29/10/2026
I genuinely love what I do. Supporting my clients, making a difference in their lives, building relationships and watching AJM Support Work grow has been incredibly rewarding. This business means so much to me, and I am proud of what I have built.
But if there is one thing I have learnt, it is that running a business is certainly not for the faint of heart. Behind every shift, every happy client and every smoothly run week is a whole lot of work that nobody sees.
There is ensuring everything is up to date, making sure the right insurances are in place, keeping on top of compliance, managing staff, supporting clients, navigating changes, answering messages and emails, organising rosters, payroll and ensuring both clients and employees feel valued, supported and happy.
Then there is the actual work itself. Personally showing up, supporting clients, giving my time and energy, and making sure the people who rely on me receive the support they deserve.
And when the working day is supposedly over, the other side of life doesn't stop.
There is paperwork, administration, invoicing, finances, planning and all the behind the scenes tasks that keep a business operating. Then I'm home and I am also a partner, a mum, a homeowner and someone responsible for making sure the animals are fed, the house is looked after and everyday life keeps moving.
I want to be present for my family. I want to give Dale and Riley quality time with me, not just whatever energy I have left after giving so much of myself to everyone else. I want to keep on top of the house, enjoy my own life and have a moment to breathe without mentally running through a never ending to do list.
And somewhere along the way, you learn to grow a backbone. Eventually.
You learn that you cannot always say yes. You learn that setting boundaries isn't letting people down, and that stepping back doesn't mean you care any less about your business or the people who rely on you.
I've had to learn to say no, to give myself permission to take days off and, more importantly, to leave the business side of my phone and laptop alone on weekends when I'm spending time with family or friends. And honestly, it is hard.
When you are so invested in something you have built from the ground up, switching off doesn't always come naturally. There is always something that could be done, an email that could be answered, paperwork that could be completed or something else to organise. But I am learning to do it a little more.
I am learning that I don't need to be available every minute of every day. That not everything needs an immediate response. That I can step away without everything falling apart. Because if I want to keep doing what I love, I need to look after the person doing it.
I need to reduce the risk of burnout, take away unnecessary stressors where I can, and allow myself the space to breathe. I need to be more intentional about the decisions I make, not just for my business, but for myself and my family, too. It isn't always the work itself that is exhausting. It is everything that comes with it.
The constant thinking, planning, remembering, organising, problem solving and carrying the responsibility of knowing that so many little things need to happen for the bigger picture to work.
A lot of running a business is made up of silent responsibilities. Things that need to be done before anyone even realises they needed doing. Problems prevented before they happen. Hours spent behind a screen after a full day of hands on work. Decisions made quietly to ensure everything continues to run as it should.
People often see the service, the support and the finished product. They don't always see the person behind it, juggling a hundred different things to make it all happen.
I wouldn't trade the work I do for anything. I love what I have built, I love the people I work with and I love knowing that what I do genuinely matters.
But I also think it is important to be honest about the reality of business ownership. You can absolutely love what you do and still find it exhausting. You can be proud of your business and still feel overwhelmed by the responsibility. Both things can be true at the same time.
I'm still learning. Learning to find balance, learning to set boundaries and learning that being a good business owner doesn't mean sacrificing every other part of my life in the process.
So, to every small business owner quietly juggling work, family, finances, responsibilities and the million little things nobody else sees, I see you.
Keep being proud of what you are building, but remember that you are allowed to slow down, take a breath and look after yourself, too.
Because behind every business is a person doing their very best to keep all the pieces together. That person deserves time, space, a life outside of work and the opportunity to enjoy what they have worked so hard to build.
