How do I turn my OCD-like organization & creative art skills into a career?

August 11, 2005 10:48 AM

How can my near-OCD levels of organization & cleanliness, along with a penchant for being bossy, artistic, and design-oriented help me determine the best career path for me? Where do I go, and what type of formalized licensing should I pursue?

I'm looking to re-think my current career path, and I'm thinking of moving towards some sort of personal organization/ lifecoach/ stylist/ designer all rolled into a single package.

My fiancee says I'd be perfect for a job like that - I could tell people how to organize both their physical living and working spaces as well as organizing their personal and professional lives. I'd help them work through aesthetic decisions and stylize their fashion, landscaping, interior space, etc. The problem, though, is that I don't know where or how to pursue this new field. I know there are professional organizers, personal stylists, but I think this is beyond the scope of that. I'd really like to know how to start this kind of career. I already have a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from a pretty prestigeous art school, so I have a lot of aesthetic experience. Any ideas? Thanks.

posted by itchi23 to work & money (8 comments total)

Become a professional closet organizer. Maybe do a Google search on closet organizers in completely different parts of the country, contact them, and ask them how they got started - making it clearly that you will never be a competitor.
posted by amro at 11:02 AM on August 11, 2005

Theatrical producer! Bossy? Check. Design oriented? Check. Compulsively organized? Check. Now all you have to do is raise a million bucks. Good luck!
posted by Sara Anne at 11:04 AM on August 11, 2005

Here's one to check out (just did a quick Google search).
posted by amro at 11:04 AM on August 11, 2005

My wife has several of these characteristics, and she freelances as a 'de-clutterist'. She's a walking lifehack, and wicked-organized. (It makes a disorganized geek like me just melt.)

Started by helping all of our geek bachelor friends, word of mouth from there.
posted by Wild_Eep at 11:39 AM on August 11, 2005

I have most of these characteristics, and have had plenty to chew on as a graphic designer with "additional duties as assigned," including proofing and editing copy, space planning for co-workers, simple architectural mock-ups, and so forth.

One thing that's become abundantly clear over the years--you need good people skills in order to do well in jobs like these. Clients and co-workers will not work with you if they feel lectured to or bossed around. If you can involve those around you, get plenty of "buy in," you will become invaluable.
posted by whatnot at 11:51 AM on August 11, 2005

Art director. Typographer. Book designer.
posted by luriete at 12:45 PM on August 11, 2005

Building on SaraAnne's response, above, (and removing the flippant bits) you sound like you would be well suited to a career in production / project management in a creative field such as film, television, design, architecture, etc.

Those jobs require you to be obsessively organized, bossy, and comfortable around-- and conversant with-- creative people and creative processes.

As far as film & television are concerned (and that's all I can speak to personally), there's no formal licensing process involved-- you don't even need to go to film school. Just start at a production company somewhere as a production assistant or intern, and demonstrate skill, diligence, and the willingness to put in very long hours and take a lot of shit from people.

You'll get mad bonus points if you make sure that the current production manager knows he / she is doing what YOU want to be doing some day. Production managers love to hear that because NO-ONE ever wants to do that job. Everyone "just wants to direct..."

Your profile doesn't say where you live, but NYC and LA are obviously the best places in the US to do this. However, there are opportunities in almost any city in the country. (I got my start in Portland, OR...)
posted by dersins at 1:43 PM on August 11, 2005

Art (design, drawing, etc.) teacher. You already have an art degree and are artistic, and design-oriented . Being organized will make paperwork easy to manage (and admin loves that). Cleanliness will make the custodians love you. You get to boss students around! Thats the best part.
posted by nimsey lou at 3:42 PM on August 11, 2005