Meet Hannah Bonecutter of BoneClutter in Oak Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Hannah Bonecutter.

Hannah, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
Like many great paths in life, one does not choose it. Instead, it chooses the individual. True to suit, professional organizing chose me. But it was founded upon something immensely strong. Something pure. Invaluable even. It began with my father.

In late September 2014, my father Bruce became very ill with heart issues that were eerily unidentifiable at first and most certainly unexpected. I remember him having small heart attacks and becoming very faint quite frequently. After many doctor visits, we discovered that it was a malfunctioning heart valve due to a childhood illness’ aftereffects. This faulty valve was in such bad condition that it could cause a fatal heart attack at any moment. Luckily, doctors were able to uncover the source of the problems and prep my father for heart surgery in November 2014.

I am extremely happy to report that my father made an extraordinary recovery from the surgery and is doing well today. During this scary, worrisome, and solemn time I honestly did not realize how serious my father’s heart issue was and tried my best to put it at the back of my mind. My father is Superman to me, so even considering the fact that he was not 100% strong or in good health was unfathomable for me. Yet, when I even start to imagine how life might be now if he was no longer here; if he didn’t make it thought the surgery, it brings me to tears. Needless to say, I am so very thankful and ecstatic that my father is still with us today here on this earth.

Similar to myself, Bruce is an extremely involved, hard-working, and busy individual all the way around. He grew up working on his father’s farm and now is a very accomplished psychologist among other things. So when the doctor ordered him to take 3 months off of all work and rest at home after his surgery, he wasn’t too pleased. But during that time the biggest blessings occurred! Fortunately, my work schedule was flexible enough to stay at home with my father much of the time that he was on bed rest and during this period we organized!

Several rooms and areas in my parent’s home had become extremely cluttered, dysfunctional, and stress inducing. Or, as I like to call it: “mega junk-drawers.” So I took it upon myself to begin and finish their major home organizing project with their help and input of course. It was time. My father and I finally sat down, got focused, and PROFESSIONALLY ORGANIZED. We were able to sort through, purge, sell, donate, give-away, repair, containerize, systematize, and appropriately store all of his belongings, some of which were over centuries old. Now this process with my father was not all rainbows and unicorns – it certainly had its tough moments and hardships. But something amazing, almost miraculous happened because of it. I discovered my deep love and passion for organizing! I realized that professional organizing is what I craved to start my own business in and do for a living!

Needless to say, I founded and currently own BoneClutter LLC. I love so many things about professional organizing and being a business owner in this industry. But the thing I love most is the joy, peace, and satisfaction it provides for people on so many levels. Professional organizing is transformative not just for rooms, houses, papers, or even time – it transforms lives for the better! This is what’s most important to me.

What’s more, my relationship with my father has been strengthened and deepened through this experience (which I did not think was possible as we have always had a fantastic father-daughter relationship). My father Bruce is, and always has been, one of my best friends, wisest mentors, and most admired role models. Not to mention that he is the best dad a girl could have. I thank my dad so very much for allowing me to discover this deep passion of mine and always supporting it. My father is in many ways the seed that sprouted BoneClutter LLC and this alone is invaluable.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
I feel that I have been very blessed in the simple fact that I set out to start my own business in professional organizing, and indeed accomplished that goal. Many people have the desire to start their own business in something and even begin working towards this, but do not finish; their business is never born. BoneClutter was born in fall of 2015 and just that alone I am thankful for.

Yet, of course the road to getting there was not easy and the learning curve for me was one of the highest it’s ever been in my life. One of the biggest challenges was completing my business plan, which I learned how to do over a 12-week course called “Plan for Profit.” I did not know any of the components of my business plan prior to this course, not to mention how to legitimately start a business in Illinois. Now, after conquering that hurdle and actually starting BoneClutter, I can honestly say that I do understand the components of a thorough business plan, the procedures for starting a business in Illinois, and plenty more.

I realize that with BoneClutter I not only have birthed my own professional organizing business, but I have also created an entirely new, independent career field, income path, and creative outlet for myself that will last my lifetime. This is truly the biggest accomplishment, and I am extremely grateful.

BoneClutter – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
BoneClutter – We Organize to the Bone! Indeed, here at BoneClutter we pride ourselves on thoroughness, thoughtfulness, and genuine care. From senior citizens down to young preschoolers, we serve a wide range of clients from all corners of Oak Park and Chicago. We aid our clients in determining and creating distinct systems that make routine tasks or long-term projects more efficient and purposeful.

We continuously inspire and motivate our clients and others to be organized not simply to have an aesthetically pleasing home or business space, but also to gain effective productivity and control so that they can do the things they truly want to do in their lives without the worry, dysfunction, or anxiety clutter can bring. Many have found a new sense of joy, peace, and satisfaction once thorough organization was accomplished in their home or business space.

Here at BoneClutter LLC we believe that professional organizing is about much more than keeping objects in order or systematizing paper files. It is about transforming lives for the better! We strive to get you to that point where you have the time and energy to explore your interests with the ones you love while still maintaining peace, order, and efficiency in your household and workspace.

One distinctive factor of BoneClutter is the founder and owner – Hannah Bonecutter. Earning her Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education, Hannah is an experienced, licensed educator that brings her teaching strategies and contagious enthusiasm into every organizing situation. Coming from a diverse background and being relatively young, Hannah infuses cultural awareness and an energetic atmosphere into all the services BoneClutter LLC provides.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
I believe success is completely relative. As defined by the dictionary, success is “the favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors; the accomplishment of one’s goals.” Personally, I define success as indeed the accomplishment of one’s goals. Everyone has unique, individual goals, which can cause success to appear quite different from one person to the next.

In terms of “markers of success” that I may look out for, these are merely accomplished steps towards my major goals. They are often different every time because my goals evolve, grow, and change as I do and with the different endeavors I set my mind to.

For example, at the beginning of 2017 I made a major goal of mine to travel the world independently more than I ever have over a 6 month period. So far, I have been to 3 countries, each one on a separate continent, and have another still coming up in June. For me, that is a marker of success towards achieving that major goal of immense international traveling this year.

Contact Info:

• Address: Chicagoland Area & Surrounding Suburbs
• Website: www.boneclutter.com
• Phone: 312-650-9639
• Email: hannah@boneclutter.com
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/boneclutter-oak-park

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