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33: Overcoming overwhelm in business · Online Business Uncovered: Simple Strategies for Female Entrepreneurs

• 0:00
  SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome to the Digitally She Does It Show.
• 0:04
  SPEAKER_00: This is episode 33, and in today's episode, I'm going to be talking about overcoming overwhelm in business.
• 0:12
  SPEAKER_00: So let's jump right in and get started.
• 0:22
  SPEAKER_00: Welcome to the Digitally She Does It Show.
• 0:25
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host Karen and I'm here to lift the lid on what it actually takes to create a successful business.
• 0:31
  SPEAKER_00: If you are an ambitious creative ready to build a business on your own terms and without compromise, then this podcast is perfect for you.
• 0:39
  SPEAKER_00: With my award-winning approach to marketing and expert knowledge in creating online courses, this show will leave you feeling inspired, energized, and ready to bring those big dreams to life.
• 0:49
  SPEAKER_00: Join me each week for a dose of motivation and marketing know-how, along with actionable step-by-step strategies to help you accelerate your business's growth.
• 0:58
  SPEAKER_00: So let's dive in and don't forget to subscribe to all my upcoming episodes, which drop every Wednesday.
• 1:09
  SPEAKER_00: Hello and welcome.
• 1:11
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for joining me today.
• 1:12
  SPEAKER_00: I'm your host Karen and I really appreciate you hitting the play button to listen to today's episode.
• 1:19
  SPEAKER_00: Today I'm going to be talking about overcoming overwhelm in business because, and let's face it, this is something that we all have experience of dealing with.
• 1:30
  SPEAKER_00: That feeling of never having enough time in the day to do all of those things that we need to get done.
• 1:37
  SPEAKER_00: I think one of the downsides to running a business is that there's always so much to do all of the time, which of course can lead to those feelings of tiredness, feeling burnt out, and of course being exhausted.
• 1:52
  SPEAKER_00: Now, as an entrepreneur, I am sure that you know this feeling well.
• 1:58
  SPEAKER_00: Every day you're behind the wheel of your business, driving it forward, having to operate on all cylinders just to keep it moving.
• 2:05
  SPEAKER_00: Always having to tackle that never-ending to-do list that is constantly growing, which of course leads to feeling as though there really isn't enough hours in the day.
• 2:19
  SPEAKER_00: Now, as creative entrepreneurs, we're always coming up with new ideas, which means it becomes really difficult to switch off.
• 2:27
  SPEAKER_00: I've had countless conversations with other colleagues and fellow entrepreneurs over the years about this, about how difficult it is to just step away from your business, take time out, and press the pause button.
• 2:44
  SPEAKER_00: And it doesn't matter what stage of the business you are at, that feeling of overwhelm never seems to go away.
• 2:52
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think I've met anybody today that isn't time constrained.
• 2:57
  SPEAKER_00: Our lives are so busy all of the time, which means that if you run a business, then that feeling of overwhelm is most likely going to be your default mode.
• 3:08
  SPEAKER_00: Now I don't know if it's an age thing, but I know for me, as I've gotten older, I can't seem to process so many things at once now.
• 3:17
  SPEAKER_00: If I'm at home and the kids are talking to me, the TV's on and the dog is barking, I find it really, really difficult just to focus in on one thing.
• 3:26
  SPEAKER_00: So I have to literally either turn the TV off or pause it, stop the dog from barking, and then only then can I listen to one child at a time.
• 3:37
  SPEAKER_00: Otherwise, I just feel like there's noise.
• 3:41
  SPEAKER_00: And it's exactly the same in business.
• 3:43
  SPEAKER_00: If you have lots of things going on at once and you're trying to move multiple things forward, then this of course can lead to feeling confused and overwhelmed.
• 3:54
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's a far better strategy to take a step back and to work out what your core priority is, what needs to get done first, and then to focus on that one thing.
• 4:09
  SPEAKER_00: And then after that one thing has been done, then to work on the other things one after another rather than trying to do too many things at once.
• 4:19
  SPEAKER_00: I think when we try and do too many things at once, that's when we're most likely going to be feeling overwhelmed because we can't quite process the steps needed to just get that thing done because we're thinking about so many things at any given time.
• 4:36
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the problem with feeling overwhelmed is that it can lead to feeling negative emotions like anxiety and stress and frustration, anger, disappointment, which of course can then result in both mental and physical health issues.
• 4:56
  SPEAKER_00: And if you're running a business, this really isn't ideal.
• 5:00
  SPEAKER_00: In order to operate a successful and thriving business, you need to be at your best, and you can't do that if you're dealing with negative thoughts.
• 5:10
  SPEAKER_00: You cannot show up as your true authentic self when you're feeling anxious, tired, or frustrated.
• 5:19
  SPEAKER_00: Now, feeling these feelings can then, of course, lead to a lack of productivity.
• 5:25
  SPEAKER_00: We often have so many thoughts and ideas running through our heads that it just becomes noise, and then it's really difficult to make progress if your head is full of noise.
• 5:37
  SPEAKER_00: And if your head is full of noise, then it can be really difficult to quieten that noise down so you can think straight.
• 5:45
  SPEAKER_00: Now, how many times have you tried to catch a single thought, but that thought has disappeared because you've got so many other things running through your head?
• 5:55
  SPEAKER_00: Overwhelm tends to occur when you're either trying to be everything to everyone or you're trying to focus on too many things at once.
• 6:06
  SPEAKER_00: It could also be because you're underestimating how much time it actually takes to get a task done, or maybe because you're filling up your calendar with far too many meetings and appointments, which means that you're never giving yourself adequate time to get stuff done, leading to those feelings of overwhelm, or it could just be that you're not saying no enough, you're not saying no to people or projects that are coming to you, even though deep down you know you should, because you just don't have the time to focus on them.
• 6:46
  SPEAKER_00: Either way, overwhelm is extremely common in business.
• 6:51
  SPEAKER_00: Now, in order to combat overwhelm, the first thing that we must do is recognize that overwhelm occurs simply because of the choices that we make.
• 7:04
  SPEAKER_00: Now, whether we realize it or not, we are the ones that are making conscious decisions about how we run our day.
• 7:11
  SPEAKER_00: We are the ones that are choosing to take on too many projects or not being realistic about the time something is going to take, or by trying to please people by not saying no.
• 7:23
  SPEAKER_00: It's ultimately on us, which means that in order to overcome overwhelm, we must first recognize our own behavior and what we're currently doing that is causing the overwhelm.
• 7:36
  SPEAKER_00: The truth is that you are fully in control, you control your calendar, you control the projects that you work on, you control how many projects that you work on, you control when you deliver these projects, and you also control who you work with as well.
• 7:54
  SPEAKER_00: You set the perimeters by which you work.
• 7:57
  SPEAKER_00: This is why you became a business owner in the first place, so you could be the one in control.
• 8:04
  SPEAKER_00: What I find really interesting is that often people leave the secure world of employment to start a business because they no longer want to be a slave to their jobs, they no longer want to be a slave to a nine to five position.
• 8:22
  SPEAKER_00: So instead they trade the security of that job in, and then they become a slave to their business instead.
• 8:32
  SPEAKER_00: Now I wonder if this is part of the because of the world we live in, where everybody is busy all of the time and is constantly in the do-in mode, and so it just becomes expected and therefore normalized.
• 8:47
  SPEAKER_00: You run a business, you feel stressed, it's normal.
• 8:50
  SPEAKER_00: Hey, just get on with it.
• 8:52
  SPEAKER_00: But here's the truth: it's never normal to be stressed, it's just something that has been normalized because it's not been dealt with properly.
• 9:01
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the good news is that once you recognize that you are feeling overwhelmed and you identify what's happening to make you feel overwhelmed, then there are some really simple strategies that you can put in place to support you.
• 9:17
  SPEAKER_00: Remember, in order to run a successful business that gives you what you need, you need to be at your best so that you can deal with the challenges and the obstacles that come your way in a calm and rational way.
• 9:35
  SPEAKER_00: You can't do this if you are struggling and you're not in the right frame of mind.
• 9:41
  SPEAKER_00: So I'm gonna share with you three very simple strategies to help you overcome overwhelm.
• 9:49
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so my first strategy is recognizing that you can't do it all.
• 9:56
  SPEAKER_00: Now, as creative entrepreneurs, you may be super talented, great at what you do, and highly productive most of the time, but it doesn't matter because the simple truth is you cannot do it all, not in your business, it's impossible.
• 10:12
  SPEAKER_00: There is just way too many things that need to get done on a day-to-day basis.
• 10:18
  SPEAKER_00: Between finding clients, managing clients, completing projects, keeping the accounts in order, marketing your business, writing blogs, creating really awesome content to attract potential leads, attending client meetings, networking meetings, one-to-one meetings, running your accounts, doing your bookkeeping.
• 10:40
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my god, the list just goes on and on and on and on, and you cannot do it all.
• 10:45
  SPEAKER_00: It's way, way too much.
• 10:48
  SPEAKER_00: The problem is that more often than not, we live with this belief that we can do it all, and then if we don't achieve it all, we then ask, why are we not doing it all?
• 11:01
  SPEAKER_00: But it's just too much all of the time, and it's exhausting.
• 11:06
  SPEAKER_00: And then we have our to-do list, our nemesis.
• 11:09
  SPEAKER_00: Oh my goodness, that never-ending to-do list that just seems to grow by the minute, it never gets smaller, and there's only ever task to go on it.
• 11:21
  SPEAKER_00: So that list then ends up making us feel as though we're behind all of the time, and that we're never getting stuff done because it's always growing, and and that may not be the truth, because maybe you are getting stuff done, but when you've got this long list in front of you that just never gets any smaller, it can often feel as though you're always on the back of back foot.
• 11:46
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes I feel as though my to-do list exists just to remind me of what I haven't done, which obviously doesn't help.
• 11:56
  SPEAKER_00: Seeing a long list of tasks that need to be done, whether it's on a daily basis, a weekly basis, monthly, or yearly basis, can just end up making us feel as though we want to run away and hide.
• 12:10
  SPEAKER_00: Now, in one of the books that I read, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, it's a great book, by the way.
• 12:17
  SPEAKER_00: If you've not read it, then I highly recommend it.
• 12:21
  SPEAKER_00: Um, it states in the book that a lot of highly successful entrepreneurs do not actually have a to-do list.
• 12:28
  SPEAKER_00: They they've completely moved away from having a to-do list.
• 12:32
  SPEAKER_00: They recognize that it's not conducive to the way they work.
• 12:36
  SPEAKER_00: If anything, it probably hinders the way they work because it's just this list of never-ending tasks.
• 12:43
  SPEAKER_00: So instead, what they do is they use their calendar as a way of managing their tasks.
• 12:49
  SPEAKER_00: Once it's in the calendar, they know it's going to get done because they've scheduled in a time to do it, which removes the need for a to-do list, which also helps to remove that feeling of overwhelm.
• 13:02
  SPEAKER_00: And it's true, how many times have you gone to bed overnight thinking about all of those tasks that you've not got done in the day?
• 13:10
  SPEAKER_00: And what tends to happen is that it sits in our in our heads because we've not got it done.
• 13:15
  SPEAKER_00: But actually, if you schedule it in your diary, you've assigned a day and a time where you're gonna get it done, so that will then empty it out of your head.
• 13:24
  SPEAKER_00: Because once you've dealt with it, once you know it's in a place where it's gonna be dealt with, you can then just forget about it.
• 13:31
  SPEAKER_00: So, actually, putting it in your calendar is actually a smart move because at least then you're assigning time to getting it done.
• 13:41
  SPEAKER_00: If you find having a to-do list helps you to stay on top of your tasks and that you have a really good system in place, consider cutting it down.
• 13:52
  SPEAKER_00: Only put tasks on there that must absolutely get done.
• 13:57
  SPEAKER_00: Use the 3D strategy, which is you either do it, you ditch it, or you delegate it, because this will not only help you to manage that overwhelm of having a to-do list, but it also starts to reduce it down and helps you to feel more in control.
• 14:17
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so my second strategy is about focusing on what is going to move the needle for you.
• 14:25
  SPEAKER_00: So, what I mean by that is to really streamline where you spend your effort so that you're spending it in a in an area that's actually going to move your business forward.
• 14:38
  SPEAKER_00: Because I think in business, sometimes we can be all over the place.
• 14:42
  SPEAKER_00: What you know, we can be developing products, working on client stuff, trying to do our marketing, trying to do our bookkeeping, trying to just keep the lights on in our business, and that's overwhelm.
• 14:55
  SPEAKER_00: So I think it's really important just to streamline where your attention is actually going.
• 15:02
  SPEAKER_00: Now, in business, I do think it's really important to have a vision or a big goal because that's what is going to keep you focused, it's going to give you direction, and of course, it's what's going to help you stay on track.
• 15:17
  SPEAKER_00: So having a big goal in your business is, of course, really important.
• 15:22
  SPEAKER_00: However, the problem with this is that it can lead to those feelings of overwhelm, especially if your goal seems really big and you have no idea where to start or how to even get to the finish line.
• 15:38
  SPEAKER_00: The reality of achieving a goal, though, is that in order to make it happen, there's a ton of work that also needs to be done.
• 15:47
  SPEAKER_00: So I think sometimes when we when we finally define what that goal is and we start to look at how we're going to get there, just the prospect of getting there can lead to overwhelm.
• 16:00
  SPEAKER_00: Now, in order to achieve results in business, it's never just about doing one thing one time and then getting those results.
• 16:10
  SPEAKER_00: It just doesn't work like that.
• 16:12
  SPEAKER_00: Often it's about building on what you've already done to achieve momentum, which then leads to the results.
• 16:19
  SPEAKER_00: Marketing is the perfect example of this.
• 16:22
  SPEAKER_00: In order to make your marketing meaningful and to get it working for you, there needs to be constant, consistent commitment on a regular basis.
• 16:33
  SPEAKER_00: The three C's.
• 16:35
  SPEAKER_00: One blog is not going to generate you a hundred more leads, it's just not, it's not enough.
• 16:42
  SPEAKER_00: But 10 blogs delivered over a 10-week period might, and this is where the overwhelm can start to seep in.
• 16:51
  SPEAKER_00: Just the prospect of writing 10 blogs for a 10-week period can feel really overwhelming.
• 16:58
  SPEAKER_00: After all, what are you going to write about?
• 17:00
  SPEAKER_00: How will you find the time?
• 17:02
  SPEAKER_00: And how will you get those blogs in front of the right people so that it can read them?
• 17:08
  SPEAKER_00: So so many questions then starts to pop up, which then leads to confusion, and then that confusion can lead to overwhelm.
• 17:16
  SPEAKER_00: And then that overwhelm can essentially stop us in our tracks, so we end up doing nothing, achieving nothing, and feeling as though we failed.
• 17:29
  SPEAKER_00: Even the most marketing savvy entrepreneurs face challenges.
• 17:34
  SPEAKER_00: Now, I recently listened to an American coach who has essentially she's built her business using Facebook groups.
• 17:42
  SPEAKER_00: She was talking about content marketing and how it can really help businesses and how it's really helped her business to reach new audiences and to get messages out there using social media platforms.
• 17:55
  SPEAKER_00: She then started talking about this American entrepreneur that she follows and that she's who she's influenced by essentially, and how they have built their entire business through content marketing.
• 18:08
  SPEAKER_00: She then went on to disclose that they release over 250 pieces of content a day across all the social media platforms.
• 18:19
  SPEAKER_00: So this is Twitter, it's Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, TikTok, and Snapchat.
• 18:26
  SPEAKER_00: 250 pieces of content a day.
• 18:28
  SPEAKER_00: My goodness, it's so much content.
• 18:31
  SPEAKER_00: Now, in order to do this, they would have to have a big team.
• 18:35
  SPEAKER_00: Like it would be a content machine that sort of sits behind the company.
• 18:40
  SPEAKER_00: Because the average person is not going to be achieving that, it's just way too much.
• 18:46
  SPEAKER_00: So entrepreneurs shouldn't even consider using that strategy.
• 18:52
  SPEAKER_00: For 250 pieces of content a day, you would be doing nothing else in your business, and even then, you would still probably run out of time.
• 19:01
  SPEAKER_00: However, it did lead me to think that if you are a follower of this American entrepreneur and you're seeing some, if not all, of their content, then you're just going to give up before you've even started.
• 19:16
  SPEAKER_00: Because there is no way that a small business owner or an entrepreneur that's running a business on their own can compete with this.
• 19:25
  SPEAKER_00: Not that they should even try.
• 19:27
  SPEAKER_00: I mean, it's just out of reach.
• 19:30
  SPEAKER_00: And of course, you know, if you're putting 250 pieces of content out there a day, and this I would imagine would be a real mix.
• 19:38
  SPEAKER_00: So it would be video, audio, I don't know, Instagram, reels, you know, LinkedIn posts, whatever it is.
• 19:45
  SPEAKER_00: But that's a huge amount of content to be creating and sharing on a daily basis.
• 19:51
  SPEAKER_00: My point is that for most people, this is going to be completely unrealistic, and even if they were to try and adopt a similar strategy in their business, it is going to lead to overwhelm.
• 20:06
  SPEAKER_00: Even a quarter of that amount of content each week, I think, would be way too much.
• 20:13
  SPEAKER_00: So, firstly, we should never be comparing ourselves to any other person or business out there because everyone is on their own path and at different stages of their journey.
• 20:26
  SPEAKER_00: So, what they may be doing in their business is going to be what they believe is working for them.
• 20:34
  SPEAKER_00: We have to find our own paths, and therefore we have to find out what works for us.
• 20:40
  SPEAKER_00: So, even if I mean I've used a really extreme example here, but even if you have somebody or a business in your space that is constantly putting insta reels out, for example, and you're feeling as though you need to be doing exactly the same in order to get traction, then you know, ask yourself, do you really?
• 21:04
  SPEAKER_00: Do you need to be doing what they're doing?
• 21:07
  SPEAKER_00: And then, secondly, even if they are doing daily reels or putting out loads of content, there's no guarantee that it's actually working for them or that it's bringing them in results.
• 21:20
  SPEAKER_00: They could be spending a huge amount of time creating content that's not converting.
• 21:25
  SPEAKER_00: So I think we have to be really careful about what we let influence us because what strategy might work for someone in their business might not necessarily work for you, and so it really is about finding your own path.
• 21:42
  SPEAKER_00: Now, by being able to do this, you need to know some key things.
• 21:47
  SPEAKER_00: You need to know what your customers are about.
• 21:51
  SPEAKER_00: So, this is understanding who they are, what they need, what their challenges are, and how you can show up and serve them in the best possible way.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: Way.
• 22:00
  SPEAKER_00: So you do need to know that.
• 22:02
  SPEAKER_00: But once you know it, then you can develop your own strategies that's going to lead to the results that you want.
• 22:10
  SPEAKER_00: I think we can all be guilty at overthinking things.
• 22:14
  SPEAKER_00: I think sometimes we need to just strip it back down to basics.
• 22:19
  SPEAKER_00: There's so much noise out there, you know, so much noise on social media that can lead to overwhelm.
• 22:27
  SPEAKER_00: And actually, what we need to do is block out that noise and just focus on simple strategies that's going to move the needle for us in our own business.
• 22:37
  SPEAKER_00: So if you have a goal and you're working towards it, but you're struggling at the moment because maybe that goal is too big.
• 22:46
  SPEAKER_00: You know, we're at the start of the year, it's still January, so maybe you've set yourself a goal for the year ahead.
• 22:54
  SPEAKER_00: But if you and if you're feeling overwhelmed at just the prospect of achieving that goal, then break it down into milestones.
• 23:05
  SPEAKER_00: And then break those milestones down into smaller steps.
• 23:10
  SPEAKER_00: And then just focus on those steps.
• 23:14
  SPEAKER_00: And if those steps still feel too big, then break those steps down further into smaller micro steps.
• 23:25
  SPEAKER_00: So, for example, if you if one of your goals is that you want to grow your email list by 2,000 subscribers and you've given yourself a deadline of six months, but currently 2,000 subscribers feels too big a number to have to deal with, then break it down, reduce the number to something like a hundred, and then focus on just getting 100 subscribers on your list because it's far better to have 100 engaged subscribers than 2,000 subscribers who are just not interested in what you have to say or what you have to offer.
• 24:02
  SPEAKER_00: So once you have your goal of 100 subscribers, then you need to work out how you're going to achieve it.
• 24:09
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this could be by creating a free piece of content, um, which is also known as a lead magnet, uh, or it could just be that you're going to be running regular workshops, and by running these workshops, you're then going to be building your email list that way.
• 24:27
  SPEAKER_00: Or it might be that you're decided, you've decided that you're going to run paid ads on Facebook or Instagram.
• 24:35
  SPEAKER_00: Once you figure out the how, then you can break it down into smaller tasks.
• 24:41
  SPEAKER_00: Like if you know you're going to develop a free piece of content, then just breaking that task down into the small steps.
• 24:50
  SPEAKER_00: So you're managing the task that you're trying to achieve.
• 24:57
  SPEAKER_00: Now, once you have identified the key tasks that you need to achieve in order to achieve your goal, then you can work out whether you're going to do it yourself or whether you're going to delegate it.
• 25:12
  SPEAKER_00: By breaking down your goal into smaller chunks, it will help you to gain that clarity about what needs to be done, how it's going to be done, and then how you can set realistic time frames on getting it done.
• 25:27
  SPEAKER_00: So it removes that feeling of overwhelmed because maybe you've set yourself up to fail by not being realistic with how long it's going to take you to get it done.
• 25:38
  SPEAKER_00: So just by taking the time and working out those smaller steps, you can actually work out a time frame that's going to work for you.
• 25:49
  SPEAKER_00: Because really, what you want to do is do time do these things, but you want to enjoy them as well.
• 25:54
  SPEAKER_00: You don't want to be feeling like you're constantly under pressure or that you're feeling just anxious about getting the stuff done.
• 26:03
  SPEAKER_00: Try and remove that by getting clear on what the task is, how you're going to do it, the steps involved to getting it done, andor whether or not you can delegate it and move it off your plate altogether.
• 26:19
  SPEAKER_00: By building a single task habit, it will enable you to focus your intention just on one task at a time.
• 26:27
  SPEAKER_00: And that task is probably going to be the thing that's going to move the needle for you in your business.
• 26:33
  SPEAKER_00: So breaking these tasks down into manageable chunks not only will help you to feel more in control, but it'll all also help you to feel less overwhelmed, meaning that you can actually get stuff done.
• 26:51
  SPEAKER_00: Okay, so my third and final strategy is all about learning to delegate.
• 26:57
  SPEAKER_00: Now, this follows on really nicely from strategy two, where I have spoken about sort of breaking tasks down and then working out whether you do it or whether you delegate it.
• 27:10
  SPEAKER_00: Now, for some people, this is really easy, they can delegate tasks, not no problem.
• 27:16
  SPEAKER_00: For me, this is something that I've had to learn to do.
• 27:19
  SPEAKER_00: It doesn't come so easy.
• 27:21
  SPEAKER_00: I'm the kind of girl that I roll up my sleeves and I get on with it, and I'm so used to doing stuff that it actually requires a lot for me to delegate it because I just want to get on and get it done.
• 27:39
  SPEAKER_00: However, because of this approach of just getting on and getting it done, I was getting backed up in my business.
• 27:48
  SPEAKER_00: So I was finding that whilst I was constantly busy, I wasn't actually moving my business forward.
• 27:55
  SPEAKER_00: I wasn't actually never getting round to working on my business because I was too busy being caught up in my business, and I I equated success to the amount of client projects that I was managing rather than the actual performance of my business and how it was moving forward.
• 28:14
  SPEAKER_00: So for me, I had a realization at a point in time that in order to really move it forward in the direction that I wanted to take my business, I needed help.
• 28:27
  SPEAKER_00: This myth that we can multitask is just that, it's a myth.
• 28:32
  SPEAKER_00: I used to think that we could and that we could do effectively, these days I'm not so sure because of the brain space that is taken up with just thinking about one task.
• 28:47
  SPEAKER_00: I don't know about you, but I just do not have the capacity to be thinking about loads of things at once.
• 28:54
  SPEAKER_00: Now, if I'm planning a new product or a launch, I struggle to do effectively if my head is somewhere else.
• 29:02
  SPEAKER_00: I almost need to compartmentalize stuff so that I can think of one thing at a time.
• 29:09
  SPEAKER_00: It might be an age thing, but I definitely feel that these days I'm not as effective if I'm trying to do too many things in one go.
• 29:20
  SPEAKER_00: Which is why delegating can really help.
• 29:22
  SPEAKER_00: Because it's not always easy to juggle client work and business development work because it can feel too much, especially if you are creating something like an online course.
• 29:35
  SPEAKER_00: Finding that balance and mental space in your head to manage so many things on an ongoing basis is ultimately what's going to lead to overwhelm.
• 29:47
  SPEAKER_00: Now I know this is something that I struggled with, especially when I created my first online course, Crafting Your Brand, because I was essentially doubling my workload.
• 29:57
  SPEAKER_00: I was still restricted with time, so I wasn't given any additional time to get stuff done, but I still had to do my client work as well.
• 30:08
  SPEAKER_00: The thing is, I knew that by creating my online course, it would change my business and it would move my business forward.
• 30:15
  SPEAKER_00: So it had to get done, but the challenge was that I wasn't given additional time to do it.
• 30:24
  SPEAKER_00: So this is when I really started to focus in on building my team.
• 30:28
  SPEAKER_00: I don't have a big team, I've got I've got a few people that support me, um, and they all kind of cover different disciplines, and I've built that team up over years, to be honest with you.
• 30:42
  SPEAKER_00: Um, but I figured that if I can't replicate me to getting stuff done, then I would have to invest in support because I couldn't continue to support my clients and work on my development stuff as well.
• 30:57
  SPEAKER_00: It was just too much.
• 30:59
  SPEAKER_00: And keep my two kids alive is just way, way too much.
• 31:04
  SPEAKER_00: Now, as I said, delegating doesn't come easy to me.
• 31:07
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think it's a skill you're automatically born with.
• 31:11
  SPEAKER_00: I don't think that you wake up one day and suddenly become a master delegator.
• 31:17
  SPEAKER_00: I think it's something that you have to learn over time because it requires many different skills, it requires you to, you know, be really communicative and have good communication skills.
• 31:29
  SPEAKER_00: It requires you to get really clear on what it is that you are looking to achieve, and then again, you have to know what tasks that need to be focused on first.
• 31:40
  SPEAKER_00: So you have to be really clear on your priorities, and you have to be organized because ultimately you need things done by a given time, so you that there are a few things that you have to get really clear on.
• 31:55
  SPEAKER_00: I think some people find it easier than others to delegate.
• 31:59
  SPEAKER_00: I have years and years of acquiring skills and expertise and learning my craft, handing over responsibility to someone else to get it done often led to me feeling really uncomfortable.
• 32:15
  SPEAKER_00: It took me time to get comfortable with not doing it because ultimately my makeup is that I am a doer.
• 32:24
  SPEAKER_00: I like to roll up my sleeves and I like to get things done.
• 32:27
  SPEAKER_00: However, by delegating, it became life-changing because it freed up my time so that I could spend my time and my energy getting my online course done, and not just my online course, I have other digital products that I sell as well, and I wouldn't have been able to do those had I not invested in support.
• 32:48
  SPEAKER_00: It also meant that I could show up as a CEO in my business rather than the engineer, which is a complete different energy altogether.
• 32:58
  SPEAKER_00: Now, by spending the time and building a small team and then delegating tasks to that team, I was taking back control and putting myself in the driving seat of my vehicle.
• 33:12
  SPEAKER_00: Now, the one thing about delegating tasks is that things can get done quickly and more efficiently.
• 33:19
  SPEAKER_00: You can spend more time planning and visualizing what you're going to achieve, which means you can then concentrate on achieving your goals.
• 33:27
  SPEAKER_00: You will also have less to do because things are being done elsewhere.
• 33:33
  SPEAKER_00: You also end up feeling more supported because it isn't just about you anymore, you have a team, even if it is just a VA supporting you, which ultimately gives you time back.
• 33:45
  SPEAKER_00: But and most importantly, it means that you're not feeling overwhelmed because you will end up feeling more in control.
• 33:54
  SPEAKER_00: So those negative thoughts and feelings that you were feeling at the beginning, you can then flip them so they become more positive, giving you back that positive energy.
• 34:06
  SPEAKER_00: Now, you might be thinking that right now you cannot afford to invest in a VA, and I get it, times are tough, we are in a cost of living crisis, and currently, as it stands, the UK is in recession.
• 34:21
  SPEAKER_00: But let me ask you, what is the alternative?
• 34:25
  SPEAKER_00: Feeling stressed, anxious, overwhelmed, this is not good for you, and it does not serve you or your business.
• 34:32
  SPEAKER_00: If you are currently struggling and you are dealing with negative thoughts on a daily basis, then you need to remember one thing.
• 34:41
  SPEAKER_00: By the law of the universe, your thoughts will become reality, and so it's vital that you deal with this as soon as possible, otherwise, you will just experience more of the same.
• 34:52
  SPEAKER_00: Now, by integrating these simple strategies into your business, they're going to help combat these feelings because it's going to help you move forward and attract the outcomes that you want.
• 35:06
  SPEAKER_00: And sometimes we have to invest a little to make things happen.
• 35:10
  SPEAKER_00: So I guess my question to you is can you afford not to?
• 35:16
  SPEAKER_00: Sometimes we need help.
• 35:18
  SPEAKER_00: As entrepreneurs with big visions, we need help.
• 35:23
  SPEAKER_00: Invest in support because even just by getting somebody to give you an hour of their time once a week, it will go a long way to helping you feel better, be less overwhelmed, and feel more in control.
• 35:39
  SPEAKER_00: And let's face it, who doesn't want that?
• 35:43
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to today's episode.
• 35:47
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you found this episode of value, and of course, please feel free to share it with others who you may think will also benefit from listening to today's episode.
• 35:56
  SPEAKER_00: If you are feeling inspired and would like to know more about getting started with creating an online digital course, then why not download my free ebook, 10 Steps to Digital Course Success, by visiting my website www.carinhyphendavies.com.
• 36:11
  SPEAKER_00: I will be back next week with another episode, but until then, have a great week.
• 36:19
  SPEAKER_00: I hope you enjoyed this episode of the Digitally She Does It Show.
• 36:23
  SPEAKER_00: Don't forget to check out the show notes for all the links and resources mentioned in today's episode.
• 36:29
  SPEAKER_00: New episodes drop every week on a Wednesday.
• 36:31
  SPEAKER_00: So why not rate and subscribe so you never miss an episode?
• 36:35
  SPEAKER_00: Thank you for tuning in today, and I will see you next time.