If you've been reading Inside Out Style for some time you may have discovered that rather than make a bunch of New Years Resolutions that I end up not keeping. Instead I choose a word of the year, a word that I use as my focus for the year. A word that will influence all my decisions and keep me on the right path. A word that I use as guidance.
My word this year is DELEGATE.
Why? You may ask? Well, I'm terrible at it and that is not good for me. I do everything myself (except for my book keeping and a little of the really technical web stuff that my brilliant web woman does for me and a part time VA). Everything else is me and I feel constantly overwhelmed.
Constantly overwhelmed.I've been ill the past few days. And when I'm sick, nothing happens here. That's because I've got no back up. Nobody to help here. It's all down to me, and if I'm not working, nothing happens.
The downside of being a control freak non-delegator is that my inbox is out of control (something like 23000 emails in it, I kid you not), I miss emails, I lose emails, I feel terrible about not answering many emails that I get. If you've ever emailed me and I haven't gotten back to you this is why. It's not because I'm ignoring you, but sometimes in that stream of emails and my limited time things just get away from me.
There is just so much to do, and not enough time in my day. Not only do I have those 23000 emails to deal with I have to:
- find ideas for blog posts
- write blog posts
- edit photos for blog posts
- create pictures or polyvores for blog posts
- plan and schedule social media for those blog posts
- create an editorial calendar for new blog posts
- moderate comments and answer comments
- Deal with around 200 emails per day (that 23000 emails didn't happen overnight)
- Create and write new programs and ebooks.
- Record videos for programs and blog posts
- Edit videos
- Upload videos
For the Consulting arm of my business
- Market my personal styling/image consulting business
- See clients - colour analysis, wardrobe audits, style analysis, personal shopping, packing for holidays etc.
These all require some administration as well as the actual consultation time.
Product Development
- Create new image products and tools
- Colour Swatches
- Style Files
- Contrast tools
Then there is training and presenting
- Write new training programs
- Write speeches and presentations
- Create powerpoints
- Create marketing around these programs
- Run image and colour consulting training programs both in the classroom and online
- Update manuals, training videos etc.
- Create and present monthly webinars for image and colour consultants
- Create programs to present at conferences.
- Attend conferences and network.
Keep up with the endless stream of administration that exists within any business.
Then of course I have 2 kids and 3 step kids who require time and attention. Their ages range from 6 - 13. My kids got to school for 6 hours a day. They have after school activities, friends, social lives, homework and emotional needs that I'm needed for. I expect myself to complete 8 hours a day in 6 or less.
Then there is a husband to love, a house to run, a garden to prune and weed and friends and family to keep in touch with. Oh and we're about to do a major house renovation this year too.
I'm completely overwhelmed most of the time. I try to push it all to the back of my mind and work through my endless and growing to-do list. But I know that I can't keep up the pace.
That is why my New Year's Resolution word for 2016 is delegate. Rather than always try and do everything myself, I need to work smarter not harder. I need to think about the possibility of someone else completing a task for me.
I'm going to focus on delegating tasks wherever I can this year.
I'm getting an assistant soon. Someone to free up some of my time so I can be the creative powerhouse I love to be. So I can spend my time creating programs and content, rather than just vainly trying to catch up with everything on my list, valiantly trying to do everything but of course missing lots.
Do you have a word for 2016? If so what is is and why? I'd love to know!
