It’s been about a month since I quit my full-time job and decided to launch my own agency that supports mission-driven people, brands, and organizations on social media, public relations, and advocacy campaigns. I am happy to report that I love my new role and building my own business. Is it easy? No. Is it fun one hundred percent of the time? No. But am I doing what I am meant to be doing right now? YES!
There is so much to do when you are first starting out on your own. From setting up systems and building a website to networking to land clients (check out my updated LinkedIn page), I feel like I am busier now than I have ever been (even when I was working a full-time job and caregiving). But I love that I can create my own schedule, have meetings when I want, and that my work revolves around my life (and not the other way around).
What’s changed with my new schedule? Life feels refreshing without the dreaded “Sunday Scaries” at the end of the weekend and I look forward to having a “Calibration Monday” where I can set myself up for success during the week. Working for myself has made me prioritize my days more and manage my working time better, which has made me much more productive overall.
Here’s how I structure my day as a creative entrepreneur:
8:00 am: Wake up! This might seem late for some people, but I am not a morning person.
9:00 – 10:00 am: Grab my coffee order from my favorite local coffee place and run errands, like picking up the laundry, dropping off papers at the elder care attorney’s office, etc.
10:00 am – 12:30 pm: Answer emails, write content for a client, and post on various social media channels.
1:00 pm: Take a sanity stroll in the neighborhood or do an at-home workout.
2:00 – 4:30 pm: Catch up on emails, network on LinkedIn or with other groups on social media, plan content and posting schedule for a client, work on my website, have calls with contacts or potential clients, etc.
4:30 – 6: 30 pm: Visit my grandmother and feed her dinner.
6:30 pm: Take a shower and eat dinner. Prepare for another couple of hours of work.
7:30 – 10:00 pm: Finish up any remaining client work, write a blog post, check the editorial schedule for The Hospital Bar, monitor my social media channels, and aim to close my laptop by 10 pm.
The one thing I have learned in the past month is that there is always something to do when you run your own business—especially when you are just starting. While this schedule may look pretty straightforward, it is in no way an exhaustive list of everything I do in a day. I am feeling the most tired I have ever felt, but I am also invigorated by the fact that every day is a new day to take more steps down the path of entrepreneurship…and that excites me!
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