Everything in Moderation: A Poolside Blog Post

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

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