Simplify
Welcome to the mind of a chronic over-analyzer. It is what makes me successful in business and also paralyzing at times. I overanalyze EVERYTHING and anticipate potential reactions and next steps before they happen. This is something I have worked on and am seeing great progress with in my own business. I quickly learned I needed to make decisions, stick with them and pivot as needed. This has served me well.
Which is what leads me to the point of this blog post. Why do we sometimes choose to work harder and not smarter? I found myself designing websites on several platforms for various clients. One which will remain nameless, is extremely user friendly and appeals to many small business owners but is clunky as can be for me as a designer. Even on my fancy new IMAC it bogs down my system and moves slower than I would like.
As a newer business owner I felt I needed to be the jack of all trades. All the intel around me was telling me to niche down but my brain was saying:
Why only work with one type of business? I have so enjoyed all the clients I have met in various industries.
Why limit the types of platforms I design in? Won’t that eliminate client work?
I am having fun learning the ins/outs and love the challenge.
I have always enjoyed learning. That’s not to say that some platforms I was designing in were lacking from a design perspective which I did not enjoy. Some client work was coming with tedious product updates boring me out of my mind but they had to get done!
Which leads me to my point, my goal this year is to “Simplify.” From my own personal life to my business. I am on a quest to narrow down my zone of genius and dial in to what I really enjoy. From my closet to my business. I have also realized as a small business owner, the importance of supporting other entrepreneurs. I have found myself on a mission to help business owners who align with a similar purpose. I am also on a mission to support those folks with where I spend my money and time.
Stay tuned for more on this “theme” as my goal is to use this blog to help business owners tackle common topics and work to simplify their workflows specifically when it comes to their website for their business. It can feel overwhelming figuring out where to start but it doesn’t have to be. When it makes sense for your business financially, hiring the right people to help you is going to return more growth opportunities than you realize.
I would love to hear any tips from fellow entrepreneurs on ways you have “simplified” and streamlined your own business. Or if you have any questions about some of the decisions I have made as a business owner, please ask. Sharing ideas can only help us all! Please email me if you feel inclined to share your experience or if you have any questions for me: jlwatrob@north8designs.com.
