Work Smarter, Not Harder in 2023
2022 was a year of hustle for Your AJency. I worked incredibly hard but didn’t always work as smart as I could have done. So, this year I want to make sure that I get back to the reasons I started Your AJency in the first place - greater flexibility at work, helping inspiring female entreprenuers to gain greater visibility and to create something for myself outside of parenthood.
More and more, clients ask us how they can manage their time more effectively or outsource certain aspects of their business so that they too can create a better work-life balance and feel free to say “no” without the guilt that so many of us inevitably feel.
Work - life balance
That coveted work-life balance - does such a thing really exist? What I’ve learned since running my own business is that sometimes the balance leans one way more than the other, and sometimes it comes back around the other way too. The most important part is feeling comfortable with your situation and knowing when certain things need to be reprioritised. I have to admit that in the run-up to our move last year, I had very little balance and was close to burnout! I’d got into the habit of hustle - constantly striving for the next step. Whilst that isn’t always a bad thing, what it truly taught me is that I can’t do everything myself and so this year, as we enter 2023, my aim is to work smarter and not harder and I’m here to show you how to as well.
Global Differences
Surviving the summer juggle was hard. On top of the stress of a move, my kids were also on summer break at the time and so I felt like I had a thousand plates spinning and it was overwhelming at times. I actually wrote a blog once I’d made it through the summer to reassure other female entrepreneurs who had been feeling the same!
What I realised is that whilst it can be costly, there is a much better infrastructure for childcare in the US to cover holidays and school breaks. In Chicago, camp choices (although expensive) were extensive and covered all ages meaning I could work throughout the school vacations easily. When we returned to the UK and especially as we had moved to a new area, it meant I was trying to deliver the same high quality but with less time to do it in as I was also trying to be the best Mum possible and enjoy the kids’ break too. Whilst not all families we met in Chicago had two working parents, lots did and it seemed clear to me that thanks to the extensive childcare choices, being a working parent just felt like a more achievable goal.
Whilst this is a definite advantage and helps facilitate working parents, there was also a very different attitude towards work in the USA versus the UK as well. I mentioned in my initial blog about how Your AJency came about that when I arrived in Chicago, I felt there was a much more intense work culture in the States. It felt like people in America went on vacation but didn't generally switch off unless it was over Thanksgiving etc. At the time this was really new to me as I was very used to people in the UK taking a two-week vacation in the summer and putting their ‘Out of Office’ on for the duration. I would often hear people talking about how busy they were all the time, almost as if it was a competition to see who could be the busiest and fill their time with the most meetings, activities and networking. It was exhausting but also I fell in love with the need to aspire and be more constantly! As a self-confessed super competitive person, it was an environment I thrived in.
Since moving back to the UK, I’ve found that whilst there are those who “work hard, hustle hard” like I was used to in the USA, for the most part it feels people are better at making sure they take time to switch off from work to ensure a balance.
Time for Change
Recently, I have started to notice a shift, particularly in the female small business owner community - lots of whom I have connected with on Instagram. It’s no longer about how many hours you work and being constantly available whilst on vacation. The concept of working smarter, not harder as a female entrepreneur is flourishing. There are some real champions for change like Danielle Langton, whose attitude is so refreshing. Also Lindsay Pinchuk is someone who always reminds me of the need to take time to reflect and slow down and I for one am grateful that the conversations are changing.
How can I work Harder, not smarter?
As I reflected on last year, I realised that one of the biggest things that helped me and my business to grow was when I finally got to the point, both in mindset and revenue, to be able to outsource some of the Your AJency work. I took on an associate which was a huge step for me for various reasons. I was very conscious my name and reputation was on the line and remember feeling nervous whether someone else would work to my standard. Taking the right person on has been the best decision ever as I can support someone else’s career but primarily it’s given me more flexibility, the flexibility I sought when I became self-employed. You really can't do it all alone if you want to scale and at times, I learned that the hard way. Now I'm through the other side, (at least getting there) and I’m starting to get more systems in place to further increase my flexibility, establish boundaries and create a life as well as a living.
Take a Step back
I have finally taken a step back and realised that along the way, I lost perspective and my balance was massively leaning towards work. I’ve started to reprioritise myself and my initial business goals.
Before leaving Chicago, someone described me as a ‘workaholic’ and I was genuinely shocked. I never saw myself as that, and I didn’t necessarily see it is as a positive trait. I want to work to live, not live to work. I want to work hard when I’m at work but be able to switch off and enjoy the life I’ve worked so hard to create.
Taking some time off over Christmas helped me take stock of all that I’ve achieved but also what I need to do in order to make sure I can create a life and not just a living. Having the time to reflect also allowed me to evaluate where I want to take Your AJency and saw me launch my mentoring packages which I’m so excited about. Remembering my ‘business WHY’ and that one of my main goals with Your AJency is to support other female business owners to build a successful living. A positive of moving to more mentoring is also that I can regain some balance, block out time to live my life and turn on that ‘Out of Office’ myself!
As women, I do think it is so hard to juggle mum guilt and boss guilt. I’m always reminded in the ‘Moments to Motivate’ series of blogs that everyone has different ways it works for them and ultimately, you have to find the right way for you. It's a personal thing but staying on a constant treadmill won't necessarily help you or your business in the long run.
So as we enter the new year, I'm working harder on achieving a balance I’m happy with so I can give both my clients and my family the time they deserve. I'm going to continue building on this shift and I hope that by speaking out and sharing my perspective, it might help you give yourself permission to do the same. Let’s reclaim “the hustle” as small business owners and remember that we are building businesses to give us a life and not just a living.
Do you think you have the balance? Would you like some tips on what has helped me most or to hear from an expert? Let me know, I would love to hear!