Who is Corrie Goldfinger, could you please introduce yourself?

I’m Corrie Goldfinger. I am a mom to two young children and have lived in Burlington with my family for nearly 10 years. Like many other moms, I wear many ‘hats’ in my life. In addition to mom, I play the role of spouse, daughter, sister, friend, volunteer, ‘house manager’, etc. My newest ‘hat’ is as business owner and I have found it to be very similar to parenting…equal parts rewarding and challenging!

What is your business and when did you start?

I am the owner and operator of One Space at a Time Professional Organizing. I work with people who are stressed because they can’t seem to keep their home or office tidy and organized. I help by guiding them through the decluttering process, organizing, and finally developing systems to improve the functionality of their space so that they can feel calm and focus on the things that matter to them. My interest in becoming a professional organizer probably dates back over 5 years, but it was in the fall of 2021 that I made the decision to slowly step back from my previous career and start a business.

What inspired you to start your business?

I previously trained and worked as a mental health care professional for over 15 years and I saw that when someone had a knowledgeable and compassionate guide, that they were capable of working toward, and achieving, their goals. When home organizing shows became popular in the media, I loved watching the beautiful transformations as I had a lifelong love of organization. But it also made me angry to see unrealistic expectations being set for millions of people, especially women and moms. The ‘picture perfect’ homes that were staged for the shows are maintainable for an extremely small proportion of people. I could just imagine how many women were out there watching thinking “what’s wrong with me that I can’t keep my home tidy” or “why can’t my home look like that?” I started One Space at a Time to offer an alternative organizing approach, one I’m currently calling the “anti-perfectionist approach to organizing”. I want my organizing services to not only bring function and calm to my client’s spaces, but I want my clients to feel more confident in their own organizing abilities and to be unapologetic for the unperfect state of their spaces.

What were the challenges in the initial stages of your business and how did you overcome them?

I would still say I am in the initial stages of my business so I will speak to my current challenges. One of the biggest challenges has been figuring out the best way(s) to reach potential clients. Figuring out how to let them know that I exist and how my services will improve their quality of life.

What motivates you about your business?

My clients’ successes are what motivate me consistently. I see how much lighter my clients feel when their space functions for them. I see how proud they feel with how many decisions they made and the new skills they are learning. And I see how relieved they are about not having to do it all on their own. The other thing that keeps me motivated is that I am running my business in a way that promotes environmental sustainability. I push myself to consider the environmental impact of each decision that I make. And I try to listen to where my clients are at and see if there is even one small change in their space that could make it easier for them to live more sustainably. I feel motivated knowing that these tiny changes can add up and make a difference.

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs?

I’m not the type to give advice to others about something I’m only learning to be myself. But something that I think makes me feel good as an entrepreneur that others could try is letting go of perfectionism. I encourage it as much in myself as I do with my clients.

Interesting fact most of the people do not know about you?

I love international travel and this is the thing I miss most after having children. I can’t wait till they are of an age that we can bring them to so many places all over the world.

The best business advice I ever received was…

Just do it!

My definition of success is…

Helping clients reach their goals while being ethical and authentic.

If I could go back in time when I started my business, I would tell myself to…

Practice patience.

Three books I recommend for entrepreneurs are…

I haven’t gotten around to reading any that are specifically for entrepreneurs, but am currently reading and enjoying Atomic Habits by James Clear. This book is relevant in all areas of life, including entrepreneurship.

My personal tagline is…

Sometimes good enough is good enough.