How To Stop Doing The Things You Hate

Welcome to Quickfire Consultancy, where every other week, I'll be answering questions and tackling topics I help my clients with on a daily basis.

Think of it like an agony aunt-style column, with less ‘How do I hide the fact I think my mother-in-law’s cauliflower cheese tastes like an old sock?’ and more ‘What steps can I take to grow and streamline my business.'

This series is set to run for the next 12 weeks, and the best part is, you can get involved too! If you have a question that you’d like me to answer in a future edition of Quickfire Consultancy, simply drop me a DM and I’ll whip up an answer.

All submissions will be kept anonymous, and there’s zero judgment. When it comes to the wild world of running your own business, there are no silly questions.?

That’s probably enough waffle from me, let’s get into the good stuff.

?? The Dilemma

Help! When I started running my own business, I was super excited to have more time on my hands. I totally underestimated how long the non-client-facing tasks would take, and now I feel like I’m doubling as an admin assistant. How can I reduce the time I’m spending on the behind-the-scenes stuff?

?? Sarah Says...

If you feel like this, you’re by no means alone. As business owners, we often find ourselves wearing multiple hats, and with that comes multiple responsibilities.?

I’ll start by saying that automation is your best friend. The tools you’ll want to use will vary massively depending on your needs, industry and how you like to work. So my advice here isn’t going to be specific recommendations, but instead to consider WHERE you can automate. Sure a lot of this stuff will take a little bit of leg work to set up, but once it’s firing, future you will want to give past you a big fat hug.?

Automation seems like it's going to be super overwhelming but you don't have to go BIG. Think about the things that you HAVE to do regularly that take up time like recurring invoicing, timesheet and supplier payments, chasing leads via a CRM, task reminders, appointment bookings and even file management. There are tons of micro automation tools that you can use without it being a huge mission.

And if you’re thinking, ‘Sarah I already automate loads of tasks and I’m still snowed under, this is crap advice!’ Then it’s time to do an audit of the platforms you’re using and consider whether they’re actually the right fit. We live in a world of saturation, and this is no different when it comes to automation. Sure, it can be overwhelming, but it also means that if whatever you’re using currently isn’t working for you (i.e. it's not saving you time, improving accuracy, enhancing productivity, improving customer experience or contributing to your scalability) then there’s probably something out there that will.?

If you’re already an automation wizard, then it’s time to bring in the big guns. Outsourcing and delegation. I don’t know if anyone ever told you, but just because you own the business, doesn’t mean you have to do EVERYTHING required to keep it running. In fact, I’d advise against this. First, think about the tasks that don’t require your expertise, but take up a lot of your week. Then, consider what you do/don’t enjoy doing and how this impacts your productivity levels. I know I’m definitely slower when it comes to tackling the jobs that come just above watching paint dry.

Of course, there are costs associated with outsourcing, but when you view it as an investment that is going to contribute massively to your growth, longevity and long-term success, suddenly the price becomes far more appealing. Also, what’s more valuable than your time and sanity???

Because I’m obsessed with streamlining and efficiency, I could go on, but if you’re reading this, you’re probably short on time, and that means you’re not looking for a 3000 word essay. If you’d like to chat specifics about anything I’ve mentioned, feel free to drop me a line, or you can book a call below.

?? BOOK A CALL ??