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b'As you\\u2019re listening to this, I\\u2019m somewhere between the White Mountains of New Hampshire and Acadia National Park in Maine. Sean and I are celebrating our 1st wedding anniversary in the only way we how: in a National Park!\\n\\n\\n\\nThat\\u2019s right, I\\u2019m on vacation\\u2014but that doesn\\u2019t mean the business comes to a standstill.\\n\\n\\n\\nWe\\u2019ve worked hard to improve the operational efficiency and predictability of our business over the last few years and that means that I get to enjoy both my time off and the flexibility of my schedule on a daily basis.\\n\\n\\n\\nPlus, it means that my team gets to do the same.\\n\\n\\n\\nYou\\u2019re listening to What Works, the show that gets candid about what\\u2019s really working to run and grow a small business today as told by small business owners themselves. I\\u2019m your host, Tara McMullin.\\n\\n\\n\\nWe\\u2019re spending the month of July exploring the theme \\u201cOn The Road.\\u201d Our goal is to look at how small business owners plan for time off, work from anywhere, and manage teams that are remote, too. I\\u2019ll tell you more about what you\\u2019ll hear this month soon.\\n\\n\\n\\nBut first, I wanted to share what\\u2019s worked for me as I\\u2019ve endeavored to build a more flexible business that allows me and my team the time off we need, as well as the ability to work on our own terms.\\n\\n\\n\\nFirst, I\\u2019ll mention that most of the team works a pretty typical schedule. I start work by 9am most days and wind it down by 4:30pm. That gives me time for my workout in the morning and my interests in the evening.\\n\\n\\n\\nI work in my home office Monday through Thursday. On Friday, we have a team meeting with our local employee, Shannon. You can find us at a picnic table inside Whole Foods in Lancaster most Friday mornings! The rest of that day is a buffer. If I don\\u2019t need the work time or I\\u2019m craving some \\u201cme time,\\u201d I\\u2019ll be done for the week.\\n\\n\\n\\nIf I\\u2019m inspired to start something new or I\\u2019m on a deadline, I\\u2019ll do that. Regardless, I\\u2019m done by about 3pm so that I can either pick up my daughter or head to the climbing gym.\\n\\n\\n\\nWhat I\\u2019ve found is that consistency, routine, and structure actually allow me the flexibility I crave from my business.\\n\\n\\n\\nI don\\u2019t just do what I feel like when I feel like it. That\\u2019s not real flexibility because it means something is always getting left behind and I\\u2019m not mastering my own workload.\\n\\n\\n\\nAnd that really is the string that ties the 4 ways I\\u2019ve built flexibility into my business together.\\n\\n\\n\\nFirst up\\u2026\\n\\n\\n\\nEmbracing predictable cycles\\n\\n\\n\\nWithin the first few years I was designing websites and consulting on business strategy, I started to notice that clients would disappear during the summers. Their projects would stall out. Deadlines would come and go.\\n\\n\\n\\nI can remember thinking that there was just no point in working during the summer.\\n\\n\\n\\nAnd then it hit me: I didn\\u2019t have to.\\n\\n\\n\\nSummer often feels like a time when we\\u2019re just punching the clock. Sure, we\\u2019ve got some passion project underway or maybe we\\u2019ve got a client or two who really wants to get moving during the summer. But lots of people want to travel, take it easy, and enjoy the weather.\\n\\n\\n\\nSo that\\u2019s what I did.\\n\\n\\n\\nI decided I would wrap up any projects I could, put my calendar on hold, and just enjoy the flexibility of summer.'