Today we’d like to introduce you to Janet Taylor.
Hi Janet, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My journey really began out of necessity. I started the business as a result of a layoff back in 1993, and over the years, I went from part-time to full-time, adding services like life and time management. What I discovered in that transition was that I had a natural gift for creating order — and more importantly, that it genuinely changed people’s lives.
I began my career in life organizing back in 1994, driven by a passion for creating order and improving the lives of others. Initially, I focused on transforming cluttered and dysfunctional spaces into functional, vibrant areas in homes and offices. Over the years, my expertise evolved to encompass not just physical spaces but also time management and lifestyle organization for executives and busy professionals.
In 2010, I decided to cater to my executive clients’ personal needs by providing strategies to organize their homes and lives. That pivot deepened the work considerably — it wasn’t just about clearing clutter anymore, it was about helping people reclaim their time, their peace, and their focus.
My dedication to education and empowerment eventually led me to the speaking stage and, over a decade ago, to launching my podcast, Got Clutter? Get Organized! with Janet. It has amassed over a million downloads and was ranked as the number one organizing and decluttering podcast. That platform opened doors I never imagined — including appearing on HGTV’s Mission: Organization and the Rachael Ray Show, where I was crowned the “Clutter Free Queen.”
The road hasn’t always been smooth. One of the most personal and profound struggles was becoming a full-time caregiver for my mother for 18 months before she passed. This period reshaped my approach to life organizing, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and resilience. And when COVID-19 hit, practically overnight my fully booked calendar became empty. I seized the opportunity to pivot to virtual platforms, refining my skills as a webinar presenter and continuing to support clients and expand my reach.
Today, after 30 plus years, I’m still at it — innovating, speaking, podcasting, and helping people create space so they can attract more love, money, and happiness. That’s always been the mission.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, no — and I think anyone who tells you entrepreneurship has been a smooth road isn’t telling you the whole truth.
One of the most personal challenges I faced was becoming a full-time caregiver for my mother during the final 18 months of her life. It was a time of intense emotional and physical demand, which reshaped my approach to life organizing, emphasizing the importance of flexibility and resilience in both personal and work spaces. Running a business while showing up fully for a dying parent is something you can’t really prepare for. That season taught me more about life’s priorities than any training or certification ever could.
Then came COVID-19. The onset of the pandemic was another significant hurdle. Practically overnight, my fully booked calendar became empty as the world grappled with lockdowns and uncertainties. For a business built on going into people’s homes and offices, that was devastating. But I made a choice not to let it stop me. I seized the opportunity to refine my skills as a webinar presenter, transitioning from in-person engagements to virtual platforms. That pivot actually expanded my reach in ways I hadn’t anticipated.
And then there are the everyday realities of running a small business — building credibility from scratch, staying financially stable in the early years, and proving the value of professional organizing at a time when most people didn’t even know it was a profession.
But here’s what I’ve learned: the struggles are part of the story. They’re what make the work meaningful. Every obstacle pushed me to grow, adapt, and ultimately serve my clients at a higher level. I wouldn’t trade any of it.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
My work lives in two connected spaces, and I think that’s what makes it unique.
On the personal side, through my brand at janetmtaylor.com, I help clients organize their homes, offices, and lives. Some clients need help with small tasks, like decluttering a bedroom, while others need more significant assistance. But the work is never really just about stuff. My tagline says it best: I help people create space so they can attract more love, money, and happiness. That’s the real goal — when your environment is in order, your whole life opens up.
On the corporate and institutional side, Totally Organized, LLC is a consulting firm specializing in administrative operations support, project coordination, and organizational systems development for government agencies, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, and corporate clients. We’ve worked with clients including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Transit Administration, Educational Testing Services, Temple University, the University of Pennsylvania, and IKEA, among others. The firm is woman- and minority-owned, founded in 1994, and brings more than 30 years of experience across transportation, banking, retail, nonprofit, and education sectors.
What sets me apart is the breadth and depth of that experience. I’m not just helping someone find a place for their shoes — I’m building systems that help entire organizations run better. And I bring that same strategic thinking to individual clients. Our professional training programs have been delivered to audiences of more than 600 participants, with a 93% satisfaction rate, which tells me the work is resonating.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is my podcast, Got Clutter? Get Organized! with Janet. It has amassed over a million downloads and was ranked as the number one organizing and decluttering podcast, reaching listeners across 35 countries. That platform represents everything I believe in — education, accessibility, and meeting people where they are.
I also want readers to know that my offerings are designed to meet you wherever you are. Whether you need systems to help you find things the first time you look, strategies to get more done in less time, an efficient workspace, or speaking topics to help your team live a more organized life— there’s a way for us to work together. And if you’re not ready to hire someone yet, the podcast, my blog, and my guides are there for you too.
At the end of the day, organizing is transformation. That’s the brand. That’s the mission.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
I think people assume that because I’m known as the Clutter Free Queen, I must have always had it all together — that I came out of the womb with a label maker in my hand. And honestly? That part is actually true. I have always been an organized person, even as a child, when my friends would remark on how organized my toys were. So that’s not the surprise.
The surprise is that underneath the systems and strategies, I’m a pretty simple person. I have 14 plants that I care for regularly — there’s something about tending to living things that keeps me grounded and present. I love visiting museums, which feeds a curiosity in me that goes well beyond organizing. And I meal prep faithfully, because I believe the same principles that make a home run smoothly apply to how you fuel yourself too.
People also might not know that my path to becoming a professional organizer wasn’t a straight line. Before Totally Organized, LLC, I built experience in banking, customer service, and retail. Those worlds taught me things no organizing certification ever could — how to manage high-pressure environments, how to truly listen to what people need, how to create systems that work for real human beings, not just on paper. That background is quietly woven into everything I do for clients today.
And then there’s my mother. She had a special talent for comedy and an impeccable eye for home decor. Decorating our home for Christmas was an annual tradition that transformed our space into a festive and joyful environment. Her laughter and creative flair left a lasting impact on me, influencing my career in organizing spaces to evoke joy and functionality. People think organizing is about control — but for me, it has always been about creating spaces where life feels good. That came directly from watching her.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://janetmtaylor.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/janettheorganizer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/janetmtaylorbiz/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/janetmtaylor1/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@JanetMTaylor
- Other: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/got-clutter-get-organized-with-janet/id519555196
