I've never been really good at hypothetical questions, like the ones that ask "If you were a car, what make and model would you be?" I'm more about facts and figures than possibilities, so when I read the challenge question for this month, I was pretty sure I'd be giving this one a pass. Although it would be interesting to meet a celebrity like Oprah or the late John Lennon, I honestly couldn't get stirred up enough to write about the prospect.

Consequently, blogging wasn't even on my mind when I mentioned to my husband earlier this week how much I would love to meet Julie Bestry and Geralin Thomas, preferably at the same time. Not only are they both brilliant professional organizers (my kind of people), but they each have a unique sense of humour that can always bring a smile to my face.

Geralin and I have spoken numerous times, as she's one of my regular clients, but although Julie and I have been online friends for longer than either of us can remember, we've never even spoken on the phone. To sit down with these two very smart and funny women over a meal or a glass of wine would be just wonderful! And if they wanted to bring their colleague Jeri Dansky along, well, that would round up the...

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SOP, or Standard Operating Procedures, is something every business needs, even one-person, home-based businesses. It may cover financial issues, including deposits and cancellation fees; branding issues, such as how the telephone is answered and what font is used in correspondence; administrative issues, including the forms and checklists you use internally and when working with clients; and much more.

The best time to develop your SOP is when you are just getting started. Of course, it will need to be modified from time to time, as you revise your procedures and implement new ones, but at least you will have something to work from.

This topic is covered in Michael Gerber’s bestselling book, The E-Myth Revisited. Gerber recommends developing an organizational chart for your business, complete with job descriptions for each role you currently fill, right from the outset. This way, when you need to start delegating to subcontractors, employees, or outside services, you will be well-prepared. Before you can successfully incorporate associates into your business, you need to have well-documented procedures to ensure that everyone on your team is on the same page. Even if your company never expands to the...

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