How I am managing my business in this tough time
Oh KIDDING! I am back for more content. This time to talk all about how I am managing my business during this challenging time in my life.
Of course, when I first was told about my surgery and created this content, my surgery date was meant to be a lot earlier than it is currently booked in for (now we are looking at March 2). So I couldn’t not create content between now and then - so I am back!!
I’d had a lot of questions around how I am managing elements of my business during this time, so I thought I would take you through the different parts of the business and how I am preparing them all for my time away.
Even if you are planning a holiday, maternity leave or whatever, you can use this as inspiration.
If you find value in this blog, make sure you share it with me on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram! Even better, share it with your audience! You can also listen to the episode below!
How am I managing clients?
To kick this off, I am first so grateful for the flexibility of my clients. They have been so supportive and so amazing.
But also I think too, this is a good reminder to us all to know our target audience and know the audience we love to serve! I think when you know who you want to work for or with, they will be energetically aligned to you - this does take time!
Also, as part of my business, I have always instilled the values “openness”. From the beginning it has always been a business value of mine and having consistent communication has allowed me to build trust with my clients. As soon as I knew information about my surgery, I would voice note them. I wanted to keep them in the loop at all times! I know we don’t always want to share our personal lives, but in this case, it worked in my favour.
To be fair, I always share! I am an open person.
The other credit goes to my amazing team! Some work directly with clients, some help me with things that allow me to push things forward in my business! Everyone plays a key role. Outsourcing is so helpful and is very important during this timeout period.
If a team is something you are looking to grow, think about what you would need if you needed time off your business (or what will help you move the needle).
Advice for coaches: have a team that can help get those passive courses up, or those who can manage your membership or content. You might have to pause the coaching, but what else do you do? Passive courses? Build the email list.
The last thing I want you to remember is everything is reactive - that is okay right now. For me I’m in reactive mode. But I know it is only short term!
How am I managing my clients content?
Of course as a service provider, I am helping manage more than just my social media accounts or blog etc. So what I am doing right now, is I am looking to batch clients content and get it all set up for when I am away.
Some clients are pausing during the time I am away and some I will make up the hours. But having the conversation and asking them “what do you need at this time the most”, has helped me work with them on a game plan! For me, batching is what has helped me help my clients stay active while I am away - it has also taught me a lot too.
It is all about having the conversation and working with clients to make a game plan! Everyone has a different game plan too.
One annoying thing was batching all client content thinking my surgery date would be sooner...but it happens right? Best to be over prepared.
How am I managing money?
Now, I can understand, this is one of the most stressful parts. The money.
For me, I have always tried to have at least one months of bills in my accounts and then of course 3 months in savings. So at the end of the day, this is why you have savings!!
If you need help with this element. The book Profit First is a game changer! There is not much else I can really say about this part because it isn’t easy! It is just knowing the money always comes and goes.
How to manage new jobs that come in?
The one thing I have been doing is being honest. I am not going to take on jobs I might not be able to give my all! I have been working on plans with people that might want to work with me to delay the process or work on something we can do in the meantime.
I want to provide the best service possible, so I don’t want to disappoint people if I can’t deliver! It is all about being honest with new and potential clients. Or of course, provide them with something that doesn’t need your full attention!
The level of flexibility for exploring
Right now, I am making most of the freedom I have as well. This means working later in the day or if the weather is bad. Trying to use the days I have to explore Sydney and see as many people as possible!!
So I have shifted my work days and to be fair, some days I re-shift on the days if something comes up. I just make sure the work I need to do gets done.
How to manage goals
This was a tough one. I had a membership I wanted to build (you can still join the waitlist) and an agency to start.
Of course, I will do all of these, just maybe in a few months later than I wanted to! You can reprioritise, it is okay to do that! I have started putting together passive courses so people can learn from me while I am away! Read more about it here.
Look at the goals, look at what isn’t super achievable and have a think about what you might be able to do instead! It is okay to shift goals that no longer align, don’t let your ego full you.
How am I managing my own content?
Also another tricky one. I LOVE creating, you know that. Content Queen who doesn’t create content?? First, I gave myself time to process. I gave myself some self compassion and just showed up on Instagram stories instead of the feed. I set the expectations with my community through the last podcast episode and some content on my FB group, Facebook page and LinkedIn.
Now of course, I have my date, I am creating a podcast and blog weekly - but my social media content will be just Instagram and I will just be creating more “in the moment” content! It isn’t going with the strategy and that is okay. I’m sharing my thoughts and my journey for now. I know it is a good experiment too!
Managing the stress
The number one thing helping me right now is journaling and being mindful. But also, I rant and ask people for no opinion when I need to. I have accepted what is happening, but have given myself the time to process and sit with the feelings.
Remember, your stress isn’t worth it in the long run. If you stress about money, it is just money. For me, and for my business it is my health, my team and clients that I make sure are looked after - the rest will be okay!
The money of course helps pay for things, but you can make it work. Let go, the stress won't help.
Also, Trello - Trello helps with stress management!
Final thoughts
So there it is! All of the things I am managing and how I am doing it! As I said, if you are having some time off, this is a great insight into how you can manage it yourself!!
The lessons are:
Have a game plan
Have open conversations with your clients
Inform your community
Shift and reprioritise
Work on a way to manage stress
Give yourself self compassion
That is the recipe for success in challenging times!
If you find value in this blog, make sure you share it with me on LinkedIn, Facebook or Instagram! Even better, share it with your audience! You can also listen to the episode below!
