March 2023
“I'm NOT A MILLIONAIRE and this is exactly how much help I have”
So many people believe that help in your business (and life) is something only those making the mega money are allowed to have. Here's my thoughts....
From the desk of Skye Barbour.
Oxford, United Kingdom.
Creator of Freedom Dynamics™️ for family-driven entrepreneurs who want more time, money and choice in their thriving business and life.
Dear Entrepreneur,
Are you.....
Worried about hiring home help and what people will think?
Questioning if you're ready to outsource…anything!?
Panicked about someone else washing your pants?! 😂
Here’s my journey, the tips, challenges and truth behind the scenes of a young family and young business- How to have help BEFORE you make 7-figures.
Part 1 - The Reality
Denise Duffield Thomas wrote a great article, talking about home help as a millionaire. Loved it! But what if you're not making millions… Can help still be justified and needed? Here is my perspective and journey. From the start.
Like Denise, I truly believe in doing what you do best, and being ok to say yes to help.
Super Woman doesn’t exist in my book… and too many people I see try to struggle on thinking they need to (actually, HAVE to) do all the things.
The family stuff. The house stuff. The children stuff. The business stuff.
That is A LOT of hats to wear!
Now I’m not saying there aren’t men out there that don’t feel this too.
But… I, and the other self-sacrificing women I work with, carry a lot of guilt and shame around help.
I felt personal pressure added from being a farmer's wife from a farming family (both sides) where the women's traditional role is children and home - male farmers are very hands on, and “working hard” is encouraged - my attitude to getting help in business at home has at times made me feel like a failure.
-even my MIL said she didn’t understand my drive to work!
My mindset was a mix of frustration of wanting help and guilt about what that then made me. Was I a bad mother or an unsupportive wife not always dropping everything to ensure 3 meals a day were on the table, and being with my children 24/7?
My dad - a ridiculously “hard working” farmer- taught us 4 children that effort gets you everywhere, you're better off doing the job yourself. He regularly commented on my Leadership career later in life as “management bollocks” and the whole family used to take the mic, that I was constantly bossy and lazy, asking other people for help.
So when it came to taking the jump to start my own business (with a newborn) it felt like a leap I should have to do completely on my own the “hard way”.
But I still jumped…
Jumped from the comfy paychecks of corporate life, sick pay and holiday entitlement… and take (what some might say) the risk.. To create the life I want for myself and my family.
Over the 5 year journey my help has changed with my business and home needs, right not this is my team.....
James- my husband. Running a family business with many moving parts keeps him very occupied. Whilst we rely on him very little for childcare, and home, he will always make it happen when we need him. I see us as a team. Together we need to run our home, our family, our business. I still have work to do personally on allowing him to help more.
Bec’s - My Right Hand Woman at home. Full time.
From housekeeping, childcare, school admin to food - Bec’s keeps our home running smoothly, milk in the fridge, and everyone in clean clothes without chaos!
She thinks on my behalf, has even taken the boys to appointments (inc jabs!) and is part of our family.
It free’s James and I from all washing, cleaning, sorting, admin tasks, so we can spend more quality time together, and as a family. Bec’s also stops my nagging, my personal resentment when James goes off to do what he wants (because I can to!) and keeps our marriage smooth without weekend arguments of whose turn it is to clean the shower.
Yes, I used to find it strange for someone else to wash my undies (esp the Bridget Jones style I have!!) Before Bec’s I had another amazing lady Niki who helped me get comfortable with delegating at home and not feeling like I was being demanding, lazy or a useless wife and mother!
Hannah - My Right Hand Women in Business.
I call her my prodigy - I could see the talent oozing through Hannah from the days I mentored her in Corporate life. When I had the opportunity to hire her internally and promote her.. I did. When she questioned returning to Waitrose after having her first son… I jumped on the opportunity to offer her a role in my business. 3 years in, her hours, pay and responsibilities have grown over time - as has her talent for helping our clients get amazing results.
Hannah knows me better than most. She can pull me up and keep me accountable. She can do almost anything within the business. She can manage other team members in line with our values.
She is one step ahead - which is good going when you work for someone who has more ideas each hour!
Plus: I have freelance support with Amy and Carole in finance, Jason in client finance delivery,
“It’s ok for you, you have a growing business” - I get why you might think that..
Honestly, I outsourced before I paid myself. Not always what I recommend, I knew it would be a game changer to business growth if I could have less time with my newborn and more time with clients…
*A choice I wanted because, full respect for stay at home mums…. It couldn’t be me!!
You need to start before you are ready… I work with too many people who make reactive hiring choices and end up getting burnt in the process.
Hire help.
Even 5 hours per month.
Remove tasks that are low value or you don’t enjoy (or don’t do!) and do more of what you love.
Enjoy this blog?
Part 2 of 'I am NOT A MILLIONAIRE and this is exactly how much help I have' coming soon......
Ready to discuss how you can also go from doing it all to creating time to do what you actually want to be doing?
Why not book in for a FREE Bottle Neck Review with me - a 30 minute call with Skye to unpick exactly where you are now and the action plan to take you from overworking to THRIVING!
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