shopping, travel or research time; or handing donations and hazardous materials.
We recently launched our revamped website in honor of our 20th anniversary, and I have been working on a book that is more of a tell-all of our experiences over the years, rather than a how-to book (there are enough of those).

Okay, so here’s a deep one: What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
I always believed I was too shy as a child, and not able to publicly speak. I would avoid talking in front of others at all costs. I even would wait until after class to ask the teacher questions in school because I didn’t want anyone looking at me.
That changed when I became an adjunct professor as an adult. I was sort of thrown into teaching and quickly learned that I couldn’t worry about who was looking at me! I would just tell myself that I knew more than they did, and if I didn’t know something, I’d find out.
Feeling a sense of confidence in my abilities projects a sense of calm for our clients.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
Yes, about one year into our business, I felt like I wanted to go back to work in television. I ended up getting a job at Universal but after one day, I realized the TV industry wasn’t for me anymore, and I quit. I realized how important it was working one-on-one with someone who really needed my help. There is something so gratifying being able to turn chaos into calm. We often equate ourselves to doctors: We’ve seen it all, organized it all, and changed the lives of people who couldn’t find any other way to achieve balance on their own. I’m thankful for all my prior experience and feel all of it has contributed to my ability to organize so I’m glad I never gave up on it.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes, the public version is the real me. I believe in living authentically. I walk the walk and talk the talk. Our home is extremely organized, and I use many of the same products in our home that I use in clients homes. I believe in being hands on, getting to know people even if we don’t end up working with them on an organizing project.

Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Could you give everything your best, even if no one ever praised you for it?
Absolutely. We often make things look easy. Clients don’t see the preparation that goes into a session, and I like it that way. I want them to shine and be the star when we work. I want them to feel empowered by the process. I do this because it gives me genuine satisfaction and while praise is nice, it’s not something I need in return to feel like I’ve made a difference.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.homeorganizersplus.com
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeOrganizersPlus/
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/home-organizers-plus-los-angeles-2
• Other: Expertise.com
  https://www.expertise.com/home-improvement/home-organizers/california/los-angeles