Meet Elyse Metzger

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

Hi Elyse, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My story as a professional organizer didn’t start with a business plan. It started with my mom. Growing up, she kept an immaculate home where everything had a place. There was something about that structure that made me feel safe, cozy, and grounded. I didn’t fully understand it then, but that feeling never left me.

When I was 12, my mom passed away from breast cancer. The order and calm she had created in our home disappeared along with her, and for a while, so did my sense of security. My Grammy stepped in and became my rock. She had that same gift. Losing them both taught me that organizing wasn’t just something the women in my family did. It was how they functioned, how they made sense of the world around them. And in the end, it was how they left their mark on the people they loved.

Fast forward to my early thirties. I was working in marketing and my son had just been born. I was feeling burnt out in my career and wanted to do something I was passionate about. I kept asking myself what I was truly good at that I could do forever and never get tired of. The answer was always organizing. I didn’t even know it was a real profession until I started researching it. Once I discovered it was, there was no looking back. In January 2020, I took the leap and left my marketing career to launch The Organized Way.

The timing for launching my business was far from perfect. COVID hit just weeks later and everything shut down. However, that slow start turned out to be a gift. I organized my own home, helped family and friends, completed coursework through NAPO and got really clear on my vision. I realized my approach was different from the beginning. My clients aren’t always looking for a quick kitchen refresh — they’re usually in the middle of a divorce, a complex move, empty nesting, or welcoming a new baby. They need someone who understands that organizing during chaos is deeply emotional work. And I understand that firsthand.

Six years later, I have a trusted team of women who share my values, and a client base built almost entirely on referrals — which I think says everything. Not everyone can hire an organizer, but everyone deserves to feel less overwhelmed in their own home. So I launched a podcast, Tame the Chaos with Elyse Metzger, to share the mindset behind the organizing work.

For me, this work has always been about more than the physical space. It’s about the feeling on the other side of it — that same sense of calm and security I felt growing up in my mom’s home. It’s about giving people back a sense of control in the middle of whatever life is throwing at them. That mission keeps expanding and I’m just getting started.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My business was built on trust and how I show up for my clients. I’m not the “one and done” organizer someone Googles to come tidy a bathroom. I come recommended by repeat clients who trust me during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives. Divorces, complex moves, empty nesting, loss. These are the projects I’m called in for, and I don’t take that lightly.

What sets me apart is personal. I’ve been through more life transitions than most people my age, and earlier than I would have chosen. That experience shapes everything about how I work. I understand firsthand that organizing during chaos isn’t just about the physical space. It’s deeply emotional. I think my clients feel that difference.

The team I’ve built reflects that same standard. I work with a small group of women who share my values, and we genuinely love what we do together. The culture we’ve created on the job matters to me as much as the end result for the client.

Success to me isn’t necessarily about making the most money, but more about being content where you are in life and continuing to grow through the hard and uncomfortable moments. The one habit that has carried me through is consistency. Showing up even when you don’t want to. To me, that’s a big differentiator of successful people.

Right now I’m really excited about my podcast, Tame the Chaos with Elyse Metzger. It’s already broadened my reach beyond San Diego, and more importantly, it’s reaching people who need to hear that organizing doesn’t have to be overwhelming. The skills are already at their fingertips. The podcast is just one piece of a bigger vision. Eventually I’d like to write a book or speak about organizing, because I believe this work and what it means to people deserves a larger conversation.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I’ll be honest, I’m a little biased since I live in Encinitas, so north county gets top recommendations on my list!

For food, Valentina’s is my go-to for a special night out. It’s my birthday dinner spot every year. And we always take out of towners to Hamburger Hut or Tony Hawk’s restaurant, Chick & Hawk, for a fun, chill vibe.

For drinks, Monarch in Del Mar at sunset is a must. The vibe is unmatched.

Of course, no trip to San Diego is complete without the beach. Moonlight Beach in Encinitas is great for everyone. And there are so many little hidden spots along the coast depending on the vibe you’re looking for.

If you’re traveling with little ones, Legoland in Carlsbad is always a hit. Head further south and you have the Safari Park and SeaWorld. And La Jolla is a place every visitor ends up mentioning as their favorite. The sea lions alone are worth the trip.

San Diego has a way of surprising people. There’s always something new to discover depending on what you’re in the mood for.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My shoutout goes to my husband, Tim Metzger. When I decided to follow my passion and made the leap from a steady marketing career to an uncertain new business, he fully supported me. It was a risk and we knew it could be a setback for a while. But he carried our family through financially while I built something from the ground up. That kind of support is not something I take lightly. He even listens to my spur of the moment, zany ideas without judgment — which if you know any entrepreneurs, is truly no small feat. Being a business owner isn’t always easy. There are highs and lows, but through all of it he and my son have been my steady constant. None of this would have happened without him.

Website: https://discovertheorganizedway.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/the.organized.way/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elysemetzger

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/theorganizedway/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@theorganizedway

Other: Podcast on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/tame-the-chaos-with-elyse-metzger/id1874336697

Podcast on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2QjXaGWDG9aDBOLcBCHjqz?si=9429defb239d40b2

Image Credits
Molly Rae Media