We had the good fortune of connecting with Nancy Peham and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Nancy, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking.
I think risk taking has been a theme in my life. My first big risk was probably when I left college after about a year and a half. I had no idea what I wanted to “be” and I felt directionless. I met my first real boyfriend at the time and we decided to take a road trip from Minnesota to California and back again camping all the way. We spent 6 weeks traveling from one State park to the next, never staying in a motel or a cabin, just sleeping in a tent. It was an amazing adventure and taught me to live outside my comfort zone. My next leap of faith was to follow my passion for dance. Even though I doubted I could have a career it has always been a love of mine. I had studied ballet and modern dance for several years beforehand. I enrolled in a dance program on the East coast and basically moved away from home for the first time. After completing a two year program I came back home to decide what to do next. While taking a summer dance intensive at the University of MN, One of the participants asked if anyone would be interesting in sharing a NYC apartment with her. Without a lot of hesitation I said yes! I loaded up my car with a few possessions and off I went. I had no idea what I was in for. I was poor, doing waitressing work, and the apartment was located on the second floor above a noisy bar in Greenwich Village. Talk about adventure! I took dance classes at a couple of studios on a regular basis and pretty much, just survived. Luckily my rent was only $125 a month! After two years, I decided it was time to give up on the dance dream. That didn’t stop my passion for it, but allowed me to see it as food for my soul, not a livelihood. My next big leap was to move from NYC to Los Angeles. That’s a longer story, but there is where I ended up going back to school to learn computer programming. The job that I did for 16 years before quitting to start my business in 2001. Leaving a good paying job to start all over again, with 2 small children, a house, and being single again has probably been my biggest risk so far. 18 years later here I am doing the work I love.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I’m a Certified Professional Organizer, and owner of Helping Hands Personal Services. I started my business in 2001 after leaving a 16-year career as a computer programmer. That was a challenge because when I started out there weren’t very many organizers working in Dallas, and the most likely clients had never even heard of a professional organizer. There was no social media to help spread the word, and a lot of marketing involved in-person networking. It’s such a different world now. Besides the technology issues, I had only met one other organizer before deciding to become one myself. There was the “National Association of Professional Organizers” when I started, but there was no local chapter like there is now. A few years after I became a member of the national group we did form the DFW chapter. Basically, everyone was on there own. I never really had training per se. I knew how to organize because it came naturally to me. But I had never been paid to do it for someone else and I wasn’t good at estimating how long a project would take. I had no idea of the wide variety of organizational challenges I would face, and the possibilities for the type of organizing I’d enjoy the most. Luckily, there were some books on how-to organize and I read them with interest to verify that I was doing things “right.” My confidence was boosted by seeing that I was on the right track, and by hearing my clients’ positive comments about my work. I had some help from a veteran organizer in the beginning who allowed me to “shadow” her and sometimes referred a client she couldn’t work with. Every organizer tends to develop a niche in terms of the types of clients they like to work with, and the type of organizing they like to do. I tend to be a jack of all trades. I love helping people with kitchens and master wardrobe closets, general decluttering, and helping set up homes after a move, I also do specialized packing including kitchens and breakables. Working with busy professionals who just don’t have time to do it themselves is fun for me. Once I get to know my clients and their preferences I often go back and maintain the systems I’ve set up. I just come in and get to work by myself so they can spend their time doing what they need to do. As far as my personal attributes are concerned, I pride myself on being compassionate and non-judgmental. I like to put my clients at ease if they express embarrassment or guilt at their situation. I’m a high energy organizer, a workhorse, and physically strong. I love to work every day and TGIF does not apply to me. When I’m not working I need to burn my excess energy by roller skating and doing Jazzercise. I love my life.

Any great local spots you’d like to shoutout?
I hate to admit it but I have no life outside of my work! But if my family were to come visit me we’d probably go to a few museums, enjoy the outdoors, and feed our brains. I’d take them to the Dallas Arboretum if it wasn’t too hot. It’s such a beautiful place to connect with nature. A day visiting the DMA followed by a stroll through Clyde Warren Park to sample the delicious food-truck fare would be a great day. I love art so we’d probably also go to the Kimball Museum in Fort Worth one day, and the Meadows Museum at SMU another, which I think is a bit of a hidden gem. As a dance lover I’d definitely book tickets at the Winspear Opera House to see whatever dance company was performing. The Dallas World Aquarium would definitely be on my list. The natural setting and ability to see plants and animals close up is a calming and unique experience. To feed our minds the Perot museum is the perfect spot. So much to learn! Speaking of food, when my daughter visits from New York we like to visit Reverie Bakeshop in Richardson to pick up some delicious vegan bakery treats. I love their bean empanadas so I will usually go home with a few. As far as dining out in Dallas, I’m afraid I just don’t know. I’m not a big meat eater so I’d love for your readers to let me know some good spots to dine. Where can I get a good veggie burger?

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Without a doubt I want to recognize the support my parents. To my dad for giving me my entrepreneurial spirt, and to my mom for instilling independence and a strong work ethic. They both supported me and never discouraged my crazy adventures. I had a great childhood along with my 3 sisters. We learned important values that have served us throughout our lives. I also want to recognize my friend Pauline Shirley, founder of WOVI – Women Of Visionary Influence, who mentored me in the early days of my business, and all the other women in our local chapter. WOVI.com And of course, I couldn’t have been successful without all of my clients over the years, some of whom have been with me more than 10 years. Every client has taught me something valuable, and because of all the experiences I’ve had, my business has become stronger.

Website: http://helpinghandsps.com/index.html
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nancypeham/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-peham-1123706/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/NancyPeham
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HelpingHandsPS/
Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/user_details?userid=gbLcdoG1kHnPvP2hvS0dmg
Other: https://www.angieslist.com/author/nancy-peham.htm http://ezinearticles.com/expert/Nancy_Peham/28639

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