I’ve always loved lighthouses. Anytime I travel and there’s one nearby, I try to visit. To me, they’re one of the most reliable inventions ever made.
They don’t wait for storms to turn their lights on. It can be the calmest Monday with the water perfectly still, and the light is already shining. They are so reliable it almost goes unnoticed.
I remember when I used to sit at my desk and as I turned on my computer, I immediately felt like I had to brace for a storm. I take a look at my inbox and suddenly everything felt so urgent. This still occasionally happens to me. Not always but I do have my days.
If we think about it though, the lighthouse itself wasn’t built during a storm. It was planned and positioned long before the storm came in.
So then, why do we as solo professionals do the opposite?
According to recent studies, over 70% of solo professionals report feeling chronically stressed, and nearly 60% say decision fatigue impacts their performance. Why? Because we are always battling the storm instead of putting people and systems in place.
I do have to tell you, ‘storm mode’’ makes me feel productive and heroic but it’s definitely not sustainable. We cannot run a business constantly battling storms. If we have to sit at our desk everyday trying to survive the waves, then there is no time for us to build our ‘lighthouse’. No time to build our team and no time to put systems in place.
Storms will always come. That’s just part of the job. But exhaustion doesn’t have to be. I’m done trying to prove how strong I am in rough waters. I would rather have a clear signal when things get messy so I’m not scrambling. If you feel like you constantly have to brace for impact when running your business, maybe it’s time to build your ‘lighthouse’.
Final Thoughts
Look, I’m not trying to get a trophy for battling the strongest storm either. I’m just trying to sleep better at night. And you should too.
Lighthouses have incredible boundaries. They don’t move for anyone.
Shamayne Brown is a virtual assistant and the founder of Camp Virtual Assistance.
She works with solo professionals and small business owners who are ready to invest in their business and need the support that she offers.
She specializes in creating email newsletters as well as other admin and creative design tasks.
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