Summary: <p>Karin's client, Alex Erickson, found a new career path amongst his clutter and is now a practicing KonMari Consultant trainee.</p> <p>Today’s guest is Alex Erickson. Alex is a personal fitness trainer in the process of completing his KonMari consultant certification. Prior to this, he was a professional model. </p> <p>Alex and his husband, Edgar, decided to tidy their new home together using the KonMari Method after their recent wedding. </p> <p>Alex enlisted Karin to help him with the KonMari process in their Brooklyn home (they've recently moved to Manhattan). Not only did he do an amazing job with the process and was delightful to work with, he was so inspired by the KonMari Method, that he decided to pursue becoming a consultant on his own. He recently completed the KonMari consultant training seminar last October and is now working on his practice sessions towards certification. </p> <p>In this episode, follow Alex along his journey toward tidying his home with his husband, Edgar, as they learn about themselves and each other. He'll also share how he decided to become a consultant and what he has experienced with his first clients on the way to certification!</p> <p>To connect with Alex, you can find him on his new Instagram @hotmessorganizers.<br> His email address is: <a href="mailto:alexandererickson@yahoo.com" rel="nofollow">alexandererickson@yahoo.com</a> <br> His new KonMari Consulting business is called Hot Mess Organizing. Website coming soon!</p> <p>Spark Joy wants to hear from you! Tell us your burning tidying questions or share stories about how KonMari has impacted your life. Find us at <a href="http://www.sparkjoypodcast.com" rel="nofollow">www.sparkjoypodcast.com</a>, email us at <a href="mailto:contact@sparkjoypodcast.com" rel="nofollow">contact@sparkjoypodcast.com</a> to leave a question or comment for a chance to be featured on next week’s show. Join us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter via @sparkjoypodcast.</p> <p><b>In this episode, you’ll enjoy:</b></p> <ul> <li><p>How Alex decided he was ready for the KonMari Method and why he decided to hire a <a href="https://konmari.com/consultants/" target="_blank"> KonMari Consultant </a> </p></li> <li><p>How Alex got his husband on board and how they faced their fears and challenges together.</p></li> <li><p>How Alex used Marie Kondo’s quote,“The question of what you want to own is actually the question of how you want to live your life.", to help motivate him to move forward with the process.<br> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1607747308/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_qTwxAb4MCVWQD" target="_blank"> <i> The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing </i> </a></p></li> <li><p>How Alex used a Big Box to help with the sorting process. It really worked!<br> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1607747308/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_qTwxAb4MCVWQDhttp://a.co/6tBxDn8" target="_blank"> <i> Spark Joy: An Illustrated Master Class on the Art of Organizing and Tidying Up </i> </a></p></li> <li><p>How this quote helped Alex decide to become a KonMari Consultant himself: “The true goal should be to establish the lifestyle you want most once your house has been put in order.” <br> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1607747308/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_ep_dp_qTwxAb4MCVWQD" target="_blank"> <i> The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing </i> </a></p></li> </ul> <p><b>Alex’s Favorite Tidying Tips:</b><br> Designate a temporary area for things that need to be sorted as you are working through the process.<br> Keep in mind that any item in any category can feel sentimental, so save them for last.</p> <p><b>What sparks joy for Alex:</b> <br> Our big Chinese Good Luck cat! <br> But, most importantly, my husband, Edgar!</p> <p><b>Gems:</b><br> “As long as you have a somewhat open mind, you will be perfect for the KonMari method.”</p> <p>“You’re getting rid of a safety blanket. I had to let go of a lot of false security.”</p> <p>“It forced me to hold myself accountable for my own actions. I can make sure that my own items are tidy.”</p> <p>“When you face the clutter in your house, you are facing yourself.”</p> <p>“I did a fearless inventory of the material items I possessed.”</p><p>Special Guest: Alex Erickson.</p>
