Let go.
This picture doesn't mean a lot to you. But it represents a TON to me. Those up there are instructions on how to deliver and set up food for a catering event this past weekend. So that I could go to Massachusetts with my family, to our niece's birthday party. Seems simple right?
When you own a small business, and not only own, but work within your business (I'm the chef, the marketing person, HR, the cleaner, the retail manager... haha you catch my drift), you have your hand in everything. Especially in the early stages. And you should. But there comes a time when certain things, tasks, responsibilities, NEED to be delegated in order for you, as the owner, to not be working...24/7. To feel like you have a life, and space for yourself, and so that you don't become totally depleted by the thing that you are so passionate about, and love so much.
Let's get real for a sec. As an entrepreneur you are always "working", and that's kind of what you sign up for - thinking about your business, how to grow it, what's going well, what's not, how you are going to get over the next hump, grow financially, etc. etc. But the industry I'm in (and I chose it - so I realized what I was getting into, for sure) requires lots of nights and weekends. I knew this was going to be a tough challenge - have a family, be a business owner, and a caterer at that. So finding a way to be with my family, spend some sacred weekend time... and still pay the bills with events and gigs, has been one of the biggest struggles for me. So many of us feel that struggle. When I'm with my child and my family, and on top of my home life, it can feel like I'm being a lazy business owner who isn't doing enough to grow and stay in the game. When I'm totally in the zone with work, and have busy weeks and weekends, and tons of stuff going on, I feel a bit like I've lost touch with my fam, and am missing my babe. And while I know a lot of those negative thoughts need to be redirected, and that those are fears that are blocking me from playing big, they can feel pretty big themselves at times.
If you don't make space for growth, it will never come. If you don't weed through the giant list of to-do's, and figure out which ones only YOU can do, and which ones you can train others to do exceptionally... you will be swallowed whole. My business is a small one, and so I'll always have my hand heavily in lots of the goings on. But if I can, just a little bit, delegate the things that I know don't need ME (but can and would use the talents of my incredibly awesome staff), there's more space. Space for me. Space for my family. Space for creativity, inspiration, and excitement. Space for energy and flow.
““The best leader is the one who has the sense enough to pick good (wo)men to do what (s)he wants done, and self-restraint enough to keep from meddling with them while they do it.””
I want my business to be around for a LONG time. I want it to grow. I also want to surround myself with staff who are leaders, who can take responsibility, and carry the name of my business out into the world with the same pride, meticulousness, and work ethic that I do. And that will never happen unless I back off (ha) and create an infrastructure within my business that doesn't need ME at every checkpoint.
So those piles of papers up there? They seem small, and inconsequential. But in fact, they are huge. And you know what? The event went wonderfully. And my staff was deemed wonderful, professional, and kind. Pretty sure it can't get any better than that.
xo,
Karen