>>The circus of lifeWhen do I play my guitar, start that political party, go for a run, play football, read a book that isn’t about gardens or business, walk the dead dog, watch a film, buy flowers for my wife, or even better cook her dinner?!So here I suppose is the rub: I am not yet a large enough enterprise with enough guaranteed work in-front of me to be able to hire full time staff to deal with all this administration; yet it is far too much for me to cope with alone. More than that I have a strong urge to have an intimate degree of control over all of this anyway since I am ultimately accountable at the end of it. I wonder; are there any designers or landscapers out there who do have time to watch football, or go to the pub, or go shopping, or take the dead dog for a walk?Perhaps I am cursed by my own autocracy, not able or willing to delegate. Perhaps cursed by my own imagination which only permits me to read words as fast as I can speak them - so as to savour and value the true meaning (at least that’s what I tell myself). My daily digest of information and opinion is amassed with vital, up-to-the-minute and informative knowledge and fact which allows me, as the businessman, and as the designer, as a landscaper, and as the canny bill-payer, to both function and operate. It’s magnitude, however, is at the same time infinitely resourceful and exhaustingly overwhelming. Similarly it is both the source of motivation and the cause of demotivation.Perhaps I’m not cursed at all, perhaps this is just what needs to be done in today’s globalised Nicky Patterson world where work and life are much the same thing.
Comments
You sound like me (or I you)
I suffer(ed) greatly with what you describe when I ran my company. When I had time to myself I just worried, planned and thought about the last, current and next job, the tax and VAT, the employees or the bills.
It was something I ate, drunk and slept with for twenty one years.
I had a rather large wooden chalet building as an office but it was adjacent to the patio and if the phone rang while we were eating outside on a Sunday I would have to listen to the message before going to bed. I would then sort the problem in my head or call the client back.
This is one of the reasons I changed lifestyle and now I work when I need to (although I still retain several of my irritating habits).
Looking back at my lifestyle, I know there is a different way and the world would not collapse if I was not at my desk or if I left my mobile switched off for a day.
>>Susan, I have nobody to delegate to at the moment though I am working on it. The guy I had supervising jobs and running them when I wasn't there turned out to be a real knife-in-the-back type of character - he tried to turn staff, clients and suppliers against me - so my defences have shot up since then (September) and hence why I have reburdened myself. I am encouraged by your idea of easing things little by little - that sounds comfortable.
>>James, sometimes my guitar is my best friend mate - you are dead right!
>>Phil - what you describe about the Sunday phonecall is precisely the feeling I deplore about running the business; the inability to really truly turn off. I feel though that if I stick this for a few years, get some good portfolio work, form some good relationships and forge a small trustworthy team - it will pay off and i will eventually be able to delegate more and more and still get the benefit of enjoying my work. Well...hopefully!
I have 2 children a boy that is 4 years old and and a girl that is 3 years old. I set up the business to run around the kids hours at nursery and school and so I could always be there for them. I had grand ideas that I would be able to work when I wanted to. That I could walk my two springer spaniels whenever I wanted to. I really didn't know what I was letting myself in for.
I love my business and gardening, my business grew to the stage that you are at now and I employed two part-time people. Luckily, it has worked out really well and they are good friends. But last July, I was seriously stressed to the point and I couldn't relax and started drinking to relax in the evenings. However, a funny thing happened-I at 32 years old got gall stones and was in and out of hospital. I did the very bare minimum that I could get away with and that was wages the rest I left to the two who work for me and they carried the business on.
I believe now that it was one big lesson I was meant to learn. Customers will be understanding, the business will survive, however you need time for yourself. Otherwise you will have no business. Try to find part-time employees so you won't need to bother too much with paye or ni problems. Get an accountant to take off the hassle of tax from you. I mean to do that myself this year and take holidays and if I want to I will take a day out here and there.
I have also called in Business Link to help me with my business and to get it moving forward and there is a brilliant book that they advised me with and the book is E-Myth revisited by Michael E Gerber I think that would really help you with your situation. I have found that it has really helped although you have to get over the american talk.
Good luck
Lisa
This is really part of the issue. We live in a 24-7 convenience orientated global village and so sometimes people fully expect you to be there at the drop of a hat - the same wasy that their insurance company, or their mobile phone operator, is at the end of a phone 24 hours a day. People don't really differentiate between one service and another these days as much as they used to. The genuine feeling of relaxation (when work isn't ticking away at the back of my mind) is something I haven't felt in a long time nor do I expect to feel it any time soon!