Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
If your summer
schedule is pulling you in a
million different directions andthe back end of your business
feels more reactive thansupportive, then this episode is
for you, because, whetheryou're trying to take Fridays
off, or you actually want tounplug while you're on vacation
without your business burning tothe ground, or you just simply
(00:22):
want to take back control ofyour time, I'm going to break
down exactly how you can resetyour routines, reclaim your
calendar and build systems thatsupport you this summer and
beyond.
In today's episode, welcome tothe Mind your Time podcast.
I'm Shannon Baker, yourcoffee-loving host and business
operations strategist.
(00:43):
Each week, I'll share practicalinsights and bold strategies
rooted in my power and motionframework to help you streamline
your operations, reclaim yourtime and build a business that
supports your life.
Whether you're just startingout or scaling to six figures
and beyond, these episodes willhelp you take control and create
success on your own terms.
So grab a cup of coffee or yourfavorite beverage and let's
(01:05):
dive into today's topic.
I can clearly remember thesummer that I thought I was
doing it all right, like it wasyesterday Client work was lined
up, our vacation plans were set,my out of office message was
ready to go, notifications hadgone to my clients, but guess
(01:29):
what?
It did not take long before myinbox exploded.
I had missed messages, misseddeadlines.
I had to put out fires Ithought were already handled and
guess what?
While on vacation, I spent waytoo much time behind my laptop
(01:58):
instead of having unplugged funwith my family and friends.
And that was my wake-up call.
I realized I didn't need morehustle.
I needed better systems.
Now why am I sharing this withyou today?
Well, it's because summer isbasically here.
That means more backyardbarbecues, graduation
celebrations, afternoon coffeedates with your girlfriends,
(02:21):
waterfront lunches and, ifyou're anything like me, you
want to take advantage ofshortened summer hours in the
office so you can take a daytrip to the beach and feel your
toes in the sand.
I know I'm not the only onethat wants that.
No, I know the kids may be outof school and at home with you,
(02:41):
but what about your business?
Is your business still doingits thing, or does it require
you to do everything?
And while summer is reallymeant to be a time for you to
recharge, if your back end ischaos and a total mess, you're
going to end up more stressedthan actually enjoying the
(03:05):
warmer weather, and we need tofix that.
So what if I told you that itis completely possible for you
to enjoy your summer andmaintain the momentum you have
built up in your business whileenjoying life?
Because I know you didn't startyour business to feel like
you're always working.
You started it for freedom,flexibility and to make a bigger
(03:30):
impact.
That is what building a legacyis all about, and today I want
to show you how to reclaim yourtime and set your business up to
run without you instead ofrunning you into the ground.
And whether you're in the earlystages of building your
business or you're feelingbottlenecked by quick growth or
(03:52):
you're just completely over it,I want you to really tune in to
what I have to say today, andwe're going to with the hardcore
truth, black coffee style.
Right now is the best time ofthe year to give your business a
hard reset.
(04:13):
Why?
Because the summer slowdown.
It is a real thing, my friend.
Your clients are checking out.
They're going on vacation.
That's why your inbox isquieter and you now need to take
advantage of that opportunityand zoom out and get intentional
about what you spend your timeon.
(04:36):
I talked about this recently inthe episode make your business
work for you so you can enjoysummer too.
I definitely want you to goback and listen to that one next
, if you haven't done so already.
It pairs perfectly with today'sconversation because it takes
you through how you can adjustyour workflow and priorities so
(04:56):
you can enjoy the season thatwe're in and stay on track with
your goals.
I'll put a link to that in theshow notes for you and stay on
track with your goals.
I'll put a link to that in theshow notes for you.
But first things first, let'stalk about being intentional
with your time.
It starts with planning yourweek with intention.
(05:18):
If you don't already have a daythat you plan your week, your
week now is a great time tostart this habit.
Personally, I live by timeblocking.
I've done it for years.
It's how I stay sane year round.
But what I love about it is Ican always adjust my time blocks
depending on the season of mylife and really, the season
(05:41):
outside.
That's why I love this methodand, again, I have been doing
this for over 10 years.
So in the summer, I shortenedmy business hours and I
increased my life blocks Becauselisten, work is always going to
be there.
There will always be somethingthat you have to do, but where I
(06:02):
live at in Maryland, near DC,the warm weather and the
beautiful sunshine that's notgoing to last.
So when this episode goes live,I have actually shifted and I'm
using my lifeblocks to focus ontaking my healthy lifestyle
habits to the next level.
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So I started working out with myold my former personal trainer
again once a week, and that's inaddition to other workouts that
are part of my regimen.
I do one to two additionalstrength training sessions on my
own.
I get in two and a half milesoutside three to four days a
week, and I love havingimpromptu coffee dates with my
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sister on my deck or at a coffeeshop, and I love co-working at
coffee shops too, which Istarted to do year round.
And all of this is in additionto the things that are in my
schedule that hardly ever change, especially when it comes to
caring for my family and myvolunteer work.
But here's how I make it work Iwrite out my top priorities for
(07:05):
the week personal and businessand I drop them into flexible
time blocks on my calendar.
So it's not rigid.
I can move it around when Ineed to, but it's a rhythm that
works for me and let me be real,I do everything I can to avoid
multitasking.
One thing at a time works somuch better.
(07:29):
That alone can changeeverything for you.
Now here's something I want youto think about.
If you can swing a four-daywork week, even just a lighter
day at the end of the week, itgives you breathing room and it
makes a huge difference.
So I really recommend you trythis.
(07:51):
Now, if you want some supportto make this even easier,
there's a resource inside of theMighty Society Systems Insanity
Suite that will help you gofrom setting the right big goals
to creating a clear action plan, and it will not overwhelm you.
It's the 90-day goal settingworksheets, and they're a total
(08:11):
game changer.
I even use them myself.
They help you map out yourgoals in 90-day increments in a
way that is doable andintentional, and you start by
setting clear goals based on theseason of your life, using the
smart goals workbook.
Then you use those 90 dayworksheets to break the steps
you need to take down into manyprojects and reasonable steps
(08:34):
that actually fit into your life, week by week.
And let me tell you I know it'stempting to fill your calendar
with the fun flashy stuff that'sjust a distraction, like
creating content, working onyour marketing, all the things
you love to do or just simplywatching reel after reel after
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reel on Instagram or TikTok.
But, girl, your back officeneeds attention, and if you
don't make space to tightenthings up behind the scenes
right now, you are going to staystuck in the same cycle, which
is going to lead to burnout.
So the Smart Goals Workbookhelps you set the direction you
want to go in, and then the90-Day Worksheets help you build
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the roadmap.
They are a powerhouse togetherbecause they make sure that your
next quarter, or your next 90days, is productive, peaceful
and aligned with what actuallymatters to you.
And then, once you have ahandle on your schedule and you
have an action plan to implement, I need you to stick to your
routines or start creating some.
(09:39):
If you don't have any.
Stick to your routines or startcreating some if you don't have
any.
Routines are your anchor toproductivity, especially when
your schedule starts to bendaround everyone else's needs.
That's why I highly recommendcreating a flexible morning
routine that works for you.
Now, for me, my morning routine.
(09:59):
It's sacred quiet time.
My family knows that and theyrespect that.
I make my coffee.
I go sit out on the deck whenthe weather is warm.
I open my Bible.
I read in the peace and quiet,no noise around me.
I get up early on purpose.
Most mornings it's just me, thebirds, and sometimes I get a
quiet visit from a family ofdeer.
But it's peaceful, it'sgrounding and it's how I get
(10:22):
centered before the day startsjockeying for my attention.
Now for you, it could lookdifferent.
It could be a morning walk,stretching, journaling,
meditating, prayer or just fivequiet minutes with your thoughts
.
Whatever it is that fills yourcup.
I want you to carve out thatslice of time just for you.
(10:45):
And that's not an indulgence,it's not being selfish, it's a
strategy, because it will helpyou feel more focused, be more
present and you'll definitely bea lot less reactive.
And evening routines they matterjust as much.
Now.
I created the habit of poweringdown my tech, or putting down
(11:09):
my tech 30 to 60 minutes beforegoing to bed most nights anyway,
and I've done this for years.
It helps me sleep better, showup better and be more present
with my family in the evening.
We even have a no tech atdinner rule, because little
things like that.
It helps us all.
Be present in the moment helpsus be clear on what the focus is
(11:31):
, and it makes space for realconnection, which we know in the
time we live in.
We're all connected to ourphones, but I must say I love
sitting down with my family andjust having conversation with
each other.
So after you get some routinesin place, then you know what we
need to focus on.
Next, your systems.
I'm just going to put it outthere.
(11:52):
If your business doesn't havebasic systems, you are wasting
time, money and energy, pointblank.
Systems are what keep yourbusiness running when you need
to be present somewhere else andwhen you need to rest and you
need to rest.
They would allow you to unplugfor vacation, go to the beach
(12:15):
without checking mails orchecking and responding to text
messages, and you can stop beingthe only one who knows how to
keep your business running.
And please, please, please,before you hire help, I need you
to document some basicprocesses and create at least
(12:35):
three of the six core systemsthat every business needs to
have in place.
Hiring a virtual assistant oranyone else for that matter
without systems is like handingsomeone the keys to your house
to care for your pet, but youdon't give them the address to
get there or instructions of howyour pet needs to be cared for.
Both of you end up frustrated.
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Neither of you get where youwant to go, and the poor pet is
the one that suffers the most.
So here's what your systemsshould do.
It should be an outline ofrepeatable tasks, and this could
be checklists or a fullstandard operating procedure.
They should be stored in acentral location digital
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location, by the way.
Then you can identify what canbe automated and anything that's
left.
You can assign who does what,and it doesn't have to be you.
But that's the starting point.
It has to be documented for youto determine that.
Now I've talked about all sixcore systems multiple times.
(13:44):
On the podcast.
You can actually go back andlisten to the last episode,
which is an oldie but goodie.
I'm going to put a link to thatin the show notes.
But, above all else, if youtake just one thing from this
episode, let it be this Buildinga strong business backend is
not optional.
(14:04):
It's the difference betweenachieving sustainable growth or
staying stuck and going nowhere.
Now let's pause for a momentand identify where you are in
your journey right now, becauseI'm all about meeting you where
you are in your journey rightnow because I'm all about
meeting you where you are, somaybe one of these will hit home
.
Are you just starting yourbusiness and you're trying to
(14:26):
build some structure withoutlosing your mind?
Are you in the thick of it witha successful service but feel
like you can't breathe becauseyou're the bottleneck?
Or are you ready to stoprunning on fumes and build or
rebuild your back end so yourbusiness finally supports you,
(14:47):
no matter where you are in yourjourney?
I created the Mighty SocietySystems Insanity Suite with you
in mind and let me tell you it'snot like your average
membership.
There are three levels, so youget the exact support, tools and
resources you need, based onwhere you are in your journey,
without pressure and withoutoverwhelm.
(15:09):
So the founder circle is themost popular level and this is
for any business owner who isjust getting started with
building their backend.
It's a calm, guided, self-pacedspace to help you build real
systems from the ground up, andthis is perfect for you if
you're just starting out, oreven if you're starting over and
want to build structure withguidance from me and without the
(15:33):
stress and frustration of doingthis all on your own.
You'll get a private monthlycall with me and it's just for
this group to get focusedguidance and gentle
accountability as you build yoursystems.
Now, if you need to refine yoursystems, then the core tier is
(15:53):
for you.
This tier is for those who havestarted building their system,
so you get everything that's inFounder Circle, but you also get
access to bite-sized how-totech videos, deeper templates
and a quarterly live masterclassor strategy call to help you
(16:14):
keep building with intention.
So this is best if your backendis already started and you need
to refine, streamline or scalewith more advanced support.
Now the next tier this ispremium.
It's the core tier on steroids.
Basically, if you wantpersonalized ongoing support on
(16:36):
demand, you again get everythingthat's in the other tiers, but
you also get private Voxeraccess to me for voice note.
Basically guidance, real timequestions and strategic support
between the quarterly calls.
This is best for you if youwant high touch guidance while
you're implementing your systems, navigating changes or making
(16:57):
decisions quickly without havingto wait for the next group call
.
Overall, the Mighty SocietySystem Insanity Suite is a hub
for everything that I've beentalking about on the podcast and
especially today Templates,checklists, workflows, strategy
and more all in one place and ifyou're thinking, okay, well,
(17:21):
shannon, I need this, but Ireally have no idea where I
should start.
Well, my friend, I have awonderful offer that will help
you with this.
The Power in Motion JumpstartSession is the perfect first
step.
Jumpstart session is theperfect first step.
(17:41):
This focused 60 minute strategycall is designed to help you
stop spinning your wheels andactually make progress on the
back end of your business thissummer, while your schedule is
lighter, but your vision isstill shining big and bright.
On that call, we're going toidentify where you are inside of
my power and motion framework.
On that call, we're going toidentify where you are inside of
my power and motion framework,uncover what's keeping you stuck
(18:03):
and build a 30 day action plan.
Yes, just that 30 day focusright on the call.
So when we're done, you willknow exactly what to focus on
first.
And here's what makes this sopowerful.
If you've been eyeing thefounder circle or one of the
other levels of the membership,I know one of the biggest
reasons women hesitate to joinmemberships is because they
(18:25):
worry that they won't use it orthey won't know how to get the
most out of it.
Or if you've had an experience,like me, where you joined a
membership and there's so muchstuff in it when you log in that
you're overwhelmed and you haveno idea where to start.
Well, my friend, you can startwith this session.
It will set you up for successright from the beginning, so you
(18:50):
can log into the membershipalready knowing what you need to
work on, what resources youneed to use, where to plug in to
get the results that you want,and without overwhelm.
So if you've been cravingclarity and want to finally
reset your business back in thesummer, this is where you start.
(19:11):
Now, as you think about whatyour next step is going to be, I
have a quick win challenge foryou.
I want you to take about 15minutes this week and choose one
area of your business thatfeels messy or chaotic.
Is it your inbox?
Is it your calendar?
Is it your client onboarding?
Whatever it is?
Ask yourself these threequestions.
What part of this could beturned into a checklist?
(19:31):
What could be templated orautomated?
What could be templated orautomated and who else could
eventually own this?
If I'm not doing it, then Iwant you to DM me on Instagram
(19:52):
at the underscore Shannon Baker,and tell me where are you
starting.
I check my messages all thetime and I'm always cheering you
on, but this, right here, Iwant to hear from you, because
this is where systems start.
It starts with clarity, nothingcomplex.
So let's recap what we've talkedabout today.
We covered three simple butpowerful ways that you can get
(20:13):
your business ready this summerfor success.
Start by planning your weekintentionally, using time
blocking.
That reflects your life andyour business, and remember,
think about that four-day workweek.
It is possible when you planfor it.
Then we talked about stickingto or starting new routines,
(20:37):
because routines protect yourpeace and they fuel your
productivity.
So, whether it's a morningroutine, a no tech dinner rule,
a nighttime routine or all threeand more in between, every
little bit helps.
Then you need to build yoursystems, starting now, because
(21:00):
eventually you need to delegate,but delegating without
documentation creates chaos andwithout systems, your business
will always depend on you tooperate, and we need to fix that
.
And here's the truth.
Where you are today is exactlywhere the Mighty Society Systems
Insanity Suite is designed tomeet you.
So, whether you're in the DIYstage you need my support to
(21:25):
implement or you're ready fordeeper guidance, the Systems
Insanity Suite has a space foryou and I would love to see you
inside.
And if you're ready for clarityand want to skip the guesswork,
please go ahead and book yourPower in Motion Jumpstart
Session.
Let's map those steps outtogether.
(21:45):
That way you can hit the groundrunning when you join the
Mighty Society Systems andSanity Suite and you're going to
end up with a plan, a pathforward and, most importantly,
your peace of mind.
But don't forget the quick winchallenge this week and be sure
to tag me or DM me when you'vecompleted it.
(22:05):
I can't wait to hear from you.
Thanks for hanging out with methis week.
If you've made it this far,it's clear you're ready to shake
things up and take control ofyour business, and I'm here for
it.
But remember, just listening tothis episode won't get you
better results.
I challenge you to break themold and take action today.
(22:25):
Your next move let's connectHead to the show notes and book
a call with me to learn how theMighty Society membership can
help you streamline your backoffice and reclaim your time.
If you're not ready for thatstep yet, no worries.
Connect with me on Instagram atthe underscore Shannon Baker
and tell me what resonated mostfrom today's episode.
(22:46):
And if you're loving thepodcast.
Leaving a review is a quick wayto show your support and help
more entrepreneurs like youbreak free from the chaos.
Entrepreneurs like you breakfree from the chaos.
Listening is great, but actioncreates transformation.
Go, make it happen and untilnext time, keep calm and
(23:07):
streamline.