After 17 years working in finance and lending, Kylie Thorley took a 180 in her career after discovering her passion for decluttering. What started out as short social media challenges soon led to the start of The Spacious Life, a business dedicated to decluttering and organisation.
Tell us about yourself and The Spacious Life.
I started out in the world of finance and lending, where I spent over 17 years navigating the intricacies of the motor industry, banks, and mortgage brokering. Little did I know that I was about to experience a complete flip in career moving into something completely left field!!!
The turning point started when we welcomed our son into the family. Stepping into the role of managing the backend of my husband’s plumbing business during my maternity leave opened my eyes to a world beyond finance. It was the challenge of juggling business responsibilities, raising our son and searching for something new for myself where I discovered the value of decluttering!
It was my own battle with stress and overwhelm that set the stage for the birth of The Spacious Life.
I found that the more I moved on unnecessary ‘stuff’, the lighter and freer I felt. What really blew me away was the ripple effect on my overall well-being and mental health and the relationships around me!
It all started to unfold organically as I began sharing 7 to 21-day decluttering challenges on social media. To my surprise, people not only embraced the challenges but started asking for further guidance. This led to taking The Spacious Life from a fun side hobby to a real business. It became all about helping individuals and groups with the tools and skills needed to declutter their living and workspaces.
I work closely with clients, offering personalised services that extend beyond just physical organisation. It all come back to creating spaces that breathe, spaces that nurture well-being and harmony, and creating an environment that you love being in!
What has been the most challenging aspect of starting/owning The Spacious Life?
The trickiest part of being a business owner for me has been balancing the growth of my own business while still overseeing my husband’s plumbing business. It’s a constant effort to manage time, switch roles, and stay ahead of the game in relation to my offerings and growth.
Each day brings a chance to refine my skills and navigate the intricate blend of entrepreneurship and business management. There has been a whole lot of learning and adapting along the way. It’s not always a breeze, but I know it will pave the way to a solid foundation as my business grows and I wouldn’t have it any other way! It’s feels like a gift that has been handed to me to continuously develop and teach me ways on how I can improve my offerings to help my very own clients and audience.
What is a fun fact about yourself?
I love to break out into a good interpretive dance for when I need a boost of energy or need to switch up my mood, but only in the kitchen at home and only in front of my family. My son is often mortified, but in most cases I can get a laugh from him. I’m yet to get both him and my husband involved.
What is the best piece of career or business advice you have ever received?
Be consistent, always add value and just keep showing up and it will all work out! It’s all about the long game.
Going forward, what is next on the cards for The Spacious Life?
In 2024, my focus is on the exciting venture of establishing my own online platform to connect with a broad audience and make a positive impact. At the core of my philosophy are simplicity, ease, and achievability—principles I am dedicated to bringing to the online community. The first offering from my platform, ‘5 Easy Ways to Create More Time,’ is nearing completion and ready for release. Recognising the significant challenge of time constraints, I strategically designed this course to address a common objection— ‘I don’t have enough time.’ By offering practical insights and strategies, my goal is to assist individuals in seamlessly incorporating small, manageable increments of time into their daily lives. I am thrilled to share these techniques, tested, and implemented by myself, and to contribute to creating more space and simplicity in the lives of many!
Main image – Kylie Thorley
Images Credits – All images supplied.
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