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Meet Wendy Zanders

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Wendy Zanders.

Wendy, walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was born in Trinidad and Tobago, and moved to Maryland when I was 14 years old. I’d been told if I studied hard and got a good job, I would be successful. That statement always scared me, because I struggled academically. I was on the honor roll in high school, but I had to work twice as hard in everything I did. Looking back, my dedication to my studies gave me the drive and determination to pursue what I was passionate about. At 17, I joined the United States Army to continue pursuing the American dream. I was never an organized child growing up. It wasn’t until we moved to America and I had my own room for the first time in my life, that I felt a sense of pride in taking care of my things. It became therapeutic at the end of a stressful school week to vacuum, do my laundry, polish my furniture and create order in my bedroom.

My eight years in the United States Army taught me many organizing skills I still implement today with my clients. I was a Unit Supply Specialist, which meant I maintained the supply store for our unit and made sure our unit was mission-ready at all times. I was also a Unit Armorer, ensuring weapons and ammunition were always accounted for and ready for missions. A few years after I got out of the United States Army, I became a federal government employee in 2010, and felt like I had really made it. I felt a sense of pride being an Executive Assistant to Directors, and was also a Project Manager at the Food and Drug Administration. I loved taking chaos and making it beautiful. Whenever I took on an assignment, that was the lens I looked through. Looking back at the jobs I had, decluttering and organizing really became part of my DNA during my teenage years.

My husband and I were following Dave Ramsey’s program “Financial Peace University,” and we paid off all debt, except the house. We were closing out Baby Step 3 (saving 3-6 months of expenses to fully fund our emergency fund). I was about to get a part-time job to accelerate the baby steps when someone said, “Find something that you love and do it as a business.” I loved organizing, but didn’t realize that existed as a career. I was always doing it for free for others. I loved how easy organizing came to me. Finally, I found something I didn’t have to work so hard at. On May 30th, 2017, I was talking to my husband about starting my Professional Organizing business. Even though we were building our emergency fund at the time, I asked him if I could borrow some money from the emergency fund. I told him my goal was to repay the money in 7 months, which would be the end of 2017. I told him if I didn’t repay the money, I would go out and get a part-time job to repay the loan. He saw my passion and agreed. I was on fire to repay the money to our emergency fund, and I paid the money back in 90 days! That summer was a blur. It’s only by the grace of God I was able to run my race with such intensity. I put my blinders on and got to work. I had no time to play with my business or my time.

I was working long days at the Food and Drug Administration, and working part-time with my clients a few nights a week, as well as Saturdays, to build my business. Sundays were reserved for rest, volunteering at church and resetting my home for the week. Running my business debt-free allowed me to slow down and think about the next strategic move, in order to continue growing my business debt-free. Mid 2018, I was starting to feel empty, and wanted more out of life, but didn’t know what that was. I was making almost six figures at the FDA, but I was so unhappy. I was driving to work one day (my commute was 1.5 hours each way), when I saw a McDonalds off to the left. I said, “If I can work at McDonald’s and be half as happy, I would quit my job in a heartbeat.” I knew that money wasn’t going to make me happy, but walking in my purpose would. I became really sick that summer. I was having really bad panic attacks and my legs and hands were swollen and painful. I went to the VA hospital and had all kinds of tests done (blood, urine, ultrasounds, and ruling out lupus, amongst other things). Everything kept coming back negative. I pleaded with the doctor to keep checking, because something had to be overlooked. I was on so many medications while trying to find the answer. The doctor finally said, “Wendy, we have checked everything, and everything is negative. It’s just stress.” The doctor told me the stress of the job had become too much for me. She said I needed to get a less stressful job. I put my face in my hands and cried. I knew that I had the power to make the needed changes in my life.

It was scary to leave a full-time income behind, but I knew working with my decluttering clients would be the happiest thing for me.  On October 26, 2018, at 36 years old, I retired from the federal government. Now I am walking in my purpose with my decluttering business, and following my passion full-time. Wendy’s definition of retirement: The action of leaving one’s job and ceasing to work. I love the scripture 1 Corinthians 14:40, “Let all things be done decently and in order.” While I was on sick leave for three months trying to sort out my health, I decided to start journaling to gain clarity on what had been happening in my life. In the midst of my struggle, my book, “From Brokenness To Strength,” was born: https://www.wendyzanders.com/wendy-s-book

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?
My business started off very slow. The first month in business, I made zero dollars. I was terrified to open my mouth and tell others that I was a Professional Organizer. In the fifth week, I put my blinders on and got to work. I set my business working hours, which gave me more structure. I woke up early and went to bed late. I rode the commuter bus 1.5 hours each way, to and from work. I worked my business on the bus, on my lunch hour and at night. I found a quiet corner of the bus and would book clients and have consultations. While I was in the midst of my struggles, I would ask God, “Why am I going through this?” Now, I am able to help others and understand what they are going through. I turned my struggles into strength, compassion and the ability to be non-judgmental. My family and my faith kept me focused.

I struggle with ADD, depression, anxiety and PTSD. Yes, it may take those of us with disabilities a little longer to finish tasks, but do not let your disability stop you from pursuing your dreams and passions. Too many times as moms, we feel that we need to say YES to everything and everyone. I was doing it and was exhausted. I am giving you permission to say “NO”. Remember, you don’t have to be everything to everyone. I help my clients delegate and get rid of things no longer serving them in their homes and in their lives. Once I owned my disabilities instead of being ashamed of them, it gave me the confidence and motivation to move me and my business forward. People started to realize I could help them. I did not let my disabilities define me. My family and I now live in Arizona debt-free and living what we consider success. We are homeschooling, and are thankful for the opportunity to teach our children values we had to learn as adults. We get to Collect Memories & Experiences, NOT Things together.

What were some of the struggles along the way?

  1. Imposter syndrome:
    I felt like I wasn’t good enough to call myself a Professional Organizer.
    I kept telling myself I knew enough and I was the expert in decluttering. All of my insecurities came crashing in. I had to refocus my mindset daily. Who am I to help others get organized when I have disabilities? I can’t run a business. I should stick to working a job.
  2. My husband lost his job three days before Christmas (12/22/2017):
    We were so grateful for our emergency fund and the additional income my business was bringing in. My husband’s new job had us working 75-minutes away from home in different directions, and I felt so guilty being away from the kids. I wanted to grow my business/future; not someone else’s. I wanted to enjoy my kids and my husband, without being on someone else’s clock. We had three hours with the kids to do homework, bath, dinner, devotional, etc. every day. Now that I saw I could truly have a better life for me and my family, I was no longer satisfied living just to go to work every day. I was done with the rat race.
  3. My disabilities:
    As I mentioned, I struggle with ADD, depression, anxiety and PTSD. I learned to work with my disabilities and not against them. I’m using it as my strength to help clients heal.

Please tell us more about your work. What do you do? What do you specialize in? What sets you apart from competition?
I am a Professional Organizer and Your Declutter Coach. I work side-by-side with overwhelmed families and special needs families to help them declutter their homes and papers. When I say I am Your Declutter Coach, people are able to know exactly what I do and who I do it for. I have personally been on this decluttering journey with my own family, and it’s an on-going journey. Now I get to use my experiences and skills to walk you through decluttering with doable, simple steps.

Your Declutter Coach is based in Buckeye; but I serve the entire West Valley.

I specialize in decluttering homes and papers, downsizing before a move, helping families eliminate storage units, etc. I am known for decluttering. Apart from being a Declutter Coach, I am also a Speaker and an Author. I love speaking to others about my struggles and watching it give them the hope and power to find their own strength. I follow the motto: Collect Memories & Experiences NOT Things! I am compassionate and non-judgmental. I am able to take my disabilities and turn them into strength, and I love helping my clients do the same.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
For me, it’s putting one foot in front of the other and taking the next right step. I don’t try to figure out the entire plan for my business, because it can be overwhelming. I work on living my truth, and helping others save themselves. They have to be part of their own rescue, and I am so glad I get to be a part of it.

Do you feel like our city is a good place for businesses like yours?
My family and I moved to Buckeye in June 2019, sight unseen, to start our new life. I had to grow my business from scratch because my business was only local in Maryland. I was on a mission to start networking before we even moved here. Within two weeks, I was at my first networking event. My business has grown more in less than one year, than during the two years I was working hard at growing it in Maryland.

Buckeye is so big that I can drive 30 minutes and still be in Buckeye. Buckeye is now the second fastest-growing city in the nation. I love that I get to be part of the growth, by shopping local and helping small businesses grow by networking with other small business owners.

Pricing:

  • I would love to invite you to schedule your FREE 20-minute consultation. We meet via Zoom. This way we get to meet each other and see which option is the right fit for you.

Contact Info:

Image Credit:
Sarah Hoag Photography

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