How to Design a Business That Supports the Life You Want to Lead
From: "Help! My Business is Growing" Podcast
The end goal of many founders is to design a business that supports the life that inspires, gives financial freedom, and of course, gives the time to spend with our loved ones. In short, we want to build our business around our lives and not have our lives conform - or get penciled in - to the business.
But the reality is that as a business grows so does your involvement in it. There are many things to do and decisions to make - and it can quickly get chaotic. This means that instead of getting the freedom you wanted, you might find that running your business is actually robbing you of it. And if you're not careful, your work can consume most of your time, effort, resources, energy - and eventually, your happiness.
So how do you design a business that supports you and the life you want to lead?
In today's episode, our guest, Amy Pocsik will dive into what to do - and not to do - to design a business that supports your life.
She shares her valuable insights on how you can make growing your business easy and fun and why it is essential to rest and give yourself space for your health - and the financial health of your business too.
In this week's episode, we discuss:
2:20 What is it like to work with businesses where the founders forget the ultimate goal of freedom that made them start the business in the first place?
10:18 What is the process of finding people / potential new team members that really want to work with you?
16:01 What is the philosophy and meaning behind "Let it be easy and let it be fun" and how can we manifest what it is in our daily work lives.
21:36 How should entrepreneurs and founders take time to rest?
32:56 What is the next tangible step that business owners and leaders can take to get to that dream business they originally had in mind when they started?
Listen to the podcast here:
What is it like to work with businesses where the founders forget the ultimate goal of freedom that made them start the business in the first place?
When founders start a business, they fall into one of two traps:
Saying yes or taking whatever comes their way in client work and more.
They are unwilling to spend the money to outsource.
Instead of owning the CEO or founder role, or servicing clients and focusing on work that you excel in, you are working on other things that can actually be delegated.
Strive to do only the things that you’re great at. Be intentional and purposeful with your time, and build a team around you to support the work that you want to do.
What is the process of finding people / potential new team members that really want to work with you?
You can always find potential team members through the conventional methods of posting job openings, referrals, and headhunters.
But what works especially well is when people want to be part of your team, offering their skill sets to help you grow - because they are attracted to your brand.
It's a statement that your brand is strong and built on values that resonate with others.
To achieve this:
Build your brand.
Communicate your brand values very well.
You'll attract people who will want to work with you because they are fully aligned with your mission.
"I challenge founders to shift their thinking when it comes to management.You're helping somebody else build their dreams inside of your organization. And there is no greater feeling than that." - Amy Pocsik
What are some of the other things, besides ensuring their professional development and having them do the things they are good at, that founders do or can do to support their team?
Talk to your employees and ask:
How would you feel the most supported?
What are the ways they want to grow personally over the coming year?
Invest in them
Set aside a certain amount for their professional development - a course, attend a conference, and so on.
It's crucial to have your employees feel that they are growing and changing, just like the business they are part of is also evolving.
What is the philosophy and meaning behind "Let it be easy and let it be fun" and how can we reflect that in our daily work lives?
Implementing systems and processes - including automating some of your tasks - will make your life easier.
Of course, it's essential to take having fun in and with your business very, very seriously, especially if the goal is to have your business support the life you want to live.
It starts with your personal life.
Plan for one significant activity or capstone experience - be it a vacation or attending an important national conference. Then choose four other experiences, one per quarter, and then what you can do monthly and weekly.
Switching to your business, ask yourself:
What do I want to accomplish professionally?
What sets my heart on fire?
What can I create this year?
It's giving yourself room and space to dream because if you don't connect - or reconnect - with the dream, the passion, and the fun, you're going to get burnt out.
"Learn to rest. Our best ideas come when we are refueled and refreshed. Our business is going to thrive when we thrive." - Amy Pocsik
What is the next tangible step that business owners and founders can take to get to that dream business they originally had in mind when they started?
The door to success opens inward.
Take about 10 minutes, get quiet, and connect back to the dream that inspired you to start your business.
Think about the following:
How do you want to feel like a leader
What you want to accomplish through your business
What is the good that you want to do in the world
Connect with what you discover within your answers - because that is what will fuel you forward.
![Systems are sexy - because they get you what you want. [They] are literally the foundation to a successful business that's going to be able to grow.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e000c0_41ca9d2404164937b7733f977d9f5858~mv2.png/v1/fill/w_980,h_980,al_c,q_90,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/e000c0_41ca9d2404164937b7733f977d9f5858~mv2.png)
We go in-depth with this topic and more over at the podcast. Listen here:
To Recap:
As a founder you can't - and shouldn't - do it all. Let go and outsource or build a support team so you can focus on where you excel in your business.
Build a strong brand that will attract team members who can relate to your brand's mission and values.
Invest in both the personal and professional growth of your employees via conferences and courses. Consider it as an investment in your company as well.
Systems and processes make growing your business easier, lessen your stress, and give you the time to have fun as well.
To stop from getting eaten alive and run ragged by your own business, take some time to pause, rest, and give yourself space to reconnect with the dream that started it all with your business - so you - and your business - keep growing and moving forward.
About Amy Pocsik
Amy Pocsik is the CEO and Co-Founder of the Women’s Business League - a community where powerful businesswomen connect, grow and prosper. Her superpower is working with female entrepreneurs and business owners to identify – both the challenge points and high points - so that they can exponentially increase their success. She helps others understand the power of creating space so you can reach your next level.
Amy is also the Founder of Bold Moves, a platform where she partners with female founders to make an impact, helping them own the role of CEO - professionally and personally. Because she knows what it was like to be in the opposite position, unfulfilled and longing for more. That’s why she made it her life’s work to make sure every woman is empowered to achieve a bold vision for her life and business.
Website: https://womensbusinessleague.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amypocsik
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amypocsik/
by Kathy Svetina
Kathy is a Fractional CFO and the founder and director of NewCastle Finance LLC. She is a financial puzzle solver, focusing on women-owned businesses, providing financial insights needed for a healthy and sustainable business.