Every company says they will be the best for you. But how do they prove that? Experience? Knowledge? Leadership? Price? Reputation? Number of Twitter or Facebook followers? What it boils down to is this: What is most important to you?
If you’re not sure what questions you should be asking, check our FAQ page for a list. I invite you to read below about my accomplishments and the company that I’ve built up, and use this information to help you make your decision.
— Helene Segura
LivingOrder® San Antonio is owned and operated by a Certified Professional Organizer®. There are currently only two of us in South Texas. Helene has been certified since 2009 and is currently certified through 2021.
Why this matters: In order to qualify to sit for the rigorous international certification exam, an organizer must have logged 1500 coaching or teaching hours within a three year period to prove that s/he is experienced and successful enough to be considered. This is a career and not a hobby. Certification shows a commitment to the profession and raising the bar, as well as a demonstration of expert knowledge and skill. To verify if someone is a CPO (the only certification endorsed by NAPO), look for this badge and click on it to verify certification status:
• We abide by the ethics code put forth by the National Association of Productivity & Organizing Professionals (NAPO) and the ethical and legal guidelines enforced by the Board of Certification for Professional Organizers (BCPO).
Why this matters: You are about to allow a consultant to enter your home or the inner workings of your business and share private information. You need to know that we believe in integrity, honesty and confidentiality. A CPO’s certification credentials will be stripped if s/he violates the code. A non-certified organizer is not held to any standard.
• We don’t believe in cookie cutter methods.
Why this matters: We use a holistic approach based on 25 years of experience and training to develop customized solutions specifically for you and your situation. There is no such thing as “one size fits all.”
• We believe that working together will lead to your success.
Why this matters: After over a decade in business, we know that clients who commit to a program are more successful than those who are just “testing the waters.” We want you to be successful so we require a minimum of two sessions.
• Helene Segura has an undergrad degree in political science and a graduate degree in educational leadership.
Why this matters: While studying to earn her Bachelor’s degree from Texas A&M University in Political Science, she focused on international affairs, so she learned about negotiations and the importance of dissecting situations from different perspectives. Her Master’s degree from UTSA is in Educational Leadership. She learned about running a business, as well as about educational psychology – behavior change and behavior management. She loves studying the mind! As a secondary teacher for 11 years in a Title I district, she was able to apply all of this and figure out what makes individuals tick and, therefore, what will get them to change and be successful. She left the classroom in 2004 to start her own company. In both her individual consulting and keynotes, she uses all of these skills to teach audiences and clients how to pin-point their barriers to personal efficiency and implement changes that will save their sanity – and save them time and money.
• LivingOrder® has been in business since 2002 and branched into LivingOrder San Antonio and LivingOrder Austin in 2008.
Why this matters: You want a company that is well-established and will be there for you in the long-run. Helene started as an employee in 2006 and purchased the San Antonio office in 2008. This is not a hobby or something she does for “funsies.” While she loves what she does, she’s serious about her career.
• LivingOrder® San Antonio is insured and bonded.
Why this matters: In the event of a mishap, you are protected because we’re insured with a professional liability insurance policy designed specifically for the organizing and productivity industry. Many other organizers rely on a cheaper policy that does not provide full coverage, or they rely on the liability clause in their homeowner’s insurance policy, which will not cover the work that we do. As a Certified Professional Organizer, Helene knows the difference and the importance of carrying the more costly, professional insurance.
• I am a published author.
Why this matters: You want an innovative company to alleviate your stressful situation. I have pioneered unique methods, systems and teaching materials, all of which we teach our clients. The methods are also explained in my books, Less Stress for Teachers: More Time & An Organized Classroom and ROAD MAP to Get Organized: Discover Your Thinking Learning and Working Styles to Get Your Life Back on Track. Both of these were best sellers on Amazon. In 2016, New World Library published my third book, The Inefficiency Assassin: Time Management Tactics for Working Smarter, Not Longer. My fourth book is The Great Escape: A Vacation Planner for Busy People Who Want to Take a Real Break from Work and Life.
• I am active at the international level of organizing.
Why this matters: I served as an expert on the team of Certified Professional Organizers® at The Clutter Diet for its entire 11-year run, helping thousands of members from over a dozen countries get organized via the Internet. I am proud of the skills that I’ve showcased that led me to be asked to serve with this esteemed group. I’ve also presented keynotes overseas and coached clients around the world via phone.
• I was nominated to serve on the international governing body of the organizing profession.
Why this matters: There are thousands of organizers around the world, so it is an honor and privilege to be recognized by my peers as a leader in the industry. I was named as the Director of Communications for the international Board of Certification for Professional Organizers (BCPO), as well as a National Trainer for Quantum Leap, a committee within the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). In 2013, I was nominated as the President of BCPO and served in that capacity until 2016. I am humbled to have been elected as the leader of our international governing body for certification.
• I have more than 200 media appearances.
Why this matters: From local television and publications to Woman’s Day and US News & World Report, the media respects the credibility I have established in my industry. Feel free to scroll through those appearances here.
• In 2014, I met the requirements for and was accepted into the National Speakers Association.
Why this matters: In order to meet admission requirements, I had to be hired by companies or associations at least twenty times in one year to deliver keynotes, workshops or trainings in my field. To be hired this many times by large entities means that I definitely have the skills to teach time management and organization concepts to my individual clients.
• I have been a leader in the organizing industry locally.
Why this matters: I was on the board that helped establish our local San Antonio chapter of NAPO, serving as the Founding Director of Communications and Technology. I served on the board from 2006 until 2011, leaving the local board when I was asked to serve at the international level. I continued to assist with the chapter’s annual GO Month community event, until our local chapter closed because of low membership. I believe in promoting the industry about which I am so passionate. I believe that belonging to your local chapter shows your commitment to the industry. This is why I’m saddened that 25+ people in the San Antonio area call themselves “organizers,” but only 9 were committed enough to join the chapter.
• I enjoy powerful relationships with Certified Professional Organizers® across the country.
Why this matters: This allows my team to stay abreast of the latest advancements and apply innovative practices. I can also refer our clients to CPO’s across the country if they ever relocate from San Antonio or have family in need in other parts of the world.
• I annually attend either NAPO’s national organizing conference or NSA’s international convention.
Why this matters: I strive for continuous improvement, which includes furthering my education from nationally and internationally known trainers and getting updates on the newest organizing products, productivity practices and teaching/learning methods. I have attended each year since 2009 and was requested to present to my colleagues at NAPO from 2011-2016 – a great honor.
• I am involved in the community.
Why this matters: I am partnered with Goodwill of San Antonio, so we help educate San Antonio about getting organized for a good cause: Declutter + Donate = Change Lives. I also present pro bono to the clients assisted by Dress for Success, Alpha Home and Fairweather Family Lodge. It is important to me to give back in any way I can.
• I have strong partnerships within the business community.
Why this matters: I served on the board of the local chapter of the National Association for Female Executives (NAFE) from 2010-2014, and have created strong business relationships which benefit my clients. When our clients need resources other than organizing, we can point them in the right direction.
If you’d like to know even more about me, please feel free to browse my LivingOrderSA bio here, or you can read the bio on my keynote/training website here.
So, what does all of this mean?
Through my passion, research and innovation, I’ve become an expert in the field of organizing and productivity. My reputation extends beyond San Antonio and across the nation. I believe in honesty and integrity and have chosen the members of my team based on these character traits, as well as their desire to help others and consistently deliver excellence. If quality, knowledge, experience, reputation, and leadership in the profession are important to you, then you’ll want to read about what services we offer to help our residential and business clients kick chaos to the curb.
If you feel that these qualifications do not meet your standards, I invite you to research other companies owned by Certified Professional Organizers ®. You can find them by clicking here.
If you definitely know that you want us to help you but are afraid of how expensive it might be to work with an elite organizing and productivity firm, please contact us to discuss your situation. We will most certainly never be the lowest price in town, but you’ll be surprised at how much it doesn’t cost to experience two sessions that will change your life.