Blog Post

SPOILER ALERT: You're Stopping Your Business From Growing (And You're Not Alone)

Clare Runham

When you first start out, being a “one-man band” isn’t just a money saving strategy, it’s a necessity. The key is to recognise at what point this approach is stopping your business from growing, because your lack of time or knowledge is holding it back.

Everybody starts the day with the same amount of time, but we’re often guilty (me included!) of being merrily efficient at doing the wrong things. It’s easy to give yourself a pat on the back doing the sort of tasks that anyone could be doing, when you should be working on things only you have the expertise to do.

Yep, you could save some money by doing absolutely everything yourself, but what about the cost of your time? Getting bogged down in administration can easily take your eyes away from important decisions.

68% of business owners spend time operating their business, and just 32% on the pursuit of growing it.

The statistic above suggests leaders spend just a third of their time trying to move their businesses forward. In the same survey by the Alternative Board , the majority work at least 50 hours a week yet most of their time was spent answering emails, dealing with clients and managing employ issues. No surprises that only 34% thought they dealt with stuff that was truly important .

Another survey – from OfficeMax – shows this is taking its toll, with 41% of respondents saying administrative tasks sap their passion and energy for running their companies.

No one loves every task equally, and if there are things you find yourself avoiding because you just don’t like doing them, it could be something you could delegate it to someone who does. Whether it’s doing the books, or figuring out how to post on Instagram, don’t struggle on just because no one else is available – the extra time you are taking on tasks due to a lack of knowledge isn’t saving you money, it’s costing you opportunity.

The solution is pretty simple: work on what you are best at, and delegate the rest. Whatever your area of expertise, it isn’t the 15 other things you’re trying to manage every day.

We come to a serious cross-road here - committing to taking on more staff can be a daunting decision. Will you have enough work for them? Will it work out? Will you win enough business to be able to afford their wages? If you want your business to get bigger, something needs to be done to free up your time.

So what could you do if you had no admin to do today? Perhaps call your most important clients that you haven’t spoken to in a while or - better yet – follow up on those leads. You could finally give some time on planning out and setting some objectives for that new business idea, just like those surveyed successful leaders who dedicate some of their day to strategic thinking every single day.

There is a compromise! You could get an experienced helping hand without paying the wages of a new staff member. Clare Runham runs the virtual assistant company Miss MPS , which helps small business owners with a range of time-sapping admin tasks.

by Clare Narramore 16 December 2024
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Chilly toes, waking up early to defrost the windscreen, and leaving work to the already dark skies—these are just a few of the frustrations that come with winter. While it may not be the end of the world, it's all the little things. And despite the festivity and Christmas songs playing on the radio, staying motivated at this time of year can be challenging. I'm sure many of you can relate to me when I say this. At Miss MPS, we understand how important it is to maintain well-being, especially during the busy winter months. As virtual assistants, we support our clients by alleviating stress from overwhelming workloads and tight deadlines. We also help them take well-deserved breaks and spend time with loved ones. However, looking after ourselves while caring for others is just as essential. Here are my top tips for staying healthy and motivated this winter:
by Clare Narramore 11 November 2024
When most people think of administrative roles, they often assume it’s all about answering calls, scheduling meetings, and managing email correspondence—the so-called "big three." It’s no surprise that this has led to a widespread perception that administrative work is monotonous, repetitive, and predictable. Well, at Miss MPS, we’re here to set the record straight: nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, our days are filled with exciting, unpredictable tasks that keep us on our toes—and we LOVE it. For those of you who have read our previous blog post , where we detailed the thrilling experience of organizing the charter of a private yacht for one of our clients (yes, that actually happened!) you might already have a sense of just how closely we work with our clients to ensure their lives run smoothly outside of just their business. A Tail-Wagging Adventure: Helping Our Client Move to Ibiza with Her Fluffy Companion Speaking of management, let’s dive into one of our more recent tasks, which illustrates the kind of unique and varied requests we handle at Miss MPS. One of our clients, a busy entrepreneur, recently decided to make a big move to Ibiza. Along with her, she was bringing her adorable, four-legged friend—a fluffy bundle of joy who plays an important part in her life just like her business endeavours. Therefore our job was to ensure that the move was as seamless as possible for both her and her dog. Now, moving abroad can be stressful enough, but when you throw a pet into the mix, there are a ton of logistics to consider. We dove into researching pet-friendly airlines and travel rules to make sure her beloved dog could join her on the journey. We checked out different travel policies and found the best options, so her furry friend can travel comfortably and safely! All our client will have to do is to pack her bags—and maybe throw in a pair of extra sunglasses for her dog to wear on the sunny beaches of Ibiza! We’re Problem Solvers, Not Just Assistants At Miss MPS, we’re more than assistants—we’re the ultimate problem solvers. Whether it’s planning events, handling the difficult part of travelling such as logistics, or managing surprise tasks (like pet relocations!), we tackle everything with creativity and a smile. No two days are ever the same, and that’s what makes our work so fun. Why We Love What We Do We get to know our clients, help them live their best lives, and handle everything from the big stuff to the small details. It’s a mix of personal and professional, and we wouldn’t have it any other way! Plus, who wouldn’t enjoy a job where one day, you’re organising a business meeting, and the next, you’re figuring out how to fly a dog to Ibiza in style? So, the next time someone tells you admin work is boring, send them our contact form . We’ll show them just how exciting and diverse our world is at Miss MPS!
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