Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia Culver.
Hi Olivia , we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up learning how to Clean and Organize from my mom. She had always loved to Design, Clean and Organize our homes as a child. Naturally I was inclined to this because of my exposure. At age 7 I had a clever idea with a neighborhood friend that we would have a small cleaning business dedicated to cleaning the homes on our street. We would go from house to house and ask if they needed to be cleaned. I always took each opportunity to provide them with the best cleaning job I could give them. I cleaned with passion as a small child! They would pay us a few dollars and that was enough to sustain my momentum! My mom had herself a small private client business she did after work and a lot of times I would go with her while my dad was busy. I would always elect to clean their homes, and they would be so happy with the outcome that they would pay me. I didn’t mind cleaning the money did not drive me, cleaning for others did and it gave me a feeling of satisfaction and achievement.
Fast forward into my adult life. My first business venture was being in the real estate industry. I liked it because it was my own, but I didn’t love it. After I met my husband, we got married and I spent the next coming years having our 5 children. There ages are currently 2,4,6,8 and 10! I was a stay-at-home mom for many years after having our first one. We were very young when we got married. We didn’t have much money, but we had a strong desire to be a success. We were passionate for our life we were going to build and for each other. My husband started to work in the hospitality industry as a cook. As he started to grow through the corporate ladder, we found ourselves needing to travel for his work. We wouldn’t live in a place for longer than a few years and once it was only a few months. We always wanted something new and looked for better opportunities. I thought my career was at a halt during those years with the kids and his work. I still had such a strong desire to find my calling, and I didn’t know it at the time, but all the moving required me to keep cleaning more than I usually would have. I guess it was giving me more experience than I thought and it helped keep the flame burning in me that would lead me to where I am today. Every apartment we moved in and out of I insisted to deep clean. Especially when moving out I would spend hours cleaning them making sure they looked perfect and better than how we moved into them. I always wanted to make sure they were move in ready for the next tenant. I vividly remember a time where my husband was waiting to leave in car, packed and ready to go. I would still be up inside cleaning. He had to call me from the car after waiting for hours thinking I was almost done and asked me “Are you done yet, we have to go!” It was 2am. But I couldn’t, not until I had cleaned everything to perfection! There were times I was even full term pregnant, tired and pushing myself to make sure it was cleaned to its best potential, the way I would want it if I were to be moving in. I loved to organize, and we didn’t have that much money to buy new stuff all the time. My kids would come home from school, throughout those years and the entire house would be re organized, all the furniture in different spots creating a whole new atmosphere. I was always changing things around, re vamping, re cleaning and organizing. My kids were even amazed at how one small change in arrangement could make the house look like a completely different one. It was the cheaper way of buying something new at the time. It became normal to them and for me it was all in good fun! Cleaning and Organizing kind of go hand in hand. I need to clean under and over and all around. If you don’t lift things up and declutter it’s not really clean in my opinion. My passion for cleaning would always exceed any sickness I had, any pregnancy no matter how far along I was, through all my sleepless nights with the kids. I was just always cleaning and organizing. Just like my mom. I fell in love to keep things clean and tidy. It puts me in a state of relaxation.
Now skipping ahead, we finally moved to Naples FL. where we have currently lived for 4 years. We bought our first home here and this place I can finally call my home away from home. My husband became a business partner with a restauranteur from Chicago. A few weeks into his new venture an opportunity presented itself and the owner was desperately looking for a cleaning company. My husband without a doubt thought of me. I would clean the restaurant. I was so excited because I had not worked in a very long time but had been eager to start. I was happy it was cleaning, my passion. Needless to say, I took the job. After some time passed I realized I needed to take this to the next step and open a business. I used the company name I wrote down Organizing by Design. if I ever were to have my own cleaning business. My dream was finally coming true! When I took the job as the cleaning lady at the restaurant, I had to push through working 7 days a week at odd hours, still be a full-time mom and never miss a day to clean. I cleaned by myself for 1.5 years, 7 days a week. I had to teach myself more about endurance and staying committed. I did a lot of stuff I was not asked to do but I wanted to do my very best just like when I was kid and cleaned for my neighbors. During that time, I built my own cleaning plan. Timed myself and would do it better and faster each day. I was not just a janitor I was a business owner I would tell myself and soon a leader to others. I now have employees, and the business is growing very successfully! If I could tell anyone anything about my journey it is that there were many times, I felt very defeated. I wanted both worlds, a large family, but also my own business. I would tell my husband I needed to get to work but I didn’t know exactly what I wanted to do. He would tell me to be patient and I would. It was hard. Looking back, it was not easy while balancing our crazy hectic life with 5 small kids and putting in the grind. When an opportunity knocks you open it. I leaned on God a lot of times and have grown in faith with him tremendously. I had to encourage myself and listen to uplifting sermons every time I felt down or was tired. It helped me along the way. It kept me faithful and to stay on path. Don’t give up, learn what you are good at, what you are passionate about and go for it. Pave your own path even if it doesn’t feel right at that very moment. If it is in your heart, then follow your heart. You don’t need anyone to encourage you, encourage yourself. Do your best even if no one is watching. Take the extra step, go the extra mile. Take every opportunity that knocks at your door. Success is not over night. It’s about trial and error, learning, planning, small growth, commitment, balance, having a plan, a goal and moving towards it. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. I finally work alongside of my husband and we complement each other in both our personal life and our work life.
Alright, 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?
Of course not. There are a lot of challenges to face. You need to be creative and take new challenges lightly one at a time.
As you know, we’re big fans of Organizing by Design. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Organizing by Design is a full-service commercial & residential cleaning company specializing in restaurant cleaning, daily regular maintenance, deep cleanings, kitchen appliance cleanings and overnight kitchen cleanings for restaurants, hotel restaurants and country clubs. We also do move in and move out cleanings for homeowners, deep cleanings, and regular weekly cleanings. We stand out among our competitors not only because of our knowledge about cleaning but because of our passion for what we do, and the values instilled in me growing up in my home regarding cleaning and sanitation. Our goal is to allow our clients to relax and have confidence that their business or home will be taken care of without worry or concern insuring a clean environment. We are always aware of food and safety regulations and inspections, and our staff goes above and beyond industry standards. Organizing by Design strives on being consistent, reliable and fast. We always exceed expectations because of our footprint in the hospitality industry. We take into account that every place is different thus every cleaning approach, chemical or process we use is different and we take that seriously. Our clients trust us to know what to do, and our expertise speaks for itself. Our cleaning teams are meticulously supervised and managed by me personally and together we have many years of experience. Organizing by Design also specializes in residential cleanings and we pride ourselves in being timely and efficient. We consistently meet the needs for each of our customers. If they need us to organize while we are cleaning, we do! As for our residential cleanings we are timely and efficient. We consistently meet the needs for each of our customers. If they need us to organize while we are cleaning, we do! During the holidays we provide Christmas tree decorating. Clients have the option of using their own decorations or choosing a theme and renting ours for the season. Our mantra for all of our customers is… Yes, is the answer! If we can do it, we will!
Do you have any advice for those looking to network or find a mentor?
Enjoy the journey not the destination. No dream is ever too big to achieve. Follow your heart, pray and stay committed. Every experience good or bad is one step closer to success. Motivate yourself to move forward. You are who you say you are. It takes time. You must have integrity and don’t be afraid to takes chances.
Pricing:
- We charge based on time or sq ft
Contact Info:
- Website: https://organizingbydesign.org
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/olivia-culver-597391a6
