About Jessica
Jessica Overseeing an Interior Makeover of Women's Empowerment 2006, Sacramento, CA
The End is the Beginning
Ten years ago, I had moved back to California from living abroad in the UK, was working at the small business of an acquaintance streamlining and documenting their systems so they could open another branch when something happened which changed my life forever. My acquaintance said to me,
“Jessica, you’ll never get the kind of freedom and responsibility you want unless you have your own business.” Not 10 days later I quit the job and started my own practice.
What Do I Call It ? Professional Organizing? Sure, That Sounds Good.
Jumping into the ocean of small business was scary and not. I just did it. I had no Plan B. There was no other option.
I networked and promoted myself as a professional organizer. After all, business owners were more organized after we met. Still, that title was too limiting for the work I did. Small business owners would come to me for help. They’d feel overwhelmed, frustrated and stuck in a rut, not reaching their business goals. The “how” was getting in their way.
I helped them get clear on what systems were working for them and which ones weren’t. I connected the dots to solutions then taught them how to do it. Broken systems were fixed. Business owners had more time to do what they loved, focused on their passion, and even taking a vacation without freaking out.
Jessica Clark on stage at the 2008 CA Governor's Conference on Small Business and Entrepreneurship in Los Angeles, CA
10 Years – Systems Equals Freedom
Over the last 10 years, I’ve set up and consistently used my own systems to give me freedom I desire. Consistent practice of small daily habits is what gives me the time to do what I want when I want it. Along the last 10 years, I always sought vendors and teachers who would:
- Show me how. Don’t just tell me I have to do “it”. I haven’t done it before, so please model it for me.
- Make it easy for me to learn. I’m busy running the business so going to a college class at 3 pm really doesn’t fit.
- Give me information that is relevant to my 0-10 employee team. Solutions and training for “small” businesses with 100 employees don’t fit.
Habits and Hard Wired
I’m an Entrepreneur with a BIG E. I’m an “ooh Shiny” person with really clear and strong daily organizing practices and habits because the habits keep me from feeling frustration because my brain moves so fast. The pain and frustration of having to dig through stuff for 30 minutes is much greater than the pain I feel corralling my shiny brain and sitting down to work on maintaining my systems for 30 minutes.
My innate process skills are supported by my experience needing to find systems that worked for me! When I figured out how I worked, I connected supportive systems and processes that worked for me and my business grew. It’s the small habits that make a bigger difference than how you’re “hard wired.”
Jessica with her rubber chicken, Alaqueen at the Thrive Conference in Salt Lake City, UT
Small Business ROCKS!
I love, Love, L-O-V-E local small businesses. You know the 0-10 employee companies making the world a better place every day. I love my hair stylist who only works 3 days a week is fully booked and spends her other time surfing. I love my auto mechanic and her 10 employee franchise because she loves working on cars and loves helping women feel secure their car will get fixed with integrity. I love my friend who has a center for disabled adults, providing care services and job experiences who built a business which gives an underserved community hope. It’s us small business owners who choose our own path that have an immediate impact in our own communities. I use my talents to support small businesses with between 0-10 employees to get to their next level.
I am ever grateful for the high school and college job I had as an Office Assistant at my local Chamber of Commerce. I always had the “bug” to run my own business and this job was where I first consciously experienced the power of “the relationship” and the importance of working together to create our own path.
I am also grateful to have lived, studied and worked abroad several times in my life. Each journey taught me how to look outside of the box. Our personal and cultural framework of past experiences, truths and views of a single situation are “why” we take action the way we do. Knowing there are different frameworks of “why”, without getting stuck in them, provides insight to changing patterns and growing, especially in business.
Ready to Connect with me? Awesome!