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Interview With . . . Laura Bishop Eliminate Chaos, LLC by Maria Gracia 1. What is the name of your company? Where are you located? How long have you been in business? I'm Laura Bishop, operating Eliminate Chaos, LLC. I'm located in Mill Creek, WA, which is about 15 minutes from Seattle. I've been in business for one year as Eliminate Chaos, but I have been organizing for companies, friends, and families for 10+ years. 2. Is this your primary business, or a part-time business? This is my primary business. 3. Are you a member of NAPO? (Please indicate if you're an officer.) Yes, and I'm also a Member of the Quantum Leap Program. 4. Why did you become a professional organizer? I became a professional organizer because I love to organize. I also felt that I had a lot of skills to offer individuals and businesses, and I enjoy helping others. 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? We organize Home Offices and Small Businesses. We specialize in helping individuals and businesses create business processes and work flows that allow them to be more efficient and more successful. We also work with our clients to teach them how different software packages, such as Microsoft Outlook, Act! and QuickBooks (for example) can help them streamline their business data. Sometimes I even set up all of the software and customize it for each business' needs. 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. At this time we offer a class called 'Get Organized with Microsoft Outlook.' The class offers hands-on training. Students leave the class with the understanding that Outlook is much more than just an email program--it is a contact management application. The program shows you how to use the calendar to schedule meetings for yourself and others, how to use the task list to track your activities as well as others. It teaches you how to record contact information into categories so you can quickly locate the information...and so much more. If anyone is interested in training, but does not live in the Seattle area, they can contact Eliminate Chaos for phone training. 7. Have you written a book(s)? If so, what is the title(s)? No, not yet. But I plan to do so in the future. I am currently working on a set of tips booklets that will be published later this year. 8. Do you publish a newsletter? If so, is it a print newsletter, or an e-zine? Is it free, or is there a charge? Eliminate Chaos will be starting a quarterly newsletter that will be free. It will be sent via email and snail mail. 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? Yes. It's www.eliminatechaos.com 10. Is travel a big part of your business? Currently no, but if a client needed our services, I am willing to travel. 11. Who is your primary target audience? Currently our primary target audience is small businesses and individuals that have home offices. Any age, in any location. 12. Describe your typical workday. Typical? No day is ever the same, which is what helps to keep this business interesting and fun. Our office is in my home, so after I've had breakfast, I usually check email and respond to new messages. Then, depending on client appointments for the day, I will either be on-site with clients, or work from home on projects for clients. I also spend a lot of time building this business, which includes lots of networking meetings, research, phone calls and reading. Even when I am not with a client, there is plenty to do. 13. Every person interested in entering the professional organizing field is wondering, "Can I make enough money doing this?" What is your outlook on this question? It depends. It depends on how much you need/want to make and if you have a significant other that can contribute financially to your income each month. If you are the sole source of income as a professional organizer, it can be done, but it is difficult. You need time to build your client base and get referrals from those you have worked for to help grow your business. 14. Which of the following marketing vehicles have you used to help you grow your business (direct mail, newspaper advertising, free workshops, radio, television, web site, e-zine, telemarketing, yellow pages, joint ventures with other professionals, publicity, other: please describe)? I've used Direct Mail, Newspaper Advertising, Web site, Telemarketing, Yellow Pages, Networking Groups, Welcome New Neighbor program, flyers hung up at various businesses and flyers hand-delivered to homes. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. Networking and word-of-mouth works best for me in this line of work. I feel this is the case because 'Professional Organizer' is not yet a household phrase, or line of work that many individuals recognize. Many do not even know that there are Professional Organizers out there that can help with a variety of projects--so, word-of-mouth from satisfied clients really helps to promote your business. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. I have license plate frames with www.eliminatechaos.com and 206.250.7669 engraved on them. My cost was $27 for two autos, and every time those cars are on the road (and that is every day) we are advertising and it doesn't cost anything, other than the initial $27 investment. 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? Yes, it plays a HUGE role in growing this business. 18. What do you do to generate referrals? We belong to BNI (Business Network International). We also attend Chamber of Commerce Events as well as SBA events. 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? Every day is something different which keeps it fun and exciting. 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? The most frustrating part of business is when clients cancel at the last minute with no notice or only a couple of hours notice. This is not enough time to schedule another client, so the time is wasted, not to mention we lose that income for the time we weren't able to bill. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. Winning an award from a major corporation in the Seattle area for a system/process I designed that was used throughout the country. 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? Every project is a story, but my funniest story goes like this. At one time we offered a free 1/2 hour on-site consultation for new prospective clients. I visited a home that was so cluttered and disorganized that it could have easily taken months to complete. As the homeowner was giving me a tour of the home, each room I saw was a bigger challenge than the previous room I had seen. Finally when we were near the end of the home tour, I was taken into the main bathroom. Much to my surprise, the bath tub was filled with water and there was poop floating in the tub. I couldn't believe my eyes - or the fact that someone would let a stranger see this. There is much more to the story, but that is the highlight. It continues to be an entertaining conversation piece with friends and fellow organizers. Please keep in mind though, that due to my confidentially agreement, this prospective client's name has never been mentioned. 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? New products and ways to partner with businesses to offer discounts to clients. Also looking for ways to sub-contract parts of the work we do to other organizers or other professionals to do parts of the job that we do not do. Specifically, we are looking for ways that we can provide the opportunity to these professionals for a referral fee. 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? Balancing time with family, personal time, friends and growing the business. Our motto is - 'More Time For Life,' and we too must practice this. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? Find an Organizer that has been in business for awhile that is willing to share with you the good and the bad about being an Organizer. The information you will receive will be invaluable and will help you determine if this type of work is for you. I found a Professional Organizer, Sandee Fahlen, in my area that was willing to be my mentor and in exchange I was able to offer her assistance with my background of technology and software. This way it is a win-win situation for both of us! 
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