On any given day, Beth Giles may be creating a filing system, lugging tires around a garage or delivering a carload of castoffs to Goodwill. Since 2008 she has parlayed an uncanny gift for organizing homes, offices and moves into a successful business: NW Organizing Solutions.
Her work as a professional organizer is a mission, not just an occupation. And her focus is people more than things.
“Clutter and chaos come from hiccups in life,” she says, “from financial, health, relationship or other challenges.”
Beth helps people bring order and clarity to their surroundings – and achieve more peace within. Though she can deliver “house beautiful” or organize a move at the drop of a hat, she knows that each client’s journey is personal and unique. So she works in a spirit of partnership and dialogue.
“I ask questions that help clients decide what solutions work for them, what things they can let go of and when they’ve reached satisfaction with the results.”
Asked about her proudest moments, she mentions a client whose home was filled to the brim and thought her health was failing.
“She made her first Good Will donation – a basket of just 5 items – 6 weeks into our weekly sessions. But soon, I’d leave her home with my car half full. And after some months, it was crammed every time.”
Eventually the client got a clean bill of health and decided not to move. But the habits of order and simplicity stuck. Now friends, she and Beth have lunch a few times a year and she invites Beth in to “inspect” her home and keep her accountable.
Though a seasoned veteran, Beth never stops learning or sharing her knowledge and insights. She serves on the Board of Directors for the state chapter of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), which holds monthly training events. She is also a member of the National Association of Senior Move Managers. This year she attended a local workshop on hoarding organized by Multnomah County. And the annual NAPO conference in Atlanta included sessions on working with people with ADHD and memory problems. Beth dispenses free advice and tips in two monthly newsletters: Organizing Tips and On the Move.
Not surprisingly, her business runs almost entirely on referrals from happy clients.
“I get so much back from the people I work with – hearing about their lives and how they’ve overcome obstacles. And you wouldn’t believe the number of hugs I get when I finish jobs!”