The following is a typical conversation I might have with someone who discovers that I am a professional organizer (PO):
Friend: "You're an organizer?? Wow! I could really use you at my house!"
Me: "I'm sure I could help you. What sort of issues are you dealing with?"
Friend: "Oh, you know, the usual closet clutter, and my basement could really use some help."
Me: "So, what's stopping you from getting it done?"
Friend: "I never have the time. I work at it when I can, and I had my basement in really good shape last summer. But now it's a mess again."
It's at this point in the conversation that I feel like people are apologizing to me for not being as organized as I am. They say they could really use the help, but seem to feel like hiring someone is an admission of failure or perhaps a lack of a basic skill. What I and all the other POs would like to tell you is, STOP BERATING YOURSELF! Accumulating clutter is natural at times. When it shows up to stay - that's when you need to take back control.
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