December 3, 2024

I’ve been musing to myself, thinking how funny it is that I can talk a lot about business strategy or growth. While these are important conversations to have, they are not my favorite. I know many of you feel the same way—business tasks can feel far removed from the heart of your work. Yet, it’s an essential part of keeping the creative and healing work we do alive and thriving.

Why Business Feels "Blah" Sometimes

It’s completely understandable that the business side of entrepreneurship can cause friction sometimes, or not be particularly fulfilling. When creatives or healers set out to do their meaningful work, the business “stuff” comes alongside it.

Tracking finances, setting up software tools, researching platforms, and creating marketing content—it’s a lot to handle, especially when you’re managing everything solo. Tasks that typically require a full team are now all on your plate. And yet, you continue to weave your creativity and healing into the lives of others while juggling all of these things.

I feel this too – business budgeting doesn’t carry the same spark as designing a beautiful brand palette or writing a poem that touches someone’s heart. As a matter of fact, a lot of the “business-y” things are in a way unnatural. And it’s okay for it to feel that way. Many business tasks lack the spark of creativity or connection that fuels us as healers and creators.

What if you could reframe the business responsibilities as tools to support your creative vision, rather than obstacles to it?

Reframing Business as Support for Your Vision

Shifting the way you think about business tasks can turn them from a chore into a supportive partnership. By approaching these tasks with intention, you can make them work for you, not against you.

Consider this: what if those seemingly mundane tasks could help you create a sustainable rhythm in your creative or healing work? A rhythm that allows you to be more present for the moments and connections that matter to you.

This idea of sustainability is layered and rich, much like the word sustain itself. To sustain can mean to give support or relief, to nourish, to prolong something’s existence, or to buoy up and bear under pressure. At the same time, it can also mean to suffer or undergo—a real contrast that reveals the dual nature of the word.

With intention and mindfulness, we can lean into the nourishing side of sustainability. Creatively building systems and practices that allow your energy and impact to feel (and be) expansive.

Business as a Pathway to Possibility

Thoughtful business practices can serve as tools to nurture your vision. While some tasks may feel tedious, they have the potential to significantly improve your quality of life and support your work in the long-term.

For example:

• Automations: These systems—like scheduling emails, invoicing, or sending reminders—help you handle repetitive tasks without needing to be present for every single step. Taking care of this technical work can free up your precious mental and physical energy.

• Tracking subscriptions: Reducing costs or reallocating funds gives you the freedom to invest in causes or areas that align with your values.

• Creating a Business Calendar: Setting up a calendar to map out your offerings and projects might feel like a dry planning exercise, but it creates spaciousness within your day or week. There’s less of a risk of you overcommitting and more likely to have the energy for both your work and your personal life.

• Regularly Reviewing Your Client Process: Taking time to reflect on your client experience might not feel exciting, but small adjustments can lead to smoother workflows and happier clients. Such as, clearer onboarding instructions or an easy-to-access FAQ resource. Taking the time to do these things can give you and your clients peace of mind, a positive start to your relationship and to deepen your trust with each other.

• Developing New Offerings: Turning an idea into a tangible offering can feel like a big undertaking, but it’s also a way to breathe fresh energy into your business. Like creating a digital product, that customers could purchase at any point – even while you’re sleeping!

Of course, there is more we can add to this conversation, but I hope it illustrates how the business side can play a significant role in adding value to your life. These little things you do each day, week or month can be beneficial. Over time, these intentional choices build a foundation that not only sustains (nourishes!) your work but amplifies its reach and impact.

~Angela

How do you reframe the “boring” business tasks to align with your bigger vision for your work? Share your ideas in the comments, or if something else resonated with you.

Hello and welcome. I’m Angela.

I support sensitive women solopreneurs as a thought partner, drawing on 10 years of experience as a public educator. I believe a sustainable business thrives when aligned with your natural rhythms and energy, allowing for a fulfilling life and time to create. My writings blend practical strategies with empathetic support. If you seek a business that honors your sensitivity, values, and quality of life, you’re in the right place. I am glad you are here.