(Part 2)
As we have seen in part 1 of the article “Summer Business Survival Guide: Strategies to Keep Your Business Thriving and Enjoy Your Vacation”, I am a big advocate of the Minimal Viable Strategy, especially during summer!
After years spent trying to do everything at once, and endless burnouts, I realized that slow and steady always wins the race.
No matter what my goal is, if I want to achieve it, I need to know where I am going and pace myself. It might take me longer than expected to get there, but at least I know that I will have the energy to last till the end and see it come to fruition.
Therefore, whenever I am working towards achieving one of my goals, instead of giving high and inconsistent bursts of energy, I give smaller consistent ones. That is why the Minimal Viable Strategy is essential for me - it helps me keep my business going while enjoying the season I love most without feeling like I am missing out.
How can you do the same, you ask? Well, let’s check it out together!
What does the MVS look like to you on a personal level?
We have identified what the Minimal Viable Strategy looks like for your business, by helping you set out and prioritize your business objectives. But what about your personal ones?
What do you want to achieve this summer on a personal level? Is there a particular place you would like to visit? Specific books you want to read? New restaurants or rooftops you want to explore? And how to incorporate these goals with your business to achieve a healthy work-life balance?
I have discovered that being efficient and clear about your personal goals can help you be more efficient in planning your summer. When you align your personal aspirations with your business objectives, you create a holistic approach to achieving the work-life balance you want.
For instance, if one of your personal goals is to visit a specific destination this summer, such as a serene beach or a cultural city, you can plan your work schedule around this trip. By setting clear deadlines for important tasks before your vacation, you can minimize daily disruptions and ensure your business is running smoothly.
Similarly, if you have a goal to explore new restaurants or read new books, you can schedule dedicated time blocks during your weekends or evenings.
I believe that by proactively incorporating personal goals into your planning process, you enhance your work-life balance and foster a deep sense of satisfaction.
Leverage Technology for Efficiency
Now that we have seen how to integrate your personal goals into your Minimal Viable Strategy approach, let’s see together how you can leverage technology for maximum efficiency because maximum efficiency equals more free time to do what you love most!
The MVS encourages you to leverage all the resources available to automate repetitive tasks and free up your time for more strategic work.
Here are some tools and strategies to consider:
Embrace Remote Work: I honestly, swear by remote work. Well, actually, a healthy mix of online and in-person meetings. Whenever the meetings I need to do are concise, clear, and do not require a lot of brainstorming, I prefer doing them online. It saves me time commuting both ways - time I can spend sipping some cold brew at the beach. To do that, I use tools like Zoom and Microsoft Teams to make it easier to stay connected with my clients and be more efficient when it comes to routine work.
Schedule Social Media Posts: Maintaining a strong online presence is crucial for businesses, but it can also be a very time-consuming practice. To be more effective with my time, I use social media management to schedule posts for my clients in advance. This keeps their audience engaged without me having to be online constantly. Though I am guilty of slacking on my personal accounts (more on that here) - (you have got to pick your battles, right?)
Adapt to Summer-Specific Challenges: Plan Around Your Vacation: Summer-specific challenges, such as planning around vacations or dealing with heat-induced lethargy, can be effectively managed with an MVS. By planning your workload around your vacation, you can maintain productivity while still enjoying the season. If you are planning to take a vacation, prepare in advance. Notify your clients and team about your absence, delegate responsibilities, and set up an out-of-office email response.
Stay Cool and Hydrated: Heat can affect your productivity and energy levels. Make sure to stay hydrated and work in a cool environment. I, for example, work during the cooler parts of the day or in well-ventilated places with a cold beverage in hand.
Embrace Flexibility: Summer is a time for joy, so allow yourself to take breaks. Go for a swim, or enjoy outdoor activities. Balancing work with leisure can boost your creativity and motivation, leading to better overall productivity. And Lord knows the wonders including leisure activities in my daily planning has done for my mental health! Afternoons and early evenings are for me to enjoy outdoor and/or summer-related activities. This is a non-negotiable that has allowed me to work during the mornings, and have something to look forward to in the afternoon. I am also currently not taking on more than what I can handle during these few hours, which has made everything run smoothly.
Focus on Results, Not Hours: By shifting your mindset from focusing on the number of hours you have worked to the results you have achieved, you will start seeing the bigger picture and maximize your efficiency to make the most out of a smaller number of hours.
Mindful Decision-Making: Evaluating opportunities based on their alignment with your long-term objectives and values, can help you adopt a mindful approach to your decision-making process. It will also help you maintain your growth mindset while living a more fulfilling life - a life that aligns with your vision.
Experiment with Minimalist Living: Simplify your workspace, digital files, and daily routines to reduce clutter, improve your focus, and ultimately gain some precious time, on a day-to-day basis.
Parting Words,
As we navigate the vibrant days of summer, I believe that embracing the Minimal Viable Strategy (MVS) becomes a guiding philosophy for a holistic approach to well-being, on both the personal and professional levels.
For me, the journey towards adopting the MVS has been transformative. It is not just about doing less to achieve more; rather it is about aligning my business objectives with my personal passions, which ensures that every step forward is fulfilling.
So, as the sun sets on another summer day, take a moment to reflect on what truly matters to you this season and how you would like to apply it.
Better yet, why not completely adopt this mindset and incorporate the Minimal Viable Strategies in all seasons?
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