EPISODE 26 OF THE MARKETING SOLUTIONS PODCAST: HOW DO YOU DO IT ALL?

Sonya McIntyre-Reid:

About three months ago now, I put a call out on my social media on what you guys wanted to learn about. And I was surprised at some of the responses that weren't actually marketing-specific, but more around business productivity and routines. A recurring thing was "How do you do it all?" I laughed at this, and thought, "How can you think I'm doing it all?" I'm a total stress head, and I get incredibly focused on one thing, with everything else around it dropping off. But hey, I'll do my best to let you know my productivity and life hacks. I'm saying this with a ton of sarcasm guys.

To get done what I'm currently getting done, full disclaimer, I don't have kids or a partner. I'm just working on my business. So I know it looks like I get a lot done in a day, but that's because I don't have a lot of other commitments. But I guess, first of all, I think this is about pointing out that Kiss Marketing is not just me.

I've had a full time virtual assistant for nearly three years now, and she is my absolute rock and savior. Sometimes I will be so frazzled with a million balls in the air, and somehow she manages to decipher what I'm meaning when I'm throwing briefs at her. She has this incredible ability to decode the information I've thrown at her, and just take initiative to get things done, and move them forward. Often coming back to me with options on how something could be executed.

Sometimes I really need to see the ways it can be done, before making a decision on how we're going to move forward. I've also got a fantastic account manager, who helps handle a lot of the retainer clients we have at Kiss, to make sure things are running smoothly. Communication is clear, and we're not only fulfilling our obligations, but looking for new ways to market our client's businesses. We like to be on the front foot and be proactive.

I also have a graphic designer, and a web developer. So for me, a lot of the work I do day to day in the business, is client management, strategy, and briefing my team to bring it all together. I also have an amazing editor, who manages the podcast side of things. Shout out to Nick from [UTO 00:02:35] who edits my podcasts, and make sure that they're all scheduled to go out each week.

The thing is guys, you might think that something takes only five minutes. That's never the reality. If you can create a system and a process, then outsource that component, then that's not absolutely necessary for you to be doing, then you can focus on the things only you can do. The things that generate sales, and keep your business running.

My whole team and any contractors work out of Asana, and while I'm not perfect at keeping this all updated, my virtual assistant is. I just need to make sure that I'm jumping in there regularly, and making sure everything's on track. We also have group chats happening on Skype. I did try Slack in the past, but I really dislike it. It's just not for me. Now this doesn't always happen in the real world, but here's what my ideal working week looks like.

So Monday is a deep client work day, and a lot of email times. I always find if anything is going to happen, it seems to be on a Monday, so I call this firefighting day. Maybe you can relate. Tuesday and Thursday, I usually reserve for any client calls, meetings, and one-on-one strategy sessions. I try and limit meetings and calls outside of these days, so I can focus on getting work done.

Wednesday is my marketing day. So this is the time I take to record videos, podcasts, work on online trainings, and post on social media. This is actually an area I feel I let myself down in the most. Clients always come first, and so often my own marketing gets pushed to the side. I so get why people outsource their marketing. It must be really nice to just pay a fee each month, and know that it's all taken care of. And that's the service we provide here at Kiss.

Friday. So this is meant to be my learning and development day. Again, this is not something that always sticks, but it's incredibly important that I stay up to date with the latest digital marketing changes, and trainings. I'm a total course junkie, and so Friday is the day I like to deep dive into hundreds of trainings and memberships that I've invested in, over the years.

Saturday, yep I work weekends. I'm trying to save Sunday as a totally computer free day, but Saturday is the day I usually check in on emails. I move forward any projects that need doing. Sometimes I feel like the weekends are the only time my phone stops ringing, and my inbox isn't overflowing, so I can get some proper deep work done. How many times have I said deep work in the last five minutes? Can you tell that I've just read that book by Cal Newport? Highly, highly recommend it if you have not read that book yet.

So, outside of this, what is my routine? Because as you know, your life affects your business, and everything else. Well, it looks awfully different now I'm in isolation, versus my life beforehand. But let's hope by the time this episode is released, life has gone back to some form of normality.

So my day starts around 6:00 AM. My alarm goes off. I do lie there and think, "Oh, I'll just sleep in this morning." Very, very rare that happens. And I meditate for 10 minutes or so. So I go between two apps. I love Fortify, and there's another one called Shine as well. I get up, boil the kettle to make a mug of warm water with lemon juice. It's meant to be detoxing, and hydrating, or something. But honestly, I just got into the routine of doing it, and I've done it every morning for years now.

If it's summer, I'll throw on my swimmers and head to the pool to do laps for around 45 minutes. If it's winter, or a day where my swimming buddy isn't available, I'll head up the hill behind my house, and do a hill walk, and a short 2k run, before walking down to my favorite coffee shop. All up, it's about 6k. I'm absolutely not to runner. So for me, that short little jog is enough to get my heart rate going, the blood pumping, and I'm puffed.

While I'm doing the walking component I listen to Spotify's Your Daily Drive playlist. I love it. It's like three new segments with some of your fav tunes in between, and it's updated every morning and night. It helps keep me posted on what's going on in the world, without having information overload. I feel like it's really easy to get caught up in the news cycle, constantly refreshing it for more information.

So then I get home around 7:45, 7:30. I'll finish my coffee while doing emails, and reviewing my task list for the day, along with Asana, and checking in with my team. Then I'll jump in the shower, and get ready for the day, usually heading into the office. I'm a total introvert though, and sometimes I really do feel, and get drained by engagement with people, and so I'll work from my home office occasionally.

Twice a week I'll do a PT session around lunchtime, then head back to the office in my active wear. In the evenings I'll do a Pilates session, or a class at the gym, or a workout with a girlfriend. This is usually around 6:30, and I feel like it helps put a full stop at the end of my day. I'm often back on my computer though, checking in on emails, and reviewing the priorities for the next day, between 8:00 and 9:00 PM each night, but I'm trying to make sure I switch off my computer by nine.

So when I first started my business, I was working all hours with no structure and routine. I'm so much happier now, when I'm super rigid with my routine it really gives me sanity. I will say that if I'm not exercising regularly like I do, I don't sleep well. And then I start reaching for the sugary, carby, crappy foods, which then gives me zero energy, and I don't exercise because I'm too tired. And there's this vicious cycle that occurs. You know the one that just goes round and round, where you just can't get out of that funk.

So for me, I really learned that I'm an all or nothing kind of person, and I can never just do something in moderation. So it's actually easier for me not to eat that piece of chocolate, or have that glass of wine, because it's never just one piece, is it ladies? After dinner every night I take my vitamins. Currently I'm taking fish oil, cod liver oil, zinc, iron, magnesium, and a B vitamin mix.

I know it sounds like a lot, but there is a reason for each, so please don't take health advice from me. Go and see a naturopath. I've actually got an amazing GP, that will do my blood levels every three months or so. So go have some tests done. See if you're actually deficient in anything. If you take vitamins when you're not deficient, you just paying for expensive pee.

In regards to work and productivity, the biggest thing for me is trying to enforce boundaries, to not be replying to emails on weekends, or late at night. And give myself the time and space to actually have my marketing day on Wednesday, and my learning day on Friday. I'm not great at this, as like I said, clients always come first.

But hey, that's the ultimate goal, is to have this structure, and I'm working on it. I feel like this isolation period has really helped me get into that good routine with it. I'm interested to hear any productivity and work hacks that you might have. If you've got some gold to share, shoot me a DM on Instagram. My handle is kiss_marketing. Thanks for listening guys. Until next week, bye.