Lessons I Learned This Year

Many days in the life of a service-based small business owner are spent head down, getting things done, checking tasks off the list, and helping our clients the best way we know how. We don’t always notice the experience we gain along the way until we stop and take a moment to look back. So I want to acknowledge the lessons I learned this year.

As the Scouts Would Say, Be Prepared

The need for small business owners to have an emergency plan had been on my mind, so I posted a social media video addressing this. As if I indirectly manifested this need, two or so weeks later one of my clients had an emergency that prevented her from working for a while, then impacted how she would execute her services for the next few months as she eased back into work. We took the time to strategize a plan moving forward, so she would be prepared to handle the unexpected.

Just a few weeks after that, hurricanes and floods hit hard in the south, magnifying again the need for small business owners to have an emergency plan. Now my framework includes discussing the need for an emergency plan with my clients.

I realize I am not exempt, so I’ve been creating my own plan to address this in my business. While we are busy grinding away at our daily responsibilities, we also need to protect ourselves from potential situations that can be unexpected, volatile, and out of our control.

A great place to start is with documenting client and vendor contact information, and clarifying your goals for keeping your business running if you were unable to work for some time is a must.??

Self-care: More Than Polished Nails and Pinot Noir

Women and moms, moms and women. We are intentional about caring for others but not great about taking care of ourselves. Taking care of ourselves can feel extracurricular, indulgent, and unnecessary. It wasn’t until my kids grew up that I could convince myself to put regular effort into this. I have five boys - you read that right - and the youngest is now a senior in high school. When they were younger, my “self-care” was doing things with my girlfriends - book club, crafting nights, girl’s trips - activities that helped me escape the testosterone overload in my house.?

Now that I and they are all older, my self-care looks different, and I know I’m not alone.?

Recently at a conference I attended, there were a few panels discussing “self-care” as part of their topic, proof that it’s a topic that needs attention not just for women, but for society.

After skimming through my journal from the past year, I observed that I wrote many times about feeling burnt out and needing downtime. Some of the things I chose to implement are:

• I felt the need for more rest, so I changed the time of my daily accountability meeting. This gave me an extra 30 minutes to ease into my day which is crucial for the energy I need to have a productive day.
• I spent nearly five months addressing the side effects from an allergic reaction to medication which medical professionals couldn’t figure out. Not having concrete answers required that I give myself grace and patience.?
• I had many chats with myself about taking the time I needed to rest and not feeling guilty for choosing to lay on the couch, read a book, and nothing more.
• I stopped saying “Maybe I’ll work on this over the weekend”. I NEVER work on anything over the weekend, but saying this to myself made me feel bad when I didn’t. I said this to myself for a LONG time. I needed to set a boundary that fiercely protected my time on the weekends for my family and for me.
• I scheduled more time off this year. I feel much better when I consistently take longer breaks more often. I return to work more refreshed and motivated.
• I reserve time for hobbies and things I like to do.
• I made a “bucket list” of things I wanted to do over the summer. It’s so easy to get pulled into the things other people around you want to do so having a list to follow ensured that I would get to do the things I wanted as well.

Be Particular About Your People - They are Precious

This is something that has been confirmed for me over and over this past year. This final lesson came easily as I thought about my clients and the work we did together this year. I had the opportunity to collaborate with the specialists some of my clients needed for various projects. These collaborations and additional services drove my client's businesses forward. And I either connected them or facilitated the entire project. In every case, the work was elevated by who that person was and the expertise they brought to the table.?

When it comes to building my own business, it comes to me via referrals. The business owners I build relationships with are always connecting me with potential clients, collaborators, and referral partners. There’s no putting a price tag on that.?

I do not underestimate the value of my “tribe”, the other business owners in my network who willingly provide support, and that I consider my “co-workers.” And it’s not all business - sometimes we create opportunities to go out and do fun things together. This fall, I spent a gorgeous day with some networking friends at Tower Hill Botanical Gardens. We walked around, had lunch, and talked about business.?

And a few weeks ago, I wrote a blog about my accountability partner and the value she brings to my business and life.

The more lessons I learn, the more I can serve my clients in the ways they need most. Each year I’m grateful for the experiences I’ve had and the wisdom I gain that I can pass on to other business owners.?

If you’d like the support of a seasoned strategist to move your business forward in the coming year, let’s schedule a time to talk.