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Working On Your Business vs. In Your Business

By SydneyB

Monday 23rd June 2025

The Crucial Difference

As a small business owner, your time is one of your most valuable assets. Yet all too often, the day-to-day grind of running the business—customer enquiries, admin, orders—can consume your schedule. That leaves little room for big-picture thinking.

We know the feeling! That’s why it’s vital to understand the difference between working in your business and working on your business—and how making this shift can unlock real growth.

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Why Working On Your Business Matters

Working in your business means managing the daily operations: responding to emails, answering calls, fulfilling orders. These are essential tasks, but if they take over your time, they can stop you from focusing on growth.

Working on your business, however, means dedicating time to the strategic work that drives long-term success. This includes planning, development, innovation, and systems.

Let’s break it down:

1. Strategic Growth

Focusing on the bigger picture enables you to identify new markets, develop new services, or build strategic partnerships. Without this focus, your business risks stagnating.

2. Efficiency & Innovation

Taking a step back gives you space to spot inefficiencies and explore better ways of working—whether that’s through automation, new tools, or improved systems.

3. Well-Being (Yours & the Business’s)

Trying to do everything all the time can quickly lead to burnout. By carving out time for planning and development, you’ll reduce stress and build a more sustainable way of working.

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Common Pitfalls to Avoid

Even the most passionate business owners can fall into these traps:

❌ Wearing Too Many Hats

Trying to do everything yourself (from customer service to bookkeeping) spreads you too thin and leaves no time for growth.

❌ Micromanaging

Not delegating means you end up in the weeds, stifling your team and distracting yourself from strategy.

❌ No Time for Planning

When you don’t step back regularly, your business becomes reactive instead of proactive—missing out on opportunities to grow.

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Why These Tasks Aren’t the Best Use of Your Time

The Federation of Small Businesses (FSB) in the UK reports that nearly 60% of small business owners work over 40 hours a week—and a large chunk of that is spent on admin or non-core tasks.

What if that time went into growth instead?

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The Solution: Outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant

Outsourcing to a Virtual Assistant (VA) can be a game-changer—just ask our clients! A skilled VA can take routine, time-consuming tasks off your plate so you can refocus on what matters most.

What a VA Can Help With

If you’re unsure where to begin, don’t worry—a good VA can help you figure out the best place to start.

✅ Admin Support
Email management, appointment scheduling, inbox zero, customer enquiries—handled professionally and efficiently.

✅ Social Media Management
Posting, content creation, engagement, and scheduling—all without the time suck.

✅ Research
Need market insights, supplier options, or competitor analysis? Let your VA do the digging.

✅ Customer Service
Handling orders, responding to messages, and managing feedback to keep your customers happy and engaged.

✅ Business Development Support
From CRM systems to managing your sales pipeline, a VA can help keep opportunities organised and moving forward.


Help Is at Hand

Making time to work on your business isn’t a luxury—it’s a necessity for sustainable growth.

By outsourcing the right tasks to a Virtual Assistant, you can reduce overwhelm, avoid burnout, and unlock your business’s true potential.

Ready to stop spinning plates and start scaling up? Contact us to find out how a Virtual Assistant can support your growth.