Meet Nancy Meck | Business Owner of Meck Organizing

We had the good fortune of connecting with Nancy Meck and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nancy, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
Our industry is not just about making a junk drawer look less junky, arranging clothes by color, and labeling anything you can put your hands on. The neighbor kid could come over and help you with that. There’s a huge psychological component to this. The way I explain it is that it’s all about what’s going on between the ears. It’s about how people think, feel, and the actions they take…or used to take. You have to understand the story. You have to have context and know their motivations and goals to truly help them, while also staying within their preferred timeline, budget, and level of involvement that they want from someone they work with. Our company works with clients to organize their homes and businesses, manage all aspects of their move and help them prepare their homes for market, implement systems to manage their homes, streamline their filing systems, and help them adjust their habits, behaviors, and efforts to get things done faster and easier so they have more time and energy to do other things they love.

When I’m contacted by someone saying they want to come work for me because they love to making people throw things away, I tell them that is not organizing, that is not what we do, that approach is about what they feel like doing, it’s not about the client. To truly help people with their challenges and projects that pop up, you have to get at the heart of what is driving them and figure out what they consider the finish line. The physical stuff is just a consequence of all of that. You have to be patient, strategic, and have a personalized approach. And you have to listen to the client and ensure the approach taken is in their best interest based on what they’ve communicated they want and need for added organization and productivity. Yes, we’ll get that junk drawer straightened out, that closet coordinated, and everything labeled like a stock room if they want. But first, we figure out why and how best to do it so it helps them long-term and fits into whatever else is going on in their home, their business, or their life.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Especially after the success of businesses like The Container Store and shows like The Home Edit, there are a lot more folks in the organizing game then there were when I started out 20 years ago. One of the things that sets me apart from others who organize is my experience with estate management. I’ve served as the estate manager for large properties in Atlanta and Los Angeles, as well as helped others on an ad hoc basis when they do not want a full-time manager but need managerial support time to time. I’ve also written job descriptions and helped clients interview to find the right full-time manager for their property, including flying to other states to help with training. This experience gives me added knowledge and extra sensitivity to all that it takes to keep a house and its precious household happy and healthy. On the business end, in my prior life I ran offices in hospitals devoted to reviewing thousands of research studies a year, and we had to do it on a small budget and tight deadlines. I realized the techniques I’d developed to keep us on top of the workload and our staff and researchers well taken care of could be applied to other businesses. Since then I’ve worked with many different types of businesses through the years, from those in fashion, to those in the creative world including movie, TV, and music artists, actors, and producers, to medical providers including a 5-office hematology/oncology center and dental practices, to restaurants, and many other solopreneurs, larger businesses, and those just wanting to get the most out of their work efforts at home and at the office.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Would have them get up early to come with me to Peachtree Road Boot Camp every week day which starts at 5:55am, it’s all outside so they’d get a foot tour of the city and we’d get our workout in while they meet my long-time running friends. Then we’d go to Publix bakery because boot camp gets out at 7:05am and Publix opens at 7am, so the donuts are always fresh! It’s all about balance! 🙂

We’d walk my neighborhood including hitting Trader Joe’s, which seems to be a request by everyone who visits.

We may take in a concert at the Masquerade, Buckhead Theater, The Tabernacle, The Eastern, or Chastain Park Amphitheater.

We may go get our nails done at Posh because it seems the only time I get my nails done is when I know someone is visiting or I am going to visit someone (this business is tough on your nails!). Then we may go by and feed and pet the Buckhead goats with our freshly manicured hands.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
We wouldn’t be in business for 20 years like this if it wasn’t for our friends, family, and clients referring us. We are so grateful for their support from the start. I launched into this business because a friend started telling her friends and customers of the boutique she owned (Range Boutique) that I’d just moved to town and was nice, smart, and looking for something to do while I considered my next true career move. One person she told said she had a wedding present closet, but she’d been married for years and there were still presents in there to be sorted through, could I help. That turned out to be my first organizing client in 2004, and we’ve been blessed by the continued word of mouth going forward. This is a very personal business, we are dealing with people’s home and business challenges and often the results of major life events like a move including downsizing, upsizing, or moving to senior living, death, birth, divorce, marriage, illness, job loss, new job. To have a personal referral after we’ve worked together in this way is incredibly meaningful, and we are grateful for the opportunity to help them.

Website: https://www.meckorganizing.com

Instagram: @meckorganizing

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/meckorganizing/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MeckOrganizing/

Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/meck-organizing-atlanta-2

Image Credits
Not applicable (my images)