This week I had a last-minute client request to make mailing addresses and return labels on envelopes for their upcoming annual event. I adore this client, and they were really stressed about being behind, so I said sure, why not!

I got all of the labels printed and ready to be put on the envelopes and I paused - why, am I as the owner, going to stick 350+ mailing and return labels on envelopes when I employ my 15-year-old son!? This activity is just a task to me, but for him it is a sense of pride and an opportunity to earn his own money.

You know what else it taught him?

A business owner should use project charters when creating new projects to:

Preparing to launch the book was where I started to struggle. I had NO IDEA how much preparation goes into advertising and marketing a book - and I wasn’t even the one coming up with the strategy!

The authors worked with a fantastic editing company that gave us directions on what to do. It was that simple - follow the instructions and do what you are told.

Apparently, I’m not that good at it! LOL!

True to my nature, as soon as I was accepted I started blocking off time on my calendar for the required virtual sessions and anticipated times to work. What I didn’t schedule, and was a hard lesson to learn, was that I should have prioritized scheduling down time too!

I was discussing this with my advisor one day, frustrated that people want us to charge $15 an hour rather than what we’re worth - we provide so much more than just administrative support! My advisor pushed back and challenged me with one question - Do they truly know what the value is?

Using a consistent naming convention will allow you to easily identify what the document is related to, what type of document it is, and when it was created.