Today we’d like to introduce you to Caterina Duggan.
Caterina, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
My story is a journey of how, at a very low point in life, I used my innate abilities and skill set to find myself. My home is not perfectly organized. I don’t always run on time. I am just like you. But what changed was my mindset and taking charge of my decisions. I founded my business after nine years of staying home to raise my two sons, not knowing what was next for me. I often felt lonely, stuck, and uninspired. I had lost myself and my identity outside of being a mother. They say that happiness comes from within, but I never fully grasped that concept until I finally took control of my choices and started my professional organizing business. I stopped being a victim of my circumstances and fought through the negative self-talk and self-limiting beliefs and decided to take control of my life. By taking care of my own needs first, I was able to find my worth again through serving others in my business.
When I looked back at my life, it quickly became clear that all my life decisions throughout the years made sense, and that I had finally found my passion. I always thought that all I wanted to be was just a mother. But I realized that I have so much more to give to this world. Through my holistic approach to organizing, I encourage self-acceptance and putting one’s own oxygen mask on first. We are all deserving of a life that we imagine and deserve through our space and our time.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I am a firm believer that everything happens for a reason. The clients that are supposed to find me the will and those that don’t work out just weren’t the clients for me. I have to say that my road has been smooth because I am so passionate about growing my business and achieving my goals, regardless of any resistance that comes my way. My love for helping others surpasses any negativity or obstacles. Having a positive mindset is my biggest advantage to success.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a holistic organizer and productivity specialist who believes that in order to become organized, we must take charge of our life in order to live the life we’ve imagined. Disorganization can take a negative toll on our mental state and hold us back. I help busy families, professionals and small business owners prioritize themselves through practical systems to help maintain order with their time and within their space. Becoming organized is a process. I focus on mindful suggestions for decision making on things that are most important by finding the root of the disorganization while putting yourself first.
My holistic approach sets me apart from some organizers that just declutter, create or style spaces for a pretty IG photo. I help clients become more intentional about the things that they want in their lives, instead of feeling stuck or overwhelmed with stuff that does not serve them. With a degree in fashion merchandising, I am also known for organizing master closets, transforming them into “shoppable” mini-stores where everything is practical and easy to locate and makes sense for each client’s thinking style.
Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
One of my favorite childhood memories is growing up in my mother’s business. She owned and operated a children’s clothing store for ten years, where I would go every day after school and “help.” I remember shopping with my parents for store fixtures and even going to distributors in NYC and Baltimore to pick merchandise for the store. Needless to say, I was always well dressed. She kept pretzel rods a the front desk for the children who shopped and let me sell my hand-made string friendship bracelets at the front desk for my own profit. It wasn’t until I started my business that I realized I get not only my entrepreneur drive from her but also my love of fashion and merchandising. My mother is the smartest woman I know and she made me into who I am today.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.caterinaduggan.com
- Email: caterina@caterinaduggan.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/organize_this/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CaterinaDugganLLC
Image Credit:
Danica Faith Photography
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