Letter to My Future Clients

There is a beloved Chinese idiom my family has shared with me for as long as I can remember: 步步高升 (bù bù gāo shēng). It means “to climb step by step; to rise steadily.”

Admittedly, I only truly embraced this value in my late 20s. I’ve realized that any advancement worth pursuing, whether in personal growth or in a career, comes from steady, consistent progress. My journey from caregiving to starting this home organizing business has been exactly that — a deliberate process of building something intentional, one step at a time. In that spirit, I wanted to share more about the specific steps I’ve taken recently and those I’m about to take to help you more fully.

The Method and the Mastery

For those unfamiliar, the KonMari Method® is a lifestyle and tidying philosophy created by Marie Kondo. Unlike traditional organizing, which often focuses on what to discard, this method shifts the focus to keeping only what "sparks joy." It encourages us to treat our belongings with respect and gratitude, ultimately leading to a home and a life that feel lighter and more intentional.

I fell in love with this method years ago. Initially, I wanted to pursue the certification just for fun because my personal values align deeply with Marie’s philosophy of home and life, which she calls "Kurashi." But when my old boss encouraged me to start my own business, I knew, without hesitation, that I wanted to become certified to teach this method to others.

What started as a passion has evolved into an obsession with honing my craft. This business has become an extension of who I am. I want to continue showing up as authentically, curiously, and as inspired as possible because I truly believe people can live healthier lives, starting with homes that actually support them.

The Process to Certification

This commitment led me to attend the only in-person course of the year in London last October. It was one of the most memorable trips of my life, not only for the history of a city I had never visited, but also for the chance to hear from Marie herself.

There are more than 900 Certified KonMari Consultants worldwide, representing more than 60 countries. It’s truly a global community, and I’ve had the pleasure of meeting many of them both in person and virtually. While I was in London, a member of Team KonMari mentioned a bespoke trip to Japan reserved for certified consultants. It was a chance to learn about the philosophy’s inspiration at its source.

In a move that felt aligned, the first thing I did when I returned home was tell my partner about it. He was supportive, as he always is, of my endeavors, and I signed up. To attend, I needed to be fully certified by the trip’s start date of May 2026.

The hardest part was finding clients who were fully committed to the process. To meet the requirements, a practice client must commit to a full "tidying festival," which means using the method to go through every single item they own. If they decided to quit at any point, I would have had to start the entire process over.

Many of my peers in the certification cohort loved organizing but had never been to a stranger’s home to do so. They chose to ask friends, family, or co-workers to serve as practice clients. That is the beauty of the method — you can start your certification at any point in life.

However, because I had years of home organizing experience before starting Farewell Clutter Co., working with people I didn’t know wasn’t a concern. While I was pursuing this certification, I was also running my business; the certification was a vital piece of the equation, but only one part of building this brand. I wanted to challenge myself by working with strangers, treating the sessions as a test of my business systems. 

During this time, I had the pleasure of meeting a kind woman who made the experience valuable for learning and growth. Then, in another moment of serendipity, one of my paying clients became interested in the method and volunteered to serve as my final practice client, helping me complete my certification requirements on time.

Going to the Source

In the spirit of bù bù gāo shēng, I am now taking the next steady step. This month, I am traveling to Japan for the first time!

Marie Kondo was born and raised in Japan, and her home country’s culture and principles deeply influenced her method. I will be visiting the birthplace of this philosophy to deepen my understanding of stewardship. During the trip, I will participate in an in-depth seminar and engage in talks and workshops designed to enhance my understanding of the KonMari Method and to make new connections with like-minded organizers from Japan and across the globe.

It brings me so much joy to immerse myself in this community and learn from those with more experience. My goal is to bring back a higher level of knowledge to my clients here in Lewis and Thurston counties and beyond, supporting your home transitions with even greater depth.

I believe in a well-rounded organizing approach that recognizes the whole person, and I hope the insights I gain in Japan will help you create a home that truly supports the life you want to lead.

I cannot wait to share the stories and lessons from the trip with you next month. If you’re curious about the global community I mentioned, you can find my official profile in the KonMari Consultant Directory here.

Here’s to taking another step forward together.

Bù bù gāo shēng!