12 Things I learnt in 2022 - Lessons from an Online Business
One thing I can certainly say as a small business owner is that I am learning all the time… I mean all the time…
Soooo much learning it's almost too much at times 🤯. And so I find structured reflection to be super useful, because it gives me time to really sit down, think about everything I'm processing & make some sense of it all.
So this week I did my end of year review (look out for my how to guide & free template coming in a couple of weeks) & I thought I'd share my main learnings with you in case it resonates, or makes you feel less alone when you're feeling the same, or just gives you a laugh… here are my top takeaways from 2022.
This post may contain affiliate links. These are denoted by a *. If you make a purchase via one of these links I may get a small kickback. I only recommend products and services I use and love myself! Thanks in advance :)
Task batching is a lifechanger
I discovered task batching in 2022… If you haven’t heard of it before, it’s essentially doing lots of similar tasks in a particular block of time - like writing lots of blog posts as I’m doing now!
Before I discovered task batching, my days were a range of a million different things - from taxes to emails, design projects to marketing. Moving between different clients & changing focus all the time. I so often I found I got to the end of the day and didn’t really know what I’d achieved, or had loads of loose ends that required me to go back and follow up on.
If that sounds familiar you might want to explore task batching. It’s a really efficient way to organise your priorities & for me means I get lots more done, it also allows me to organise my calendar with a better rhythm. I’ve decided that it’s the way I’d like to run my business from now on! I’m a total convert!
Asana is life
I’m talking about Asana the project management software here as opposed to yoga… although I’d definitely advocate a spot of yoga on the daily for calm conscious & chilled business-ing.
Anyway, back to the project management tool… I consider Asana to be my boss & follow what it says I have to do every day (granted it was me that decided that in the first place).
I find that when I don’t follow my Asana list I’m pretty poor at prioritising in the moment & end up being frustrated by my lack of progress in the things I know will move the needle in my biz. I’ve recently started using Asana more & more (for life & biz) and I’m all in on this one! Also… it’s free!!!
I need to hide my phone
No matter how much I think I can ignore my phone if it's on my desk, that little light up notification is like honey for Winnie the Pooh. The only solution is to hide it… or switch it off, or both!
This connects back to task batching and project management in general, it’s so important to be able to focus, and in our day and age (sounding like my grandma here!) we’re being conditioned not to focus, and have distractions incoming constantly. I’ve learnt this year that I can choose for my phone not to be one of them, and with a bit of discipline it’s become a habit that’s stuck.
I’ve also stopped having my phone in the bedroom, and that’s been a massive win too!
Brains need good food to work well
Also known as the hob nobs do not constitute lunch lesson & I will stop being able to concentrate at 3pm if I've made the mistake of thinking they do.
I’m definitely a smash on through kind of gal when I’m in my flow, but this year I’ve learnt that I need to balance that with regular breaks, food & water to make sure I can sustain myself & not crash.
I have every reason to be confident in myself
I'm not wearing a sign on my head that says “I've got no idea what I'm doing” even if I actually feel like that, and no one is there trying to catch me out.
I need to believe in myself more.
I think this is a lesson I’ve learnt and relearnt a million times over the last 36 years… the imposter syndrome is REAL! Maybe 2022 is the year it really sunk in… here’s hoping…
If I try to write a blog whilst listening to true crime, I will accidentally start taking minutes & the blog will turn dark… very dark.
To charge my worth
I don't need to offer discounts to get clients, in fact, when I increased my prices this year no-one blinked (& the right clients won't try to bargain because they understand my worth).
I’ll be increasing my prices again into 2023 - why? Because I’m a much better designer now, so the value I offer to my clients is much increased & therefore my work’s worth it!
I was so nervous about this at the beginning, but it’s now become a non negotiable - I charge my worth, full stop.
To Set boundaries & stick to them
Working after I've reached the point of tired (usually around 6pm), evokes the law of diminishing returns… & if I keep going I'll crash in a heap & be exhausted (and tears may be shed).
This is a tricky one for me, because I genuinely love my work, and I enjoy pretty much every moment that I’m doing it… problem is, I also need rest, and balance and non work time to be a fully functioning human on a consistent basis! I’m finding un-movable boundaries help me with this.
Outsource early and often
Outsourcing is brilliant, and I should do it as soon as I'm able for any tasks that don't need me, or I don't love. I’ve learnt this year that it’s a win-win. It supports other small businesses & means I get loads more done & can focus on the things that really move the needle.
This has been a mindset shift (at the beginning when I first set up my biz I didn’’t want to pay out any of my hard earned €€, even on softwares!) now, I’m actively seeking opportunities to make my workflows faster & more efficient, so I can spend my time on the things only I can do.
People are wonderful (even in the rare moments they don’t show it)
People are almost always kind, doing their best, supportive & just great.
If they don't behave that way (which almost never happens) it's pretty much never me, and always something going on for them that I don't know about. Being patient & kind is always the best approach. I am SO LUCKY to have the incredible clients & “virtual colleagues” I’ve collected over my time in business.
Moving my 🍑 is always, always a good idea, especially if it involves the sea & a surfboard.
I need to work on talking less… and so I'm going to stop there!
Tell me what you learnt in 2022 by dropping a note in the comments, or sending me an email - I genuinely love hearing from readers of the blog, and always reply to each email personally !
related webdesign posts
New on the ‘Gram…
