Do you dread walking to your work desk because of the piles of papers and unorganized stationeries that are all over the place? The tidiness and the style of your workspace contribute a lot to productivity and work efficiency.
This week, I am proud to have Sayeh Pezeshki, the CEO and Office Stylist or Sorting with Style. In this interview, she elaborated on her story as an entrepreneur, why office styling is nothing fancy and how it can lead to better productivity.
Also, by reading this interview, you will get Sayeh’s 3 steps system on how to make small changes that can improve your workspace. Let’s get started right away! 
Interview with Sayeh Pezeshki, Owner of Sorting with Style
Wayne: Hi Sayeh, how are you? I’m glad to have you on this week’s Wayne Liew Dot Com Entrepreneur Interviews.
Sayeh: Hi Wayne, thank you for having me. It’s a pleasure chatting with you.
Wayne: Nice chatting with you as well. Just before we get started, why don’t you take some time to introduce yourself to the blog readers and talk a little bit about your background as an entrepreneur?
Sayeh: My name is Sayeh Pezeshki, and I am a 3rd time entrepreneur. I currently own an insurance agency, an Internet marketing company with a focus on social media and PPC for retailers, and I am the CEO and Office Stylist of SortingwithStyle.com.
Wayne: From the bio on your blog, I learned that you started your first business at a young age of 17. What business is that?
Sayeh: When I was in high school I started a handbag company, but ran into quite a few problems after launching. My manufacturer shut down, the logo designer had issues and so forth. It was a great learning experience none the less. Though that didn’t work out, it didn’t stop me from launching my next business, a multi-line insurance agency. You have to dust yourself off and start again if you really want to be an entrepreneur.
Wayne: Interesting, and I guess that’s the spirit of an entrepreneur. 
Let us dive right into your current ventures, which are Sorting with Style and The Office Stylist. What are they all about?
Sayeh: Sorting with Style is the premier destination for office style. Featuring brands like Russell + Hazel, Thomas Paul and stylish office supply companies, Sorting with Style pairs efficiency and elegance to provide consumers with not only a one-stop shop for all office organization needs, but a resource of information on creating Office Style in a Manilla World.
Sayeh: My blog, The Office Stylist provides readers with resources, tips, and office styling help to bring inspiration and style to their workspace.
Wayne: Sayeh, I know that you are very passionate about office styling through your tweets and blog posts. What actually is the basic idea of office styling and what problem that you saw which prompted you to start this business?
Sayeh: The idea of office styling is bringing style and fun wherever you can to watch your "workitude"(work + attitude) change for the better. By making small changes to your workspace and adding in elements of color or inspiration, you can see a shift in your productivity and overall attitude about your work.
Sayeh: After seeing countless boring and bland offices, I decided I wanted to bring fun and individuality into workspaces and cubicles everywhere. We spend more time at our desks then we do anywhere else so it’s the one place we should really make our own.
Sayeh: I want to inspire others to take the time to make small and low cost changes to their desks and spaces to make it really their own. From assistants, to CEOs, work at home moms to head of HR, we should all feel inspired in our workspace. It also helps that I have always loved shopping for school supplies, then when I started working, office supplies. I saw a need in the market and I decided to fill it.
Wayne: People often neglect the idea of styling up their office because they think it’s a fancy activity and all they want is just a workplace to get things done. What’s your take on this "myth" and can you share with us a few benefits that a business owner or a small business can get through office styling or designing?
Sayeh: We spend 40 + hours a week in our workplace. Imagine you can’t stand being at your desk; You have papers over flowing, drawers stuffed with junk, and bland and boring pencil holders. Now, clear off part of your desk, replace that pencil holder with one that you love, and you’ll noticed a difference in your overall feeling and attitude about your workspace and work in general. If you dread sitting at your desk, or your desk is over flowing with papers etc., you aren’t being as productive as you could be.
Sayeh: Office styling definitely isn’t anything fancy. I have a simple 3 step system that I always use and share with others that can make a huge difference in their space. We aren’t talking about doing a full re-design of an office, but simply making small changes so the workspace is truly your own.
Wayne: Do you mind sharing the 3 steps system because I’m sure it will help people reading this interview to have a new perception about how their office space should look like?
Sayeh: Sure thing Wayne. The 3 steps are: Divide + Release, Color + Conquer, and Touch + Transform. Let me explain…
Sayeh: Divide + Release: Office organization is often the biggest obstacle and most challenging hurdle when beginning to think about Office Style. You are probably thinking, how can I even think about my Office Style when I can’t see under the piles on my desk?
Sayeh: Divide + Release is an easy and quick way to make a difference with that office clutter. Look at your desk and divide things into like with like – all your finance folders in one pile, magazines in another, etc. Then make what I call a Release pile which is where you will be tossing out the things you don’t need. Going through the mess or clutter is a lot easier when you Divide + Release.
Sayeh: Color + Conquer: What colors inspire you most? When you surround yourself with colors that light you up, you infuse your workspace with positive energy that radiates out into all the work you do. Pick one or two colors to stick with in your office space-this not only makes your office look more cohesive, but it makes you feel good for bringing in something you love.
Sayeh: It doesn’t have to be much to add a few bits of your favorite color. Colors can be represented by a desktop background picture, book covers, or a really pretty paperweight, vase or even just a pencil holder. What really matters here is what colors inspire YOU.
Sayeh: Touch + Transform: What are five things you touch in your office everyday? For most people it’s their computer, their mouse, pens, and pencils, phone, scissors, file folders, post-its and notebooks. What if you took every item you touched and transformed it into a thing of beauty or inspiration? No more broken pencils in your cup, instead choose some pens in your fave colors, throw out manila folders and replace with patterned, make your mouse pad something that makes you smile when you move your mouse.
Sayeh: Choose a pencil cup that really brightens the room or make a collage on your pencil jar of favorite images that inspire you. Write a note to your assistant on a post-it that pops, or customize your desktop background with an image you love. If everything you touch everyday is transformed into something fun and what you love, soon you’ll have a swing in your step even as you are doing the most mundane of tasks.
Sayeh: I get a lot of people who email me with specific office styling questions that I answer on www.TheOfficeStylist.com too.
Wayne: Wow, that’s a lot of handy tips there. On The Office Stylist, you share a lot of examples on how an office makeover can be done as well. What is the best case study that you have came across in terms of improved work efficiency, productivity and office culture after a makeover?
Sayeh: Hmm… Overall I’d say everyone who has followed my system has seen a vast improvement. When I launched Sorting with Style, I was actually in the process of moving my office so I was the first person to experience my own office styling. I can tell you it was a vast difference in not only how I felt at my desk, but in my creativity as well. I felt much more inspired in a space that was my own vs. pre picked plastic, black or beige supplies and furniture.
Wayne: Nice… This proves that the system works and you actually walk the talk. What do your clients or customers look for when they come to you? Is it mostly questions pertaining to office equipments you have on sale at Sorting with Style, or most of them are seeking for your consultation on office styling?
Sayeh: I get a lot of requests with finding a particular item for the office as well as specific problems they need help with. As an example I had someone email me looking for stylish shredders. Some people want a desk makeover which I do virtually with tips, their photos, and my suggestions.
Sayeh: There are others with a specific problem such as having a boring cork board and not sure how to embellish it. I offer getting fabric or a piece of wall paper to cover it with. Low cost, and it’s personalized.
Wayne: Well, of all entrepreneurs that I know, you are definitely the go-to person for office styling. Of course, we can’t cover anything in one interview and The Office Stylist is a nice blog to follow for office styling tips. Other than that, can you recommend some other sites or books that one should read in order to learn more about office styling?
Sayeh: Thank you, Wayne . As far as other office styling resources the only thing that I can suggest is home decor magazines that you can get inspiration from such as Living etc and House Beautiful.
Wayne: Sayeh, you have definitely shared a lot throughout this interview. Before we finish things up, how can people contact or connect with you if they have questions on office styling or just to learn more about business from you?
Sayeh: You can email me at sayeh@sortingwithstyle.com and follow me on Twitter @officestylist.
Wayne: Cool! Sayeh, thanks again for doing this interview with me. I’m sure my blog readers with appreciate what you have shared in this interview and I wish you all the best with your current and future ventures.
Sayeh: Thank you for having me, Wayne. I hope that everyone enjoyed and learned a bit from our interview. I look forward to reading more other interviews and insight on your site.
What is Your Thought on Office Styling?
How does your workspace look like? Feel free to publish your workspace on your blog or somewhere on the Internet and let me know about it.
Do you find the tips given by Sayeh to be helpful? Do you have some other tips that you would like to add?
Share your thoughts in the comment section below.
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