I love hearing about people who are keeping it real.
The ones who are juggling this crazy thing called life, and a family, all while growing their business, their way.
Because the truth is, it’s not all rainbows and unicorns all of the time.
But it is worth it in the end.
In the #RealLifeBiz interview series, I talk to some of my favourite people about how they do what they do.
And this week we are talking to Lauren June
So Lauren, what do you do?
Well, that depends on what day it is!
I have 3 different but connected businesses – Roooar Magazine & Community, Lauren June – my consulting business, and Blanca Creative – a white label agency. A number of my clients have said that when they’re talking to me about an issue they’re having they can see the cogs turning in my brain to work out the solutions. Which is part of the reason I run 3 businesses; they are the solutions for the 3 main issues I see with my community and clients over and over again.
I offer support and inspiration at a cost-friendly price via Roooar, I provide coaching and consulting where I teach women how to create a healthy bottom line by building systems and profitable processes into their business via Lauren June, and finally Blanca Creative started when my first strategy client cried. No I wasn’t mean, we had gone through an incredible strategy session and created a plan to make her dream business happen. But the realisation of everything that needed to be done was just too overwhelming and so I loaned her my support team to get all the things done! And, over time, I packaged our team up, branded us and white labeled it – so we now become an extension of other people’s business so they can outsource and grow their income streams.
How long have you been doing it?
My face might tell you something different, but I’m a lifer.
I started in business 12 years ago, but like all business owners, we grow and change. I grew up. A lot.
I first started out in bookkeeping after working in an accounting firm for a few years, I became disillusioned with many of the bookkeepers and the damage that was occurring to my client’s business through mismanagement. I decided that I wanted to build a practice that performed the perfect middle-(wo)man balancing act that helps businesses and their accountants get along brilliantly. I simplified business so my clients could concentrate on the important things, like selling and the occasional holiday. But very soon I realised many business owners had more problems than messy books. I could pinpoint exactly what went wrong every time. And it was always the same problems. So I pivoted and started to work with clients to build systems, processes, and automation so they could leverage their time and increase their profit margins.
What does “balance” mean to you/look like for you?
The concept of balance actually scares me, because I often feel like we, as business owners, are always working towards the mystical balance in our business and life. When we never quite get there, we feel like failures and/or work harder to become “better” business owners so we can then try to reach our nirvana of balance. I don’t think it’s sustainable or even attainable for some business owners.
My balance is batch and block working and working in the future, I need to have a plan and to work in a preemptive state vs reactive, it’s a whole lot less stressful and it means I have a happy team because they aren’t putting out spot fires everywhere.
I also work in ‘seasons’. I make sure that if I have a busy period that I schedule downtime or what I refer to as “shut the f(beep) up time”. I switch off, I walk away from all tech, and just ‘am’ – as I need to be. I am fortunate enough to live on a beautiful property so switch-off time is normally spent trying to propagate a veggie patch from seed, hanging with my lambs, or trying to work out a power tool because I thought it was a good idea to upcycle a piece of furniture in our house reno.
What does a normal week include?
I would love to say that I have a perfectly scheduled week, but that is a Pinterest board – not real business. Most weeks are different to the last one. I try to stick with a block calendar system to schedule my week; my calendar is broken up into 3 client blocks and 3 admin blocks per day with Friday being PD and BD. One of the biggest issues that I found when stepping into my business full-time was the lack of schedule so I needed to create this for myself. Am I perfect at it? Hell no, but about 85% of the time I am great and it’s when I’m most productive.
What’s the best thing about being your own boss?
The space to create and live how I choose. My partner works shift and owning my own business means that I can schedule my business around our life. He often works weekends so I plan my calendar as much as I can to give us space to go and enjoy time together so we aren’t missing out on connecting.
Also, I have lambs that keep me company during the workday. Who else can say that?
And what’s the worst?
Dealing with people that aren’t on the same page. Not everyone is going to be the right client for me so creating clear guidelines around who I work best with has been a huge gamechanger, it means potential clients can self-select so the people I work with, I love. There is no point in spending your day dealing with people that don’t get your values and ethics.
Also, having to listen to myself and take the brilliant advice I give my clients, especially around self-promotion. I love to support other women and show off their incredible skills, but shining the light back on myself I find very hard. I am learning though it’s a muscle and the more I do it the more comfortable I become and sharing all of the things.
When times are good, how do you celebrate?
Ummm, wine! Actually, I step away from business, I take time to enjoy what my business has allowed me to create and I take some time to connect with my non-business time to enjoy some non-biz related chats and allow some internal decompression.
When things are crappy, how do you handle it?
Head on. If I don’t just deal with an issue directly I will worry about it endlessly, so I rather just take the issue by the shoulders and fix the problem. The reality is, most problems are workable if you listen and deal with the issue, apologise where needed, and move on. Also remember sometimes you just aren’t going to ‘jam’ with people and that doesn’t make you or them bad, just move one and let it go.
What’s the long term plan? (Keep working, build an empire, sell, retire, etc)
To pivot when needed and continue to grow, that’s all. I like to keep my creativity open and ready to be inspired. I mean, I bought a magazine on a whim and transformed it into a thriving and intimate community where our members truly support each other in sharing wins, lessons, and life. The magazine has allowed us to share our members’ messages and help them to toot their horn loudly! I always wanted the flexibility to be able to do that.
What is one piece of advice you would give anyone running their own business?
Imperfect action.
Take it.
No one, nothing, and no business, can be or is perfect. Don’t try to be, you can’t be and that is what makes us incredible.
Notes from Sam:
Despite living on opposite sides of the country, I’ve met Lauren face to face several times. And I must admit, I have a little bit of a crush. I love her down to earth attitude, her sense of humour, and her love of numbers and systems. As an ex-bookkeeper, Lauren looks at the numbers first, and has a spreadsheet for everything (the complete opposite of me)…. I think we all need a Lauren in our life.