How to Buy Happiness
and Live like A CEO
You didn't start your design business to burn out or just scrape by.
You had a better vision, but somewhere along the path you fell into a time trap.
Maybe you started with solid goals and loads of enthusiasm, but now you're spinning in circles, trying to recalibrate your life.
Or, your business is thriving, growing month over month, year over year, but you're running the show solo or without adequate help.
When you registered your business and designed your logo, you dreamed of creating stunning spaces, working at your own pace, and enjoying the fruits of your labor. Instead you’re working round the clock to satisfy your clients, brainstorm new ideas to attract more leads or keep your team on track. Either way your day-to-day looks nothing like what you envisioned as a design entrepreneur.
There’s a disparity because something is clogging the critical path by being the sole source of information, approvals, and task completion (you) or your systems and team need a reboot. If you want your business to stand the test of time, you must start thinking and acting like a CEO.
Before I guide you through CEO 101, here's a dose of reality:
In 2022, 82% of small business owners in the United States were solopreneurs, compared to 76% in 2018. That's approximately 27 million companies run by a single person.
This group generates about 4% of the total small business income. The remaining 96% of income comes from the 18% of business owners with employees. Staggering, isn't it?!
Reality Check #1: Know the odds to beat them
Solopreneurs generate about 4% of the total small business income in the U.S.
In essence, these solopreneurs are sprouting quickly but seeing minimal results. Their businesses' survival hinges solely on them. Their ability to generate revenue plummets when life throws a curveball, which it inevitably does. Furthermore, trying to go solo in business won't get you far. You need partnerships and support to yield significant results.
We all know that the survival rate of small businesses is low. Given that most small businesses are operated by solopreneurs, it's no surprise that 20% fail within the first two years, 45% within the first five years, and 65% within the first decade.
Repeat after me, "This is not my story!"
Whether you have a team or not, If you're burning the midnight oil and working relentlessly with little to no support to make your dream a reality, then it's time for a mindset shift. And we start by incorporating CEO behavior into your daily routine.
Drawing from Rachel Rodgers's book, "We Should All Be Millionaires," and a few suggestions of my own, here are 25 ways to live like a CEO right now:
25 Ways to Live Like A CEO
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1
Spend your first waking moments in prayer, reflection, or expressing gratitude.
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2
Declutter your home and designated workspace.
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3
Dress for work every day, even if it's casual.
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4
Invest in a fragrance that makes you feel luxurious.
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5
Create a spa-like ambiance in your home and office with a luxury candle or an aromatherapy diffuser.
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6
Commit to a wellness plan that includes daily walks, workouts, fresh air, and nature.
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7
Stay hydrated and moisturized.
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10
Have a mid-week spa treatment or cocktail after a meeting.
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11
Once a week, work from your favorite restaurant and treat yourself to your favorite appetizer.
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12
Get your car professionally cleaned regularly.
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13
Dedicate one day per week for networking lunches with potential industry partners.
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14
CEOs continuously strive to sharpen their thinking, so listen to inspiring audiobooks and podcasts.
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15
Commit to taking at least one educational course annually to improve your mindset and management skills.
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16
Spend 5 minutes daily eliminating self-limiting beliefs and creating room for possibilities and innovation.
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17
Slow down when you eat, savor your food, and don't rush to the next task.
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18
Take short breaks between tasks to avoid mental clutter.
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19
Remove energy-draining commitments from your calendar.
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20
Surround your home and workspace with symbols of abundance.
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21
Minimize exposure to voices that sow doubt in your progress.
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22
Speak to yourself with love, admiration, and respect.
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23
Confront your insecurities and abolish people-pleasing behaviors.
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24
Listen to empowering music and repeat a mantra that boosts your confidence.
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25
Make room in your home and life for your goals, practice setting boundaries, and stick to them.
Use this list to get into the CEO mindset. It will help restore balance and control in your life, preparing you for your best CEO phase.
And we start that phase by... buying back our time! So, let's dive into how this could be your ticket to happiness.
Can money buy happiness? Absolutely! But first, let's understand what happiness means in 2023.
A Harvard study investigated if money could buy happiness and found that people who used their money to buy back time were happier, regardless of where they lived.
The skeptic inside you might argue, "Well, of course, they were happy. Who wouldn't be if they had extra money to hire someone for time-consuming tasks?"
However, the study also demonstrated that happiness resulting from buying time was not dependent on having extra discretionary income. In fact, less affluent individuals showed a stronger association between buying time and life satisfaction.
So, if hiring help makes you happier, why are you still doing everything yourself or settling for less than what you need? Understand that time scarcity harms you and your business, leading to stress, anxiety, and insomnia. The solution? Buy back your time by hiring the right help.
Still struggling with the idea of spending money on help? Recognize that hiring assistance isn't an indulgence or an unattainable goal; it's a path to revenue, not just another expense.
Buying back your time, combined with your CEO mindset, will attract more clients, partnerships, and supporters. Imagine starting with just one part-time person, freeing up 80+ hours per month for more clients, marketing, creative projects, rest, and fun. Sounds great, right?
Reality Check #2: Defining Happiness
Reality Check #3: Transformation Takes Time and Assistance
In the words of Gary Keller, the CEO of Keller Williams Realty International, "You can do two things at once, but you can't focus effectively on two things at once."
Hence, you need to delegate and seek help. Stop spinning in circles and start focusing on becoming the CEO of your design business. You owe it to yourself, your dreams, and your clients.
Transforming your business and mindset isn't easy; building lasting success takes time and effort. But you don't have to go it alone. Prepare for brighter days with The Happy Designer series, a guide to scalable business foundations.
In this series, I tackle the why, how, and who of growing your business and hiring assistance to ensure you enjoy being a successful design entrepreneur without sacrificing your health, joy, and sanity.
It's time to reclaim your dreams and live the life you envisioned when you started your design business? With a bit of help and a shift in mindset, you can break free from the solopreneur trap and truly soar right now.
Your CEO journey starts today!
Take Action!
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Book A Call
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Start Strategizing
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FAQs
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Tasks that drain you or take too long, which diminishes your ability to earn money. It's okay to assign something to your assistant just because not doing it makes you happy.
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Our team is trained in interior design, construction, staging processes, and communication to help eliminate the learning curve for you.
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With a professional consultant and a well-trained team in design operations, marketing, and more, you'll delegate the day-to-day tasks and new systems implementation saving you several hours a week.
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Challenge that limiting belief and explore options. Remember Hiring assistance makes you money.
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Think differently; hiring help leads to growth and is not just another expense.
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You will lead your company
Manage and expand your team
Dream of new ways to make money and make an impact
Eventually, you will hire someone else to manage and lead while you retire or build another business. It's up to you!