Solutions for Work/Life Balance

Outsourcing

2007-04-27T09:14:00.000-06:00

To say the world that we live in is fast paced, is an understatement. Twenty-four hours can pass and it's still not enough time for successful professionals to make progress on their to-do lists. No matter how we may attempt to have strict adherence to our schedule, it never fails that an unexpected opportunity may arise, a client has a crisis, a deadline is breathing down your neck, or something in your personal life requires immediate attention. The problem is that the unexpected event interferes with other critical plans you may have had for the day and wreck your productivity. Hey...life happens! What are you gonna do? Outsource!

My clients always have crises. It never fails. There are ways to minimize the effect of an unexpected event for a busy professional. Outsourcing certain aspects of your life/business helps to keep you more organized and reduce the stress onset by last minute nuances. A few examples are:

Dry Cleaning. How long does your dry cleaning sit by the front door before you actually get it to the cleaners? There are several companies that will come to your home or office to pick up your dry cleaning. You don't have to be at home to use the service. Garments can be left in a designated location and they'll be delivered back to you when it's most convenient.
Mobile Detailing. This industry is becoming very common for the car enthusiast. I transport clients in my truck on occasion, so keeping it clean is a priority. It's also a reflection to clients about your attention to detail. Mobile Detailing companies will come to your home or office and clean your car for you in the parking lot.
Courier Services. This isn't a new service but it's very valuable. You can't beat this time saver when you have to get critical documents across town but your schedule doesn't permit.
Grocery shopping. Ever been to the grocery store with hungry children...after 5 pm? The store is crowded, your child's favorite cereal is out of stock, and the cashier's customer service is ruder than normal. It's unpleasant to say the least. Escape the after work chaos and have someone do this for you.

Companies that cater to busy professionals understand that time is a precious asset, so there is a premium charged for their service. However, the piece of mind you'll have is priceless.

BONUS TIP: Outsource the outsourcing. There are several things you can outsource in your life. The problem for some is finding reliable companies, calling them, and setting up the appointments. Some use their personal assistant or office administrative personnel. Others use Kennedi Taylor Concierges. Either way, find someone you trust that will keep your life organized, so you can stay billable. That way, when the crisis occurs, you are better prepared and your personal life doesn't suffer.

I'd like to make my next blog a Q&A session. If you have questions about how you could make your personal/professional life more efficient, please send me an email. I'll respond to you in next week's edition. My email address is samuel@kenneditaylor.com.

Tips for Power Couples

2007-04-09T23:38:00.000-06:00

An old saying goes, "Behind a good man, there's a good woman." As the number of female executives increases, that statement rings true in reverse. Having two successful people in a relationship comes with a set of unique issues. Power Couples are not your Monday thru Friday, 9am to 5 pm employees. As a result, schedules will often overlap or conflict with one another. Not only do you have to find time to build your business, you have to find time to spend with the one you love.

Successful executives understand that you don't build your business during normal business hours. Breakfast, lunch, and especially dinner are where lasting connections are made. We must attend after hours networking events hosted by the local Chamber of Commerce. You can find us with our existing or potential clients on the golf course, deep sea fishing, or at a professional sporting event. Attending these events is critical to your professional success. They can also be a critical part of a successful Power relationsip.

These tips have been successful for my Power Couples:

Develop a weekly calendar and post it somewhere visible in your home. The most common place is the refrigerator or you can send your appointments via Microsoft Outlook. The calendar should list all of your plans for the week. Successful executives must be effective communicators, so be sure to CLEARLY communicate your plans to your partner.
When possible, schedule before or after hours events at the same time as your loved one. This isn't terribly difficult. It may just involve moving an appointment up or down 30 minutes.
Attend networking events together. Start networking on opposite sides of the room and meet in the middle. Whoever gets the most contacts gets to pick where you have dinner.

BONUS TIP: Get tips from other Power Couples. I've learned there is nothing new under the sun. Someone, somewhere has overcome the same challenges you face right now. Don't re-invent the wheel, learn from those who've come before you. Everyone's situation is unique but you'll find some similarities that you can use for yourself in the future.

Kennedi Taylor Concierges develops personalized strategies for our clients every day. To learn more about how we can bring balance back to your life, visit our website at www.kenneditaylor.com.

Helpful Tips for the Road Warrior.

2007-04-02T21:38:00.000-06:00

Until 8 months ago, I used to live for the road. I was a consultant for an international consulting firm and I aggressively pursued engagements that required extensive travel. Traveling engagements were always the most fun and they paid the most money. For me, the most difficult aspect of traveling was hearing the frustration in my wife's voice because she had to handle most of the household responsibilities. I never thought to make provisions for her so that my absence wouldn't be a heavy burden....until a client asked me what he could do to help his wife while he was away.

If I thought more about what she went through, I would have done the following things to make life easier for her:

Check her vehicle for any service it may need and arrange for repairs to be made PRIOR to your departure. This includes checking the tires, oil, and addressing any lights that may be blinking on the dashboard. The last thing she needs is to have vehicle trouble, especially if you have school aged children. Several dealerships will pickup/drop off the car at a location convenient for you.

Put a full tank of gasoline in her car the day before you leave. If you're leaving on a Sunday night or any day during the work week, you'll make the following morning much easier for her if she doesn't have to worry about running out of gas.

Buy enough groceries to last through the first week of your travel. Shopping in a crowded grocery store is challenging. Shopping in a crowded grocery store with a hungry child requires super human abilities! Be sure to buy enough food so she won't have to visit the grocery store until the weekend.

Coordinate any household services that may occur while you're away. Schedule the cleaning, pool maintenance, and lawn services for times that will be convenient for your wife. Write checks for the amount of the service in advance and tell your wife where to find the payments.

Iron your children's clothes for the week. When my wife traveled, I actually used to do this to make the morning ritual less stressful. It makes a HUGE difference in your morning.

BONUS TIP: Your wife can help you with these tasks and it gives you some quality time together before you have to leave.

I write my blog as if I were speaking to men but it's applicable for both genders. These tips will make life easier for your wife and in most cases they bring you closer together. You can't ask for much more before you leave on business.

If you would like to know how Kennedi Taylor Concierges can help you, visit our website at www.kenneditaylor.com.

Welcome to Our Blog!

2007-03-25T11:37:00.000-06:00

I'm Samuel Wesley, President of Kennedi Taylor Concierges, LLC. Thank you for visiting the Solutions for Work/Life Balance web log. The purpose of this blog is to help YOU increase your PRODUCTIVITY and PROFITABILITY! Providing Lifestyle Management Solutions for busy professionals like you is what I do at Kennedi Taylor Concierges. I hope you can take some of these strategies and deploy them in your personal life.

This week's blog will address creative ways to spend time with our children. Last month, my wife and I celebrated the birth of our second daughter. Children are indeed a blessing! Children also require large quantities of quality time. Our youngest demands the most time and while she's so young, she'll easily get it. To make sure I spend quality time with my oldest daughter, I've chosen some daily and weekly events that I must do in order make sure she knows that I love her. These simple strategies seem to work...and that's saying a lot because my first daughter is very demanding.

I hug and kiss my daughter every morning when she storms into our room. This would seem obvious to most parents but it's not. You can't underestimate how important this is to your children, no matter how old they are.
We pray together while I drive her to school. We ask God to keep our family safe, that we have a good day, and that we can help others. It's one of my daughters favorite things to do. If you're driving, please don't close your eyes and pray!
I read her a story every night. We take turns reading each page. My daughter is an avid reader so this was an easy connection to make. Find something that interests your child and spend some time talking with them about it. If you have multiple children or teenagers, this may be more challenging. Keep in mind, whatever energy you exert at being successful at your job...you MUST exert MORE effort to being a successful parent. Make the same sacrifices for your family that you do for your job.
Every weekend, my daughter and I bake something different from scratch. I don't like any baked goods out of the box. My daughter doesn't really care as long as it tastes good. This always gives us a few hours of uninterrupted time with each other and it's invaluable. Baking something different every week gives her the courage to taste new things because they are the results of her hard work.

BONUS TIP: I tell my daughter how much I love her every chance that I can. It's especially important to re-enforce this after she's done something wrong. It's not uncommon that I will only see my daughter in the morning and right before she's about to go to sleep. She needs to know that I love her, no matter what, while I'm away from her.

I encourage you try these simple ideas. However simple these ideas are, they are NOT always easy. Every parent's situation is different and I can only share what works for us. Adjust these strategies to fit what will work best in your home. The most important thing to remember is that you have to devote the energy it takes to be successful. You didn't become successful professional overnight so finding your Work/Life Balance will take some time.

To learn more about how Kennedi Taylor Concierges can help you, go to www.kenneditaylor.com.