Small businesses are the backbone of our communities. They create jobs, provide goods and services, and support local economies. When we support small businesses, we are investing in our communities and our future. 

Here are some of the benefits of focusing on small community businesses: 

• Create jobs: small businesses create more jobs than large corporations. In fact, small businesses create two out of every three new jobs in the United States. 
• Provide goods and services: small businesses provide a wide variety of goods and services that are essential to our communities. This includes everything from restaurants and shops to healthcare providers and childcare centers. 
• Support local economies: small businesses keep money circulating in the local economy. When you buy from a small business, your money goes directly to support the owner, employees, and other businesses in the community. 

This week we are focusing on a small business in the DMV that is doing more than just running their business. They are enhancing the quality of life for families.  

Business: Dexterous Lifestyle & Organizing  

We had the opportunity to chat with the Founder & Director of Business Operations, Andie Hancock about her business. 

Tell us what your business does?  

We help busy people who live busy lives get organized in their homes and businesses (declutter, contain, space plan, label), manage their relocation, and clear an estate of the items inside so that house can be renovated and/or sold quickly. On the Dexterous Lifestyle side, we teach, coach, and create a community of like-minded people who want to learn the connection between their habits, environment, and overall wellness. 
 

What challenges have you faced as a local business, and how did you overcome them?  

My challenges have been fear of failure, fear of success, understanding what boundaries I need to set as a human (that happens to own a business) so that I can be the best version of myself for my clients and my business. I overcome them by staying grateful by always remembering what is important and trying to let go of things that are not. Also, by caring less about what people think of me and more about my self-respect and future self. Additional things I focus on are in grounding myself in the truest purpose of my spiritual connection to my Creator, being a loving wife, and being a trusted friend. I take in a lot of positive information and read and listen to business books. I mastermind other entrepreneurs, and I network a LOT, not just for business, but for ideas and resources. I hire business coaches that create community and relationships with their cohorts. 

Share an experience that highlights the value of what your business does. 

On various occasions, we have been told that our work is miraculous and has helped people overcome emotional stress, divorce, death of a loved one, relocation, and other challenging situations. Our work involves more than simply putting items in boxes and labeling them. We often serve as the stepping stone to help people out of depression and guide them towards a new beginning. In a cluttered environment, we help people remove the burden of judgment and guilt they may be carrying. We bring compassion and peace while working with them and leave spaces for people to function better as humans. We change lives for good. I say that is priceless. 

 
What do you need from the community for support? 

We are currently facing the challenge that after years of implementing new strategies of success, hiring business coaches, rebranding, and having some great exposure by being featured in a national magazine, we have noticed an inexplicable slowdown in new business in the last quarter of 2022 and first and second quarters of 2023. It has been very disheartening, and we are looking for new ways to get our name and brand more coverage and increase sales to stay in business and help as many people as possible. We would love to become trusted referral partners for realtors, estate and family law attorneys, interior designers, and others who work with busy people during a major life transition.   

We are also launching a new program called The Dexterous Lifestyle. It is a resource of information, an online course, an online community, and a group coaching program that will help our clients create a personalized recipe for an organized life that supports their overall wellness. 

 
What is your message to other entrepreneurs?  

Do not give up; keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you will change not just your life but your clients’ lives! 

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