ENCORE: Designing a Life-First Business In An Uncertain World

You know, when the pandemic hit, I was doing clinical assessments, and I was down to just one day per week.

I had slowly been shifting selling the couch over a number of years.

The rest of the time at that point was focused on selling the couch.

four-day rhythm that allowed me to really be thoughtful and build something that I could be proud of.

Then the clinic that I was working at asked me to come back in person just weeks into the lockdown.

Technically, it was considered essential work, but something in me froze and Our daughter had been born two months premature, and she needed NICU care about two and a half weeks, and part of that was she needed a nasal cannula to help her breathe.

And she was stable at the time, but very fragile.

I wasn't really scared for myself.

I was scared of becoming a link in the chain, bringing something home to her or her grandparents who would help care for her.

And I felt this deep sense of paralysis.

And I came to this realization that I never want to build a business that puts me in this kind of a bind ever again.

You know, for me, that moment changed how I design everything going forward.

And so what I wanted to really talk about is three anchors of building a life first business in an uncertain world.

First point is, and I'll just go ahead and share all three points just so that you have some reference.

But the first point is design for margin growth.

not maximum.

The second point is build products that don't require your constant presence.

And three, plan around what you can't plan for.

So just going back to number one, which is designed for margin, not maximum, most of us are trained to maximize every available block of time.

But clarity, what I'm learning, doesn't come from hustle.

It actually comes from creating margin.

So again, this has been a nearly 10-year process, but I now work Mondays through Thursdays, 9 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. Creative time is from 3.30 to 5 p.m. Daily hikes are from 12.30 to 1.45 p.m.

I grab a power nap and a school pickup until 3.15.

So usually my power naps are 2 to 2.25. and then pickups and drop-offs.

Fridays and evenings remain protected for family time, for relationships, and for self-care.