1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:04,560 [How to Run a Web Design Business with Paul Boag: A Lifestyle Choice Deep Dive] 2 00:00:04,590 --> 00:00:10,410 So let's move on and look at the crucial thing for me and the thing that we 3 00:00:10,410 --> 00:00:13,250 discussed right at the very beginning which is this 4 00:00:13,250 --> 00:00:16,820 idea of building a lifestyle business. 5 00:00:16,820 --> 00:00:20,640 A business that supports the life that we want to live. 6 00:00:20,640 --> 00:00:24,310 Work to live. Never live to work. 7 00:00:24,310 --> 00:00:26,840 There are basically two types of businesses. 8 00:00:26,840 --> 00:00:30,890 There are those with an exit strategy I mentioned in the last video 9 00:00:30,890 --> 00:00:34,440 and there are those lifestyle businesses that are developed 10 00:00:34,440 --> 00:00:37,810 to facilitate the lifestyle that you want to live. 11 00:00:37,810 --> 00:00:42,230 Now as you have gathered, I'm a huge fun of the second type of business 12 00:00:42,230 --> 00:00:45,930 and I think most web designers fall into this category. 13 00:00:45,930 --> 00:00:52,100 They like the idea of building a business that supports their lifestyle. 14 00:00:54,080 --> 00:00:57,630 People become their own boss for a couple of reasons. 15 00:00:57,950 --> 00:01:01,030 Firstly, they have this image that if they become their own boss 16 00:01:01,030 --> 00:01:03,560 and set up their own business, they'll have more time. 17 00:01:03,560 --> 00:01:07,700 They'll have more money and more freedom in what they do. 18 00:01:09,030 --> 00:01:12,500 Unfortunately, the reality is not always that. 19 00:01:12,500 --> 00:01:16,500 I've got to say that a lot of the freelancers and web designers I know 20 00:01:16,500 --> 00:01:20,290 that who've gone and set up by themselves, they're undercharging 21 00:01:20,290 --> 00:01:25,290 from their work a lot of the time and they're also at the whims of clients. 22 00:01:25,290 --> 00:01:28,780 Essentially, all of those things that they wanted from setting up 23 00:01:28,780 --> 00:01:32,280 their own businesses, they failed to achieve. 24 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:37,320 Now they tend to justify it to themselves by saying that things will get easier 25 00:01:38,320 --> 00:01:42,270 but I have to say to you, don't live for the future. 26 00:01:42,270 --> 00:01:46,690 Your business should facilitate your lifestyle today. 27 00:01:46,690 --> 00:01:50,300 And so don't set up the business where you're willing 28 00:01:50,300 --> 00:01:55,540 to sacrifice those ideas you had when you first set it up. 29 00:01:55,540 --> 00:02:00,160 You wanted more freedom. You wanted to work less hours. 30 00:02:00,160 --> 00:02:03,600 You wanted to be your own boss. Hang on to that. 31 00:02:04,600 --> 00:02:07,530 Ask yourself, what was your perfect job be like? 32 00:02:07,530 --> 00:02:10,479 And then keep focused on that vision. 33 00:02:10,479 --> 00:02:15,350 If your perfect job is working less, make sure you work less. 34 00:02:15,350 --> 00:02:19,010 If you're getting too busy, either hire another member of staff 35 00:02:19,010 --> 00:02:22,030 or don't take on as many projects. 36 00:02:22,030 --> 00:02:27,510 If your perfect job is to be your own boss, make sure you don't take 37 00:02:27,510 --> 00:02:31,610 on that project which you know has got a really difficult client 38 00:02:31,610 --> 00:02:34,110 who's going to turn into a pain in the neck. 39 00:02:34,110 --> 00:02:40,200 If something is going to take you further away from your vision, don't do it. 40 00:02:40,200 --> 00:02:44,720 Stay focused--Remember, you're in control of your business 41 00:02:44,720 --> 00:02:46,620 and not the other way around. 42 00:02:46,620 --> 00:02:50,440 It's easy for your business to turn into this monster that you have to 43 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:54,480 constantly feed with work and it ends up dictating to you 44 00:02:54,480 --> 00:02:56,770 but that's not the way it should be. 45 00:02:56,770 --> 00:03:02,880 Ultimately, a lifestyle business is about facilitating your lifestyle 46 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:08,140 but remember this as well, it's not just about facilitating your lifestyle, 47 00:03:08,140 --> 00:03:12,880 it's also about facilitating the lifestyle of your employees too. 48 00:03:12,880 --> 00:03:19,180 If you've hired someone, that's not an excuse to dump all the rubbish on them 49 00:03:19,180 --> 00:03:22,860 because you don't want to turn into one of those bosses 50 00:03:22,860 --> 00:03:26,080 You're trying to create a business that facilitates the 51 00:03:26,080 --> 00:03:28,610 lifestyle of everyone that works in it. 52 00:03:28,610 --> 00:03:33,890 Stay focused on their aim and I can promise you that you will enjoy your work 53 00:03:33,890 --> 00:03:38,530 so much more and you will enjoy working with your colleagues.