Owning an Outdoor Lighting Company: How Many Shoes Are in Your Back Seat?
Business owners are often told they "wear a lot of hats." I never thought much about it until one day, heading from a design consultation to a job site, I reached into the back seat for my work boots and realized they weren't the only shoes there. I had five pairs in the truck: worn sneakers, running shoes, two pairs of work boots and dress shoes. By the end of the day I'd changed shoes twice more, going from consultation to job site to the gym to home. I'm not a man of many hats. I'm a man of many shoes.
Like you, I'm pulled in many directions. In the space of a few hours, I can go from looking professional while meeting with a customer to being knee-deep in mud while installing a lighting system, to running around a field while playing “fat guy” softball. Then, to wrap up the day, I make time for a night out with my wife or a playdate with my kids. It’s easy to run through the day at 180mph, impulsively reacting to every problem that arises, but that leads to stress, disorganization and missing what matters most. Here are six habits that have helped me manage my time while running an outdoor lighting company.
1. Plan your week on Sunday and review it every morning
Take 30 minutes each Sunday to plan the week ahead, then 10 minutes each morning to review it. You'll stay on top of meetings, events and deadlines.
2. Keep one system for all your tasks
Clear your head by writing your to-do list in one reliable place, whether that's a task app, a notebook or a whiteboard.
3. If it takes less than five minutes, do it now
Small unfinished tasks pile up. Knock them out before they become overwhelming.
4. Make time to grow the business
Difficult clients, tight deadlines and daily fires will always compete for your attention. Block time to plan marketing, build trade alliances and assess where the business is headed. If growth has stalled, read about breaking through growth plateaus.
5. Invest in what's important
Under pressure, the squeaky wheel gets the grease, and the important but quiet parts of life get neglected. Schedule time with family and friends, even when you're busy.
6. Remember to rest
Everyone needs a day each week to recharge, and you'll perform better when you take care of yourself. If you're like me, this is the hardest advice to follow.
Balancing a business, a marriage and a family isn't easy, and we all have many shoes to fill. Manage your time well, and maybe there'll be room for a pair of golf shoes in the back seat.
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About the author: Patrick Harders, LC, is co-founder and CEO of Sterling Lighting and founder and principal lighting designer of Dayloom. He has more than 25 years of experience designing and installing outdoor lighting, and he's one of only five landscape lighting designers in North America with Lighting Certified (LC) accreditation. His projects have won multiple international lighting awards, including landscape lighting winners in 2018 and 2021, and he leads design of Sterling's luminaires.
