Lindsey Davies’ Post

Giving your business 100% of your time will kill it. Treating weekends like weekdays will kill your business. Here’s the quickest way to improve your business, your decisionmaking, and your leadership: Fix your life. People who preach “work weekends,” “the real hustle is 24/7/365,” are the people who are unbalanced, terrible bosses, and horrible partners - to their biz partners, their spouses, and everyone else they encounter. Your business is a mirror of you. If your business is needy and unbalanced - you are too. If you are working nights and weekends just to keep it alive or to “get ahead,” that sounds like a toxic relationship with your business… And if your business relationship is toxic, YOU are also toxic. Work is an addiction. Just like a heroin addict uses drugs to avoid their problems - many entrepreneurs, founders, and high-performers use work to avoid their problems. The only difference is our society celebrates the addiction to work. Focusing on work doesn’t solve anything. Here’s a test, if you replace “work” with “doing heroin,” does your life seem unbalanced? “Sorry, I can’t make it to family dinner, I have a lot of heroin to do.” “I couldn’t call, I was busy doing heroin.” “I can’t believe I haven’t visited in over a year! I’ve been so busy using heroin.” If you really want to improve your business: focus on everything else in your life. Seriously. These “work all the time folks,” are so focused on business because they’re terrified of what they will see if they look around their lives. But that’s exactly what you need to do. Fix your relationship with your spouse. Get yourself in shape. Eat right. Fix your home environment. Be nice to people. Be nice to yourself. All of these changes will be reflected in your business. Sure, Alex Hormozi has a big following. But I have worked with well over 2000 founders and had meaningful 1:1 conversations with thousands more. What I’ve written above proves true every time. The question isn’t, “how hard to I need to work for my business to succeed.” The question is, “who does my business need me to be?” And the answer isn’t a workaholic. Your business needs well rounded, stable, clear thinking leader who has mutually supportive relationships with people around them. Leadership is a 24/7/365 role. The people are watching at all times. How are you showing up? ✌️ 🧡 🌮

Mentally we have had a really tough, challenging few months and I won’t lie, there have been times when I’ve honestly asked myself if we can carry on fighting and balancing our lives, our kids and our business. Sometimes you feel like something has to give and recently it’s felt like I’m the one breaking. Being a director of a company with 4 young children was never going to be easy but the majority of the time I literally soldier on and take the rough with the smooth. There is plenty of both, so there is always a bit of a balance. Every day is a challenge in one way or another. I didn’t feel like I could take anything else life had to throw at me and then today happened. It’s a long complicated story but JJ still isn’t in school and it doesn’t look like that is going to change anytime soon, no matter how hard I try. We have ongoing battles with Max’s behaviour as well - I’m juggling so many plates but you keep going. Every day is a new day and one day at a time. However, the universe gave us a little pat on the back today, as if to say, don’t give up, you’re doing great. The unexpected doesn’t always have to be bad. It can be a boost that you didn’t know you needed. This was so needed - in so many ways. The industry we are in is vast and popular - I struggle with the concept as to why we can’t all celebrate each others successes. There is a definite undercurrent of need to belittle and almost close rank on new, emerging stories. 3 years in on our journey, beginning in a mud pit in our back garden, alongside a military career for Chris and being a full time mum of 4, to where we are now, is something that has just swept us up and run away with us. We love every challenge that comes our way and are building on our vision for our business everyday but it’s not without heartache and struggles. There is room in this industry to support and help others grow. We all have something different to give and offer our customers - diversity is what makes the world such a wonderful place. The point I’m getting to, in this long winding post, is those old fashioned sayings….. What doesn’t break you, makes you Don’t let the b******* grind you down It will all come out in the wash They won’t be little forever & Tomorrow is a new day. Being an adult in today’s world is BLOODY HARD - be kind, tell your gremlin children you love them, cut yourself some slack and CELEBRATE the good shit with the people you love 🥰 And to Chris - you are my absolute soulmate and I’m honoured to be on this path, sharing every moment with you!

SUNDAY READING - 📯 Sometimes I am the only woman in the room, which has been standard having worked at C suite in London, City and Business. Sometimes I don't charge for my services; sometimes I hear things I have suggested, like the word pillars 😱; sometimes I dine in restaurants alone; sometimes I support people who I know don't like me; sometimes I take a verbal hit that makes me sad; sometimes I say more than I should; sometimes people tag me in posts that are nothing to do with me; sometimes I lay in bed far longer than I should; sometimes I link people together that I think will be great collaborating; sometimes I call things out! Sometimes it would be really nice if people said thank you. I receive a text each month from StrongMen to say thank you, the only charity that I support that do this. For three weeks I have been struggling with concussion after a whack on the head. It has made me stop and think about things. Some days I have felt grey, some days lived on paracetamol, some days just needed to sit down or sleep. But every day I got up and got on with things, support projects that I am passionate about, like technology, like our colleges, like business growth, like supporting new projects, being kind, creative, support DEI every day, you get me. I sometimes feel like a one woman show. I ask lots of questions and am sometimes quite chatty, sometimes quiet. We are all unique, we are all a little neurodiverse in our own way, we are all "making a living" and living life. Patience and respect are two things I have in bucket loads, learned over many years. Others I note don't. I don't live with constructs of life, timescales or structure, I am an entrepreneur, which means a life of full on, or full off. I can be outspoken, overshare sometimes, laugh when I really shouldn't🤷🏼♀️ But as someone said the other day "It's from the heart Bev." But honestly, if you spend your life being rude, being unkind, self centred and being judgemental, selfish, you will lose people and I hear and see it all! Stop - what isn't working Start - what you have to Continue - with what works So to the server who didn't want to sit me on a table for 2 at Ocean Village hotel, suggesting a stool at the bar. NO. To the participant who was incredibly rude to me, infront of a meeting group, for asking a question to enable me to understand. NO. To the person who said something unkind. Someone else told me ☹️. NO. Start your week with fresh eyes and think: What are you trying to achieve? What are you trying to be? What is your legacy? And to some of the women I admire, who work hard, speak up, are funny, making it work, are honest, like Lea 🌈 Turner Jeri Williams FCA 🐪 Jane Hardy Anna Bravington Astrid Davies ... go you ladies! And as fabulous Mel Robbins says here: "Don't worry about people who aren't happy for you. They aren't happy for themselves either." Coffee...and the hope that the headache goes away soon. News coming!! #collaboration

Love this sentiment from S Brian Smith 🪜 on the folly of working 24/7 on your business. The Hustle Warriors think you should be chained to a desk every waking moment to get ahead. That is the most idiotic and unhealthy approach to life. You will burn out more than if you stepped into a bonfire. None of these cavemen care about you. They just want you to buy their stuff. Period. And I’m not talking work/life balance but rather treating certain things as work initiatives that we simply don’t. Sleep is a work initiative. Exercise is a work initiative. Eating better is a work initiative. Meditation is a work initiative. Vacation and time off is a work initiative. Why? Because that which gives us energy away from the desk has a DIRECT CORRELATION to the quality of our output for our clients. I’ve fallen off this wagon before but trust me when I say the best version of yourself at work is when you invest in these other areas for yourself, your loved ones and your clients. Hustle and grind into that for a change.

If I had to start my business all over again, I’d do it very differently. And I don’t mean the ‘hacks’ and branding blah.   I mean mentally.   Nobody prepares you for how lonely it can be. Or how much resilience you will need when shit really hits the fan. How much you will worry about — A) never making money again or B) never overcoming the sheer workload C) not making Sports’ Day or the Nativity Play because you’re terrified of not meeting *that Uber-important deadlier-than-dead deadline*, and then they will never send you anything ever again… How much you will hate seeing other people’s happy-clappy lives, toes in the sand, and the latest Apple device next to a tropical cocktail. How much you will even further withdraw because loneliness is all you’re used to these days. How much strength and willpower it will require to deal with your own emotional trauma responses and inner demons while raising a young family, and building a business.   In my humble opinion, after 12 years, self-employment is make-or-break. I incorporated my company a day after giving birth—a decision I wouldn't make again, but it was necessary.   To my 20-something self all those years ago, I’d say:   1. Success is lonely; be prepared to make arrangements to proactively counteract that. Join groups, communities, and nurture them. Go for a run with your friend. Meet up for a cuppa. Even if it feels like you’re slacking and you *should* be working. It's an investment in your mental health.   2. It’s OK to ask for help. I despise the adage “It’s OK to not be OK”, because it lures you (it definitely has lured me!) into a false sense of: “Maybe I’ll just suffer for a bit, in silence, because I can’t be moaning about my ‘first-world’ problems”… You don’t have to do it all on a solo mission. If you want to go far, rally a great team around you.   3. Choose wisely who you let into your inner circle. Not all advice you receive over time is good; trust your instincts. Your gut never lets you down. Don’t let your gut down.   4. Know when 'good' is good enough. Stop striving for perfection (you’ll never get there); instead, allow yourself to experiment, fail, and learn. Everyone else is struggling too. Just because they decide to show their highlights, it doesn’t mean they don’t have any low moments. It doesn’t mean they don’t care for a loved one, have gone through terrible loss, or are going through existential worries right now.      If you’re self-employed and you’re still here, despite it all (or because of it): Give yourself a little pat on the back today. 🧡      #mentalhealth

Do you know what I consider one of the most important qualities for an employee? A trait that is often underestimated... It's having dreams. I want my team to have a dream. I truly believe in people with dreams, and I will always do everything in my power to make those dreams come true. That's why, here at The Schippers Group, we actively encourage it. A few weeks ago, I asked some employees to grab a blank sheet of paper. Once they had their blank sheet, I asked them to write down their dream. Some wrote it down immediately while others needed a moment to think. I patiently waited until all the dreams were on paper. Then I said to them: If this is truly your dream, make plans. Take action, take risks, and ask for help. Do you want me to brainstorm with you? Then come to me or talk to your supervisor about it. I want you to keep on dreaming and pursuing your dreams. The dreams don't have to revolve around our company. I actually love it when employees want to be entrepreneurs or have dreams outside of work. Reflecting on and sharing dreams together makes those dreams come alive. I've even helped several employees start their own businesses. Sure, I eventually lost them as employees, but that doesn't bother me. Dreams always come first. That energy, that vibe is what I want within the company. I believe it contributes to everyone feeling good about themselves. Our focus is on the positive. On all the possibilities! Life becomes more enjoyable that way. I hope that, as you read this, it serves as a reminder for you to pause and reflect on your dreams. Write them down again and go chase them. Take the risk. Seek help. Make a plan. Dreams are not meant to be ignored. If you're an employer like me, try doing this exercise with your employees. Have them reflect on their dreams and see how you can support them. It creates such a strong bond. Respond with a 👍 if you'd like to talk more with your colleagues about your dreams.

And that’s a wrap… It is with a heavy mix of emotions that I inform you that I have sold Associated Cleaning Services and have now completed my transition out of the company. My early life plans changed a few times, and it was not my initial intention to work in the family business. But as they say, we make plans and God laughs. From cleaning with my Dad at a young age, I can honestly say that I have been in the industry nearly all my life. Fast forward through the sudden loss of my only brother, who was the GM at the time, to a brain aneurysm, boom and bust times, floods, global pandemics, and every challenge in between, I was exhausted. Surviving in business takes its pound of flesh. My father told me once running a business is like trying to dance with a gorilla. I instantly understood the reference. Over many years, there have, of course, been many wonderful, talented, kind, intelligent people who have made it possible for me to pick myself up each morning and make it to work during some very dark days. When I think of the success the company has worked very hard to achieve, I always think of the quote by Sir Isaac Newton: “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” I have worked with some mighty giants during my career, but the person who was both my giant and my rock was my wife, Alison. Not only did Ali work with me for years, but she has also been the person who has supported me through my long mental health journey and always supported me in the business. It is, in fact, the advancement of my mental health that allowed me to realize that I was ready to stop. There are some clients who will always hold a very special place for me. The ones who would let me know that they were going to support us through a rough patch would bring me to the brink of tears. That is the immense power we have with each other. We even had one amazing client who stayed with us from before I even started full-time in the company to after I left—an incredible span of over 30 years. The business world is planets away from where I started and I feel it is not for the better. The commoditization of labor is heartbreaking to see over the decades. The compromise of cleaning outcomes with unrealistic budgets for the pursuit of ever-increasing profits meant less and less job satisfaction, and my knowledge to be able to supply an A-class outcome was valued less and less.  I have no regrets whatsoever in my decision to move on so it was most definitely my time. I wonder what the future holds? I hope I have more to offer the world but for now, I want to try and make some headway into balancing the family time ledger and supporting Alison as she heads into her wellbeing business. “Thank you” doesn’t have the gravitas for a moment like this but that is all I have so I offer my heartfelt gratitude to my staff, clients, suppliers and friends. It has been quite the adventure. Best wishes, Seamus

Happy New Year to one and all! I used to be a person who believed in - “Just go with the flow” Until, this year when I learned that only dead fish go with the flow. Yes, it is great to have goals but better to have definite plans to achieve those goals. Here is the 4 F-Framework which can help you define your goals and resolutions: 1. Family & Friends- Strengthen your relationships and if you are an immigrant like me whose parents live far away -call your parents and your loved ones one more time each week. 2. Faith- Happiness lies within you and not in outside possessions. Have extreme Faith in what you do and make a difference in people around you. Small steps like donating to charity, religious sanctuary or reading spiritual scripts and pouring positive belief in yourself. 3. Fitness- Time to achieve physical and mental fitness too. One more cardio each month, one more heavier weight lifting and even walking for a few minutes every day. Hack- if you have a sitting job: try doing 1 plank 1 minute a day. It helps to get rid of back pains. For mental fitness- try reading a good solid book on self-improvement and business. “Do Epic Shit” by Ankur Warikoo is the one I am starting my year with. 4. Finance- It is the most underrated resolution which has the power to influence the majority of your lifestyle. Write down your dream salary - it doesn’t have to be realistic. Find someone in your niche or start discovering an opportunity where you can achieve that. Seek mentorship from the industry giants or search them online and start studying their patterns and successes. If you find this helpful, comment down your resolutions.