Myth #1: You can get by with just a few hours of sleep.

Myth #2: You can easily stick to a strict work schedule.

Myth #3: Babies are predictable and their needs can be easily met.

In this episode, our guest David will debunk these myths and share the truth about the challenges of sleep deprivation and adapting to the needs of a baby while running a small business.

"You don't choose when you sleep, you don't choose anything anymore. I can't remember what it is they say like newborn parents in that first year lose something like 50% of their sleep or something ridiculous, yet they still." - David

My special guest is David

Meet David Adderson, a man who wears the hats of being a successful entrepreneur and a new father. In the early months of diving into parenthood, David soon found that balancing the demands of his blossoming business with the care of his little bundle of joy brought its unique set of challenges. From functioning on minimum amounts of sleep to navigating the first few milestones of his baby’s life, David's journey is one that echoes the struggles and triumphs of numerous new parent entrepreneurs.

This is David's story:

For David, the winding path of early parenthood was a test of endurance, a journey marked by sleepless nights and the ceaseless demands of a newborn. The challenge was to juggle work while catering to the needs of his baby, a test that was both physically and emotionally draining. Sleep, once a luxury he often indulged in, had become a scarce commodity. Yet, David found that the struggle wasn't so much about the lack of sleep, but the need to function as an adult while running on empty. The arrival of Christmas brought a much-needed respite—a turn of events that saw his baby sleeping through the night, changing everything for the better. Looking back, David marvels at their resilience, at how they managed to push through the initial months of constant upheaval and adapt to their new reality.

In this episode, you will be able to:

• Unravel the strategies for seamlessly balancing work and parental roles, especially in the tumultuous first few months.
• Comprehend the significance of reliance and delegation when it comes to unleashing your team's potential.
• Ascertain the need for process-oriented sales that promise a systematic growth of your business.
• Discern the impact of a team member's departure or unforeseen circumstances on a small business and how to counteract it.
• Recognize the crucial role technology plays in accelerating business growth and teamwork.

Sleep Deprivation

Dealing with sleep deprivation can be a vital part of parenthood, no question about it. A lack of normal, restful sleep can significantly impact your physical health, mood, and cognitive abilities, leading to reduced productivity and energy. For a small business owner, who needs to be 'on' most of the time, this challenge can be formidable. During the podcast, David discusses how parents need to adapt to the challenges of parenthood, like being up multiple times a night, and yet manage to function efficiently in a business environment. He emphasizes the need for adaptability and resilience in the face of frequent disruptions in sleep patterns.

The Importance of Team Collaboration

In a small business, teamwork is not just beneficial – it is imperative. Working together as a cohesive unit can reduce workloads, boost ideas, foster innovation, and streamline decision-making procedures. Understanding each other's strengths and leveraging them for collective gain can enhance efficiency, productivity, and overall business performance. During their conversation, both Davids highlight the importance of involving their team in various aspects of their business. Acknowledging the limitations of working in isolation, they note the positive shift that occurred when more team-oriented operations were put in place. Both believe that it's not just about working together, but also about growing, innovating, and facing challenges together.

Balancing Work and Family

Life as a small business owner comes with its fair share of obstacles, and they can be all the more complex when balanced with the role of new parenthood. It's a delicate balancing act of dividing your time as business responsibilities vie for attention with parental responsibilities. The key lies in setting boundaries, carving out specific time for personal and professional activities, and maintaining flexibility for unexpected situations. Adopting a structured daily routine can help manage time efficiently, keeping track of tasks, deadlines, and family routines. In the podcast, David candidly shares his experience of juggling work with the joys and challenges of being a new father. Making a conscious effort to leave work early, he aims to keep a few dedicated hours to spend with his daughter every day. By doing so, he reiterates the need for all busy business owners to compartmentalize and cherish quality family time, maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

The resources mentioned in this episode are:

• Check out our podcast: Listen to the Part Two episode with David Addison where we discuss the last twelve months.
• Consider adding middle names: Share your thoughts on whether including middle names when addressing someone makes it sound more serious.
• Reflect on the challenges of the first twelve months: Think about the difficulties of balancing work and parenting, especially during the first few months of sleep deprivation.
• Appreciate the support of the team: Recognize the team's efforts in stepping up and performing well during your absence or when you needed extra support.
• Focus on building a sales process: Explore the importance of having a documented sales process and consider implementing one to improve new business acquisition.
• Emphasize relationship-building over traditional sales tactics: Shift your approach to building relationships, providing advice, and creating positive experiences with potential clients, rather than hard-selling.
• Highlight the stability of the business model: Discuss the benefits of working on a subscription basis with retainer clients, ensuring a steady cash flow and minimizing the risk of chasing sales.
• Acknowledge the impact of a small team: Recognize the potential threat to the business if a key team member leaves or if something unexpected happens.

Timestamped summary of this episode:
00:00:01 - "Introduction",
David Addison reflects on the past year and discusses the challenges of balancing work and parenthood.

00:01:14 - "Sleep Deprivation",
David and his partner struggled with sleep deprivation during the first few months of parenthood, but eventually found a routine that worked for them.

00:05:24 - "Proud of the Team",
David expresses his pride in the team's ability to step up and perform well, even when he and his partner were away or on holiday.

00:08:13 - "Focus on New Business",
David's focus for the next twelve months is to ramp up new business efforts and establish a more structured sales process.

00:13:37 - "Biggest Threat: Team Stability",
David sees the stability and cohesion of the team as the biggest potential threat to the business, particularly if someone were to leave.

00:17:04 - The Importance of Team Collaboration,
The speaker discusses the value of working together as a team, even in a tech-focused practice. They reflect on their experience during COVID-19 and how being isolated from the team hindered innovation and collaboration.

00:19:01 - Focus on Tech Optimization,
The speaker emphasizes the need to optimize existing technology and ensure seamless integration between different software tools. They highlight the importance of considering the customer journey and making their lives easier through technological improvements.

00:21:49 - Streamlining Tech Stack,
The speaker acknowledges the need to streamline their tech stack and eliminate redundant or overlapping software. They discuss the challenge of managing a large number of apps and the importance of finding a consistent way of working for the entire team.

00:25:31 - Balancing Innovation and Team Adoption,
The speaker recognizes the need to balance innovation with the team's ability to adopt new software. They discuss the challenge of providing clear direction to the team and adjusting their implementation approach to ensure consistent adoption.

00:28:44 - Expanding Tech Focus,
The speaker expresses their interest in exploring tech solutions outside of the accounting realm. They mention areas such as meeting notes, sales processes, and marketing that could benefit from automation. They also highlight the potential of leveraging Google's tools for further automation.

00:32:47 - Micromanagement and Task Management,
The speakers discuss how they have implemented task management software in their business, which has allowed them to grow more quickly. They mention the need to move away from double-checking everything and the challenges of troubleshooting software issues.

00:34:12 - Balancing Work and Family,
The speakers talk about the challenges of balancing work and family life as business owners. They mention the importance of setting boundaries and being present during designated family time. They also discuss the benefits of working in an office rather than from home.

00:37:05 - Taking Time for Personal Life,
The speakers discuss how they make time for their personal lives outside of work. They mention the importance of having dedicated date nights and going on holidays. They also talk about the need to prioritize experiences and enjoy the journey.

00:40:11 - Balancing Drive and Personal Time,
The speakers discuss the challenge of maintaining drive and creativity as business owners while also protecting personal time. They acknowledge that they never fully switch off from work but try to protect certain periods, such as the two hours after coming home. They also discuss the importance of having a supportive partner and finding ways to keep the relationship strong.

00:45:33 - Overcoming Personal Limitations,
The speakers reflect on personal limitations and how they have overcome them. They mention the shift in confidence and being more willing to take on new challenges. They also discuss how personal priorities, such as spending time with their children, can shape their

00:49:24 - Building Confidence in Networking,
The speakers discuss how their confidence has grown in networking situations. They no longer feel the need to prove themselves or desperately find clients. Instead, they focus on enjoying conversations, offering advice, and building relationships.

00:51:03 - The Slow Burn of Relationship Building,
The speakers emphasize the importance of building trust and long-term relationships in networking. They highlight that relationships take time and that it's necessary to meet people multiple times, have mutual connections, and establish trust before expecting business opportunities.

00:52:20 - Growing Confidence and Self-Acceptance,
The speakers reflect on their growing confidence, acknowledging that they still have moments of nervousness and awkwardness. However, they have learned to care less about how others view them and focus on being happy with who they are and what they do.

00:56:00 - The Power of Belief in Others,
One speaker shares a story about their godmother, who expressed immense belief in their potential. This belief had a profound impact on their self-perception and motivated them to strive for extraordinary achievements. The power of someone seeing and believing in your potential is emphasized.

00:57:40 - The Role of a Supportive Boss,
The speakers discuss the importance of supportive bosses in shaping professional growth. One speaker shares how their first boss gave them opportunities to learn and grow in various departments, providing valuable experience and guiding them towards their current career path.

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