Accountability thread!

[Youcandothisbusinessthing]

Morning!
I have started a very small ‘business’ but it’s probably more of an expensive hobby atm.
I want to improve it and grow, and am working on my mindset -my confidence and other stuff, is improving, which I’m delighted to say.
Im working entirely alone, which I find challenging, as I need to talk myself into it and keep the courage and momentum, so I thought I’d start an accountability post - inspired by some of the housework etc threads on mumsnet.

Any motivation/keep going tips welcome, and if anyone wishes to join in, feel free. We can motivate each other. I am going to use IWDOTT as a rallying cry for myself - I Will Do One Thing Today.

right!
Today I am going to..create 1 item, and then get my space ordered. ( otherwise I’ll procrastinate with ordering my space and housework etc). It is OK if it’s a bit rough I can sort that later. IWDOTT.

Ok, I am interested.

UK small business Reddit is also quite active.

Thank you! Well that’s an intriguing post, thank you for the Reddit hint, I’ll check that out.
Posting to say I did the one small thing. It was very small, but I prioritized over all the other housework stuff, so ..good!
IWDOTT.

Day 2 of being accountable.
I have the talent, for sure. I have a time table I can follow. I will get 1 thing done and enjoy doing it, enjoy feeling proud, productive and pleased.

Doing adverts today. Work BEFORE chores, and quick meals. Well done me! Not so well done in that I fell into a meta rabbit hole. I loathe how complicated Facebook etc has become. Can I link insta to my web? Of course not.
But pleased I got something done.
IWDOTT.
💐well done me!

Day 3 of being accountable. The adverts/social media took longer than I thought, but I did them. Go me!
Today I will plan for this afternoon’s work meeting now, before I leave it too late/ drag it out to fit the time. Then I can work on some social media and, create 1 very very simple product, it might not even be perfect! just to get momentum and my confidence going.

Hey! Hope everything's going well, I'm also trying to launch my business so I feel your pain! My business is a marketing platform for small businesses, it basically generates and posts your socials and seo blogs (to help you get found on google etc), would you like a free account? I've also managed to cut through my flexor tendon in my thumb, and am recovering from surgery, so my head and typing are so slow!

I've also completely lost my routine and its half term so I'm struggling to get started - I found this thread at the best time! So, accountability wise, I'm going to map out a new countdown to sale option as an alternative to the general posting. I'm getting out all my felt tips and big paper, must do at least this today.

I need to write a letter to another organisation and have made some headway with drafting that.

There is a big idea in entrepreneurship content online about ‘Working on your business versus working in your business.’ I think it might come from ‘The E-myth revisited’. I am certainly guilty of getting caught up in the day-to-day and not taking things forward.

Hello both! Nice to hear from you.
inkieink how did the count down to sale plan go? With a surgical thumb, ouch! But colored felt tips, yay! Free accounts always welcome 😂but it sounds like you have enough on!
welcome badskiingmum well done with drafting the letter, baby steps! Thanks for the book hint - I meant to read it but assumed it’s old. Obviously I’m wrong, is it worth a read?
im afraid I’m falling off my own accountability thread today! Am knackered! But I did do a couple of Facebook posts so that’s something. Getting up early tomorrow to Do Some Stuff. Good luck both👍

@Youcandothisbusinessthing if you want to email me [email protected] I’ll send over the details. I’m also offering free 45 minute marketing one2ones for the next few weeks, I’ll include the booking link. You Can Do This Business Thing! 🥰

Gosh that’s kind of you, thank you!
I’ve been having Facebook Confusion and it’s such a time waster!
today I.. invoiced a client promptly, yay! Didn’t sort out Facebook really, put off doing the main thing for the business. Grrr! I have an exciting idea and I keep thinking ‘I’ll do x and y first’ . Tomorrow I will start it - I’ll aim to do something as rough and rubbish as possible! 😁
good luck with your stuff inkie and badskiingmum

4th so I think that’s day 7.
i posted on Facebook, yay! and today was at work, I need to do a bit this evening but I suspect after cleaning and watering the veg it might be a tiny baby step.

In my freelance work I usually aim to draw up and send the invoice as soon as the work is completed, otherwise the details just fade from my brain. But I generally put a couple of days’ delay on the invoice email, to avoid unseemly haste! 😁

Oops day 10! Already!
that’s a good idea re invoice! badskiingmum nothing like unseemly haste - you are obviously not my plumber!
the good thing about posting almost daily is that I am realising I spend far too much time trying to get on top of everything and then am too tired to do my stuff. I’d better up the kale smoothies. Or start them anyway! And do my stuff first.
I have been planning things, but tomorrow I really want to make a start.oh! I see I first wrote that on the 2nd- it’s now the 7th. So that’s where my life is going - dripping away on washing and cleaning. THAT needs tweaking.
go me! 👏🌺 flowers to cheer me on. And anyone else that’s reading. Go you too!

Day 11
I did a bit of networking and a bit of sorting. I’m now planning the week ahead. I notice my time today got stolen by various family members. I STILL need to start my new project. Enough procrastination, I have blocked out tomorrow afternoon.
Come on, momentum up!

Day 12
well, planning well and truly done. Realised I’m scared - what if I’d do it and it’s terrible?

Wow, 13 days since I’ve posted, that went quick!
no need to read - this is a sort of journal so probably of limited appeal! Somehow, typing on a public and supportive forum is helpful. Who knows it might help someone else- I suspect we all go through similar struggles.
I’m still not making masses of progress, but in another way I am. Thanks to the really useful help of a coach, I am getting confidence - in my ability to create, and in creating for me not other people - the thought of being judged and and criticized was totally blocking me. It’s so silly, the barriers we put in our minds. I’m learning that because my mum told me I was arty and not a business person when I was 11ish, I’ve held onto that belief for years. And of course my mum had no experience of business, she was trying to encourage me to do what I was really good at, instead I began to doubt my ability at anything. Mad!
Another weekend doing family stuff. But! I now pass my desk,and I do a quick something and it’s now exciting, not avoiding! I really do need to actually focus though and not get sucked into house work/work work ( dragging it out because I’m scared) etc.
so! The last few days, I’ve fiddled, a tiny bit, but it still counts. On Monday with ann early start, I’ll ease into it and fiddle with a bit of purpose.
IWDOTT. Actually I’ve just read it’s supposed to be 3 things and you can’t go to bed until you’ve done them. Makes for slow and steady progress. I Will Do Three Things Tomorrow.!
🌸 go me, and good luck anyone out there having doubts x

Got 2 hours in, well done me!
writing my 3 goals for tomorrow.

3 goals done! I’m in shock

You seem to be doing really well. I am stuck. I’ve created lots of product, set up my Etsy shop (I have two others but this is a different product). But I can’t seem to get my stuff listed. I’ve taken photos, written some descriptions, all I really need to do is go live. But another day (week, month) goes by and I am no closer. I’m not sure if I haven’t fallen into the ‘I can’t fail if I don’t try’ but I have nothing to lose!
Part of my problem is I now have an empty nest so no routine. The only thing I HAVE to do daily is walk the dog. The days slip by all too easily with little progress.

Well you’ve got further than me mindaytisunday!
FWIW, I'm struggling with this too, on the 25th I thought I was getting somewhere, I’ve done nothing since then - 2 days have passed in a whirl doing life stuff. and yes, it is very hard to post stuff. The irony is we can always change it, its not like when we were younger and the idea was you didn’t launch anything until it was perfect.
It’s been suggested that we divide the days up,so Monday is listing day, Tuesday is errand day etc. maybe that’s a help? Don’t really feel qualified to offer advice, but certainly can offer empathy!
nearly empty nester here too. It’s a lot to adjust to.

Oh no! It’s the 11th and I’ve not done a thing for an age. What is my excuse? I think it’s just life stuff getting in the way, but that’s no good. I will always have endless chores, the house will never be clean, I need to take half an hour here and there when I have a cuppa rather than chat nicely to certain people that suck up my time and energy.

Well! I can recommend a good coach. She has helped me see this micro business actually as a business. It suddenly seems doable. And although I am WAY behind schedule, shes helped me realize there’s no point putting it off again, nothing will change but if I do it, well. Who knows, and that is much more exciting than clinging to the old comfort zone. Which I knew, but didn’t know know, if you know what I mean.
Got 4 hours done today😀 and the achievement from doing something I find hard is enormous! Hanging on to that feeling!

I’ve been doing odd hours when I can, and I’m very pleased to announce that my mental block, fear of failure and general lack of confidence is going. It is brilliant. Fear was overwhelming- various life/health issues had left me beyond anxious and totally unable to function, so this is mega. I’m actually finding the whole thing exciting now. Thank goodness!
first product if a new range nearly finished. I’m late, but I’m doing it. Go me!

I’ve been Fiddling and overthinking first product, and not actually improving anything!
Today I need to park that and get on with all the accompanying bits. I also need to think about social media, something that doesn’t come naturally, but I’m going to regard it as fun!

Good thread.

My challenge is to write the content for my website. My web designer is willing to do it for free but only if I present her with all the content at once so that she can use this as a way of showcasing her new business.

I want to do it during August but I’m pleased to say that my eight months of networking and marketing myself are starting to Work so I am actually quite busy at work

But today my challenge is not to work for the rest of the day because it is Saturday!

I hope you keep the thread up even if people don’t reply every day. that’s what running a business is all about – persistence