Using Efficient Systems to Create Calm with Amelia Hruby

11/19/24 • 45 min

Engineering Calmer Agencies & Consulting Firms: Calm is the New KPI

Why are efficient systems so essential for building a calmer business? And how do you go about finding the right systems and processes for yourself?

We're continuing in our mini-series on my calmer framework for a calmer business. This week, we're focused on my favorite aspect of my CALMER framework -- efficient systems. We dive into the importance of understanding our own processes before building systems, and then explore some of the many ways our individual systems can look.

We're joined by Amelia Hruby, a writer, educator, and podcaster with a PhD in philosophy. She is the founder of Softer Sounds, a feminist podcast studio for entrepreneurs and creatives. And sheʼs the host of Off the Grid, a podcast about leaving social media without losing all your clients.

On this episode, we learn how to create systems that work fo rus, our teams, and our clients. We also learn what the transition from work without efficient systems to efficient systems can look like, and how it all fits into creating a calmer business for everyone involved.

Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:

How do you create autonomy through systems?
What impact can an efficient system have on business and team members?
How can you operate through a lens of care using systems?
Why do you need to start with a process before building systems?

Learn more about Amelia Hruby

Learn more about me, Susan Boles:

We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes.

(00:00) - Introduction to Building a Calmer Business
(00:51) - The Importance of Efficient Systems
(02:40) - Guest Introduction: Amelia Ruby
(04:45) - Challenges Before Implementing Systems
(17:01) - Developing and Implementing the System
(30:13) - Impact and Benefits of the New System
(42:58) - Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Why are efficient systems so essential for building a calmer business? And how do you go about finding the right systems and processes for yourself?

Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:

How do you create autonomy through systems?
What impact can an efficient system have on business and team members?
How can you operate through a lens of care using systems?
Why do you need to start with a process before building systems?

Learn more about Amelia Hruby

Learn more about me, Susan Boles:

We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes.

(00:00) - Introduction to Building a Calmer Business
(00:51) - The Importance of Efficient Systems
(02:40) - Guest Introduction: Amelia Ruby
(04:45) - Challenges Before Implementing Systems
(17:01) - Developing and Implementing the System
(30:13) - Impact and Benefits of the New System
(42:58) - Final Thoughts and Encouragement

Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Previous Episode

Transitioning to a 4-day Workweek with Nathalie Lussier

What if you could build in more space to your business? An extra day off? More time to strategize? Less urgency and more rest?

We're continuing in our mini-series on my calmer framework for a calmer business. This week, we're diving into margins -- financial margins, capacity margins, and energetic margins -- to decrease urgency and burnout and create calmer, more sustainable businesses.

We're joined by Nathalie Lussier, an award-winning entrepreneur who has been making websites since she was 12 years old. She graduated with a degree in Software Engineering. She was the founder and recently exited AccessAlly, the digital course and membership solution for industry leaders. Nathalie has been featured in Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, Success Magazine, Entrepreneur, Venture Beat, and Mashable.

On this episode, we learn how we can rethink our work so that we build in margins, and dive deep into one founder's journey to transitioning to a 4-day work week for their entire company -- with exceptional results.

Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:

How to build in margins, beyond profit margins, to your business
What the transition to a 4-day work week can look like in practice
How to experiment with and build comfortable margins for your business

Learn more about Nathalie Lussier

Learn more about me, Susan Boles:

We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes.

(00:00) - E106 - Nathalie Lussier - FINAL EDIT
(00:52) - Understanding Margins in Business
(02:03) - The Importance of Building Margins
(03:21) - Challenges of Traditional Work Culture
(04:59) - Introducing Natalie Lucier and the Four-Day Work Week
(07:18) - Experimenting with Flexible Work Schedules
(08:57) - Transitioning to a Four-Day Work Week
(13:06) - Implementing the Four-Day Work Week
(18:22) - Addressing Concerns and Feedback
(20:17) - Cultural Impact and Future of Work
(22:01) - The Impact of Overworking
(23:08) - Improved Team Cohesion and Communication
(23:49) - Efficient Work Processes
(28:38) - Prioritizing Feature Requests
(30:24) - Embracing a Slower Pace
(32:36) - The Influence of Environment on Work Pace
(36:11) - Selling the Business and Maintaining Values
(39:48) - Global Work Culture Comparisons
(41:21) - Building Comfortable Margins

Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Next Episode

Architecting Rest with Jordan Maney

We live in a society obsessed with productivity and working more, so how can we lean into rest? What are the benefits of building rest into our businesses? And how can we begin to do that?

We're continuing in our mini-series on my calmer framework for a calmer business. This week, we're focused on rest. Rest is often a challenge for us go-getters, solopreneurs, and entrepreneurs. But, it's essential to stop burnout, stay creative, and have a truly calm and sustainable business.

We're joined by Jordan Maney, a Radical Joy CoachTM and creator of the Radical Joy Collab who shares how we can build a rest ethic alongside our work ethic. She coaches others to learn the radical practice of rest so they can bring their visions to life. She’s been featured in New York Magazine, Yahoo, Attn, Oprah Magazine, and Martha Stewart Living.

On this episode, we learn how to design our work systems to include rest in a way that works for each of us, how to push back on scoetal pressure to not rest, and how our work lives and personal lives can be transformed with the power of rest.

Listen to the Full Episode to Hear:

How can rest be intentionally designed and built into a business to make it calmer and more sustainable?
Why is rest a critical element of productivity and how does it contribute to better creative work?
What does a rest ethic look like and how can it be developed alongside a work ethic?

Learn more about Jordan Maney:

Learn more about me, Susan Boles:

We value your thoughts and feedback. Feel free to share them with Susan here. Your input is not just valuable, it's crucial in shaping future episodes.

(00:00) - Introduction to Rest Ethic
(00:51) - Exploring the Importance of Rest
(01:44) - Challenges and Personal Experiences with Rest
(05:42) - Developing a Rest Ethic
(22:21) - Understanding Your Needs and Accommodations
(25:36) - Challenges of Implementing Rest in Work
(29:44) - The Importance of Rest and Its Impact
(37:58) - Practical Steps to Incorporate Rest

Grab the Calm Service Design + Delivery Swipe File here

Engineering Calmer Agencies & Consulting Firms: Calm is the New KPI - Using Efficient Systems to Create Calm with Amelia Hruby

Transcript

Susan Boles00:00:04.319

You can't create a calmer business without building systems. Efficient systems and repeatable processes are the tactical work of designing and building a business that feels calmer. Hi there. I'm Susan Boles and this is Beyond Margins, the show where we deconstruct how to engineer a calmer business. We're in the middle of a mini series where we're exploring the common elements of a calm business. So what makes a calm business actually calm, and