174: The Secret to Consistency: How I Run My Business in 1 Hour/Day

When you’re a working mom building a business on the side, motivation and willpower aren’t enough. Life gets messy. Kids get sick, work runs late, weekends disappear.

That’s why systems are everything.

In this episode, I share:

•  The difference between routines, habits, and systems (and why you need all three)
• How I run my business in just 1 hour/day—even when life throws curveballs
• What my morning, evening, and weekend routines actually look like
• Why systems make it easy to bounce back after setbacks without guilt

Because it’s not about hustling harder, it’s about building systems that support you, even on your busiest days.

Listen now.

Want to dive deeper? Get my free email course where I walk you through my MES Framework—Mindset, Energy, and Systems to build a lifestyle business in 1 hour/day: sharonsinghsidhu.com/start

Transcript

SPEAKER_00: 0:00

Hello there, welcome back to another episode of the podcast. So today I wanted to continue with I guess what's been a little bit of a series over the last few weeks around my MES framework, which stands for Mindset Energy and Systems Framework. So this is a framework that I myself use to grow my side business, even though I'm working full-time and I have um kids and family and of course many other things uh that I kind of need to uh pay attention to and commit my time and energy to as well. But I feel like this framework has really been very helpful in terms of helping me to stay focused and helping me to make progress. So if you haven't caught the previous uh sections about the framework where I talked about mindset and energy, then go listen to last week's episode about energy and the episode the week before, where I talked about mindsets and specifically around your identity and beliefs, and in terms of the energy part of it, it is all about how do we um embody that identity and the beliefs of someone who actually has that lifestyle business that you're working towards. So if you missed that, please go listen to the previous two episodes. And today I wanted to spend a little bit of time explaining the um the S part of the framework, which stands for systems. And so if you're like me, a busy mom with many things on her plate, uh, we cannot kind of rely on willpower and uh inspiration because sometimes things, in fact, not sometimes, very often things go off track, right? And sometimes we also don't feel like the uh we don't feel inspired or we don't feel motivated to do the things that we we have to do in our business. No matter how much we love the work that we do, no matter how much we enjoy the um, you know, the business um and the people that we work with, there are always going to be things that we have to do that we don't particularly enjoy, or it could be because there are a lot of things going on in our lives at the moment, and it's difficult to stay on track. And I know that you can relate with this if you are a busy working mom like me and an ambitious working mom like me, because we all have big dreams and goals, and we also have uh multiple responsibilities. So, systems are really what help me to stay consistent, even in just one hour a day. And so, my thing has always been about how do you build a lifestyle business, how do you build a business on the side of everything that you've got to be responsible for and that you're busy with, even if you only have an hour a day, and that one hour can even be in terms of 10 minutes here, 15 minutes there, five minutes here, um, and together they add up to about an hour a day, and that's exactly how I I run my business, how I uh grow my business on average, about an hour a day on the weekdays, and on the weekends a little bit more, um, but sometimes also none at all, you know. Sometimes there are busy periods of my life when I actually don't uh have all the time that I wish I did to dedicate to my business, and that is the reason why systems become very, very important for me in helping me to maintain and the momentum, and so to do this, I wanted to share a little bit about uh you know some of the key points around systems. It isn't really about optimizing everything, it's not so much about using technology and tools to automate everything, although I do do that, but when I talk about systems, I'm really talking about like you know, having something where it is kind of like um on a little bit on like autopilot that that it runs on its own, that you don't always have to be the one to be um pushing it and doing it, right? And um, so I also am talking a little bit about having something in place, some sort of a routine in place, and it really isn't about sticking to it 100% of the time. I'm sure like you've heard about things like the miracle morning, you know, like morning routines, waking up at 4 a.m. and and um you know never never ever breaking that routine. But honestly, there are times when I I can't keep up with it. I think that's very normal, and um it's so it's not so much about sticking to it like 100% of the time, but it is about having a clear ideal standard and a plan that is very clear so that when things go off track and you do fall off, um you know, like you you do fall off the horse, uh you can get back up quickly and you can get back on track quickly, and you don't have to kind of waste time and energy wondering, okay, where where do you what do you do next? And and then if you have suddenly five minutes, you find yourself having this precious five minutes, uh what do you do with that five minutes, you know? So the idea is about having something in place so that you're always very clear exactly where you're going next. And and I think more importantly, is also it is a system that supports you in the process of evolution, in the process of growth, because so it's really not so much about the goal itself. Yes, of course, we all have big goals and dreams and and things that we want to achieve, but I feel like it is more importantly, it is the it is who we become in the process of accomplishing that goal or in the process of pursuing that goal, because after all, it really is about the process, you know. It really the destination, the journey really is the destination, and it the process of life as a human being, it's about the state of being, right? It's about the ing, it's about the ing, you know, um uh the doing, the being, and uh, and it's not so much about like a final destination. For me, those are really more like checkpoints and milestones, just to uh what a lot of people call goals for me are just milestones on this ongoing journey because milestones or goals are there to help us to see okay, are we still on the right track or do we need to course correct, you know? And so that's the reason why I rely so much on systems, and I have systems for many things, and I just wanted to share a few examples so you have an idea of the kind of systems that help me to keep on myself on track. So I've got systems, so what I call a system is just like you can think of them as routines or habits, but they are part of a bigger, I guess, yeah, bigger system, right? So habits can actually be part of a routine, routine can be part of your overall system. So that's how I like to think about it. So for me, I have my daily routine, so I have my morning routine, I have my evening routine, a little bit like your, you know, like you wake up, you brush your teeth, those are all routines, right? Little habits that you have. But for me, specifically around building my side business, I have um my morning routine, which includes, of course, taking care of my body, physical body. So I have my whole exercise routine, my yoga, my meditation, my weights, um, my strength training, my um my journaling, and that's actually what I call my intention setting for the day, which is really a non-negotiable. Uh, no matter where I am, even if I'm traveling, I don't skip this. I always set my intention for the day, and I have my evening routine, which again is about taking care of the body. So I go I'll go for my evening walks, and then I will also have my gratitude practice that's when I reflect on the day, uh, and I reflect on what I'm grateful for that's happened, and it's not always about the good things, uh sometimes it is also the challenges I've gone through for the day, and then I think about what is it that I've learned from it and how is it I'm I'm grateful for it, and from there I always draw insights for the day, so I do also have a reflection. So part of my evening routine is always about the insights to make sure that I'm always growing, you know, every day, bit by bit, I'm growing, I'm improving, I'm becoming a better version of myself every single day. And so those are kind of like my bookends, meaning to say I start my day and I end my day right, and um, and then in between, so for me during the weekdays, of course, I have my lunch power hours, so that's really my critical business building, uh, my business building routine, and I I do have different things depending on what day it is, so I go by themes. So, to make it very simple, I have my weekday, my weekday um kind of like systems, and then I have my weekend system. So, weekdays lunchtime is when I do a lot of outreach and um build relationships, and then the with the evenings are usually when I would be doing calls or I would be teaching or be having a class, um, and then my weekends are like my content creation. So, morning is content creation day, so that's when I actually get these podcasts done, and that's when I write my newsletters, and that's when I write all my content for the coming week, and I schedule all of it, and so that's usually the weekend mornings before the kids are up, and then my weekend evenings I would dedicate to learning, so I'm always in some sort of a program right now. I'm in a certification program for human design, I'm also in a couple of other business programs, and so I'm always upgrading myself, improving myself, and so you know, weekends are like content creation and consumption, that's how I kind of think about it, and then you know, my daily walks are also the time for spiritual growth. So, when I'm on my walks, I like to listen to podcasts or people who are really nourishing me spiritually, and also in terms of my mind and my emotional health, and my commuting. So every day I'm on the road a lot, and so I commute a lot, and so that's also when I might also be doing some. Um, if I'm in a program, I'm catching up on class replays, I'm catching up on QA sessions, and so I'll be listening to that on my commute. And um, another routine that maybe I maybe it could be TMI for some of you, but when I'm on the bowl, I actually read, so I'll have like books and all that I would read, so like maybe like two pages a day, you know, kind of a thing, or um, yeah, and so these are like all the small little uh little habits and routines. I mean, it's kind of like repetitive because for us to actually get good at anything, well, when we build that kind of a neural pathway in our brain, especially when we're trying to shift our identity, and again, if you have not listened to the episode on the mindset, I talked a lot about identity because when we are trying to build the lifestyle business, especially if we are full-time employees, you really need to shift your identity because the mindset of an employee and the mindset of a successful business owner, they are really on opposite ends. And so, if all you've ever done is actually work in a 9 to 5 job, you'll find that when you want to transition and become a successful entrepreneur, you almost need to reverse everything, you know, like from going to a rule follower, you follow the rules, you ask for permission, everything you need approval. When you want to spend money, you have to ask for permission. All of that in a 9 to 5 employee mindset. As a business owner, it is completely the opposite. You break the rules, you find your own way, you solve your own problems, you don't ask for permission, you go out there and you take risks, you test, and you try, and then you don't ask for anyone's approval before you spend money, you assess the situation, you decide whether it's um worthwhile return on the investments, and then you make a decision and you move, you know. And so it is very, very much the opposite of an uh employee mindset. And so when we are trying to shift our identity from being an employee to a business owner, um, that's really uh repetition and practice is how you do it, right? That's how you build new neural pathways in your brain to think differently, um, to show up differently. And so last week we talked about energy, which which is all about how you are showing up. It is the vibe that you are kind of exuding, and that vibe comes from your identity because who you how you see yourself, who what sort of a person you see yourself is going to affect your entire belief system, and that's going to affect the way you show up. And so, systems and routines and habits help you to make that shift, you know, because at first it's going to be very awkward, it's going to feel very unnatural because it's a new path you're trying to create. It's kind of like walking on a path where there's a lot, like you know, there's grass, but after a while, when you've walked that path almost every single day, a few times a day, you have a natural footpath that forms, and then it gets easier and easier and more and more natural. And so that's the power of having these sorts of routines and having systems in place. And so, I'll also have systems around you know, um, measuring the progress and evaluating my um actions, the progress of my business, and the the the uh outcome of my actions, so you know, evaluating where things are, and so that's something I do on a weekly and monthly basis, and so again, coming back to the whole idea is it doesn't have to be complicated, it does not have to be all technology. I do use a lot of um um tools um to help me, but it's really not so much about that, but it's just about building this system around yourself that supports the business and the life that you want to have, it doesn't have to be complicated. You can see how some of these are very that I use are really very simple. It's like listening to a specific kind of podcast on my daily walks, you know. I mean, it's like it's like simple things, but then you do it over time, and then it becomes a habit and routine for you, and then it builds this new neural pathways in your brain, and then you start thinking differently and feeling differently and showing up differently, and that's really how you really change yourself, you know. And that's why I said like these goals that we have, it's really of course, on the one hand, there is the goal that we want to achieve, there are tangible outcomes we want to have, revenue goals we want to meet, um, things that we want to achieve in the business, but it's in the process of going and uh pursuing those goals. You kind of change the person that you are and who you are becoming, and so it really is that ongoing process, it is that journey, right? And so I want to just remind you that all these systems are not to make you feel bad, like if you don't actually keep up with it, you know, on certain days, it is not to make you feel bad, like to make you feel like you failed and you fell short and you can't make it, but it is really a um it's a support system to help you get back on track really quickly and without too much drama around it. And so if you also missed it, last week I talked about a bit about you know the whole um episode around going to the um ANE or emergency department because my my son had a um little minor accident, he's fine, he's totally fine now. Um, but that completely really kind of like threw everything off, you know, my usual routine where my weekends are mornings are really when I create all this content, and and so I didn't have the the chance to do all of that because you know all my time was spent between doctors um clinic and also the hospital and all of that, and so sometimes this happens in life, but then and then the moment things kind of settled down a little bit, I knew exactly where to get back again, what where I left off, um, what were the most important things I needed to just attend to first, and um and then I still got the things done, you know. I still got the podcast out, I still got the content done, I still got everything that I needed to get done, and even um like this week was I'm actually recording this podcast kind of like right after I recorded what you would have heard last week's podcast. So I'm recording two podcasts kind of on the same day, which is the weekend of when the whole A and E episode happened, just because I feel very like I have the energy for it that um I'm I'm very clear about what I want to say on this episode, so I thought why not just do it? And I I I plan to do it in the morning of today, it's actually Sunday as I'm recording this. Um, Saturday yesterday was when we had the whole episode with the hospital, so I recorded last the previous episode yesterday, and then I'm recording the next week's episode today on a Sunday. Uh, and I thought I would get everything done Sunday morning, but it's like Sunday evening already, it's the end of the day today. But I just I just knew like, oh okay, that was a little bit behind schedule in a way, and so now I have a little bit of time before dinner, before spending some time with the kids, and I told them, give me 20 minutes, I'm gonna record a podcast, and so here I am. And so what I'm trying to say is that these systems, it's not like you have to follow them to the T, right? But it's just that you know when things are off track, you know exactly okay, what was the thing I just want to catch up with, what's the most important one I want to do. It's just very clear, and so you're never caught like off guard in the sense that even though there are a lot of uncontrollable things that can happen in a day, in a week, in a month for all of us, like because that's that's life, but when things settle, you know exactly okay, what is the thing I need to move on next. So I really hope like this episode gives you an idea of uh what I mean when I talk about systems, and you know, I talk definitely, I talk a lot more, I teach a lot more about systems. I love systems because I think it just makes it so much simpler, almost like a no-brainer. Uh, you know, especially when you're really busy and you have a lot going on. I think systems are so so crucial in helping you to stay consistent and keep yourself on track um without all the drama, without exhausting yourself. And then if you don't do it, okay, it's fine. Let's just pick up from where we where we um left off. You know, it's kind of like I'm suddenly remembering, like you know how antibiotics the doctors always tell you if you forgot your dose, it's okay. When you next remember it, just continue with your next dose. It's kind of the same concept, right? Having systems in place. And I talk about this and I teach this in my um MES framework. So if you would like to learn more about it, why don't you? Uh, a great way to just get started is just sign up for my free email course where I go through all of the various aspects of the framework plus more. Um, you can get that at sharensingsidu.com forward slash start. And yeah, and I will leave that link as well in the show notes so you have that um you know easily available for you. And I will catch you in the next episode. Um, I hope this was useful. Let me know. Drop me a DM on LinkedIn and um let me know what you thought about it. Okay, then talk to you in the next episode. Bye.