Running a business from home was always my dream.
It’s now my reality and I love it every bit as much as I thought I would.
I knew I never wanted to build a huge organisation with multiple offices and an ‘HR governed’ hierarchical staffing structure! My dream was to have a ‘lifestyle business’.
I wanted to run a small, home-based business that fed my desired lifestyle of time-freedom and choice.
However, don’t make the mistake of thinking that just because it’s a small or home-run business, it requires any less structure or planning. The only way to achieve the time-freedom you desire is to have proper systems in place and to outsource many of your daily tasks. Home run does not mean you do it all yourself! (DIY)
The biggest error most of us make when running a small business (whether it be run from home or from designated office premises) is wearing too many hats and ending up more frazzled than when we worked for someone else!
The goal is to push off your desk as much as you can to enable you to focus on the high value and enjoyable work; the work you are skilled at doing.
Getting to this point requires planning and structure and is always, in my experience, a work-in-progress because it can always be improved upon, and you will always find new people to bring into your team.
Even after years of running my businesses, I continue to work on outsourcing, improving processes and systems to make my businesses run even smoother and to free me up even further. To this end, I have had a business mentor myself the last few years to help to push myself in this area because, truthfully, for me it’s not the most fun part but I recognise it’s essential to achieve the results I desire – so I suck it up and get it done!
Now, let me explain, whilst the greater freedom this gives me does enable me to weave ‘me time’ into my days, I don’t just do it for that reason. I want to enjoy my work to the maximum – and I can only do this when I am free to work on the areas of my business I enjoy – for me that is working with my clients to help them to build real wealth and to achieve their own lifestyle of true happiness and fulfilment.
The key is to build a team of people who enjoy their work, who are also working in their flow utilising their key skills, and who enjoy working with you and whom you reward well and look after. My team is genuinely loved and valued.
My freelance VA is on the other side of the world, but she is like family. I know all about her family, about her grandparents’ farm and all her dogs’ names. We are both crazy ‘dog mums’ and our dogs often say hi to each other on our zoom meetings!
In our property business, we instruct contractors who have done worked for us for many years. Their loyalty comes from knowing they are truly appreciated and from enjoying the work.
It is a real ‘family feel’ and that is exactly how I wanted it!
So, back to my original point lol!
You don’t have to ‘do it all yourself’ just because you run a small, home-based business. In fact, I’d suggest you probably shouldn’t because otherwise, you’ll end up hating it as much as the job you may have left!
Outsourcing work to people who are skilled at the tasks and are working ‘in their flow’ when doing it benefits many people:
- You: it’s off your desk and done much better (and quicker) than if you tried to do it yourself, thereby freeing up your time to work on your business and to serve your clients.
- The Team Member: they get paid for work they truly enjoy and are skilled at, and
- Your Clients/Customers: they get the best of you, not a ‘wrung-out’, frustrated and exhausted version!
By outsourcing, everyone benefits!
At first, it can seem uncomfortable handing over the reigns but it’s worth persevering. Just try it!
It took me years after starting my businesses before I would even hand over the book-keeping – it terrified me to relinquish control because I wasn’t used to it. That was many years ago and now I can’t imagine what I would do without my amazing bookkeeper!
Interestingly, once you begin this process and start to feel the benefits, you probably won’t want to stop! For me, I began outsourcing in my business, but now also outsource many personal aspects of my life too. I began with the cleaning and some aspects of gardening at home. I even have my car collected and returned to me at home now for servicing and repairs because I used to hate taking it!
So, whether you are still in an employed role or have your own business, my challenge to you is this:
If you could outsource just one thing in either your personal or professional life that would take something off your plate that you hate doing or is eating away at your valuable time, what could that be?
Could you commit today to make that happen within the next 14 days?
If you want some help with outsourcing and systemising your life and business, or any of the areas discussed in this book, click below to be taken to my booking page and book a confidential 1-2-1 discovery call with me at jackie@lawyertolifestyle.com. I look forward to helping you.