Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey in personal development but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Lisa Griffith, Founder of Griffith Productivity Solutions, located in Providence, RI, USA.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

I'm a speaker, trainer, productivity coach, and Certified Professional Organizer® who offers a boutique consulting service for working professionals, entrepreneurs, and small business owners. I help folks get control of their paper, office space, and time so that they can get a better handle on that elusive "work-life balance" that we all aspire to. If you've ever looked up at the clock at 5 o'clock, 6 o'clock, or even 7 o'clock and thought, "what the heck did I get done today?" - I can help! I will help you find more time to focus not just on the "need to do" stuff but also on the "want to do stuff." Looking for some inspiration and motivation for your company, team, or organization? I offer presentations chock-full of content, short- and long-term takeaways, and plenty of inspiration for those looking for better organization in their space and time.

Tell us about yourself

I started my career as an organizing/productivity coach and speaker when a friend and mentor asked me what I would do if I had a free afternoon with no other obligations. My answer? I told her I'd likely organize a closet or clean out the kitchen cabinets! She then asked me why wasn't I working as a professional organizer? Well, I've been professionally organizing ever since.

I first spent 20 years as a teacher, so my communication, teaching, and training skills were tested and honed over and over. It taught me patience and how to discover someone's particular learning style, which proves invaluable when I'm teaching clients new and more productive ways of doing what they do. In 2008, I established my business, The Organized Way, and then rebranded in 2019 to Griffith Productivity Solutions (GPS) to fully capture the work I do with individuals and clients to improve personal and professional productivity. I'm also a musician and performer, which means I'm super comfortable presenting and teaching to groups large and small. My time as a performing arts director still informs how I take in information, assess situations and personalities, and create and present solutions to whatever problem I'm facing. I see solving problems as a creative endeavor, and it really jazzes me up to solve my client's problems.

I discovered over the years that I simply love working with professional folks in their workspace, whether at home or in their business office. Entrepreneurs, small business owners, and other busy professionals populate the niche I created for myself in the organizing and productivity world. As a teacher and entrepreneur who built her business from the ground up, all while balancing the demands of work, home, and family life, I'm personally acquainted with the physical AND emotional labor necessary to keep everything (and everyONE) running! That "hamster in a wheel" feeling is one I know well.

I've worked hard to ensure I took my natural talent and enjoyment of creating order from chaos as far as it can go by obtaining Certified Professional Organizer® (CPO) training right from the start — 1500 hours for initial certification with required recertification every three years. I am one of only a few hundred CPOs in the United States and worldwide, and I'm one of only a few in Rhode Island. I'm constantly learning and striving to hone my skills. I always want to bring my best to any client's table. I hold a certificate in Time Management and Productivity from the Institute for Challenging Disorganization (ICD), and I am a member of the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO), as well as the local NAPO-New England chapter.

As a speaker, my goal is to make every presentation not just inspiring but filled with content that participants will take away with them and be able to implement immediately in their busy lives. As a productivity coach and organizer, I want to walk away from every session and know that I've made people feel comfortable, secure, and confident, that I have helped them solve the issues and problems they face, and created solutions that are sustainable … and I like to make it an enjoyable process! I consider a robust sense of humor one of my most effective tools!

I want every client who works with me to be able to say, "I have a sense of control over my work and environment, and I've found more time in my day to do the things I both have to do and want to do."

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

My biggest accomplishment as a business owner has been learning how to build a successful business from the ground up, managing business, family, and personal life so that I can enjoy all that this varied life can offer.

What's one of the hardest things that come with being a business owner?

The hardest thing that I've had to learn over the past fifteen years as a business owner is when to shut down, turn everything off, and just be mindful of where I am and what I'm doing at that moment, whether it's working with a client, speaking to a group, enjoying my family and friends time, or just homing in on a good book!

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

  1. Get a good business coach who can guide you to the best choices and help you avoid pitfalls.
  2. You don't have to do ALL the things at once - choose wisely!
  3. Keep time for yourself - self-care is one of the most important parts of avoiding burnout.

Is there anything else you'd like to share?

People often ask me what my favorite organizing tool is, and my answer is always, "my brain." If you're looking for a better way to organize your life, don't look for a new tool. It's not about the "stuff." Fancy file folders, baskets, bins, and elaborate time management apps aren't the solutions. Look to the root - dig out the obstacles, clear the clutter, and you'll find the solution in mindful habit change. It's not about the stuff - it's about your brain!

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://griffithproductivitysolutions.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lisasgriffith/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/lisasgriffith
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lisasgriffith/


If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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