#APOIinternationalGuest: meet Jing Zhao, from China

How exciting to touch the world of the Profession in Asia!

I have often stated how much the international webinars offered by APOI to its Associates bring not only professionals in other parts of the world, but also different cultures closer together.

In the case of our guest Jing Zhao, it was a plunge into a reality very different from our own: the West meeting the East.

The East understood as different habits and outlook on life, as a way of measuring oneself against the organization, and also as a different value of space and different ways of working.

The webinar with our Chinese guest was exciting in so many ways, not the least of which was her testimony of tenacity and vision in building her own path as an entrepreneur.

A new journey begins, and with it professional growth

Chinese-born Jing Zhao, the founder and current president of Calo - China Association of Life organizers, is a woman who has built her path as an entrepreneur with extreme determination, resulting in rapid professional growth in many ways.Jing has devoted herself simultaneously to the evolution of her own business and the birth and growth of CALO the first Chinese association of "Life Organizers."

Unlike many of her colleagues around the world, Jing did not start from recognizing a personal aptitude for organization, but from the realization that good organization would facilitate and improve her extremely chaotic lifestyle, an attitude that strained her physical and mental health.

Jing, an only child of separated parents, suffered the clutter and disorganization generated after a significant and emotionally stressful change. Highly motivated to take matters into her own hands, with the goal of better living, she began a regenerative journey, where the tool "organization" proved liberating.

I often state how much organizing goes hand in hand with change, in Jing's case it was the strong desire for change that set in motion a new organization and the search for a new way of life. It is no accident that organizing professionals in China, are called "life organizers."

Never be frightened by the new, but seize the opportunity.

Training at the basis of everything

Successful Professional Organizers are always those who have placed great value on training, even touching on different areas complementary to the profession itself.

Jing is certainly a valuable witness to this right approach and, through the development of her professionalism, has become a figure recognized by the general public in China as well as a reference for "Life Organizers."

After a bachelor's degree in communication science from the University of China, Jing earned various certifications, including:

• MLO Mentor certification, issued by the JALO Association In Japan;
• Level 1 certification and "Aging certification," issued in the United States by the ICD "Institute of Chronic Disorder."
• in his history, he has, in addition, 6 years of Mindfulness training;
• and is currently attending a Mindfulness training course in Oxford to become a teacher.

The results came fast

Jing burned through the times, his milestones were:

2014 > After facing his personal crisis related to disorganization, he realized that it was becoming a real passion that he enthusiastically cultivated.

2015 > First earnings come in, she begins to take her first steps as an entrepreneur.

2017 > Feels a desire to bring Chinese "Life Organizers" together and works toward that end.

2018 > Goes to Japan to certify with JALO and begins a fruitful collaboration.

2019 > Founded CALO, the first Association of Life Organizers in China.

To date CALO has more than 250 members, the special feature of this association is that it also delivers training courses for the potential end-customer and not only for fellow "Life Organizers." The Chinese show great interest in improving their organizational skills and willingly attend the courses offered by the association, this also entails a lower economic investment than going directly to a "Life Organizer."

Among the various activities of the CALO Association, it is interesting to note that:

• Implements nonprofit projects;
• Has 12 books to his credit;
• members are regularly invited on TV and radio, published various interviews in newspapers and magazines;
• creates training courses for companies and has had more than 500 clients;
• realizes archiving and organization services for high-level companies;
• creates courses to impart organizational skills in preschools, elementary schools, secondary schools and college.

2020 > Starts collaboration with ICD - Institute of Challenging Disorganization.

2020 > CALO joins IFPOA - International Federation of Professional Organizing Associations.

Jing's foresight, perseverance, commitment and professionalism have led her to achieve astonishing successes and numbers in just 8 years of operation: in such a short time she has worked with over 700 clients and trained 100,000 trainees. More than 500 life organizers have attended its trainings.

Jing Zhao had the great ability to create a bridge with
the Japanese Jalo Association, which allowed the growth of the Chinese Association to accelerate
.

What does he see in the future of the Association

Jing Zhao immediately invested his energies both on a personal level and on the growth of the Profession through the Association. To date, he sees the following goals in CALO's future development:

• Training as a "life style coach."
• Accompanying interior decorators;
• Specialization in archival design;
• Training on the use of ChatGPT to support their clients.

Jing gave us a clear view of how the Profession was born and is developing in Asia, thanks in part to his great seeding work. In spite of the cultural differences, many points of contact emerged that will prove inspiring in addressing the growth and popularization of the Profession worldwide.

I always remember with enthusiasm and dedication that every single Professional Organizer in the world has the task of disseminating and passing on the professional value of this profession, which is slowly making its way into the lives of all those who need to develop and cultivate their organizational skills to achieve physical and mental well-being.

I like to end the articles devoted to our international guests with words that represent them for Jing I would choose: foresight and professionalism

#APOIinternationalGuest has touched the Asian world, what will be the next meeting?

Thank you Jing!