What Does Laundry Have to Do with Business Development? (Minis with Megan)

What does a pile of laundry or the dishes in the sink have to do with business development? More than you might think. In this mini episode of *So Much To Say: A Legal Podcast For People* with Megan Senese, co-founder and principal of stage, we’re talking about the responsibilities outside of work that make it harder for lawyers to show up for the things they want to do professionally. Drawing from real conversations with lawyers, including participants in stage's corduroy parental leave program, Megan explores why building a successful practice sometimes starts with asking for help, letting go of responsibilities, and creating a little breathing room in your life. She gives real life examples of ways that she and her lawyers have created strategies and the reframe to delegate wherever possible. The best business development strategy isn't always doing more. It's finding ways to carry less to focus on what is important. **Who this episode is for:** - Lawyers struggling to balance billable work, business development, and responsibilities at home - Working parents navigating their careers after parental leave - Professionals who feel like there's never enough time for networking or relationship-building - Anyone who needs permission to rethink how they're spending their time and energy **Episode takeaways:** - Your personal responsibilities directly affect your capacity for business development. - Creating time for professional growth sometimes means removing responsibilities rather than adding activities. - Delegating, outsourcing, or sharing household tasks can be a meaningful investment in your career and well-being. - Not every professional commitment needs to remain on your calendar forever. - Rest and personal time are just as worthy of the space you create as another networking opportunity. **How to create more room for business development (and life):** ***Look beyond your work calendar:*** Identify the responsibilities at home that are taking up your time, energy, and mental bandwidth. ***Find one thing you can take off your plate:*** Start with a recurring task you could delegate, simplify, share, or stop doing altogether. ***Reevaluate your commitments:*** Just because you've always served on a committee or held a leadership position doesn't mean you have to continue. ***Ask for help where you can:*** Whether it's meal preparation, cleaning, childcare, or dividing household responsibilities differently, small changes can make a meaningful difference. ***Be intentional with the time you reclaim:*** Use it to reconnect with a client, invest in your practice, spend time with your family, or simply rest. **This episode is brought to you by:** corduroy At stage, we know business development doesn't happen in isolation from the rest of your life. Our coaching approach considers the whole person, helping lawyers build sustainable practices that account for their professional goals, personal responsibilities, and actual capacity. Through our corduroy parental leave program, we offer four complimentary business development coaching sessions to lawyers returning from parental leave, helping them navigate what's next in their careers and lives. Reach out to us today at [info@stage.guide](mailto:info@stage.guide). **Related Minis:** - Business Development Can’t Happen If You’re Miserable - How You Feel About Business Development Matters - Overwhelmed? Here’s Small Things You Can Do **Stay Connected:** You don't always need another networking event, another coffee meeting, or another thing on your to-do list. Sometimes you just need someone else to do the laundry. - Learn more about stage - Connect with Megan Senese - Connect with Jennifer Ramsey Love So Much To Say? Let us know! Drop a review, give us 5 stars in your favorite podcast app, and tell us what made you laugh, think, or just go “yep, that’s me.” Every review helps us reach more awesome humans who want to make legal…well, human.