Every now and then someone asks me, “How do you fit it all in?”

The honest answer?

I don’t.

At least… not on my own.

These days I have what I jokingly call three jobs.

The fun one comes first.

I’m in a band.

Not only do I perform with The Bell, but I’m also fortunate to be invited to play with other musicians in pubs and venues around Sydney. Music has become one of the great joys of my life. Standing on stage, playing songs people know and love, watching them sing along… it’s hard to beat.

Then there’s my speaking business… Strategic Networking.

This business has taken me around the world. I’ve now had the privilege of speaking in Australia, the United Kingdom, the Philippines and the United States, and I hope there are many more countries to come. Through keynote presentations, workshops and online masterclasses, I have the opportunity to help people build stronger relationships and create more opportunities through strategic networking.

Finally, there’s the business I purchased five years ago… my BNI Sydney North East franchise.

That was a completely different adventure.

I’d spent ten years as a BNI member before becoming the owner, so I already knew the system worked. What I didn’t know was what it would be like to run a franchise and lead a membership-based organisation. It’s challenged me, stretched me and taught me more than I ever expected.

People often assume I’m balancing three businesses.

The truth is, I don’t think of it as balancing at all.

It’s more like juggling… and I actually enjoy it.

Moving between music, speaking and BNI keeps me energised. Each business exercises a different part of my brain. I suspect I’d become restless if I only had one.

But here’s the part that matters.

None of them would work without the people around me.

In music, I have a wonderful teacher who continues to challenge me to improve. I have talented bandmates who make every performance better than I could ever achieve alone. I have a network of musicians who are always willing to lend a hand, recommend someone, fill in at short notice or simply offer encouragement.

In BNI, I have an incredible admin team. They keep the wheels turning while I focus on serving our members and growing the organisation. Their contribution is enormous, even if much of it happens behind the scenes.

And in my speaking business, I eventually learned a lesson many business owners resist.

For years I tried to do everything myself.

Then I found a mentor.

Then I built a marketing team.

Suddenly I wasn’t trying to be the speaker, the marketer, the graphic designer, the social media manager and the administrator all at once. I could spend more time doing the work only I can do.

It’s easy to admire successful people and assume they’ve somehow figured out how to do more than everyone else.

I’m not sure that’s true.

I think they’ve simply become better at surrounding themselves with good people.

The Beatles were onto something when they sang I Get By With a Little Help From My Friends.

I know I certainly do.

So here’s my question for you.

Where are you trying to do everything yourself?

Who could teach you?

Who could support you?

Who could become part of your team?

Because success rarely comes from carrying a heavier load.

More often, it comes from having the right people helping you carry it.

Happy Connecting!