I’ve been writing for a year non-stop.
A few weeks ago I wrote about the power of a one-year promise.
It really can change your life.
800+ solopreneurs actively read this newsletter every single week.
Those numbers still blow my mind.
Over the last year my writing has given me tremendous purpose,
I’ve built a library of resources for freelancers I’m really proud of
The Solopreneur Q&A page has grown from a few FAQs into a databse of over 70+ indepth resources for growing a solo business
and I still have so much to add here.
It feels like I’m building something lasting and evergreen,
instead of the fleeting “flash in the pan” of social media content,
which is gone in less than 24 hours.
Genuinely helping someone feels a million times better than selling stuff.
My goal in the next 5 years is to write the book on running a lean lifestyle agency, literally.
I’m writing every single thing you need to know to run a design agency as a lifestyle business.
Every system, every mindset shift, every client boundary, every tool and trick.
Right now in my sidebar I have at least x10,000 roughly drafted words spread over a dozen or so articles,
which I believe are game changes for freelancers out there…
But on the other hand, I have to face reality that I can’t keep up this pace without making sacrifices.
This has been a humbling past few months…
Design Hero has gone through another growth spurt, and my systems have yet to catch up,
which means I’ve been firing on all cylinders the last few months.
In truth, I have to stop calling myself a “solo business” and start calling myself a “lifestyle agency”.
I’ve spent more time managing a team, so that I can step back more from the day to day admin,
and my free time has suffered.
It crept in without me realising.
The more successful you get, the more demands vie for your time and attention.
First I dropped my Friday off, without really being aware of it.
Instead of going out a hike I’d go a local walk…then a sit in the garden…then not at all.
then I my reading habit dropped off…
Luckily I track my habits,
which made me more aware of these sacrifices.
Over the last month I’ve been picking these back up.
But the time is coming very soon when the sacrifice isn’t just my time, it’s family time.
You see, I’m going to be having my first child soon,
And I’m in the fortunate and rare position where I can choose where to spend my time and attention.
not everyone gets that chance.
Of course, I have to spend a certain amount of time in the business to make ends meet,
but still, I have more freedom in this than many.
And I’m not sure I could live with myself if I chose to spend more time in work over family.
So I’ve decided that isn’t happening.
I want to be present, not just in body but in mind too.
You can do anything, you just can’t do everything.
Sometimes you have to sacrifice.
So I’ll have to sacrifice a little bit of my time for Life by Design.
My focus just now is on tightening up on the agency and designing myself out of the business even more,
letting my team start to take more off my plate
enabling them to make decisions without me.
In some ways this feels like a defeat to me,
it’s been hard to wrap my head around.
To give up on the thing that gives me purpose to focus on the thing that makes me money…
But I have the good fortune to have the freedom to choose,
and if I have to choose, I want to make the right choice for this little window of my life,
you never get a second chance on your firstborn.
so I’m choosing to make free time for family.
But it’s not forever.
I can’t imagine a world where I don’t write.
I would probably go mad.
So here’s what changing,
and here’s how I’ll maintain balance:
Generally I’m reducing my “surface area” and getting rid of as many unneeded maintenance and life liabilities. (eg. getting rid of the track car)
The Design Hero team will be taking some more time off my hands.
Life by Design newsletter won’t always be every week. I’ll still be sharing what I’m still learning. But not every week.
So I’ll see you when I see you, I hope you still find it useful.
Here’s a sneak peak of what I have in the works:
Also, I’m not running my core programme for a while until dust has settled on the whole Dad thing.
Instead I’ll only be taking on x5 1-1 students (x3 spots already filled).
Instead of a prescribed programme it’ll be custom-tailored freelance mentoring where I’ll literally run your freelance business with you for 6 weeks,
I’ll help you solve any big problems you’re having in your business,
and open source any systems I have which will help you do that,
If you’d like to chat to me about that you can book in a call.
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