From the Bottom to the Top: A Self-Leadership Guide to Drive You Into 2025 Strong
So, you’re going about your day as a business owner, bogged down by mental, emotional and sometimes physical overload. Overwhelmed and nearing burnout, unaware that it’s all because of this:
You’re not putting your best organizational efforts forward.
I mean, what does that even look like?
It sure doesn’t look like running a marathon I’ll tell you that. Two different goals, requiring two VERY DIFFERENT approaches, with one thing in common:
A dedicated plan to free you UP to boogey DOWN and get shit done.
You Got Skills
It is so easy to overlook our own skills. While others might be in literal awe of our mastery! Indeed, what’s obvious to us is sometimes not even on other people’s radar.
When it comes to leadership, I’ve found there are three key areas to develop:
Self-Leadership and Personal Development
Automation and Efficiency
Marketing and Branding
My belief is that self-leadership and personal development are the most effective ones. Would you agree or nah?
How Does Your Week Flow?
What does your week as an entrepreneur typically look like? Is there a routine? Sticky notes? Endless and unaddressed to-dos? Perhaps you’ve got a good thing going on, but a nagging feeling it could be better.
Not having a proper weekly workflow isn’t always a straight-up in-your-face issue.
After all, we’re immersed in our routines — structured or not — all the time. Let’s take a step back.
How can we grind down and boost our productivity without feeling like we’re constantly on the grind?
My trick is Asana. I love that it allows me to get creative and add colour to my schedule and tasks. But by far the biggest fun of it is the majestic creature flying across my screen.
I’m a sucker for the dopamine boosts I get every time I complete something, and the little graphic is just the cherry on top! Overall though, it’s a game-changing time management platform… and I’ve been through a few.
Learn how to use Asana if you wanna try it out for yourself.
** This is an affiliate link. Should you choose to click and make a purchase, I might earn a commission, but this comes at no additional cost to you. Rest assured, I only endorse tools that I have personally experienced and truly believe in.
If you’re already feeling on edge with your workflow, here are three practical strategies to address burnout. Of course, you’d ideally do this before it gets too bad, but they work just as effectively at whatever stage you’re in.
Three strategies to alleviate burnout are:
Set clear boundaries
Limit work hours
Take regular breaks!
A Word on Prioritization
What’s your first priority at the start of the workday?
For me, a good cup of oat milk latte is a non-negotiable. That first sip is like a warm hug.
So hear me out. Some business tasks are as essential as coffee (the coffee gals get it).
You know that feeling in your gut when you move aside a top priority on your to-do list and feel like you’re not taking yourself or your biz seriously because of it? It’s when you didn't drink coffee and are wondering… just why would I do that to myself?
That’s because we know what tasks are non-negotiable. Use my Eat The Frog technique if you’re struggling to ward off procrastination and actually start on your tasks.
On the flip side, there are those tasks that are kinda meh. Maybe we enjoy them. Maybe we don’t. At least they don’t feel like a weight on our shoulders.
High-priority tasks can shift our business, and low-priority ones can be a relief. Balance, baby!
View the full breakdown of my prioritization system in From Mess to Progress, Owning your Leadership eBook.
What’s in a Reset?
Have you ever been in a body of water and come out feeling as fresh as a cucumber? I know I have (only just over 200 more sleeps until the pool reopens 🥳).
Maybe we’ve still got those dishes to wash and some laundry to do. But, come on, wasn’t the break more than worth it?
Resets work like that. By decluttering our minds, calendars, emails, and digital workspaces, we release some of the dust and muck that’s built up, putting ourselves in a better space of mind to pick back up on work.
Build-up WILL happen. How often we clean up is what matters.
It’s up to you to determine when you should do business resets. Once you fit it into your schedule, be sure to follow through.Your future self thanks you.
The Shape of Confidence
The truth about gaining true confidence is that, in a way, it can be easy.
I know, I know. How on earth is confidence easy when there are so many internal obstacles?
Well for one, you can change your behaviours to better suit what works for you naturally, and immediately get a confidence boost.
It’s okay to against the grain. For instance, if you’re a night owl, is it really in your best interest to try to fit into the box of a morning person?
I love self-reflection as a regular habit because it allows me to look at my behaviours and make adjustments in line with what makes more sense!
If you’re facing imposter syndrome as a hindrance to confidence, see my blog for how to handle it here.
Find More in My eBook
It’s no secret there’s a lot that goes into the life of a balanced, successful, and creative entrepreneur. Yet it doesn’t have to be overwhelming.
My goal as someone with 24 years of leadership under her belt and a stout Canadian advocate for Trader Joe’s is to ring in what you’ve already got going on and fine-tune your natural leadership abilities.
Want to get started now?
Grab From Mess To Progress: Owning Your Leadership eBook and you’ll receive:
A curated self-leadership checklist.
An in-depth guide for your core business foundations.
My brick-by-brick, skillset layering exercise.
My recommended prioritization system.
Steps to reset the key areas for your business.
Steps to build your confidence.
The weekly workflow and strategy burnout avoidance system I use.
Get the eBook here and see your leadership go from so-so to fan-friggin-tastic.
