Meet Kendra & Laura of Authentic Living Organizing Co.

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kendra & Laura

Hi Kendra & Laura, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
We actually went to high school together and then reconnected when we both worked at the same non-profit for nearly ten years. It was around the same time we both left our positions that we decided to go into business together. In our previous roles, we both managed teams, did counseling and educational work with youth, worked in direct service with children and families, and we were essential workers during COVID. While our work was very rewarding, we often found ourselves working after hours, experiencing stress, and ultimately feeling burned out. We are both very passionate about a lot of things, especially self care and mental wellness and were both on our own journeys to learn more about ourselves and our needs. The demand of our jobs left little time to truly focus on it. The greatest lesson that we learned at our prior job was the importance of slowing down, taking time for what matters, and that the go-go buzzing feeling is not what life is about.
We wanted to continue helping others, but wanted to do it differently. We know first hand how much physical space affects one’s mental well-being; emotionally, spiritually, and physically. We wanted to help others feel balance, calmness, and the ability to focus on what matters most to them – family, hobbies, etc. instead of worrying about clutter and finding their belongings. And most importantly, we want people to feel like their true self. Not what they’re supposed to be or should do. And that’s how Authentic Living was born!

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Since the beginning, we knew it would be a challenge to own our own business while navigating life, work, and families at the same time. Laura still works full time at a non-profit, Kendra has had two babies since we launched, and life has gone full speed ahead. Owning a business is hard work and more behind the scenes than people may realize. Our greatest obstacles have been identifying the best marketing strategies to reach clients and getting the word out to wide networks. As has reaching people through online platforms. Neither of us come by social media naturally, in fact, we both have actively tried to avoid it to find more peace in our lives! We have had to utilize many resources for help with this, join groups, and worked with a marketing strategist.

But what we would say has been our biggest challenge is how life has thrown so much at us over the last few years. There have been many moments that have tried to derail us and take our focus away from our business. Kendra’s family has dealt with serious health issues along with adding two new little members to her family. Laura has juggled her job while moving to a new home and has experienced health issues in her family as well. Sometimes, adulting feels just plain hard. But we have persevered through it all as we have a commitment to our dream! To one day make our business full time in pursuit of supporting as many people as possible in their lives and organization journeys.

Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At Authentic Living, we seek to empower and free you from the chaos in your home and give you the time to focus on what matters. Put simply, our goal is to improve your mental well-being, while bringing peace and calm to your home! We offer services ranging from decluttering, downsizing, move out & staging, organizing and design of a single space or multiple areas of your home, and routine maintenance. And in the mean time, will do this with tasteful design that matches your taste and the style of your home. From simple to luxury, we will provide recommendations that match your aesthetics.

Our organizing services can include any space in your home-a closet makeover, re-doing your pantry, bathroom closets, garages, you name it. Then we can come back to refresh these spaces as often as you’d like with our routine reset services. We love to work with realtors and clients through the moving process to prepare their home to be put on the market, to declutter before the big move, and then get clients set up with systems in their new homes. And what we believe sets us apart, is that we will sit down with you to learn about your routines, specific challenges in your daily life, and provide tips and coaching on how to create structures and systems that work for YOU. We recently consulted with a client on something as small as how to plan weekly meals, do online grocery shopping, and to create a daily kitchen organization system. We love to listen and learn, and then we get to work!

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Yes-taking a leap of faith and launching our business was a risk in and of itself! Both of us left our roles at a non-profit around the same time in pursuit of finding more balance, and this led to the conception of Authentic Living. This also meant juggling family life, Laura’s full time job, a part time job for Kendra, all while meeting regularly to start their business. Three years ago was when Kendra took a major leap of faith and left her counseling role at a non-profit, to stay home part time with her kids and eventually launch Authentic Living. Finances changed, life as her family knew it changed! While scary, it was also exhilarating. If you’re familiar with the enneagram, Kendra is a 6 (the loyalist) with a strong wing 7 (the enthusiast). So while risks can be scary, she is also always thinking about what’s next and excited to take certain risks. Life has so many opportunities and exciting things to do-without taking risks how do we experience them?

Laura is a recovering perfectionist so taking risks is hard for her. She wants to have the right answer or make the right decision. The thought of starting something from scratch, learning as she goes, and making mistakes was scary. But also exciting. Just before this venture, she left her nonprofit role for another one. Although this came with a significant pay cut. So that was a risk. When it was time to tell her supervisor that she had a side business and needed to map out a plan for doing both, she was afraid the company wouldn’t think she’s committed to her work. But she was committed to both. And then in the midst of all this, she bought a house. It was a lot of big life changes at once, but all of them have turned out to be exactly what she needed. The next plan is to make Authentic Living full time, so when that time comes, it will be an exciting risk. As they say, growth comes from discomfort. Putting yourself out there and trying something new is the way to experience that growth.

Pricing:

• We offer packages and hourly prices to fit your needs

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.authenticlivingco.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authentic_living_co/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100087683533921&paipv=0&eav=AfZg4p74NNUAbj31xgwekMOP2iLy8ldj4adeE0qYmLC82Z78MaNQ9YXHH2mA8zU3MoM