Meet Robin!

My business archetype is the Alchemist (the transformer) and that’s exactly what I can do for you – transform chaos & confusion into confidence – with simple, “personal trainer” style coaching - so you can start living POWERfully!

Hello, I’m Robin Stephens – your chaos to confidence coach!

In a nutshell I…

…am an information junkie. I love to study new and better ways to make life simpler, easier, and more enjoyable.

…don’t have ADD, but I play one on TV. Seriously, for years I was misdiagnosed with Attention Deficit Disorder and as a result I am acutely aware that sometimes we all suffer from “situational ADD” because of our overstuffed, overloaded & overcommitted lives. I favor the simple, direct, few steps as possible approach.

…am passionate about teaching people how the power of organization will connect them to powerful, prosperous living.

…insist on results. You’d think I was born in Missouri (the show me state!). I’m skeptical and proud of it. Don’t tell me it works – show me!

…believe that life organization = making your dreams come true.

…don’t believe that any system should have more than 3 steps to be effective – maybe 4. Think cake mix – it’s simple, it’s easy to understand, and if you follow the directions the results are consistent.

My Once Upon a Time…

I hail from just outside of Boston, Massachusetts – and yes, it is true what they say about folks from the Northeast – we are direct and plain spoken – but once we know you, you’ve got a friend for life! My parents were the poster children for the hard working Yankee, and we were raised on the phrase “get ‘er done” long before comedian Larry the Cable Guy made it popular!

I spent 15 years in the corporate sector working for the usual suspects (Exxon, Nestle, IBM, Xerox) but despite promotions and big paychecks, I felt like a big square peg; frustratingly out of step with my colleagues. It took me another couple of years to discover my natural entrepreneurial roots. My grandmother (an Ivy League college grad) owned a very successful restaurant in the days when women didn’t vote - much less run businesses; my grandfather owned a chemical factory, my great grandmother ran a bed and breakfast, and 2 of my great uncles invented and patented pneumatic machinery that is still in use today.

I’m gifted with a LOT of physical energy (my mom calls me a hummingbird) and I love the active life - running, biking, hiking – you name it. My passion for exercise led me to the fitness industry in the mid 1980’s and 90’s. I became an aerobics instructor (yep - big hair and legwarmers!) as a hobby, and quickly discovered I LOVED to teach & coach! I’d push my clients right out of their comfort zone while encouraging them to aim for bigger results in their workouts. It was pure joy sharing their success.

But what else could I do with my desire to motivate and inspire? I wasn’t sure, so I spent the next 5 years trying on entrepreneurial hats and riding the solo business owner roller coaster. I entered into successful (and disastrous) partnerships, made money, lost money, carved out my identity one (sometimes painful) chip at a time, and sometimes lived precariously close to the edge. And I LOVED it.

I owned a housecleaning business with employees, partnered in a catering business, and combined both to create a successful home management business. Later I turned that business into a thriving personal concierge company. But during that time I still felt I was out of synch with my unique purpose – and kept searching for something that I could feel really passionate about.

The day that ended my search for entrepreneurial meaning was when a friend asked me to help her organize her home office. I dove right in and the time just flew. Afterwards, while we stood admiring the pristine new space, she casually mentioned, “You know, you’ve really got a knack for this and it’s obvious you love it. Did you know there are people out there called professional organizers who do this for a living?” BINGO!

Fast forward 8 years later and here I am. I’m a single mom, I run a one person business, coach, still love to work out (run half marathons, and am gearing up for a triathlon this summer!), cater events on yachts as a hobby with friends, and am constantly working on new ways to bring organization into the lives of POWERful women around the world.

How do I get it all done?

Exactly the way YOU will if you follow my simple organizational process for Chaos to Confidence: ACTions Speak Louder™ Coaching Program:

• Ask yourself what it is you really want. Identify and affirm the vision for your heart’s desire with crystal clarity. You have to be absolutely clear on what you want before you can get it!
• Create a detailed plan of action and STICK to it! Stop focusing on getting MORE things done and start getting the RIGHT things done.
• Take consistent, DAILY action and watch your vision materialize right before your eyes!

And at the end of the day …

I live and work out of my home in the beautiful Pacific Northwest. I’ve been a Seattle resident for almost 20 years now – and yes, it is true that you can take the girl out of the East Coast but you can’t take the East Coast out of the girl! We do get a lot of rain, but it makes us all the more grateful for the gorgeous sunny summer days we spend – often on a boat on Lake Washington or the Puget Sound.

My little boy, Andrew, is now over 6 feet tall and almost ready for college. He was born in Washington and pokes fun of my East Coast roots, telling me I come from the “town that time forgot.” I love living near the water and I never miss an opportunity to get out whenever I can. Fortunately I’m part of a boating community so I get to cruise around on small, medium, and really big yachts from time to time! Visitors to the area usually ask to cruise by Microsoft founder Bill Gates’ huge compound on the lake.

I run rain or shine, love to kayak, hike, bike, and swim (wetsuit permitting – the water is COLD!). I get some of my best inspiration riding on the ferry!

Credentials and training

• BA, Behavioral Psychology, University of Washington
• AAS, Small Business Marketing, University of Connecticut
• Certified Office Administration Consultant, Edmonds Community College
• Certified Office Training Specialist, Shoreline Community College
• Graduate of 4 Independent Professional Organizer Training Courses
• Workshop/Seminar/Teleclass Leader
• 8 years in business as a professional organizer, 12 as an entrepreneur
• Organizing Tips Featured on: Morning News/ABC Chicago; CBS Morning/Chicago; News This Morning/Cleveland; King5/Seattle

Published author

Memberships & Affiliations

• National Association of Professional Organizers
• Member of National Association of Women Business Owners & NAWBO Speakers Bureau
• Donations Coordinator: Links local charities with client donor program: Low Income Housing of Seattle & Dress for Success Seattle

How do you turn chaos into confidence? Click here.

Want to see the type of people I work with? Click here.