Launching a lingerie brand in your spare time
I was chatting to a client the other other day about the time it take to launch a brand and how to implement this when you have a full time job or have children (or both!)
The truth is you do have to find your own rhythm of work, so you may have to try try out a few options before you hit the right one. The great news is if you don't have much time, you cut straight through the bull shit of all extra bits and make important decisions fast as you haven't time to to-and-fro about ideas. It's from the doing that allows you feedback to either pivot or keep on the right track.
Combined I've been running a business for seventeen years and if it helps here is what worked for me.
When running Vanjo, for three years I had a job, and at one point I had two. I ranged from working 15 hours to full time.
If your hours are at consistent times make that work for you in your favour. This is where my advice gets boring and obvious - you need to treat it like a job. Commit to what hours you know works and go form there. For example, on the days I didn't work for someone else I would be at my desk by 7.30am and work until, 3.30pm and go for a run. Often I would have to head back to my desk to complete tasks but it would be the fun ones, like cutting out the fabrics, or planning the next range. All the boring stuff got done first thing.
On the days when I worked in a shoe shop in the afternoons , I would commit for two hours in the morning, head to the shoe shop and then after that I had a shift as a waitress so would head there. On the days I hated working in those jobs, made it so much easier for me to follow my routine of getting up and not lying in bed. Having to head to work also made me more efficient. If you have the whole. week open ahead of you you have more time to procrastinate.
When I launched 'van Jonsson design' I had a three month old and was a uni studying for my masters, it wasn't until he was a year or so old that I found a rhythm, I took a part time job as a TA in a inner city primary school (teachers I salute you) and worked mainly at nights.
Two kids meant it all changed again (bye bye part time work as cost of child care didn't cut it) and I went to working very early in the morning, I lived right near a train station and would see all the commuters at 5am heading to London so my thought was 'least i'm insides warm with a cup of coffee'. I worked far better time wise with two kids rather than one, as I committed to certain times.
I'm not very good at grabbing time I need a structure around work. When number three came along, everything shifted again. And my work times moved back to night. I worked 8.30pm to 10.30pm and the odd hour in the day as well. Knowing I was turning up for work for two hours meant that anything in the day was a bonus. I would lay down with each of them to ensure they were asleep so I could take calls (to the US) or work quietly.
You need to work out what works for you. Working at 8.30-10.30pm worked for me and now everyone is at school I have changed my hours again.
Having the school hours working day I have noticed little things creep up like I'll put some washing on, or when I have a coffee find myself scrolling. I know work better with structured hours so trying to incorporate that into my working day again.
It's half term here and I'll be up early before anyone awakes. Knowing that consistently turning up gets me more done rather having a to-do list and trying to get through it.
If you haven't dedicated time to getting your brand sorted, try it, even if it's 30 mins on your lunch break 4x a week because you will see things begin to move quicker. Let me know how you get on.