Today we’d like to introduce you to Margo Brown.
Margo, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Reading about productivity and organizing was a hobby. I loved to read new methods and try them out for myself. A friend who described himself as “pig-pen” asked for help. He was arriving to meetings late, his briefcase exploded with papers, documents on his computer were impossible to find and he was never caught up on emails.
I worked with him and got him to a place where he felt in control of his work. So many people saw a change in him, they wanted to be focused, organized and productive. People started giving me money to help them which I found hard to believe because I was having so much fun helping those people gain control of their workday and their lives.
Through training, I was able to hone my skills and help a variety of people. Where other people see clutter and confusion, I’m able to see the opportunities to become better organized and productive.
That was 15 years ago. The business chose me, I didn’t choose the business. I started in the Boston area and moved to Arizona 7 years ago. It’s been exciting and fun to see where the business has taken me. In 2006, I co-authored a book Exploring Productivity. In 2016, the Wave Productivity blog was in the top 100 blogs for work/life balance. The Tempe Chamber recognized me as a finalist for Business Women of the Year in 2017. Wave Productivity continues to grow and I have grown with it.
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?
It’s not always been smooth, but it has been a learning experience. One struggle I encountered was moving to Arizona. I didn’t know anyone, there were no family or friends to reach out for support in starting my business in a new area. My struggle was in finding a client base and the colleagues needed to help me grow my business. It took a while to build trust in the community. By continually showing up at networking events and growing my relationships with other business owners, I was able to build a foundation for my business.
The colleagues that I have now are a continual support to Wave Productivity and my growth as an individual. They have guided me and helped in all areas of my work. Many of those colleagues have turned into trusted friendships.
My clients are amazing. They all are willing and wanting to become better at their work and in their personal lives. They strive to be better people by taking the steps needed to become more productive in their day.
Wave Productivity – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
As a productivity coach, I help people with time management, email management and paper/document management.
You may have had a day where you feel overwhelmed and stressed out the minute you sit at your desk. You go through the day looking for documents on your desk and in your computer. You have a lunch networking event and collect business cards you don’t follow up on. At the end of the day, you wonder where the time went. This all leads to lost revenue, connections, time and energy.
I help people take control of their day by helping them learn the productivity systems that will work best for them. It’s not a one size fits all system. Each person is different and together we find ways that best support their work so they have better days.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
When I first meet clients, it’s usually under a lot of stress. They are struggling to get their work done. Often, they don’t have basic self-care. They aren’t sleeping enough, eating well and exercising. Stress rules their day and they react to whatever the next crisis is. The day runs them and they struggle to stay on top of their work.
Within the first few sessions, they begin to shift into a more productive place. Clients decrease their stress by making changes in the way they work. I am always proud of my clients and how they work to change and become more focused, organized and productive.
Seeing clients take control and become proactive in their work and personal life is amazing. I’m continually awed by the work they do to be better people at work and home, so they are able to live a well-rounded life.
As a trained coach, I make sure that the productivity systems the client and I create fit their unique style and situation. Instead of forcing them into a system they are supposed to use, I use a variety of questions to draw out their natural strengths. Through that process, we create systems that best fit their style and workload.
Contact Info:
- Address: 1111 W. University Ave.
Tempe, AZ 85281 - Website: www.waveproductivity.com
- Phone: 602-677-8275
- Email: margo@waveproductivity.com
- Facebook: facebook.com/waveproductivity
- Twitter: @waveproductivit
- Other: linkedin.com/margobrown1
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