Do you find yourself wearing too many hats, juggling design, project management, client meetings, and more until you can't remember the last time you had a moment to breathe?
I recently had a revelation that shook me to my core and completely transformed my perspective on business. In a property meeting, I heard Mark Fitzgerald, a seasoned Mentor and Coach in the field, drop a bombshell of wisdom that I couldn't ignore: "It’s actually when you try to wear all the hats it can be a very heavy load, and the business can overtake your life. When I started outsourcing, I freed up my time." Intrigued? I certainly was, and you will be too as you dive deeper into the shocking insights that can change the way we approach our business yours and mine.
Business Overtaking My Life:
Mark's words hit me like a bolt of lightning. In the past, I had convinced myself that being the ultimate one-person show was the way to go, but it was taking a toll on my health (I got a panic attack), my personal life (my ex-girlfriend broke up with me), and the quality of my work (I had ZERO motivation at this point). I realized that my business had indeed overtaken my life. I was chained to my desk, buried in email, and constantly battling the never-ending demands of running a business. The initial passion and joy I felt were fading, replaced by stress and exhaustion, I needed to find a way to bounce back.
Wearing All the Hats:
Architects also, often take immense pride in their ability to multitask and manage various aspects of our projects. But as Mark Fitzgerald pointed out, there's a breaking point where the weight of all those hats becomes unbearable. It's not just about design and construction anymore; it's about financial management, marketing, administrative tasks, and everything in between. The more roles we assume, the less time we have to focus on what truly matters – In your case that can be finding more clients, creating exceptional designs, and providing value to your clients.
The Solution:
Mark's advice was clear in the meeting – outsourcing. And I have tested it in my life, Initially, the idea seemed daunting at the beginning. I was hesitant to relinquish control, fearing that no one could handle my work with the same level of dedication and expertise. But as I delved deeper into the concept, I began to see the immense benefits. Outsourcing allowed me to delegate time-consuming tasks like bookkeeping, marketing, and administrative work to experts in those fields. This freed up my schedule, enabling me to focus on my true passion – running the business and helping my team to grow with it, I found out that I was great at doing the work but I was a bad leader, so I needed to start trusting people and give more responsibilities and allow them to shine. I started to do blog posts like this, with the aim of helping others in their business through what I have learned. I started a YouTube channel and Instagram videos about what is that we really do. In such a way exposing our work and starting to grow again, I ignite the passion for the creative work of building systems, businesses, and people. Nowadays visibility is credibility. Finally, I started doing what I love.
The results were nothing short of astonishing. With the weight of administrative burdens lifted from my shoulders, I found myself reinvigorated. I had more time to invest in my projects, explore innovative ways to measure houses to deliver the as-built drawings and collaborate with clients on a deeper level through interviews. My work improved, and so did my overall satisfaction and so can yours. The business was no longer overtaking my life; instead, it was thriving while allowing me to have a life outside of work so I also signed up for a half ironman competition in Nice, France 2024 with my new girlfriend and we are committed to taking on challenges together, and I trust that you also need someone in your team who is willing to cross the finish line even if it is getting hard. These are the type of people you should be working with and outsourcing your work to those who don't quit.
Conclusion:
Mark Fitzgerald's revelation during that property meeting was a wake-up call - This is the way! We must recognize our limits and prioritize our well-being. Trying to wear all the hats can be a heavy burden that stifles our creativity and drains our energy. Embracing outsourcing can be a game-changer, allowing us to reclaim our passion while our businesses flourish. So, if you're feeling overwhelmed by the demands of your architectural practice, take a page from Mark's playbook and consider outsourcing. It might just be the shocking perspective shift your business and your life needs.
Need more Business advice get in touch with Mark Fitzgerald
Posted by Peter Bauman
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