I often hear from business owners that they would just “do this” in their business if life didn’t get in the way… or they would have accomplished so much, but they just got too overwhelmed by the unpredictability of a young family or aging parents… or just life.

But the richness of life and all the obligations it comes with is just a part of the deal. The deal that also allows you to be the proud parent of the child at their 1st school play or the daughter or son of loving parents that took care of you for so many years so that you could become the person you are now.

So how can we as solopreneurs do it all plus have time for ourselves, support those that need us and change the world while we are at it? There is no secret formula, but I do have some steps you can take in your business to create a lifestyle and business that allows the richness of life and all of its obligations to “get in the way”.

1. Simplify, simplify, simplify- Instead of taking on more, schedule less.
   It wasn’t until this past year that I realized that I didn’t have to do more to make more as an entrepreneur. Prior to this past year, I would take on new companies, new projects and be constantly building. I wore the serial entrepreneur badge with pride. But I was overworked and tired.But since moving to a smaller town with no family support, I realized I needed to make sure I had more flexibility in my schedule and more availability to my young family (They are REALLY cute kids!)
   The huge transition happened when I simplified. With the help of an amazing coach, I planned out a simpler marketing calendar. Planning of my calendar and knowing which way my business was going meant that every program I wanted in place rolled out one after another with much more ease.

   The simplicity of focusing on one campaign at a time actually increased my income because I was able to do one thing very well versus too many things mediocre.

   When we actually have many things we are trying to sell instead of focusing on one campaign at a time, we end up confusing our clients, overworking ourselves and not giving ourselves enough room for the rest of life to “get in the way”.  This is why designing a marketing calendar is a key piece to VIP days with my clients and the mastermind group I am running the end of July.

2. Value what you do and charge what you are truly worth. A part of simplifying was also to figure out my true value. Remember, value is based on the results you provide for your clients. Like many of you, as a big giver, I wasn’t valuing what I was giving my clients. Once I figured out the true value of what I delivered, I was able to charge what I was worth.
   The amazing part is that I ended up attracting only premium clients that were ready to take action in their business. When you value what you do by placing the proper investment to your services, you end up attracting your ideal clients. Discovering your true value is a key part of every coaching program as many solopreneurs don’t even realize how much they are doing for free.
3. Invest in those that champion the lifestyle you desire. I have said this quote before, the 5 people closest to you become the average income and life style that you end up having in your own life. This is why I invest in myself by finding mentors that mirror a lifestyle and business model that I love and want.
   From one on one coaching to mastermind programs that I am a part of, I make sure that the caliber of people I am in contact with holds me at a level that is much higher than where I am at in the moment.

   It is always a stretch for me initially, but what I love is the way they pull me into their world of possibility and hold a space for me to step up into. So always invest in where you want to be NOT where you are currently in your business.

4. Don’t beat yourself up if it doesn’t get done – Go with your heart. This is a huge one I finally let go of this past year. As a perfectionist in many areas of my life, I would often beat myself up on getting tasks done.But when it came time to actually sit down and do these tasks, I was uninspired to create or do them.  The old me would have tried to push through it and really force myself to get it done.
   But over the years I learned to go with my heart and the energy that is contagiously creative when it wants to be.  It means that when things get done, they get done quickly (when they are supposed to be); and when they don’t, they were never meant to be done in the first place (at least not by me!).

   It is a matter of asking yourself, “Why is it so important that it gets done? Can someone else do it for me?” Often times, as solopreneurs, the answer might be  “So I can make money…” Well, the new me now asks, “How can I make money in a different way that inspires me to want to do it?” Go with your heart every time.

5. Schedule down time.
   This is a huge one for me. Besides having a fairly light schedule so that life can “get in the way”, I also make sure I schedule down time. It may be having an evening to myself on the way back from a conference, or carving out 3-week vacations with my family like the one I am on.
   Scheduling time to rejuvenate and connect back to you is important. When you run on half empty you are not serving your clients, your family or yourself. It goes back to the “put the mask on yourself before your child” philosophy on the airplane… You can’t be of service when you can’t breathe.

So instead of using life “getting in the way” as your excuse for not reaching your goals, plan on life “getting in the way”. Come from a place of gratitude for the richness of life and the people that you love and figure a way to design your business around the life you desire.

PS. If designing a business around the life you desire is something you are searching for…OR you want to be masterminding with other solopreneurs and a coach that will show you how to expedite this process, then please check out my “Leverage You” Mastermind Coaching Program.