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Interview With . . . Mandie Sohn My Method to Your Madness, Inc. Denver, CO by Maria Gracia How long have you been in business? Two years. 2. Is this your primary business, or a part-time business? This is a part-time business for me. 3. Are you a member of NAPO? (Please indicate if you're an officer.) Yes. I also am a member of COPO. 4. Why did you become a professional organizer? My passion is helping people release the energy that clutter traps. I'm a strong believer that when you clear your space, you clear your mind. 5. What type of organizing do you specialize in (home, office, etc.)? 1) Residential Organizing 2) Offices: Home, Small Business and Legal -Document/Paper Management. 3) Time Management and Goal Setting 4) Wedding: Small Event Planning 5) Household Consolidation 6. Do you sell products, services, or seminars? Please describe. Physical organizing and shopping services. 7. Have you written a book(s)? If so, what is the title(s)? No. 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? No. 9. Do you have a web site? If so, what is the address? Yes, it's www.mymethodtoyourmadness.com 10. Is travel a big part of your business? It could be. Since my husband works for an airline, my travel expenses are minimal. 11. Who is your primary target audience? Students who want to learn how being organized can result in better grades, through young professionals with no time to organize, through seniors downsizing for retirement. 12. Describe your typical workday. I work full-time for a law firm, so I spend part of my weekends on my organizing business. If I don't have a job set up, I try to market as much as I can. 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? I think how much you make is directly proportionate to how much time you spend on your business-following up with current clients, marketing to new clients, etc. 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)? Free workshops, web site, cross-referrals with related small businesses and neighborhood flyers. 15. Which one marketing technique have you found works the best for you? Please describe. I'm not sure yet since I only organize very part-time. 16. Describe a successful, creative marketing technique that you use, or that you've used in the past. For my first job, I offered a free session in exchange for a thorough critique of my needs assessment and organizing style. Since they were very pleased with the result, I hope they invite me back for other parts of the house and refer me to family and friends. 17. Do you feel that networking plays a big role in growing your business? Yes. 18. What do you do to generate referrals? I offer a referral program. If your referral turns into a client, as a thank you, I will offer you 1 free hour of my services for your personal use. 19. What do you find to be the most exciting part of your business? A big donation pile. 20. What do you find to be the most frustrating part of your business? Convincing clients that they need a lot less than they think they do. 21. Describe your greatest success in this field. When clients express or at least admit that they feel lighter and less stressed/overwhelmed due to our work. 22. As a professional organizer, do you have a funny story to share? I was organizing a bedroom and the client said I probably shouldn't look in the closed side of a cabinet near the bed. I smiled and said, 'Understood.' 23. As an organizer, what professional organizing information or tools are you always on the lookout for? Ways to simplify and streamline. 24. Looking ahead, what do you see as your greatest challenge? Finding time to market and actually closing the deal with potential clients. 25. What is your best tip for people interested in becoming professional organizers? Don't quit your day job if you don't have to. A steady paycheck takes some of the stress out of starting a new business. 
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