Top 12 Lessons I Learnt in 2023
Running a business is a journey and growth is created through the lessons. Here’s my top 12 from 2023…
#1 I can plan too much!
I am excellent at strategic planning. And I won't stop doing that because it is helping me deliver some excellent growth, discipline and control in my business. But I haven't been playing enough. And by that, I mean exploring different ways of working with clients. I love change and flexibility - I need to exercise these more.
What I'll do in 2024: Be more ‘scrappy’, try new things and say yes more!
#2 I have ADHD traits
A lovely business friend suggested in February I may want to look into ADHD. I did, extensively, and it has been a journey of truly getting to know myself, enlightening, liberating and enabled a lot of self-forgiveness. Without realising it, I have created my business in an ADHD-friendly way which supports my swings between hyperfocus, changing passions and need to recoup my energy. This journey has enabled me to reduce my negative self-talk, improve my health and start to be more ‘myself’.
What I’ll do in 2024: Continue to explore ADHD, unmask and embrace who I am
#3 Despite taking time off, I can still burn out
I have burnt out spectacularly in my corporate career and also as a business owner. I thought the key was building in time off, have space in my diary weekly to relax and maintaining super strong boundaries around work and energy. But in October I had a baby burnout - despite doing all of this. Discovering I have ADHD traits has helped me realise I need more than that. My brain never stops. It isn’t about how much I work, it is about my whole life. I need to make some wholesale life changes to help me better manage my energy and brain.
What I’ll do in 2024: Explore what can help me better regulate my energy and be prepared to try new things - even if I am massively resisting them!
#4 I work in unconventional ways that others can learn from
I work based on what needs to be done, rather working ‘office hours’. I use ClickUp to organise my brain and workload and use that to dictate the work that needs to be completed each day, rather than by looking at a clock. I don’t have a desk. I don't have set work hours. I take time off whenever I want or need. I work with my energy and impending deadlines. I am the most productive I have ever been.
What I’ll do in 2024: Continue to work in my own way, rather than the cultural ‘norm’.
#5 I work better last minute and intentionally plan my work that way
I know I won’t complete work until the last minute. It is not procrastination or self-sabotage as many people have been telling throughout the years, it is how my brain works and so instead of trying to change my brain, I have instead changed the way I work. And it has been the best thing! I plan in work for the last minute. I no longer beat myself up for ‘putting it off’ or call myself lazy because I’m not doing it. I know I’ll do it, but not until I have to and so now I plan for that. The work gets done, and it’s reduced my negative self-talk - win-win.
What I’ll do in 2024: Continue to embrace this way of working and plan the time in my calendar to do it.
#6 It’s time to create more ways for people to be able to work with me
I LOVE 1:1 work - the fact I can tailor support to an individual and help them progress in the right way for them - the BEST. But, there have been a lot of people in 2023 who have needed support but weren’t ready to invest in 1:1. It’s time to listen and diversify.
What I’ll do in 2024: Watch out for Quarterly Planning Workshops and workshops run by other business experts. I’ll be doing more masterminds and also creating other inventive offers to try out.
#7 I love being self-employed
Freedom to be able to choose to do what I want, learn what I want, work with who I want, explore what I want, to spend time with my children when I want. Uncapped earning potential. To grow as a person. To be in control of my own life. This is why I am self-employed and I hope that I never have to be employed again!
What I’ll do in 2024: Continue to build a sustainable business that enables me to live the life I want
#8 It’s OK to quit
I started a coaching qualification which was a big time commitment. I got 3 months in and wasn’t learning anything new, was finding the training a chore and felt the course was too based on writing an assessment rather than learning practical skills. It’s important to me that I spend my time where I can get either ROI for my business or life and it felt like it was negative for both. So I quit. I don't regret it.
What I’ll do in 2024: Research into courses I do to make sure they will give me what I actually need
#9 Don’t assume things will be hard
There are lots of aspects of running a business that are hard and I’ve even avoided things things because I’ve thought they’d be too hard. I launched a 2024 Planning Day and assumed it would be hard to fill. I sold 11 spaces within 3 days!
What I’ll do in 2024: Don’t assume
#10 Laughter is life
On NYE I laughed more than I have in years and it reminded me that I have not been making space for as much fun as I’d like to be having. It’s time to re-address the balance and spend more time being social, focusing on relationships, doing fun stuff and laughing!
What I’ll do in 2024: Laugh. A lot!
#11 The way I managed August didn’t work for me
I was frustrated last summer because I was too ‘part-time’. I’m an all-in or all-out type of person and I struggled with working a few days a week for my girls 9-week summer holiday. It was organised, highly planned and not stressful but I didn’t enjoy it. So, if something isn’t working, I need to improve it and in 2024 I’ll try a different plan.
What I’ll do in 2024: I’m planning to take 4 weeks off in August.
#12 I’m not terrible at marketing
A massive limiting belief I’ve carried with me through my business journey is that I am terrible at marketing. I’m not. There is a huge amount I still have to learn and I am not an expert, but I can hold my own and I know this because I’ve consistently managed to build my brand, sales and revenue over the last 12 months.
What I’ll do in 2024: Continue to learn and improve my marketing.
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