How Small System Changes Can Revolutionize Your Business
Why You Don’t Have to Do It All
You Don’t Have to Be Superwoman (or Superman)
Feeling overwhelmed in your business? You’re not alone. So many creative entrepreneurs think they need to wear all the hats—handling everything from client communication to marketing to admin tasks. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to hustle non-stop to succeed. In fact, you’ll achieve more when you focus on streamlining your business with the right systems.
Small system changes can make a huge difference in how your business operates and, more importantly, how you feel running it.
The Myth of Doing It All
As a creative entrepreneur, it’s easy to fall into the trap of thinking that success means doing everything yourself. But trying to juggle it all often leads to burnout, frustration, and late nights trying to keep up.
I remember during the busy season of my photography business, I convinced myself I could handle everything—shooting, editing, and all the client communication. I’d spend long nights editing image after image, and it left me drained. Eventually, I realized I couldn’t keep up. That’s when I started outsourcing my editing.
At first, I was hesitant. Handing over something as personal as editing felt like giving up control. But after trying out a few options, I found ImagenAI, and it was a game changer. It saved me hours and allowed me to focus on what I loved—connecting with clients and shooting. The truth is, outsourcing or automating tasks outside your zone of genius can give you the time and space to focus on what matters most.
Here are a few benefits I gained from outsourcing:
- More time to focus on client relationships and creative work.
- Reduced stress from handling repetitive tasks.
- Higher quality output because I could dedicate more energy to the parts of the business I enjoy.
It’s all about finding the right balance and giving yourself permission not to do everything yourself.
What Happens When You Don’t Have Systems in Place
When you don’t have clear systems in place, it can feel like your business is constantly on the edge of chaos. I’ve been there. Without a reliable process for managing client communication, I’d spend hours sorting through email threads, trying to make sure I hadn’t missed something important. I’d lose track of deadlines, and the stress piled on.
The overwhelm affected not just my business, but my ability to think clearly and make decisions. Small tasks became massive undertakings simply because I didn’t know where to start. That constant feeling of decision fatigue—when you’re too exhausted to even know where to begin—set in.
Take a moment to think about what feels chaotic in your business right now—what’s one task or process that overwhelms you? Whether it’s managing client emails, keeping track of projects, or staying on top of your to-do list, recognizing where the pain points are is the first step to solving them.
My turning point came when my business started to grow, but I was still working full-time. There was no way I could handle both without implementing better systems. That’s when I realized that getting organized wasn’t optional—it was necessary if I wanted to keep growing.
The Power of Small Changes in Systems
When I decided to make some small system changes, I made it incredibly simple: I started making lists. It sounds basic, but creating a weekly “dump list” of everything I needed to do, both in business and in my personal life, was a total game changer. It helped me prioritize tasks and break them down into manageable daily to-do lists.
Then I took things a step further when I learned about the Eisenhower Matrix. This method allowed me to organize tasks into categories—important vs. urgent—and focus on what truly needed my attention. By tackling the high-priority items first, I knew my time was being spent on the tasks that would move my business forward.
Another huge shift came when I fully implemented HoneyBook. I initially started using it over five years ago as just a contract and invoicing tool. But about two years ago, I dove deeper and transformed it into a robust system for my entire business. Automations, branded templates, and workflows saved me so much time and energy.
These small system changes allowed me to scale from my photography business to launching Woodall Creative Co., where I now help other entrepreneurs grow their businesses with confidence. I wasn’t spending time on back-and-forth emails anymore, and I wasn’t manually tracking where each client was in the process. HoneyBook made everything smoother and more efficient.
Quick Action Step: Consider implementing one simple system in your business today. Maybe it’s a scheduling link or an automated inquiry response. Starting small will give you a taste of how much time and energy these systems can save.
How Small Systems Can Revolutionize Your Business
When you start implementing small system changes like automations or templates, the results can be revolutionary. For example, my response time and conversion rates significantly improved once I had automations in place to send out branded content in a timely manner. It made me look more professional and consistent, and clients appreciated the seamless process.
One client recently shared how much their business improved after we implemented HoneyBook. They went from days of back-and-forth emails to schedule and book clients to having a fully automated system. Now, it takes less than an hour from inquiry to first payment. That’s a major transformation—and a huge time saver!
Systems like these have allowed me to focus on scaling my business without getting bogged down in the everyday details. By automating the repetitive tasks, I have more time for creative work and building relationships with clients.
If you’re hesitant to invest in a system, ask yourself why. Is it fear of losing control? Time? Money? Many solopreneurs worry that automating things means giving up control, but the opposite is true. By putting streamlined systems in place, you’ll actually gain more control over your time, your business, and your well-being.
Steps to Get Started with Systems
If you’re ready to feel more organized but don’t know where to start, here’s my advice: Start small. Pick one element of your business that feels chaotic and implement a simple system for it. It could be automating your inquiry responses or setting up a scheduling link that allows clients to book directly.
A system doesn’t have to be a tech tool like HoneyBook. It can be as simple as a journal where you keep your weekly to-do list. A system is really just “an organized or established procedure,” and chances are, you already have some systems in place. Take grocery shopping, for example—most people follow a certain route through the store without even thinking about it. That’s a system!
Take Action: Think about the systems you’re already using in your business. How are they serving you? Could they be improved, combined, or even eliminated if they’re not working?
And if this all feels overwhelming, you don’t have to figure it out alone. That’s where I come in. As someone who has helped many entrepreneurs, I can guide you through the process of decluttering your business and building systems that work. Together, we can simplify your workflows and give you back your time.
You Deserve More Time for What Matters – Ready to Reclaim Your Time?
You don’t have to do it all to be successful. Small system changes to your business can make a big difference in how you manage your workload and reclaim your time. Whether it’s setting up a few automations or using a tool like HoneyBook to streamline client communication, you can start today and make things easier for yourself.
If you’re tired of feeling overwhelmed and ready to streamline your business, I’d love to help. Whether it’s automating your workflows or figuring out how to get organized, I’m here to support you. Let’s work together to build systems that give you back your time and make running your business feel easier. Book a discovery call today, and let’s start simplifying things!