3 Foundations that Create Structure in Life & Business
I launched ArianaTenine.com into an online consulting business because I know how hard it is to not only grow and build a small business, but also implement detailed systems. It’s too many hats, and few people have the time to create workflows when they’re trying to make sales!
But I’ve also learned, both as a small business owner and as a professional operations manager, that even though systems can be difficult to create and maintain, they’re the foundation to growth and stability.
I also believe that they play a huge role in self care, by relieving the anxiety and overwhelm that comes with juggling so many jobs. That’s why I put a lot of effort into these three essential foundations for life and for business.
Foundation #1: Having a Grasp on Your Workflow & Systems
I’ve spent the past three years as a Director of Operations… disguised as a project manager. I was brought on to manage projects and clients, but over the course of a few years, I found myself implementing new tools to track contracts, workflows, communication, and more.
It was a huge step in setting that business up for scaling and expansion and I’ve loved the custom systems we’ve created to manage that company.
As someone who has managed small businesses as well, i’ve found these systems to be a comforting foundation for myself and for growing companies.
Why does this matter for you?
Regardless of what business you're in right now, you likely wear too many hats and struggle to take the time to build new systems while also managing clients. But it’s when we’re overwhelmed and distracted that we fail to serve our clients the best we can. Tracking sales, workflows, emails - these are essentials part of the business that need to be streamlined and managed to help you be able to breathe and manage more as time goes by.
Need someone to help you with build these systems? Let’s talk!
Foundation #2: Having a Grasp on your Financial Health
Four or so years ago, I took complete control of my personal finances. I wanted to improve my credit score, remove outstanding debt I'd gained during previous relationships, and begin creating a long term visual of my finances.
I moved in with my parents, picked up a day job which provided a consistent income, and started making strategic financial decisions.
Three years later, I get little jolts of pride when I look at my credit score! I live off a limited amount every month, which is enough to save while also maintain my own place, and my credit card has been eliminated within the past 3 years.
Why am I telling you this?
When the pandemic hit, I’m sure we all entered a certain panic mode. But for myself, I was grateful that I had a pulse on my budget for the next 3-6 months. I'm not saying that if I had lost my job, I wouldn’t have worried. What I'm saying is that with good oversight, I was able to start planning right away where to cut back , how long my savings would last, and what effect a change in income will have.
But I thought we were talking about business?
This mindset is absolutely what I'm bringing to my business, what I do in my day-job with other businesses (and that I wish I had applied better in my old business).
If you have a grasp on the financial health of your personal and/or business finances, you can do three things:
Forecast your cash flow.
Adjust your budget.
Make a plan.
If you're refunding money, or seeing a significant drop off in income, having good financial oversight means you know exactly what the effects of this will be. Not having that results in looking to the future blindly, and can cause so much more panic and stress.
Does having a grasp on your financial health eliminate all concern and worry? Of course not! But would you rather focus on what you know, or spend your nights stressing over what you don't know? Saying "I have two months to figure out how to make money for my business online before we're in serious trouble" is a little more reassuring than "I don't know what I'm going to do."
My favorite tool for budget management is Y.N.A.B. - click here to explore and sign up*.
Foundation #3: Having a Grasp on Your Self Care
I've never been particularly good at journaling, or dream journals, or writing down my feelings... that whole "Dear Diary" phase never quite lasted with me, despite my love of notebooks. But over the last few years, I found a method that works for me. Taking 15 minutes every day to write down what I'm grateful for, remind myself of the big goals I have, and assess what I'm doing right (and what I'm not) has really allowed me to realign my daily tasks and schedule in a productive way. That, along with taking time for prayer and spiritual focus, has been so very grounding and helps me be positive and productive.
As I've had more and more freedom with my job to work when and where I want, I've also had to be disciplined in my routines, and in my fitness. Working out has become an integral part of my life for the last few years and seeing what my body is capable of, reaching personal strength and physical goals - it gives me all the happy!
So how does this help you in your business?
Burnout is a real thing. It affected me, and has affected every creative I know at some point in their lives. Sometimes you bounce back... sometimes you don't. I didn't, not when it came to photography.
But the steps I'm taking in my day to day life now? I can't help but wonder if I would have been able to bounce back had these been applied then. If I was more active, more goal oriented and had found areas of my life to maintain balance and control... perhaps I would have been able to still see the joy in my work.
As entrepreneurs, we put EVERYTHING into our businesses. We work in the middle of the night while kids or spouses are asleep, then we get up early to do all the things. We manage every single aspect of our business, even the areas we're bad at. We wear every hat and we hustle constantly.
But is that what you signed up for? Leaving behind corporate jobs to work every single minute, all the time, and never have time for yourself? That seems unlikely. And it's why i've decided to plan my life, my work, my school, my hustle... around my self care. Around making sure I have time to do the things that build me up as a person. When our hearts are full and our minds are clear, we can spend the rest of our days serving others, both in our business and in our friendships.
Perhaps you can do the same.
Which of these foundations do you feel you need to focus on right now? Comment below or lets talk over coffee and zoom and talk about how you can streamline them for both efficiency and personal satisfaction!
xo, ariana
*Disclosure: Some of the links in this post are affiliate links, which means a commission or discount is granted. However, I any companies i recommend are ones I use daily and LOVE so if you decide to buy, they come with my biggest recommendation!
