When it’s your own thing it doesn’t feel like work

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Esquire’s ex-Creative Director discusses finding balance in a business partner and taking meetings on his holidays.

<p>“I’d left art school fourteen years prior, so I knew what I was doing. I had a great team, I got to go to LA and photograph cover stars every month — it was a decent life. But deep down you could probably say I was bored. Honestly though, going into the Apple shop with a credit card and buying two computers and sitting the corner of someone else’s office trying to relaunch a magazine was scary, going from having a PA and a salary and healthcare and a pension to having £3,000 in the bank and £10,000 debt on a credit card was scary. I don’t know why we did it. Stupidity, probably.”</p><p>In 2014, aged 38, David McKendrick left his position as art director at gentleman’s monthly, Esquire, to co-found <a href="https://bamlondon.com/" target="_blank">BAM</a>, a design and art direction studio, with his business partner Lee Belcher. He’d spent the past seven years honing his craft at Esquire until he could do the job with his eyes closed.</p><p>“I knew what I was doing,” he says. “I knew how to get the magazine out the door. I knew how to do an iPad version. I knew how to do content. I knew how to do video. I felt as if I was only maintaining as opposed to learning. I could have a really off day or I could drink ten beers the night before and go to work and still do my job. And now I can’t, but it’s much more truthful.”</p><p>Since setting up BAM, more of David’s time is consumed with work than ever before. When we speak he’s heading off to San Francisco for a week’s holiday, with two days of meetings with new clients in the middle. It’s a trade he’s happy to make to be his own boss and do a job that keeps him learning new skills.</p><p>“I’d never paid a VAT bill, I’d never paid salaries, I’d never done costing for a business. I was learning again, and it didn’t really matter what I was doing. When it’s your own thing it doesn’t feel like work. I’m pretty sure if I was still at Esquire and they said, ‘Right, for two days of your holiday you’re going to do a bunch of meetings’, I don’t think I’d be that happy about it. But if you really enjoy what you’re doing then it’s a crossover into your real life.”</p><p>One of the main reasons David is prepared to dedicate so much time to work is his relationship with his business partner, Lee. Their mutual respect and varied skill-sets are complementary, and the support they offer each other is vital to the smooth running of the business.</p><p>“Every Monday we have a meeting and we go, ‘Right, how are you feeling, how’s business, what do you want to do this week?’ We have a little grumble at each other, you know, ‘Perhaps you could do more of the meetings, I could do more of the design on this project.’ We’ve got huge respect for each other, which means I make sure he has a coffee every morning and I’m working by 10 o’clock, and he does the same. We never leave work later than 6pm because it’s unhealthy and we want to have nice lives.“</p><p>“I still lie to him sometimes and tell him I’ve got meetings when really I’m just spending the afternoon relaxing in a sauna.”</p>

10 New Year's resolutions for the self-employed

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You’ve grafted this past year. You’ve secured new clients, maybe set yourself up with a great new space. You got out there and met new people. But... you’re still dropping balls on the admin side. It’s not a crime, but does invite unnecessary hassle - yet it’s so easy to resolve.nnCalling small business owners, self-employed, freelancers and sole traders. We’ve set a few New Year’s resolutions you can pick and mix from to power your business into 2020.

<h2><strong>1. Waste less time hunting for receipts</strong></h2><p>Be honest, how much time do you spend sorting through bundles of receipts? We all know we need to keep and manage our receipts, the rules are clear: limited companies should keep their receipts for six years after the 31 January tax deadline and sole traders for five years.

We can now choose from many digital tools out there to help us photograph and organise receipts. With ANNA, you can do it on the go - every time you make a purchase with your ANNA debit card, the app prompts you to capture receipts on the spot.

Digitising receipts and automating expense categorisation does away with time consuming admin. Open a business account with ANNA and our receipt organiser for small business will scan and safely store receipts electronically. No more paper receipts!</p><h2>2. Learn to delegate</h2><p>Learn to let go. You may harbour the belief that nobody else has the skills or capabilities to do the work that you have been diligently doing for so long. This year, give your employees or colleagues the chance to prove themselves doing new or extra tasks.

Take time to think about their individual strengths. Start with small tasks, and work your way up as they successfully complete them. Make time to train them properly and to feed back regularly - good communication is essential for team harmony.</p>Give employees or colleagues the chance to prove themselves doing new or extra tasks<h2>3. Reduce routine admin tasks</h2><p>Repetitive admin tasks like invoicing can be mind-numbingly dull, not to mention time-consuming. So how can you spend less time poring over spreadsheets? ANNA creates, sends and chases your invoices via our mobile app invoice generator, so you can get on with growing your business.

Creating an invoice is a breeze thanks to smart AI technology - just chat us the details via the app. No more repetitive manual data entry! Or, we can scan an old invoice and grab the info from there.

Matching invoices with payments is another chore. ANNA does it automatically - all your income and expenses can be categorised automatically for painless tax self-assessment and VAT.

Everything will be clean, tidy and up to date for your accountant. A happy and organised New Year thanks to automated bookkeeping!</p><h2>4. Stop chasing invoices</h2><p>Sounds implausible? ANNA can automatically chase up overdue invoices with a polite email so you don’t have to. This means less on your to-do list - saving time and bother, and should mean you get paid sooner too.</p><h2>5. Simplify employee reimbursements</h2><p>ANNA can give you multiple business debit cards for your co-directors and employees so they can use business debit cards for expenses. Because all payments come out of the business account, your team won't have to use their own money - and you won't have the hassle of reimbursing them afterwards.

If you wish, you can even give team members full access to the ANNA app, so they’ll get a reminder to snap the receipt immediately after their purchase - no more chasing lost receipts.</p><h2>6. Do more networking</h2><p>Networking isn't necessarily at the top of every small business owner’s to-do list. The thought of small talk and more commitments can be off-putting. But a strong professional network of mutually beneficial relationships can be an asset to you.

There’s a wealth of knowledge out there that your peers will be happy to share with you, helping you stay on top of trends and developments in your industry.

Networking makes you visible, and will give you a boost when people begin to call on you for your opinion and feedback. This is particularly advantageous for freelancers and small business owners.</p>Networking makes you visible, and will give you a boost when people call on you for your opinion and feedback<p>If you’re not especially comfortable approaching people at conferences - the ‘cold calling’ of networking - there are plenty of more relaxed situations where you can meet industry cohorts - clubs and associations, MeetUps, cafes and coworking spaces. To maximise the benefits of networking, have your ‘elevator pitch’ ready - a concise, clear description of what your business is about - and get into the habit of consolidating contacts by following up soon after.</p><h2>7. Never stop learning</h2><p>Never stay still. Stay on your toes to gain the edge through courses and training. Whether your skill gaps are practical, administrative, presentational or communicative, you can find opportunities online and ‘in real life’ to improve your competence. You’ll enjoy a feeling of accomplishment and a subsequent confidence boost.

Consciously putting yourself in a state of ‘lifelong learning’, outside of your comfort zone helps you adapt to unexpected changes through resilience - that most coveted quality!

It helps to focus some time on industry trends and ever-evolving technology to remain relevant and informed. However, new experiences don’t always have to be related to what you do - any learning process is valuable in helping you to see things from a new perspective and introduces fresh, innovative or critical thinking in the mix.

And you never know who you’ll meet.</p><h2>8. Promote your business</h2><p>Use these early months to plan your marketing and PR calendar. It helps with budgeting and allocating resources. Remember - it doesn’t matter how good you are - if nobody knows about you, you won’t make a success out of your venture.

Depending on your business, you could consider adwords - look for any promotions on Google or Facebook; invest time into creating original content - you can seed this across social networks including LinkedIn; look for speaking opportunities - there’s nothing like putting yourself on stage for personal development.

Are there any events you can get involved in so people can sample your product? Can you contribute any written point-of-view pieces for industry titles? Can you establish a customer referral scheme or negotiate any mutually beneficial partnerships with neighbouring or peer businesses? Are there any awards you could enter your work into that would gain your recognition? Or even host your own class or event where you can share your skills or space?</p><h2>9. Allow yourself more me time</h2><p>With the extra time you’ve gained from delegating your admin to ANNA, re-learn how to switch off. Leisure and idle time is constructive - not just to rejuvenate, but to let creative thought come into play.

Try an embargo on electronics, social media and email for an amount of time. Use those gained moments to get outside for a run or walk.

Or reconnect with your lunch hour - or two - by actually sitting down in a cafe or even sloping off to the cinema once in a while. A mid-week afternoon film on your own feels like a true indulgence.</p><h2>10. Give something back</h2><p>The world needs you! Giving is a true mood-booster with a likely halo effect on your business.

Volunteering gives you a sense of purpose, and you’ll meet new and diverse people who are united by their cause. Inevitably your patience, people and communication skills will improve. You’ll be exposing yourself to new experiences that will help you navigate new or complex encounters in the future.

Are there any skills shortage in your community? Can you offer any time up to mentor? Or contribute any products or services to those in need?

Simply put - those that give, get. Happy new year!</p>

5 brilliant business books you can expense

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Vic Casambros

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We asked the ANNA team: which business related book has inspired you most? Here are their top choices. Don't forget, if you fancy a read, they're all fully expensable!

<p>With World Book Day upon us, I asked around the office for some book suggestions from the ANNA team. Ones that have helped inspire them, motivate them and get them to where they are now.    </p><p><strong>Did you know?</strong> Books to help you with your business are all fully expensable! (Category: Staff Training) So take a look at our suggestions and see if any tickle your fancy and could help boost your small business.</p><h2>Branding in Five and a Half Steps</h2><h3>Chosen by Andy, Design Lead</h3><img src="https://storage.googleapis.com/anna-website-cms-prod/b6bcb5d8_6630_4a5a_bec2_f2e4bfdbab4d_brand_dbc03e14cc/b6bcb5d8_6630_4a5a_bec2_f2e4bfdbab4d_brand_dbc03e14cc.png" alt="None" /><p>Leading brand consultant Michael Moore explores the world's most successful brands, taking us through the process of creating a brand with vibrant illustrations and templates for creating your own brand. </p><p>Andy says: "This is an excellent practical guide to brand strategy and design. It's full of well-known examples broken down to their basic components. It's full of exercises and frameworks that make the process easy to follow and do yourself. It covers the end to end process from research, forming strategic insights and direction, through personality and purpose ,and then all the elements of a successful system."</p><p><a href="https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Michael-Johnson/Branding-In-Five-and-a-Half-Steps/19339417" target="_blank">Available from £19.79</a></p><h2>Narconomics: How to Run a Drug Cartel</h2><h3>Chosen by Vic, Social Media Manager</h3><img src="https://prismic-io.s3.amazonaws.com/annamoneyblog/53066ce4-1f77-41f9-a3cf-28ccf7ed4d22_narco.png" alt="None" /><p>Written by Tom Wainwright, this book talks about how drug cartels can survive and prosper by taking in best practice from big business, such as brand value and franchising from McDonald’s, supply chain management from Walmart, diversification from Coca-Cola. Many of the same ideas and techniques can be applied to your own small business.</p><p>Vic says: "I love how the book shows how some of the most effective business ideas and strategies can be adapted by smaller businesses, although in this case it mentions drug cartels, it can easily apply to what ever small business you run yourself."</p><p><a href="https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Tom-Wainwright/Narconomics--How-to-Run-a-Drug-Cartel/22695105" target="_blank">Available from £13.99</a></p><h2>This Is Service Design Doing: Applying Service Design Thinking in the Real World</h2><h3>Chosen by Will, Design Director</h3><img src="https://prismic-io.s3.amazonaws.com/annamoneyblog/2f0af130-8325-4d4e-b5b6-6b502be84c63_service.png" alt="None" /><p>Written by the team of Marc Stickdorn, Markus Edgar Hormess, Adam Lawrence, Jakob Schneider, this book contains everything you need to improve – or revolutionise – the products and services you offer. </p><p>Will says: "You don’t have to be a service designer to use design thinking in your business. This book has a tonne of very practical exercises that will help a business understand their customer, build better products and services, and talk about their business in the most relevant way. Great reference you can dip in and out of."</p><p><a href="https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Marc-Stinkdorn/This-is-Service-Design-Doing/18134557" target="_blank">Available from £25.09</a></p><h2>Elon Musk: How the Billionaire CEO of SpaceX and Tesla is Shaping Our Future</h2><h3>Chosen by Suzanne Mucci, Copywriter</h3><img src="https://prismic-io.s3.amazonaws.com/annamoneyblog/f4b80067-6de0-4919-89e0-6a9408c1b9ba_musk.png" alt="None" /><p>Ashlee Vance tells the intriguing story of entrepreneur and innovator Elon Musk, from his childhood in South Africa through his early ventures at Zip2 and PayPal, and on to global success with SpaceX, Tesla and SolarCity.</p><p>Suzanne says: "This is the fascinating story of a complex character who, despite scepticism and numerous setbacks, has remained focused on his vision to reshape the way we live."</p><p><a href="https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/Ashlee-Vance/Elon-Musk--How-the-Billionaire-CEO-of-SpaceX-and-Tesla-is/18663057" target="_blank">Available from £8.65</a></p><h2>Creative Confidence: Unleashing the Creative Potential within Us All</h2><h3>Chosen by Tim, Comms consultant</h3><img src="https://prismic-io.s3.amazonaws.com/annamoneyblog/f284925b-a27f-4e10-97b7-f8189b8e5e9f_confidence.png" alt="None" /><p>Too often, creativity is assumed to be the domain only of 'creative types'. This inspiring book from the founders of award-winning design firm IDEO shows how anyone, in any profession, can unlock their creative potential. </p><p>Tim says: "It's like the ultimate guide to extracting great ideas from yourself and your team. Exercises, ways to think about problems, and how to use real world insights to make your ideas better (whatever it is you do). All based on human-centric design principles."</p><p><a href="https://www.hive.co.uk/Product/David-Kelley/Creative-Confidence--Unleashing-the-Creative-Potential-within-Us-All/17346023" target="_blank">Available from £8.75</a></p><h2>Fancy a good read?</h2><p>Get all these and more from your <a href="https://www.booksellers.org.uk/bookshopsearch" target="_blank">local book store</a>.</p>

Strike a pose: pitch success means selling your body

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Those making forays into the wide world of self-employment find they are suddenly responsible for everything from company vision to office maintenance. But the most demanding of daily tasks is winning new work and forging relationships with clients. Selling takes energy, charm and a dash of cunning. But first, it takes the right gesture.

<h2>Don’t just say it</h2><p>Freelancers looking to win business from new clients face a challenging repeat task. That is, undertaking a job interview-type meeting each time they’re looking to win a new client. The art of the pitch becomes the most vital skill. Doing the job might be one thing, convincing those with a grip on the purse strings that you can do it is another matter.</p><p><a href="http://www.bodylanguageworkshops.com/" target="_blank">Mike Carter</a> is the UK’s leading body language coach and has spent the last 20 years advising executives, medical professionals and educators on how to come off well under scrutiny. Apparently, preparing what you’re <em>going to say</em> heading into a meeting isn’t so vital as thinking about how you’re <em>going to</em> <em>be</em>.</p><p> “When we communicate, 80% of interaction is non-verbal,” says Carter. “The trick is ensuring that your verbal message doesn’t conflict with your body language. You can take control of a room by speaking very little, but through holding yourself and expressing authority through body language. It can also help defuse difficult situations.”</p><h2>Breathe in</h2><p> Projecting an image of calm and competence isn’t about power posing, manspreading or adopting the mannerisms (or wardrobe) of Don Draper. Instead, hustling freelancers can learn from police, airline pilots and doctors, all of whom are trained to breathe deeply through the diaphragm when imparting information. Panic is infectious, but so is calm, according to Carter, and calm, in interviews is a good thing.</p><p>“Airline pilots are briefed to breathe deeply before they make announcements to passengers,” he says. “The way they relay information we know that the pilot is relaxed, in control and everything is absolutely fine. And if everything wasn’t, you’d hear it in their shallow breathing.”</p><img src="https://prismic-io.s3.amazonaws.com/annamoneyblog/6078d5b3-b14e-473c-9beb-6480c8b34ed4_hands.jpg" alt="None" /><h2>Feet and hands</h2><p> In high pressure scenarios, most people exhibit signs of inner stress, observable in foot tapping, hand-wringing or general fidgeting. Exhibitions of nervous energy need to be curbed in order to make a good impression and not distract from the message you’re trying to impart. Carter has two golden rules: keep your feet planted on the ground and make sure your hands are in plain sight. </p><p>“When your feet are planted on the ground, then you are physically and metaphorically grounded. This is helpful when you need to come across with authority and credibility,” he says. “Obscuring your hands implies a lack of credibility. Hands in pockets, up sleeves, folded arms are all implicit red flags to people you’re working with. Keep them on show.”</p><h2>Read, project and feel </h2><p>Non-verbal communication is a complex system of meaning-making where we are at once broadcasting our intentions, aspect and demeanor while recognizing signs from others. Crucially though is how our own body language makes us feel. This fact is a simple route to success in an interview or pitch situation.</p><p> “Identify the character you want to be identified as. Perhaps the interviewer is looking for someone who is be in control, super confident, hyper-aware,” says Carter. “Or a team player, a people person to complement their team. Pre-visualize how you want to come across.”</p><img src="https://prismic-io.s3.amazonaws.com/annamoneyblog/088c5773-4d80-4d4a-859f-05ea5f641d9d_mirror.jpg" alt="None" /><h2>Five tips for non-verbal comms</h2><ol><li>Do the prep. Everyone thinks about what they want to say during a meeting, give equal forethought to what you want your body language to say.</li><li>Breathe. Imagine you are a veteran airline pilot purring reassuringly into the tannoy on a routine flight.</li><li>Show your hand(s). Don’t fidget, pick or gesticulate wildly, but make sure your hands are on show. Hiding them implies that you’re intimidated – or worse – hiding something.</li><li>Plant the feet. Having both feet firmly on the floor while standing or sitting gives an impression of sincerity and gravitas.</li><li>Don’t mirror. Trying to mimic the posture or gestures of the person you’re addressing gets confusing. Stick to the basics and concentrate on getting your points across.</li></ol>

6 tips to avoid freelancer burnout 🔥

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Lily Smith

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Working for yourself has plenty of advantages, but top of the list for most freelancers is the flexibility it offers. Choosing when, where and how you work is, for many of us, the definition of Living the Dream.  But being your own boss comes with its own set of challenges. There isn’t the traditional support system or structure of a permanent role: it’s all down to you, and that can be overwhelming at times. Our tips will help you look after yourself and your business – so you can stay motivated, and your small business can swing from strength to strength this year.

<h2><strong>What is burnout?</strong></h2><p>Burnout is usually understood as feeling exhausted or dissatisfied with your work, and as a freelancer, it can be tricky to manage. When you work for yourself, there’s no coworker in your corner to bounce ideas off. Or finance department to chase your overdue invoices, or new business manager to help you reel in your next contract. You might go whole days without speaking to anyone – resulting in a <em>very </em>intense conversation with the bloke in your local corner shop. And if the stapler goes missing, there’s no one to blame but yourself. </p><p>Burnout can have both mental and physical symptoms, including headaches and exhaustion, feelings of negativity or cynicism towards your job, and reduced efficiency. If you’ve noticed any of these while you’ve been working for yourself, don’t panic. The sooner you feel yourself burning out, the sooner you can take steps to reduce the effects – and avoid burnout in the future.</p><h2><strong>Work out your working hours</strong></h2><p>A surefire way to reduce burnout is to set up dedicated working hours – and stick to them. Treating your freelance workload like this will mean you’re less likely to take work home with you if you don’t finish a task on time. Establishing working hours for your business is particularly important if you work from home: no one wants to be answering emails over dinner, or sorting their invoices in front of Netflix. Don’t forget to schedule regular breaks for yourself, otherwise you’ll be losing concentration as the day goes on. Managing your time carefully will boost your productivity, and help you maintain a healthy work/life balance.</p><h2><strong>Keep an eye on your expenses</strong></h2><p>One of the main sources of stress for freelancers is not having a steady source of income. That can make budgeting difficult, especially when you factor in late invoice payments – the bane of every freelancer’s life. You might not be able to control your income, but you can look after your overheads to keep yourself in the black between jobs. Create a monthly budget, and work out exactly how much you need to cover the costs of running your business (website fees, phone bill, insurance etc). Shop around for deals on your phone, wifi and insurance – and cut any unnecessary spending (like your takeaway lattes). Don’t forget, you also need to be saving regularly as you earn so that your tax bill doesn’t come as a nasty surprise!</p><h2><strong>Create a comfortable working space</strong></h2><p>You need somewhere comfortable with minimal distractions to do your best work, so take the time to set up a proper work space. Whether you’re working from home, a coworking space or a local coffee shop you need to make sure you’ve got proper seating and lighting, or you’ll get increasingly uncomfortable (and unproductive!) throughout the day. Getting rid of clutter and investing in proper storage will save you space – and prevent you from being distracted by that pile of ironing or stack of old magazines.</p><h2><strong>Reflect on your progress</strong></h2><p>When you’re your own boss, there’s nobody monitoring your professional progress apart from (you guessed it) you. That might come as a relief if you find performance reviews a bit cringe, but it’s important to keep track of your successes and failures so you can learn from them as you build your business. Take time every six months or so to assess your progress. What skills did you improve? And what could you do better? Setting achievable goals will help focus your career and avoid burnout – and don’t forget to reward yourself for a job well done.</p><h2><strong>Ask for help</strong></h2><p>You might work alone, but you’re not on your own! There might be times when you struggle with your workload, or you’re not sure how to do a particular task, or you need to have a difficult conversation with a supplier or client. When you’re not sure what to do, don’t be afraid to ask for help. From your friends and family to your professional network and social media communities, there are so many sources of information and support out there for you and your business. Give an old colleague a call for advice, check out Facebook groups for freelancers and look for professional meetup events or industry advice panels you can attend in person. You never know who you might meet, and how they might be able to help.</p><h2><strong>Make time for a social life</strong></h2><p>It might seem obvious, but spending time with your friends and family is really important if you work by yourself. Feeling lonely or unable to vent about work can exacerbate feelings of stress, and contribute to burnout. Spending time with others will give your mind a much needed break from thinking about work, and boost your morale. Take advantage of your flexible working hours and join a running club or a yoga class. Even just a walk around the block or a quick trip to the corner shop is amazing for clearing your head – and don’t forget to make time for your friends, family and or partner, too. Being around other people can really improve your mental wellbeing – it’s been proven!</p><p>Just remember that feeling stressed is a totally normal, understandable part of running your own business. Managing your stress properly will help build your resilience and help you avoid burnout, so you and your business have the best possible chance of success.</p>

Disquieting times: tips for the self-employed when the phone stops ringing

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For freelancers and those at the helm of small companies, lulls in business can usher in feelings of self-doubt, anxiety and existential dread. It doesn’t have to be this way: quiet times offer the opportunity to innovate, strategise and de-stress — you just have to know how.

<h2><strong>The freelance tan myth</strong></h2><p>There is a myth that in early springtime you can tell whether someone is self-employed by their tan. After the first clement days of the year (the story goes) freelancers exhibit bronzed skin and an unseasonal look of vim, while those resigned to offices still carry the pallor associated with artificial lights and flint-skied February commutes. The reason? At the first sight of sun, these emancipated workers supposedly make use of lulls in business to frolic in parks, beaches and gardens. </p><p>My theory is that tale is largely invented to roil full-timers. Anyone who has worked for themselves or been at the helm of a small business knows that quiet periods are often filled with introspection, guilt and self-doubt. If you’re in a park because business is quiet, it’s likely that you’re also grappling with a deep sense of existential dread. Being busy is easy. Quiet times take resilience.</p><h2><strong>Recalibrate with ‘deep play’</strong></h2><p>We suffer a sense of unease because we are relaxing poorly. Alex Pang, researcher at Institute for the Future, a Silicon Valley think tank, has spent recent years studying the habits of extremely successful people. He discovered that they all share one behaviour: “The people in high pressure occupations, who come back freshest on Monday, are people who engage in what I call ‘deep play’ or ‘serious leisure’,” he says, citing outdoorsy, California-esque pursuits like mountain climbing, hill-walking and cycling. “But they do things that give their creative subconscious time to mull over ideas without their conscious effort.”</p><h2><strong>Monotony breeds creativity</strong></h2><p>There is still a case for doing nothing, and for those with the mental fortitude, quiet times can be most productively filled with boredom itself. In recent years scientists have been studying the effects of boredom on creativity and problem solving, with many tests confirming that people who have been bored for an extended period of time are better at using their imaginations than people who have been amused. The problem is that boredom is being replaced by distraction — as soon as there is a whiff of it, you’re likely to whip out your smartphone and binge on Instagram, Candy Crush or some other compulsive, imagination-killing diversion.</p><h2><strong>Return recharged</strong></h2><p>So when clients stop calling and the tumbleweeds start to blow in, the key to staying calm and productive isn’t about running indoors and firing off emails, it’s about getting outside and indulging in some ‘deep play’ as Pang says, or testing your boredom stamina by calmly doing nothing at all (sans phone). When you return to the office or studio, you’ll be brimming with inventive ways to summon new business. If it doesn’t work, at least you’ll still have that tan.</p><h2><strong>5 tips for quiet periods</strong></h2><ol><li><strong>Move forwards.</strong> Use the quiet to consider the marketing, strategy or budgeting that falls by the wayside when you’re filling orders or hitting deadlines.</li><li><strong>Stay bored. </strong>Your smartphone is a portal to limitless, creativity-killing distraction. Put it away and let your mind wander. </li><li><strong>Get outside. </strong>Spending time with nature is proven to reduce the risk of diabetes, cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, stress and death (you can’t work if you’re dead).</li><li><strong>Play deep. </strong>Activities that require concentration, teamwork or creativity simulate the kind of brain activity you need to perform well at work.</li><li><strong>Pause.</strong> Creating structured time for reflection will make you more efficient.</li></ol><p></p>

What is HR and does your small business need it yet?

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More than a few of us have made an off-colour joke at after-work drinks, clapped a hand over our mouths and said in a hushed tone, ‘Don’t tell HR!’ But besides hiring, firing and policing the odd behavioural slip-up, what do HR professionals actually do – and does your small business need them?

The short answer is yes, but not necessarily in the way you might assume. We talked to Claire Baker, CEO of Claire Baker Boutique HR Consulting, who specialises in helping technical, professional, and creative service based businesses either experiencing or expecting growth.

<h2><strong>Humans are human, not resources </strong></h2><p>According to Claire, HR’s image is outdated. “Human resources means exactly that – anything that's linked to people. That's what I tell CEOs – you're dealing with human beings, not job titles. I don't even like the term ‘HR’. Humans are humans, not resources. So how I define it is, anything to do with the emotional, physical and mental wellbeing of people in the workplace. And that spans a lot of areas, from pay to benefits to training. I think that the stereotype of the ‘HR department’ actually scares small businesses, so that's why I talk about culture and productivity instead of HR.”</p><p></p><h2><strong>Start from the start of your start up</strong> </h2><p>When businesses begin, they rarely have a pressing need for a full HR department. But that doesn’t mean one shouldn’t plan for a future growth to the point where you have so many employees, you need a full department to take care of their needs. And it’s never too soon to start future proofing your business. “Some small businesses grow fast and are taken by surprise because they hadn’t planned for that.” Claire agrees. “Whereas some people anticipate growth and put things in place accordingly. That’s the right way, so you don’t get overwhelmed.”</p><p></p><h2><strong>Why you might delay or outsource HR (and why you shouldn’t)</strong></h2><p>When you start a business, you quickly get used to doing everything by yourself, and it can seem counterintuitive to pay someone to do something that you’re sure you can figure out – it’s just hiring and firing right? Or perhaps you understand that HR is important for helping grow your company in the right culture, but you don’t have the time to hammer out the details?
That’s where you might choose to outsource HR. It’s a valid option, but limits the scope of what HR can do. An external HR company may not truly understand your brand tone and values, whereas an in-house department or a boutique HR consultant actively helps to create them. </p><p>Says Claire: “Bespoke HR can bridge between how people organise, lead, co-operate and communicate today, and where they need to be to avoid the fires and even infernos which cause barriers for success in the future.”</p><p></p><h2><strong>No one size fits all when it comes to employees</strong></h2><p>The best way to approach hiring is to find out what your employees really want. Yes, it’s more research than you may like, but if you want your people to do their best work, you need to remember they’re individuals with individual needs. For example, if you want to lure a high flier away from a job to come and work for you, they already have a good salary, so perhaps something else is important to them. Let’s say they’re a new dad – would he really appreciate a gym membership, or would extended paternity leave suit him more? You won’t know until you ask. </p><p>Why not have potential and existing employees fill out a survey that lets them outline their ideal employment package? Then you’ve got some data to work with. </p><p></p><h2><strong>You’re not an expert so don’t cut corners</strong></h2><p>A big mistake is assuming that if something saves money, it’s a good idea, and that’s just as true of HR expertise as it is for the quality of your office furniture (if not more). And of course, it’s natural to try and save money – nobody wants to pay for someone to audit their company. But as the old saying goes, you have to spend money to make money and nothing worth having comes for free. If you don’t have things in place regarding employees, you could incur much worse costs down the line. </p><p>And don’t forget, having an outside voice weighing in on your business is very useful; it always helps to bounce ideas and thoughts off an expert. The truth is, it’s no different to having an accountant or a lawyer in-house.</p><p></p><h2><strong>And finally, some HR pro tips from Claire to get you started:</strong></h2><ul><li>If you don’t yet have employees, ask everyone in your network what they do to keep their employees happy. You’ll get some great ideas.</li><li>Find out what your employees are motivated by – you’ll be surprised to learn that it’s not all about money.</li><li>Tailor packages to suit individuals. Some may want flexible hours, some may want gym membership, some may want a local creche discount, and some might be happy with just regular free fruit as their benefits! </li><li>It’s never too early to start thinking about future staff and their future needs. Do it early and it could save you from employee-related pitfalls like forgetting to cap compensation levels (in case of disputes or provision for mental health etc.) or  down the line</li><li>Treat your employees in line with your brand values and you can’t go wrong. And don’t forget, part of HR’s remit is to help you design those brand values.</li><li>Remember the three magic words: Leadership. Trust. Communication. If you get those right, your staff will be happy – even when things are rough.</li></ul>

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