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I grew up in and around Detroit, Michigan, navigating my parents' divorce and bouncing through several suburbs until I graduated from Troy High School.
From there, I headed off to the Upper Peninsula to attend Northern Michigan University—and my life was forever changed on the shores of Lake Superior.
It took me 6 years to get my undergraduate degree—I could say it was because I took some time off playing drums in several local bands and interning at the Milwaukee Repertory Theater—but really it's because I couldn’t get my sh*t together to graduate. I wasn’t always the most organized man in America.
A professor bet me $50 that I'd be back for a 7th year, and that was just the motivation I needed. I finished up and diploma in hand, headed back to Detroit to start working as an actor. I did commercials, plays and had a small roll in the film, “The Untouchables.” I sat behind Patricia Clarkson in the courtroom for 3 amazing days. And no, she won’t remember me.
I also toured the U.S. living on a school bus performing improvisational theater in prisons. I worked for over 20 years in the theater, from acting to directing and then running several organizations as well. I launched a theater company in NYC, ran an award-winning art center in D.C., and led another theater in Seattle. Then I got laid off.
Fortunately, a mentor of mine had told me ...
Inside every disappointment is the seed of an equaI or greater opportunity.
When I left Seattle I got a gig co-producing an awards ceremony at The Kennedy Center. One of our awardees was a Nobel Peace Prize winner. And meeting him was the unexpected catalyst for the work I do now.
It's still hard to believe that a chance encounter in 1996 would redirect my life in such a large and unexpected way.
Which is kinda how the best things in life have often happened.
And today I'm so incredibly lucky to spend my days coaching people and businesses to change their relationships with time and stuff so they can set themselves free—from whatever physical, emotional or psychological clutter is standing in their way.
There are a few things that set me apart from other organizers:
1) After more than 2 decades, it's become crystal clear to me that stuff and clutter are not the real problems—how YOU interact with stuff is. That's why I focus so much on mindset. Because once you change how you think about and feel about stuff, you'll never be disorganized again.
2) I don't really care about stuff, meaning physical stuff, that much. I know how to treat it and organize it but I don't want to waste a single precious minute moving stuff around when what we could be doing is crafting a life beyond your wildest dreams, where YOU play the starring role, not stuff.
3) I am so much more interested in teaching you how to set yourself free than in being hired to do the work for you. I still work with private clients but not many and not often. And I do not want any client dependent on me for their own organization. I don't need to hold you hostage so I can pay my mortgage.
I am on a mission to change the world so running our programs, appearing on TV, podcasts and radio, or talking with 5,000 people from a stage is so much juicier than being in someone's closet or pantry. Seriously.
So that’s how I'm different and if that speaks to you, I'm happy to be your Sherpa and your coach so you too can set yourself free.
So chances are me and my team can help you, too.
We lead with our hearts, then our brains. Yes, this is a business but people and kindness come first.
Taking care of you while maintaining healthy boundaries means you are usually delighted—which of course delights us.
What we’ve learned the hard way is that nothing is perfect BUT everyone can achieve excellence and eliminate errors.
We've found that the quickest way to get something done is with a smile. We're the first to laugh at the silly things we all do, say and think—you'll have more fun if you do, too.
Why take 9 steps when 3 will get you there faster with less friction? Solving for efficiency and impact is better than great sex. And almost better than chocolate.
How you do anything is likely how you do everything. So paying attention to each step in any process is not only the goal but our daily practice. Staying awake and aware is how we deliver excellence every day.
A man with a dream, tilting at windmills, trying to make a difference in the world. Born and raised in Detroit, he’s lived and worked in both urban and rural communities. He's delighted that his team is grounded in midwestern values while wielding big city skills.
In addition to running her own growing business, Your Other Half, Alice serves as an advisor for AMI, focusing on strategic growth, impact expansion and everything HR-related. She loves helping small businesses thrive and finds a particular alignment with Andrew’s theme of “more love, less stuff!”
Jess is a certified “Wayfinder” Coach who received her training from the Martha Beck Institute. She has over 25 years of experience in Sales and has worked as a Sales Coach and Trainer, both in Corporate and in her own coaching practice of 7 years. She loves theatre and earned an MFA in Acting from Louisiana State University. Her core message to her clients is that “You’re never too old and it’s never too late to go after your dreams” She lives in Dunedin, Florida with her husband and mischievous American Eskimo dog.
Johnny is the son of a Marine and a Filipino mother. They moved around a lot in his early years because of the military before graduating both high school and college in Hawaii. After spending the next 8 years in real estate and sales he dropped everything to follow his dream of becoming a professional basketball player and moved to the Philippines, where he currently resides with his fiancé and their beloved Shih Tzu. Endowed with a military upbringing and a love for sports, Johnny possesses an ingrained sense of discipline, order, and time management—a testament to his roots and values. His multifaceted background and commitment to organizational excellence underscores his versatile skill set and dedication to personal and professional development.
Kristin is delighted to be a part of the AMI team and supporting the company’s growth as we continue changing people's lives. She has always had a passion for organization & helping people. She lives in Ohio with her husband and children.
Like other members of the team, Kristin brings a diverse set of skills and abilities to her role here.
City Harvest is New York City’s largest food rescue organization, feeding the more than 1.2 million New Yorkers who are food-insecure.
American Red Cross provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and disaster preparedness education in the United States.
Covenant House has helped transform and save the lives of more than a million homeless, runaway and trafficked young people.
Housing Works fights to ensure that all people living with HIV/AIDS have access to quality housing, healthcare, HIV prevention, and treatment, among other lifesaving services.
Habitat for Humanity is a global nonprofit housing organization working in local communities across the United States. Habitat’s vision is of a world where everyone has a decent place to live.
American Veterans, is a volunteer-led organization formed by World War II veterans of the U.S. military. It advocates for its members and causes that its members deem helpful to the nation at large.
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