Minutes matter: Beth Wright
This week in Minutes Matter I’m thrilled to share the interview with friend and fellow coach, Beth Wright. In her interview, Beth mentions connecting with your vision - which is something that I share often with clients too. Beth is running a free workshop on Future Vision tomorrow (Tues 26th March) at midday. You can sign up here.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and your family.
I am a wife and a mum to two amazing boys - Finlay and Angus and our beloved dog Archie.
Can you briefly introduce your business? What inspired you to start your own business?
I am a Transformational Coach and Leadership Consultant. I come from a family of small business owners. My Grandfather and Grandmother started a family-run dairy many years ago which my mum then took over when I was young. My dad also had his own haulage business so it's in my blood!
When my grandfather passed away I was blown away by the number of people who spoke to me about the kindness and generosity of both him and my Gran as to how much they helped people and the local community. My mum carried on this legacy within her own businesses too.
How do you typically structure your workday?
I tried the approach of work/life integration and it was a disaster but all part of the learning process. I loved the idea of working with kids around and the boys seeing their mum work however the reality was not that and it was chaos. I need to focus on either work or family and make a clear distinction between them!
How do you typically structure your working week?
My working week is very compressed at the moment as my youngest son is still very small. Typically I have a number of coaching clients and consulting work to do which takes priority. As a small business owner you wear all the hats - admin, marketing, finance, brand etc. It is a lot and I am still figuring it out.
How do you prioritise tasks and decide what to focus on each day?
Sarah helped me time block my calendar so I now block 'Focus Time' and plan ahead how I will best spend the time. Sometimes that looks like content creation, marketing ideas or client work.
Are there any specific tools, apps or time management techniques that you use to manage your time efficiently?
Sarah has helped me immensely to get more organised and manage my time better. She introduced me to Asana (an online project management tool) and actually set it all up for me which has been an absolute gamechanger!
How do you balance the various roles that we often take on as small business owners, e.g. marketing, admin, delivery of product/service?
It is really difficult to wear all the hats as a small business owner and a mum to two littles. I think one of the best things to do is to outsource areas of work when you are able to, even if that is something in family life such as getting a cleaner for your house if you're not quite ready to outsource in your business.
What challenges do you face juggling entrepreneurship with parenthood, and can you share any strategies that you use to help with this?
I think acceptance is really important with this. Accepting that sometimes it can be really hard and you feel like giving up. In these moments connect back to your vision - what is your vision? Why did you start this business? What is the ripple effect of your mission? Looking at the bigger picture can help you reconnect with your purpose and redirect your energy in a positive way.
Distractions can be a challenge when working independently; how do you minimise distractions to stay focused?
I have specific times that I am working and time with family and I really try to separate the two so I can really focus either on work or the boys. I also do simple things like put my phone away while I am doing focused work.Years ago I read Brendon Burchard's book and he suggested focusing for 45/50 mins then having a 10 minute break to stretch, have a coffee or whatever you like to give your brain a break as most of us really can't focus for longer than that.
How do you handle unexpected challenges or change, that invariably happens when running a business as a parent?
I lead with my core values. My boys are my priority and will always come first. It is easy to say however the reality is that it is hard. For example having to reschedule a full day of work or calls as one of them is ill. It's difficult and guilt can creep in. I remember seeing a mum on Instagram say she decided to give up feeling guilty and was no longer available for that emotion - I love that! It is something I am really working on but haven't quite nailed yet!
What have been your biggest insights when it comes to managing your time as a small business owner?
Boundaries around time are really important. Time can just slip away if you don't manage your calendar which leads to panic and frantic energy - I've been there. If you work for a day rate or hourly rate, for example, make sure you think of everything when pricing a job as often things can take longer than you think.
What do you like to do in your free-time?
Spend time with my boys and walk my dog Archie. I also love running and going to the gym. I'm a massive reader so I always have a good book on the go. One of my sons favourite things to do is go to the library. Our dream is to own a campervan and travel somewhere new every weekend.
Is there another local business that you'd like to give a mention to and why?
Strong Like a Mutha (SLAM) is a gym in the Southside of Glasgow and it is just amazing. I joined their post natal class a few years ago and did it again after having my youngest. It is such a gorgeous and supportive space which is so welcoming to everyone. Lyndsey the founder is a baddass businesswoman and Ana is an absolutely amazing coach!