Jon shares tips on how to stay positive when feeling down about your business. Drawing from his 20+ years in architecture, Jon highlights common challenges and offers strategies to boost morale. He discusses the importance of changing perspectives, leveraging community support, utilising coaching exercises like the circle of control, and the benefits of networking and co-working. Jon also stresses the value of celebrating small successes and managing overwhelming to-do lists through bullet journaling. Tune in for practical advice to maintain a positive mindset in your entrepreneurial journey.

Episode Highlights...

00:00 Introduction

01:20 Understanding Business Struggles

02:24 Changing Your Perspective

05:50 Circle of Control Exercise

08:47 Environmental Changes and Networking

13:30 Journaling and To-Do Lists

15:38 Conclusion

Key Takeaways...

Change how you look at things

When you're feeling low about your business, try to look at things in a different way.

It’s easy to compare yourself to others and feel like you’re not doing enough.

But remember – you don’t see their full story. Everyone has ups and downs.

Try to spot the difference between what’s really true and what you’re just feeling in the moment.

Don't waste energy on things you can’t change

When everything feels too much, try this simple exercise to feel more in control:

Draw three circles on a page:

• In the outer circle, write things you can’t control (like the news, the economy, or other people’s actions)
• 
  
• In the middle circle, write things you can influence (like how you talk to clients or the way your team works)
• 
  
• In the centre circle, write what you can control (like your daily habits, how you spend your time, and how you react)

Spend most of your time and energy on the centre circle. That’s where real change happens.

Small changes can lift your mood

Feeling stuck? Try changing where you work – a coffee shop or coworking space can give you a boost.

Get outside for a walk, or do something fun like kayaking or cycling.

And even if you're an introvert, talking to others in your field can really help.

You’re not alone – sometimes, a quick chat can give you a whole new idea.

—--

Want to explore podcasting for your business?

👉 Book a chat with Jon to explore working with him 📞

Interested in joining our membership community?

👉 Click here to JOIN THE WAITLIST 😀

Resources…

👉 Grab the Architecture Business Blueprint 🎁

It’s the step-by-step formula to freedom for architects, architectural technologists, and architectural designers. Get it today (without any charge).

👉 Follow or Connect with Jon on LinkedIn 🤝

👇 And if you enjoyed this episode…

Please leave a 5-star review or rating wherever you listen to podcasts, and don’t forget to hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode.

Jon is joined by productivity and habits coach Haley Watts to discuss the psychology of habits and offer practical tips for small firm founders in architecture. They discuss the Four Tendencies of habit formation, strategies for managing to-do lists, and the importance of balancing work with personal interests. Haley also shares insights on creating small, actionable habits and provides advice on how to leverage energy levels for better task management. The conversation offers valuable guidance for anyone looking to improve productivity and achieve more freedom and fulfillment in their business.

Today's Guest...

Hayley Watts is a productivity and habits coach and trainer. She helps people who are juggling too much to get clear on their priorities, reduce their stress and help them grow their businesses. She has been delivering training around productivity and people management for the last 10 years, and now helps people who are running their own businesses to get focused.

Episode Highlights...

00:00 Introduction

01:33 Meet Haley Watts: Productivity and Habits Coach

03:36 Understanding Habit Formation

06:50 Effective Use of Calendars and To-Do Lists

11:26 Creating and Sustaining New Habits

14:05 Managing Overwhelm and Prioritising Tasks

24:10 Weekly Planning Strategies

28:03 Final Thoughts and Takeaways

31:32 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Key Takeaways...

Build small habits that stick

Start with tiny steps you can do easily.

Link your new habit to something you already do – like brushing your teeth or making tea.

Celebrate little wins to help you keep going.

Plan your day in a way that works for you

Use a simple system to keep track of what needs doing.

Start with the most important jobs, and think about when you have the most energy.

You can use a calendar, a journal, or even post-it notes – whatever helps you stay on track.

Stop feeling overwhelmed

When your tasks are all over the place, your brain feels messy too.

Keep everything in one spot and break big jobs into small steps.

This makes things feel easier and helps you stay in control.

Links Mentioned In The Episode...

Visit Hayley’s Website

Connect with Hayley on LinkedIn

—--

Want to explore podcasting for your business?

👉 Book a chat with Jon to explore working with him 📞

Interested in joining our membership community?

👉 Click here to JOIN THE WAITLIST 😀

Resources…

👉 Grab the Architecture Business Blueprint 🎁

It’s the step-by-step formula to freedom for architects, architectural technologists, and architectural designers. Get it today (without any charge).

👉 Follow or Connect with Jon on LinkedIn 🤝

👇 And if you enjoyed this episode…

Please leave a 5-star review or rating wherever you listen to podcasts, and don’t forget to hit the subscribe button so you never miss an episode.

In The Next...

Jon chats with business coach and entrepreneur Ray Brown about a simple yet powerful business framework for architecture practices. They discuss the 'Four Ps' - Practice, Projects, People, and Perception - that can dramatically improve business results. Key insights include being intentional about business perceptions, understanding and managing project hours, the importance of clear roles and strategic hiring, and the value of a foundational business education. They also introduce ArchiBiz's new Business School for Architects. Ray underscores that architects must embrace basic business knowledge to ensure long-term success.

Today's Guest...

Ray Brown is a business coach and entrepreneur. Originally from Scotland & now based in Australia. Ray has coached everyone from startups to top executives of major companies. He is the founder ArchiBiz - a global company that helps ambitious architects build profitable and sustainable businesses without compromising design standards. Ray is our first returning guest, having featured on episode 31 of the podcast back in May 2024.

Episode Highlights...

00:00 Introduction

01:31 Meet Ray Brown

04:03 The Four Ps Framework for Architecture Practices

06:33 Deep Dive into Practice and Projects

16:17 People: Hiring, Training, and Utilisation

22:47 Perception: Shaping Your Market Image

28:43 Introducing the Business School for Architects

35:46 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

38:55 Travel Talk and Farewell

Key Takeaways...

Build Your Business Like You Build a House

You can be great at design, but without a strong business setup, your practice won’t run well. Ray Brown talks about using the “Four Ps” to keep things on track:

🏢 Practice – how your business is set up

📁 Projects – how you run your jobs

👥 People – who you hire and how they work

👀 Perception – how others see your business

Know Where Your Time Goes

You only have so many hours in a day. Ray says it’s important to know how you spend them:

⏱️ Time on client work you can charge for

🧾 Time on project tasks you can’t charge for

📋 Time on things not linked to any project

If you don’t track this properly, you might end up working loads… but earning less than you think.

Don’t Wait Too Long to Hire Help

Hiring someone when you’re too busy can lead to mistakes. Ray says:

👷 Hire before you're desperate

📄 Give each person a clear job and role

💰 Use the right team member for the task – the one who can do the job well without costing too much

This way, your team works better, and your business makes more money.

Links Mentioned In The Episode...

Click here to join the Business School for Architects (for free)

Click here to learn more about ArchiBiz

—--

Want to explore podcasting for your business?

👉 Book a chat with Jon to explore working with him 📞

Interested in joining our membership community?

👉 Click here to JOIN THE WAITLIST 😀

Resources…

👉 Grab the Architecture Business Blueprint 🎁

It’s the step-by-step formula to freedom for architects,...