Put your phone away Dad we’re on holiday!
Here we are on the outskirts of Barcelona, beautiful scenery, an inviting pool and delicious food and drink and yet I can’t stop worrying about checking my emails.
This phone is paying for your holiday!
Managing my own time
I defend myself with the classic primary wage earner response. But it’s true. If, like me, you are effectively a freelancer running your own mini empire and pipeline of work, responding quickly can mean the difference between getting or not getting a piece of work. More than that, the smallest pieces of work can be the gateway to much larger projects so it’s very hard to say “so I missed out, it was only £X, no big deal.” I reflected this holiday that I am being a classic cobbler not fixing my own shoes. We run courses in Time Management, I hear myself lecturing groups on managing their time, shutting off, rest etc Yet here I am jumping like a Pavlov dog every time my phone bings.
Options to spread the workload
So why have I not solved this for myself? All I need is a simple list of the steps I go through myself, turn that into a guide for a PA, support it with some templates and resources, maybe even a bit of training and surely anyone could mind the shop for a couple of weeks. Its so easy that I’m sure you’re wondering why I haven’t done it? Hire someone part-time? Virtual PA? Yeah yeah. It’s hard to find the right person who wants occasional work that is willing to take time to understand your business for what will be a lowish hourly rate.
Then I think, why don’t I ask one of my fellow trainers? Yes, I could … but they might feel awkward asking for the rate they would want to do it. Feel they should do it as a favour … mmm feels weird.
Maybe I need a partner. Formal arrangement. Work with someone else. Not a bad idea and worth exploring. May take time.
Blogging by the pool
And while I am doing all this very sensible reasoning and shooting down all possible solutions, I realise that in a bizarre way, keeping a moderate eye on my business is part of my relaxation. It’s naff to say it but I love what I do, I really do. Thinking creatively how to facilitate learning, working with clients to find the right deal, even surreptitiously writing a blog post on holiday – it actually means I can then switch off as at least for now it is not a big deal. A small diversion from the pool.
Perhaps, as an old Scottish-Hungarian Doctor once said to me
“Everything in moderation.”
Maybe when I get back home I’ll revisit this but right now, I’m going to the pool.
David Solomon
Managing Director, Sun and Moon Training
@SunMoonDavid
Photo copyright: David Solomon