Can we have some real talk about something that came up in my coaching call today? One of my clients asked me how I “do it all,” and I realized it’s time to get honest about this myth that successful women somehow manage everything on their own. Here’s the truth: if you see someone who looks like they have it all together, I promise you, they have help. They work smarter, not harder! And it’s time we normalized talking about this.
Why We Need to Stop Believing in Hustle Culture
I absolutely do not subscribe to hustle culture – you know, that “wake up early, go to bed late, do all the things” mentality. That narrative that says to be a successful woman in business, you have to work all the time and do everything yourself? It’s simply not true.
Let me share something personal. For years, I felt guilty about getting help, thinking I should be able to work smarter, not harder, on my own. But trying to do everything myself meant I was everywhere and nowhere at the same time – not fully present for work or family. Sound familiar?
The Real Secret to Success
We’re not meant to do it all. We can’t do it all. And honestly? We shouldn’t try to do it all. Working smarter, not harder, isn’t about cutting corners – it’s about being intentional with your time and energy so you can show up fully where it really matters.
Here’s what nobody tells you: trying to do everything yourself isn’t just exhausting – it’s actually holding you back from making your biggest impact. I see this all the time with my clients. They’re spending so much time on tasks that don’t need their unique talents that they’re too drained to focus on the work that only they can do.
Think about it – every minute you spend on tasks that someone else could handle is a minute you’re not spending on growing your business, serving your clients, or being present with your family. That’s not working smarter. That’s just working harder for the sake of working harder!
When I finally understood this, it completely changed how I approached both my business and my personal life. Instead of trying to prove I could do it all (and honestly, doing a mediocre job because I was spread so thin), I started focusing on where I could make the biggest impact. Everything else? That’s what support systems are for!
5 Ways to Work Smarter, Not Harder
Now, let’s talk about how to actually make this happen. I’m going to share five specific strategies that have worked for me and my clients – real, practical ways to get more support and stop trying to do it all alone. These aren’t just theoretical ideas; these are the exact approaches I use to run multiple businesses while still having time for my family and myself. And the best part? You can start implementing these today, exactly where you are.
1. Identify Your Non-Negotiables
First, get clear about what really needs YOUR unique touch and what doesn’t. For me, morning car rides with my kids were non-negotiable – I loved that connection time. But sitting in a parking lot for 90 minutes during their activities? That needed to change.
Here’s a real example: When my kids were in school, that 2:30-5:00 PM time block was crucial for wrapping up my workday and finishing client calls. Instead of cutting my work day short for school pickup and activities, I hired someone to handle that after-school window. It started with local high school students and family friends, and eventually, we hired someone specifically for this role. This gave me 10-11 additional hours every week to focus on building my business. Plus, my kids loved spending time with their drivers!
Try this: List everything you do in a week. Mark what truly needs you and what could potentially be handled by someone else. If you have trouble delegating those tasks, read my blog post about that subject.
2. Use Resources Wisely
Working smarter, not harder, isn’t about doing everything yourself – it’s about finding the right resources to support you. Let me share what this looks like in real life: I use Instacart for groceries. I pay for an annual membership that gives me free delivery. While I’m at work or transitioning through my day, I can place a grocery order, and by the time I get home, everything’s on my front porch.
The best part? It actually saves money because I’m not impulse shopping – I buy exactly what I need, adding items to my cart throughout the week as we run out. In the time it takes me to have one more client call, I’ve handled the grocery shopping for the week!
3. Address the Mindset Blocks
Here’s something I hear all the time: “I’ll get help when I make more money.” But here’s the truth – you’re actually limiting your growth by trying to do everything yourself. I get it – I had so much mom guilt about hiring someone to drive my kids to activities. But that decision allowed me to work smarter, not harder, giving me back valuable time to grow my business.
Let me share another truth: Never once have my kids looked at me and said, “Mom, I wish we cleaned the house more.” I love keeping a clean house, and I have support with that. I’ll never feel guilty about having help because it lets me spend quality time with my family instead.
4. Calculate Your True Costs
Stop telling yourself you can’t afford help. Instead, ask yourself: what’s it costing you NOT to have support? Think about it this way: when I was grocery shopping for 3-5 hours a week, that was time I could have spent with clients or growing my business. Five hours in your workday is huge! What could you do with five more hours in your work week?
Consider:
- The time you could spend with clients
- Energy you could invest in growing your business
- Quality time you could have with family
- Mental space for creativity and strategy
5. Build Your Support System
Remember, support comes in many forms. To work smarter, not harder, you need a network of support. This might include:
- A spouse who champions your success (like my husband, who looks for ways to make my life easier every single day)
- Services that save you time (like grocery delivery)
- Team members who handle specific tasks
- Other business owners who get what you’re going through
- Professional support like coaches or mentors
Making This Work in Real Life
Now that you have these five strategies, let’s talk about how to actually implement them. Because knowing what to do is one thing while taking action is another. Don’t try to revolutionize everything at once. Pick one strategy and one area of your life where getting support would make the biggest impact. Maybe it’s like my after-school situation – look for those time blocks where you’re not really being productive, just filling space. That’s your opportunity to make a change.
Think about which of the five strategies resonates most with you right now. Are you spending hours on tasks that don’t need your unique touch? Are you avoiding helpful resources because of cost? Or maybe you’re wrestling with mindset blocks about accepting help?
Be Strategic About Implementation
Once you’ve identified your starting point, create a simple action plan. For example, if you’re going to try a service like grocery delivery:
- Calculate how much time you currently spend shopping
- Research available services in your area
- Start with a small order to test the process
- Track both time saved and actual costs
- Adjust your approach based on what works
This methodical approach helps you work smarter not harder by ensuring your changes actually serve you well.
Measure What Matters
Keep track of the impact your changes make. Don’t just look at time saved – notice things like:
- Your energy levels at the end of the day
- Quality of time spent with family or clients
- Progress on important business goals
- Overall stress levels
- Revenue changes as you focus more on high-impact activities
Time to Take Action
Working smarter, not harder isn’t just about getting help – it’s about being intentional with your most precious resources: your time and energy. And here’s what I really want you to remember: seeking support isn’t a sign of weakness. It’s a strategy successful women use to create sustainable success.
Ready to start? Here’s your first step: choose just ONE thing from the strategies. Maybe it’s:
- Making that list of tasks that don’t need your unique touch
- Researching one time-saving service
- Calculating the true cost of doing everything yourself
- Identifying one potential support squad member
Whatever you choose, take action today. Don’t wait until you feel “ready” or until everything is perfectly lined up. That’s the old way of thinking – the work harder mentality. Instead, take one small step toward working smarter.
Need help figuring out your best first move? Join my Facebook community where we have real conversations about working smarter not harder. Or if you’re ready for personalized support, let’s talk! Book a discovery call, and we can talk about how to create a strategic plan to help you stop doing it all alone.
Remember – the most successful women I know aren’t doing it all themselves. They’ve built strong support systems, used resources wisely, and learned to work smarter not harder. You can too!
Ready to keep growing? Let’s stay connected:
Join the Leading Lady Community
- Join my Facebook community for daily strategies and support
- Follow me on Instagram to see how I implement these strategies in real life
- Tune into the Leading Lady Podcast to hear more about strategies like these and many others that will help you with your work-life balance
P.S. Still feeling hesitant about getting support? Remember this: every minute you spend on tasks someone else could handle is a minute you’re not spending on what only you can do. It’s time to work smarter not harder, and I’m here to help you do it.