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As entrepreneurs, we often find ourselves deep into the work stuff that we mostly forget to keep our work-life balance.

Well, one hack I found is proper delegation. That way, I have removed myself from the processes, and have been staying to manage and attend to the most important stuff that needs my attention. How about you, fellow founders, how do you keep your work-life balance?

If you want to learn more about how I’m able to delegate properly, or how we do it inside our ventures, feel free to connect with me or visit theblacksmith.com.

 As entrepreneurs, we often find ourselves trying to do too many things at once, which can lead to burnout and feeling overwhelmed. We become so focused on the task at hand that we forget to step back and assess what is really important. We continually seek to accomplish more, work harder, and be more productive. But the truth is, being busy is not the same as being productive. Being busy means you’re doing something, but it doesn’t necessarily mean that what you’re doing is effective or efficient. Being productive requires focus and efficiency which can only be achieved when you prioritize tasks and delegate responsibilities. 

When you’re trying to do everything yourself, you can quickly become overwhelmed and end up spinning your wheels without making any real progress. The key to being truly productive, that we do inside BlackSmith Ventures is proper delegation. It’s important to recognize that no one person can do everything and that you can’t be successful without the help of others. By delegating tasks to the right people, I am able to focus on the important tasks that only I can do. This allows me to be more productive and efficient with my time. It also allows me to free up time for other activities and focus on the things that matter most. 

Delegating can also help to create a better team dynamic. When you delegate tasks, you’re giving others the chance to take ownership of their work and become more invested in the success of the business. This can help to create a sense of camaraderie and boost morale.

Another great way to make sure you are productive is to track your progress. Keep track of tasks and deadlines and assess whether or not you are on track to reach your goals. This will help you stay focused and keep you from getting overwhelmed.

If you want to learn more about what and how we do it inside BlackSmith Ventures, feel free to connect with me, I’d be happy to share more, or you can check out theblacksmith.com.

Come join us as we build our BSV Launch Program which is dedicated to helping Early-stage Startup Founders!

One of the highlights of this program is the local community that we are building.

We dive into the critical role that building a community plays in the success of your startup. From providing valuable feedback and support to creating a network of potential customers and investors, having a strong community can make all the difference in taking your startup to the next level. We’ll explore practical strategies for cultivating a thriving community, including leveraging social media, hosting events, and engaging with your audience. Whether you’re just starting out or looking to grow your existing community, this video offers valuable insights and actionable advice to help you succeed. Join us as we uncover the power of community in startup success.

If you want to learn more or be a part of the BSV Launch Program, visit theblacksmith.com.
See you there!

Watch the full video here.

We’re working hard on building attraction (think attention) systems within each of our ventures and inside our Launch Program.

Apply today if you want to join one of our community groups 

www.theblacksmith.com

And follow the journey on YouTube at “BlackSmith Adventures”: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHozR_9uAofCQKzzsNBP5XA

We’re building brick by brick…

Last Thursday, I mentioned that we’re building our Launch platform in real-time alongside you. Launch is a community-based peer group to help encourage, support, and grow like minded founders.

If you need clarity, community, and a shot of courage 

 Apply Today 

We’ve got groups kicked off in Chattanooga, Birmingham, Boston, and coming soon to Auburn and Atlanta…

Each group consists of experienced Founders / Entrepreneurs who simply need a sounding board, outside experiences, and some additional tools to get their business to momentum phase.

Typical Topics:
 – I’m struggling to reach my customers. What should I do?
 – Someone wants to acquire my venture. Is now the right time?
 – I have the wrong sales person. What do I do?
 – I’m stuck… Just need to talk to someone…
 – I just built my website. Let’s celebrate.

People are meant to be in relationship.
Suffering is minimized with community.
Wins are maximized with community.

 WEEK ONE UPDATE ON BUILDING LAUNCH 

– Built the website THEBLACKSMITH with the ability to have Founders Apply by filling out a simple form (we started getting applicants in all 3 cities through organic reach).

– Launched the YouTube channel BLACKSMITH ADVENTURES where I’ll post long(er) form content on exactly what we’re doing. Those videos will drop Monday’s and Thursdays with the first dropping later today.

– Meeting today with an expert to build out the media system (marketing) so we can amplify the attention machine with less effort.

– I’m away with the family this week so will start interviewing applicants next week (relationship building)

More to come…

Remember, the first step in any venture is to get clear, get loud, and get focused… Each of those are ACTION VERBS…

Love for you to follow along, join a group (if its a fit), and subscribe on YouTube…

#founders#entrepreneurs#business

I get asked a lot about how I unwind from all the “stuff” this entrepreneurial journey throws our way… Here’s my methods…

– Daily physical activity

– Daily time to think (GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION to do this)

– Constant reminders about why I’m doing this…

– Tight network of people who support, encourage, and push me.

I’m focused on living my best life TODAY, while building my best life 10 years from now…

#Community is so important to me because:

 – when I suffer, they absorb the pain (think pain divided by the number of people in my community).  (PAIN IS LOWER)

 – when I win, they also win so the win gets multiplied.  (WIN IS EXPONENTIAL)

Find your tribe…

Visit theblacksmith.com if you want to learn more.

Can we  STOP  worrying about competition?

Why do I say this? 

Cause it’s causing you to freak the crap out and it’s NOT serving you well… 

You are a unique Founder with a unique dream that has a unique skill set.

You have a unique network…

You have a unique story…

You have unique experiences…

Quit trying to be like others and simply operate in your uniqueness…

#SUPERPOWER

I often reflect to all the support I’ve had in my ventures and can’t fathom going at it alone. The power of community continues to be so important in my life… Even after multiple exits, I still get stuck 

– Frustrated and Discouraged –

If you find yourself in that situation, here are three things you can do:

 Redefine the win; Winning is not money. Winning is an actionable step you can take that gets you 1 cm closer to the goal. Steve Nudelberg says gets 1% better every day. I’m reading the book, “Atomic Habits” and there are similar vibes in that…

 Focus on the next play; that’s kind of a b’ball thing, but applies here too. Focus on what you can control right now…

 Do something small to gain momentum. This can be anything positive that is not limiting (make a call, send a text, etc)…

Too often, we allow limiting beliefs to tear us down…

Remember #mindset + #resourcefulness will  our companies into momentum phase.

Visit theblacksmith.com if you want to learn more.

Spoke to three (3) founders this week who have a great company, but have gotten stuck. Stuck with the speed of movement, stuck understanding all the tools of today (social media, customer attraction, AI, etc)…

So, creating a BlackSmith movement… Going to build up small, close-knit communities of experienced founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners who have great companies, but need a little hope, encouragement, and collaboration around the tools of today.

To show newer entrepreneurs the journey, I’m going to build this live and explain the journey… Let’s take the fear and frustration out of changing this world…

Apply today if interested in joining the Birmingham, Chattanooga, or Auburn groups…

#collaboration#founders#entrepreneurs

I’ve been a part of a peer group since December 2019 (3 yrs) and it’s been a game changer for my career… Think small, intimate place to share fears, frustrations, successes, and lessons 

Alongside experienced founders, entrepreneurs, and business owners who’ve been there before, think bigger, and break limiting beliefs.

Decided to do something cool for the BlackSmith tribe…

– Launch an 8-10 person tribe/community in select cities where we can support our fellow Founders, Entrepreneurs, and Business Owners (BlackSmiths) who are out fighting the good fight…

I love meeting together in person, so we’ll get together IN PERSON monthly…

I love momentum so we’ll do virtual weekly sessions to ensure we are all progressing…

I hate getting stuck, so we’ll have 24/7 access to all members across all cities…

I’m going to finally use my text community platform to make sure you get timely information, support, and encouragement. Shoot me a text to +1 (423) 264-2377 and you can join that for free (no Launch membership required).

Here’s the fun part… I’m going to share the journey of building the Launch community in real time. Share the wins and the lessons from “launching” a business.

Putting this out here to see who would be interested in joining the first groups in Birmingham, Auburn, Chattanooga, and Atlanta. Any other cities we should consider?

If you’re interested – apply today.