Busy Isn’t A Business Plan!

March — wow. What a month.

If February was about reality checks, then March has been about looking in the mirror... and realising that sometimes the person who needs the biggest reality check is me.

It’s been full-on. The workload has been relentless. I’ve been over-committed, trying to be everything to everyone, burning the candle at both ends... and almost forgetting why I do what I do in the first place.

I say it all the time to clients: “Your business should serve you — not consume you.”

And yet, here I was — caught in the exact same trap.

It’s so easy, isn’t it? You love what you do, you care about your clients, you want to help — and before you know it, you’re working evenings, weekends, squeezing every ounce of energy out of yourself just to keep up.

But the truth is — that’s not sustainable. Not for me. Not for you. Not for anyone.

And the thing is — none of us went into business to feel permanently knackered, glued to a laptop, and wondering why your family don’t recognise you without your work phone in your hand.

A timely reminder came in the form of our recent Make or Break Course.

Ten incredible people showed up — fully. Open, vulnerable, facing their fears head-on. And I have to say — watching those transformations unfold was nothing short of magic.

It reminded me why I love this work. Why it matters. Why I started doing it in the first place.

It was as good for me as it was for them. Even though I wasn’t a participant, I definitely needed to sit in that room and feel the energy, the honesty, the courage.

Real people. Real problems. Real change.

That’s what it’s all about.

And honestly? It gave me a bit of a shake — that lovely nudge from the universe to stop, breathe, and remember what’s important.

Because let me tell you — the to-do list will never be finished. The inbox will never be empty. But your health, your family, your peace of mind? That’s the stuff that really matters.

Anyway... onto the other stuff that March has thrown my way.

The conversations I’ve had this month have all circled back to the same thing — people feeling stuck, overwhelmed, buried under a mountain of stuff to do and feeling like they’ve lost control of their own business.

And look, I’m not here to judge — I’ve been right there alongside them.

If your business only works because you’re the one doing absolutely everything... then we’ve got a problem. I know it’s hard to let go. I know it feels quicker to just do it yourself. But that’s the fastest way to stay stuck. Systems will save you — but only if you actually use them.

This month has been full of conversations about getting things out of people’s heads and into a place where someone else can pick them up if needed. Writing things down, documenting how things are done, getting processes in place so that you’re not the bottleneck in your own business. Not glamorous. Not exciting. But utterly necessary.

And the money conversations... well, they’ve been coming thick and fast too. The usual panic of “where’s all my money gone?” closely followed by the uncomfortable silence when I ask, “when did you last check your margins properly?”

We’ve had chats about raising prices (because let’s be honest, your costs have gone up whether you like it or not), about sticking to payment terms (you are not a bank), about putting VAT and tax money aside before it disappears on shiny vans or a new MacBook, and about actually using the systems you’ve paid for to help you keep on top of it all.

Leadership has been a theme too — the messy, human side of running a business. The hiring dramas, the team frustrations, the endless cycle of “why can’t they just do it like I would?” And the hard truth is... they’re not you. Which is why they need clarity, structure, and feedback. It’s not about micro-managing people — it’s about setting them up to succeed.

And then of course there’s the big one... balance. The thing we all know we should have, but often leave right at the bottom of the priority list.

I’ve spent a lot of time this month helping people map out what a realistic, sustainable week actually looks like — one that doesn’t leave them feeling like they’ve been through a washing machine by Friday night.

Time to work on the business, not just in it. Time to get the admin done properly, so it doesn’t steal evenings and weekends. Time with family that’s actually quality, not just physically being in the same room while answering emails. And yes — time for themselves. Downtime. Space to think. Space to breathe.

Because here’s the thing — you can build a successful business and still hate your life. And that’s not the goal.

As I head into Quarter 2, I’m saying it loud and clear — this next quarter is about health, family, balance, and actually practising what I preach.

Not being busy for the sake of it. Not wearing exhaustion like a badge of honour. But being intentional. Being present. Being well.

So if you’ve needed a sign to slow down, to get your house in order, to start focusing on the things that really matter... this is it.

Quarter 2 isn’t about doing more.

It’s about doing what matters.

I’m right there with you.

Let’s go again.