Story & Lesson Highlights with Danica Carson

Danica Carson shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Danica, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Some background for context: I have a 5-year-old son, who is the sweetest kid in the world. Since he was a baby, he has loved Legos. It was Duplo until he was old enough to graduate to Legos. It has always been one of our favorite things to play together.

Fine Art was always a big part of my life; it was a major focus for me both academically and recreationally ever since I was a kid. Between having a kid and having a business (make that TWO), I don’t find myself with much time to commit to art right now. However, my son and I have gotten very creative with Legos recently, and now I fulfill the artistic part of me by making cool stuff with him. Sometimes they’re animals, sometimes they’re monsters, sometimes they’re buildings. It has been such a fun way for us to connect.

Just the other day, I took my son, who is on summer break, to Legoland. He and I sat and built little characters for hours and completely lost track of time. I only realized how late it was when my husband called on his way home from work. Playing with Legos with my son is definitely where I feel most authentic and happy these days.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Danica Carson, and I am the Co-Founder of The Uncluttered Life® as well as the Creator of the Declutter Deck®. Alongside my partner, I launched The Uncluttered Life in 2019, and we have been transforming lives through the power of organization ever since.
As a luxury organizing company, The Uncluttered Life inspired the creation of our Declutter Deck. Originally crafted for our clients, we made them available to the public in 2022. Since then, our product line, Hack Decks®, has grown to feature five distinct “life-hacks in a box” tailored for various interests and age groups. We are thrilled to announce that we will be releasing new organizing decks later this year.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who taught you the most about work?
My mom is my greatest teacher and inspiration, particularly when it comes to her remarkable work ethic. She embodies the kind of person who gets things done, even when faced with uncertainty. Watching her establish and manage her own businesses has been incredibly empowering. As a child, she would invite me to join her in important meetings, which instilled a sense of capability in me. While she sometimes pushes herself too hard, her dedication to hard work is unmatched. I strive to embrace her work ethic while also incorporating a bit more work-life balance. There’s a lot to be said for a young girl witnessing her mother in a leadership role. I never doubted my ability to be a boss, simply because my mom was one.

What fear has held you back the most in your life?
Fear of failure has posed a significant challenge for me. The mere thought of failing often discouraged me from attempting new things. However, as I’ve matured—particularly since becoming a mom—I’ve come to understand that failure is essential for personal growth and long-term happiness. If you only engage in activities you’re confident in, you restrict your potential for development. This realization was pivotal for me in my journey to starting a business. There are so many unknown outcomes when starting a business, and as they say, “you don’t know what you don’t know.” You have to take the leap or you’ll never be able to build anything meaningful. Nowadays, I live by the motto: “If you’re not failing, you’re not truly living.”

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. Whose ideas do you rely on most that aren’t your own?
I often turn to my mom and husband for their insights and opinions on a variety of matters, both personal and professional. While I may not always heed their advice, I genuinely appreciate hearing their ideas and perspectives, as they guide me on when to adjust my course or move forward. Any time they come to me with ideas, I listen very thoughtfully because they usually see something I don’t. Their intuition and intelligence are invaluable, and I feel fortunate to have them by my side to help me stay focused.

Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
This is a challenging question! One of the first things that comes to mind is my excessive phone use. I rely heavily on my phone for work, but if I knew I had only ten years left, I would want to look up and truly appreciate everything around me. While I do this to some extent now, I certainly wish I could do it more often. I would strive to be more present instead of constantly multitasking during every spare moment. Additionally, if I had just ten years remaining, I would stop procrastinating. We often think we have plenty of time, but instead of motivating us to accomplish more, it tends to have the opposite effect.