We recently had the chance to connect with Devon Fegen-Herdman and have shared our conversation below.
Devon, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I appreciate this question because as a mom, sometimes I feel like I do a million things before I even sit down to work and I know that many of you do as well! We are currently on the “early bus” schedule (a grueling 3 years – 3rd grade through 5th grade), so the first alarm goes off at 6am. After making my bed (I hate seeing an unmade bed, and my dog loves to jump up on the bed later in the day – I hate to think of her getting dog hair all over the sheets!) and making myself slightly presentable, I make sure both kids are awake and head downstairs. I pack lunches, fill water bottles, and feed the cat while my kiddos watch tv, eat breakfast and generally get themselves ready to go. After asking if they have everything (“Mom! stop asking!” although later I will get the call from the school, “I forgot my chromebook, can you bring it to me?), we head out to the door to the bus stop. After the kids are off to school, I try to let myself ease into the day a little since it’s still only 7:30am! I enjoy playing wordle and a few other New York Times word games. After that I’m looking at my schedule for the day and finding some breakfast. Right now, every day looks different. Some days I head to the gym, other days I jump right in to some computer work, and on my favorite days I get ready to head to a client’s home to help them get organized! I love meeting people where they are and the challenge of figuring out better systems and ways to store and streamline their homes to find more ease in their days. I love seeing my client’s transformation and peace after working with them.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Declutter with Devon Professional Organizing helps folks declutter, downsize, simplify and get organized at home. We especially help busy professionals who want things done for them and aging seniors who often need help downsizing their things, with or without an impending move. We pride ourselves on being caring and nonjudgmental, we are always present in a supportive manner. We can help with making tough decisions and especially when folks feel stuck, overwhelmed, or don’t know where to start. We love to dig in to a big project such as a large basement, or whole home decluttering and organizing project. I love the strategy of figuring out where best to put things to streamline their home and fit with their individualized routines and life.
I started this business 3 years ago after transforming my own life and home. About a decade before that I started to become interested in minimalism, decluttering, home organizing. I read, watched and listened to everything I could get my hands on and decluttered my own home several times over. My husband likes to joke that he’s happy I started this business because at the end he had to put out decoy items for me to get rid of. With a background and 20 year career in social work, I already loved working with people, developing working relationships and helping people with their emotions. This was a natural transition, with the focus now being on their things and home routines. Now I am proud to have a team of like-minded women helping our clients every day.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What did you believe about yourself as a child that you no longer believe?
When I was a child, I was independent, opinionated, and quick to judge. From a young age, I enjoyed being with people and was fueled by my relationships. It’s no surprise that I am an extrovert and my love language is quality time. Fortunately, I made friends easily and despite the typical challenges and rocky relationships that define the teenage years, I emerged with many strong friendships after attending an all female high school. I read a lot as a child and many books influenced my behavior. I remember reading a book with a main character who stopped talking altogether and although I forget the book and the plot line, it made an impact on me and I learned to stop talking and listen more. I further changed myself through my social work education, learning to slow down, stay curious, and ask questions instead of jumping to conclusions. I am proud of who I am today and the ability to be a caring listener, friend and companion.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
In the early 2010s, a visionary friend had an idea for starting a creative reuse center in Cleveland. We were young and dreaming of all the good that could come of it. I let her know that if she was ever able to hire someone, I’d love to be that person. Fast forward to 2014 and Nicole McGee had secured funding for what would later become known as Upcycle Parts Shop and hired me! We had the perfect working partnership and were able to open our doors in the summer after making plans all spring. Upcycle Parts Shop, now almost 12 years old, is thriving and arts supply staple in the St. Clair Superior community. However, in the early days sometimes it was a struggle. We were a social worker and a community organizer and we didn’t know that much about opening a (thrift) retail store. At first we struggled to have enough customers and sales to make it worthwhile to be open. We reduced our hours and relied heavily on arts programming that we were much more knowledgeable in how to sell and run. After a time though, we figured it out. We hired the right people, got the store looking good, and spread the word. More and more people came and finally, it worked. I tell this story because this experience informed my current business so much. When I decided to open Declutter with Devon, I already knew how to create a website, how to build an email newsletter, how to market myself a little, how to network and have coffee chats. As a result, although every day is not a walk in the park, I know that there will be ups and downs and overall, it has been much easier to know what to do the second time around. I have wonderful colleagues, mentors and even a business coach I can ask for help when I need it!
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The organizing industry is an interesting one because people struggle with ‘stuff’ at all different levels. Many people think that you have to spend lots of money on pretty bins to get organized. There are whole stores and many aisles and products dedicated to holding your things. However, if you really feel overwhelmed, I would like to suggest lowering the amount of things you own. There is one home organizing tv show that people watch and I have been asked about. My response is that I don’t like them too much, because I think they keep too many things. There is a stat out there that says that our homes contain 300,000 items. After some research, I haven’t been able to find a clear true source for that number, but regardless our homes hold many thousands of items. I don’t think our brains are meant to hold that many things without feeling overwhelmed. Many people with disorganized homes feel it is a personal failing that they aren’t more organized, however I view it as a societal problem and normal to feel overwhelmed with so many items. Sometimes when I am in someone else’s home, I think to myself that I would be overwhelmed too if I had to try and manage so many things! We are constantly being sold to by retail places both in-person and online. We are told we “need” many items that never even existed a few generations ago. We are scared into purchases by sale pricing and the scarcity mindset. It is no wonder that some folks end up with way too much at home and then understandably are unable to sort and organize it. Although some amount of containers can be helpful, too often we go into disorganized homes and find packages of unopened organizing products as the client attempts to purchase their way out of the problem. I hope that the message of owning less, living with less and decluttering continues to gain traction in our overwhelmed and stressed out society, so that more people can find peace and focus on things that really matter – not shopping!
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I honestly feel at this point in my career I am doing what I was born to do. After testing out various career paths and identifying what energizes me and what is soul-sucking, I think organizing and leading a team are what I am meant for. I have always been a person with high energy. When I was in college one summer I got an internship and it was to do research on a social service program for the elderly in Cleveland. I had to sit behind a computer desk all day every day. It was incredibly boring. I would have to take a walk to the bathroom and water fountain to keep myself from falling asleep. Although the topic was interesting and important, it was very difficult for me to sit still in front of a computer all day. Looking back at my career, all of my positions have involved a lot of movement. Several have involved traveling from place to place over the course of a day, just as I sometimes do now. The amount of physical work involved in organizing bolsters me. I often have trouble leaving a client’s home if we aren’t finished with a project, trying to do just one more thing! As a professional social worker I have learned a ton about leadership and working with groups. I also had a natural tendency to be a group leader even before that. I was often the de facto leader or organizer within my social groups or for group projects at school. I feel comfortable bringing others on board, assessing their level of interest and energy for the task at hand and getting folks all moving in the same direction. Again, I find that working with others (clients and coworkers alike) is an energizer for me. I am so glad I found the organizing industry and am able to do what I love day-to-day!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.declutterwithdevon.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/declutterwithdevon/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devon-fegen-herdman-272a358
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/declutterwithdevon
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/declutter-with-devon-avon-2
Image Credits
Maggie Newton Photography
