In Your Shoes - Kevin Anderson

Perfect Balance | Writing and Coaching

Up earlier than usual to start writing a new case study for my good friend Col Gray at Pixels Ink. The subject of the case study is his client Gillies and Mackay. I’ve already interviewed Col and Gillies and Mackay MD, Cara. Now it’s a case of pulling both sides together to create something compelling. I get the draft over to Col just after midday.

Then it’s off for a coffee to hear about a friend's new business. Jean’s launched her own social media strategy and management business. She wanted to pick my brains. Was happy to share my experiences and give her some very specific advice for developing her business.

Finished the working day with a coaching call with Sue, one of my clients. I’ve been helping her tell her origin story. But the day isn’t done yet. Monday’s end with a short walk to Inchture Primary, where I help coach the kids football team.

Potter | The Curse of a 4am alarm

Up at 4am as my son Lewis is off to Harry Potter Studios near London with the school on a rather long day trip. I’m exhausted just thinking about it. The first task of the working day is to start writing the second case study for my business. It’s ironic, I’ve helped my clients create their own case studies, but I didn’t publish my first one until two weeks ago.

First meeting of the day was at Michelin in Dundee to discuss a recent project. We also talked more generally about the role of storytelling in organisations.

Headed to Coupar Angus to meet with The Sales Coach, Sandy McCurdy. What a wonderful gentleman. We’re both involved in a DACC project looking to support businesses in the Marketing & Sales strategies.

Raced back to the office to have a coaching call with a new client who needed some guidance with his ‘About’ page on his website.

The Productive Zombie | The quest get more done

A broken down bus meant that my son didn’t get home until 3.30am. Fair to say that today, he’s shattered – and so am I! But, when you work for yourself, there are no excuses. ‘The show must go on’ and all that.

Had a great ‘Origin Story’ coaching session with one of my newer clients. Her story is amazing. It illustrates why she does what she does. It’ll be published on her About page when her new site goes live.

The afternoon was spent writing some more of my Michelin case study and creating a list of six more case studies that I need to write. With that in mind, I finish the day creating a new plan to schedule time for all the important tasks that sometimes I don’t give enough time to. Two years into this journey and I know I need to work again on being more productive.

School Day | The power to choose

Four. That’s how many times I’ve visited Inchture Primary School today. Started with breakfast and finished with a ‘shared learning evening’. Oh yes, and with TWO end of terms assemblies in between. It’s fair to say today hasn’t been my most productive. But, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve got the flexibility to attend the school events that I missed out on when I was employed.

In between times, I allowed myself to think a bit bigger. Over the first two years of the business, my goal has been survival. Thinking big has been tempered by the reality of the here and now. You know, the mortgage. The three kids. The bills.

That meant having calls with two copywriters that I can outsource work to when I get too busy. I’m not there yet, but for the first time, I feel confident to plan for the future.

Planning Day | Reflection and the week ahead

Friday’s are typically ‘working ON the business’ days. I try to keep them free from client appointments or meetings. This Friday starts as most do, by spending time getting my diary sorted for the next two weeks. This is something I was spectacularly bad at just six months ago. Now, I’ve got my own process to make sure I’m as efficient as organised as I can be.

I did some preparation work for my Monday meeting with Ocius Digital, my first overseas client. And, I have two sessions next week with one of my newest clients. I’m going to be writing three case studies for them, so first step is a series of Story Discovery Calls. I make some notes and prepare for those calls.

Managed to squeeze in some time to plan a webinar with my friend Caroline and even recorded a case studies tips video for her website.

It’s been a busy week. As usual I’ve not achieved everything I’d have liked, but it wasn’t for a lack of effort.