blog - Step & Stone

how to create a business plan for the year

August 3, 20221 Comment

Do you have a business plan?

And today I’m not talking about the 20+ page document that we throw together because someone says we need one.

I’m talking about planning for your business – creating a business plan that keep you focused, motivated, and balanced amongst your multiple priorities.

In order to achieve the things that we say we want, a dream is not enough!

You need to also understand all the tasks that make up your goals, dependencies on other people or resources, and how you’ll manage it all with your limited time.

That’s when a business plan becomes necessary.Continue Reading

how to stop burnout from stopping you

July 20, 202212 Comments

I’ve met plenty of business owners who boast about the number of hours they put into their business, almost as though it’s a badge of honour they proudly wear on their sleeve.

They talk about being part of #TeamNoSleep, as though it’s a competition on who can get by on the least amount possible.

They tell me that if you love what you do, it’s not really work.

They tell me that they’ll work an 80-hour week for themselves to avoid working a 40-hour week for someone else.

I understand the excitement of starting a business. I understand that there are so many things to do and how difficult it can be to fit it all in. I understand how when you’re just about to go to bed, thoughts come pouring into your head and keep you from falling asleep. It happens to me, too.

I’m guilty

why you should say no more often

July 14, 20224 Comments

Rita is the founder of a budding business. She gets involved in everything from accounting to sales, admin to strategy development.

She’s also a leader – raising money at charity events, working with influential members of the community, and being the biggest champion of those she’s trying to help.

She tries to spend time with friends and family, but often works late into the night and can’t turn her mind off from thinking about his business.

But if you catch her in a moment of honesty, you’ll find out that it’s not as easy as it appears.

She is exhausted.Continue Reading

make time for rest

July 6, 2022Be the first to share your thoughts...

You may be working too much and forgetting to make time for rest.

Throughout my career, people have told me this all the time. Some still do.

I’ve been told to take it easy, to make time for rest, to do other things I love outside of work.

working hard is a core value

Reflecting on my younger years, I always knew that hard work needed to happen to reap results. I worked at least 30 hours a week while I was in school. Then 10-14 hour days in financial services was standard. Yet, no one ever told me I was overdoing it back then.

I didn’t see the need to make time for rest.

Then I got into business and had to keep on keeping on. In the end, I faced a lot of judgement for working too hard. But I realised that you can work hard and also make time for rest. If you don’t, you could get burnt out.

how to make time for rest

how to hire the right team

June 15, 2022Be the first to share your thoughts...

When I first started Step & Stone, I was figuring out everything, as well as doing everything. Hiring the ‘right’ team was yet to cross my mind. But like all business owners, I had to teach myself as I went, sometimes spending days trying to figure it all out.

As my business grew, I was able to hire service providers for graphic design, web design, accountancy and social media management.

By 2019, I felt like this wasn’t enough. I was spending a ridiculous amount of time on the day-to-day tasks required to run my business. The more time I spent on these, the less I could spend on revenue generating activities.