The SOP Blindspot: Why Business Owners Miss the Mark
The SOP Blindspot: Why Business Owners Miss the Mark
How can a business owner implement flexible work policies to boost productivity?
The biggest challenge with my previous job was that it required me to go to a physical location—it wasn’t a work-from-home setup. That was the hardest part. Now, I hire a lot of moms and women who have similar experiences to mine. What we’ve done is create a flexible environment. They have tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities, but they can work around their own schedules, especially their family schedules.
For example, we had an employee whose family was constantly sick. She was really apologetic, saying she couldn’t control the situation. As her boss, I told her to take a day off to rest and focus on herself. After that day, we checked in and made a plan to ease her workload. After just one day of rest, she returned more motivated and productive than ever. The amazing thing was she didn’t have to work during typical hours—she could work whenever suited her best.
This flexibility sets us apart as employers. I want my employees to have strong family lives because that brings them happiness and keeps them motivated. They’re working to support their families, so it’s important for me to support their families, too.
What inspired you to transition from a solo business to building an agency?
I became really skilled at what I did, and within one week, I landed seven clients. I realized I needed to hire help. I had always thought about turning my business into an agency, but my family situation delayed that. I had two kids 12 months apart, both premature, which led to a lot of medical expenses. That week, I was focused on getting as many clients as possible to cover those costs, especially since my son was about to have surgery. I managed to keep that momentum going, but it made me realize that we weren’t in a stable financial position, and I needed to come up with a plan to support my family.
My husband was incredible during this time. He was working long hours at his job and doing lawn care in the evenings and weekends to bring in extra income. He worked 8-10 hours a day at the prison, then came home to mow lawns until dark. It was exhausting for both of us. That’s when I decided to grow my business into an agency—not just to support my family, but maybe to help support others as well.
What’s the best way to create effective SOPs to improve productivity?
Creating SOPs, or standard operating procedures, is essential. An SOP is a document outlining every process in your business and how it’s done. I have one for everything, from simple tasks like creating an email signature to more complex processes like social media management. It ensures my entire team is consistent, whether in how we communicate with clients, manage leads, or handle sales.
Taking the time—about an hour or so—to create an SOP saves me so much time, money, and reduces mistakes. As entrepreneurs, we often overlook this because we’re visionaries and always on the go. But it’s important to take a moment to sit down and think through our processes, just like we do with goal setting. SOPs are just as crucial because they outline exactly how you want your business to run.
When you have an SOP, you can hand it over to a virtual assistant or a new hire without needing to spend hours training them. They can follow the document step-by-step. And if writing isn’t your thing, you can use a video tool like Vimeo to screen-record your process, which also works really well. Since implementing SOPs, I’ve seen a significant increase in productivity.
Why is monthly recurring income important for building wealth?
I believe every business should have some form of monthly recurring income. You get the client once, and they pay you every month. That’s a goldmine for me. We’ve done this with our software system, Nadora. Clients pay us a monthly fee for access to the software, and we don’t have to do much after the initial setup. Yes, we support them and teach them the platform, but it’s much less effort compared to working on individual projects. We’re no longer trading time for money, which has been a key factor in building wealth.
How can a business owner manage the demands of a demanding career alongside family responsibilities?
I’m a former foster kid, so I always wanted the kind of family that sits down for dinner, has movie nights, and goes to fairs and carnivals. I wanted to build that for myself. I also never saw a healthy working relationship growing up, but I wanted one—a marriage where partners are best friends, can laugh together, and understand each other on a deep level. I remember seeing a couple like that once, and I’m blessed to now have that kind of marriage.
Of course, it hasn’t been easy. My husband and I have faced challenges, like our children’s surgeries and premature births. My husband works as an assistant warden for the Florida Department of Corrections, which is a demanding job. Meanwhile, I run a business and am the primary caregiver for our kids because of his long hours. It’s tough, but going through those hard times has made us great partners. We’ve learned to support each other—it’s a give-and-take. When he’s stressed, I step in, and when I’m stressed, he steps in.
So, what happens when we’re both stressed? Sometimes, we let things slide, like skipping homework and just spending time together as a family. In the long run, that balance is what’s best for our family. Last night, for example, I was really stressed, but my husband took over the homework and bedtime routine. He even got home early, which never happened. I was able to get the best night’s sleep, and it made all the difference. It’s about knowing what your partner needs and acting on it, not waiting.
*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.*
