Flirting with change
Ep. 77: Don't be afraid to change your business (with Heather Pownall)
Happy Friday!
How are you? What was your biggest win this week?
I’m celebrating the fact that I *finally* set up some new onboarding processes for subcontractors (templates for contracts, briefs, style guides, etc.).
While I’ve collaborated with other writers for a while, I’ve never really considered subcontracting as a major part of my business model. I’m just used to doing everything myself, you know? (Control freak, moi?)
Changing the way we run our business can be tough. Why change what’s already working? What if it doesn’t work out? Where do I even start?
Maybe I should take a nap instead 😴
But as media marketing and comms specialist Heather Pownall and I discuss on today’s podcast episode, change can also be exciting. The key is to get clear about what you’re trying to achieve.
In Heather’s case, the pandemic led to many of her clients needing more support with digital marketing – and fast. She needed to control the deliverables in a way that felt easy for both her and her clients.
(You’ll hear exactly how she did that on the episode.)
In my case, going from my cosy company of one to sleek and scalable systems requires a little push outside my comfort zone. And templates.
If you’re in a similar position and you need a little friendly nudge to make a change you kinda-sorta-know needs to happen, this episode is for you.
“Comfort zone, but make it sexy”
As Heather says, we shouldn’t be afraid to try something different. Don’t just stay in your comfort zone because it’s comfortable – keep learning, push the boundaries and trust your ideas.
As well as encouraging you to flash a little leg outside your business comfort zone (too far?), in this episode, Heather and I discuss:
Heather’s experience of pivoting in her business
Finding a neat solution for clients who don’t need a one-size-fits-all package
Balancing excitement and overwhelm
Being an “expert generalist”
Listen here »
🧠 Insight: Speaking to Heather reminded me (again) that running a business is basically a massive exercise in personal development. Whether you like it or not. As your business evolves (and it will), you have to keep up.
Accept that changing or growing your business requires investment. Sometimes that’s a financial investment – paying for training, buying equipment, hiring new team members. Sometimes it’s just the time and effort that needs to be invested in getting clear on your processes (like the time I’ve just spent tidying up my subcontractor templates).
➡️ 15 Minute Action: A book rec! This convo with Heather touched on the concept of growth mindset. So if you haven’t read Mindset by Carol Dweck, I highly recommend it. (I’m slightly biased about this book because one of my clients runs growth mindset programs in schools, and the evidence for this approach speaks for itself. I just wish my school PE teacher had read it 🤣)
And if you’re planning a change in your business and need help to figure out a vision to aim for, check out last week’s episode with Matt Saunders.
Got questions? Just hit reply.
Until next time, happy freelancing!
Louise xx