Lisa Geraci Rigoni
Lisa Geraci Rigoni is the founder of The Organizing Mentors, an organization whose mission is to help people improve their lives and resolve internal and external clutter by organizing their spaces. There’s something of a science to efficient, effective organization, and Lisa has that science down in both physical and mental aspects. She and her team focus on providing support in whatever clients may need to feel at peace in their home. “We give our clients space back mentally and physically,” Lisa says. “We do not come in and tell you what to get rid of because most of our clients have already realized that they have stuff they don’t want. So we start there.”
Lisa believes that people are more gravitated towards The Organizing Mentors because they don’t fight to talk their clients into or out of any behaviors. She emphasizes the difference between her business and a psychologist. “I care,” she reaffirms, “but I don’t care what your house looks like when we get there or what it looks like when we leave.” Her team is finished when her client is ready for them to be. It isn’t about whether or not the final product looks perfect; it’s about making the client feel comfortable in their own home, which in turn allows them to clear some of their mental clutter.
Problems Solved Through Organization
Lisa primarily alleviates stress for her clients. “By the time they’ve called me, they’ve tried to…get organized themselves,” she has noticed. Many of her clients have spent years reading self-help books, working with family or friends, or getting other organizers to help them. Lisa knows that when her clients reach out, “they’ve already grown,” and she is able to provide them with relief simply with the ability to give them help judgement-free.
Another common issue Lisa’s clients face is finding the time to organize. No one wants to come home from work and organize. Lisa recognizes that many of these people need relaxation in their lives and that it can be hard to find the spare time to dedicate to a daunting task such as organizing. She prides herself on her ability to “give people their time back and really letting them know, ‘Look you’re not the only one that has this’….That’s why I’m in business.”
Shame is often felt among hoarders due to their tendency to keep their issues a secret and their inability to fix it over time. “It’s not that there’s anything to be ashamed about,” says Lisa. “It’s just they don’t know when to stop.” There is a certain amount of comfort that she has noticed many clients feel when closely surrounded by objects. She has observed that the closeness of things may be a filler for their lack of relationships or family members.
Organization Methods
The Organizing Mentors make a point not to do all the work for their clients. Lisa tells her clients, “I want you to know how to do it because then you feel the joy, and you feel the accomplishment and the confidence.” She can see her clients relaxing after even just a two-hour session, after realizing that they have what it takes to organize and make positive changes in their lives.
Lisa came up with the LITL System, an organization tactic that can be universally used to make decisions. LITL, or Leave It To Lisa, is a four-step collaborative process designed and field-tested to eliminate clutter – both physical and mental – and make the lives easier of each individual they work with.
L stands for “Let it Go,” which is the biggest step for most people. If something doesn’t fall into the categories of Love or Need, then let it go.
I stands for “Intentional.” This is about asking tough questions and discovering which possessions bring positive emotions and which ones produce negativity, sadness, or resentment.
T stands for “Transform.” The benefits and relief of making the decision to change and clearing out your junk will transform your world instantaneously.
L stands for “Love It.” The only items surrounding you should be things you love and/or need. The space surrounding you will be a truer representation of who you are, and living within that space becomes uplifting and empowering.
What’s Next for The Organizing Mentors
Lisa is in the process of writing a book on the LITL system, which will include actionable techniques and apply to almost any decision-making process. She has also been working with therapists to improve her understanding of mental clutter so that she can serve her clients better and provide more insight in her book. Additionally, there is an online course in the works, which she believes will enable people to learn how to organize and improve their lives on their own.
The Organizing Mentors are based in Ashburn, VA and can be contacted at (703) 434-9585 or through their website www.TheOrganizingMentors.com.
