Why it has taken me four years to start a newsletter
I have been in business for four years, and I am only just starting a newsletter.
That feels a little late, especially when newsletters are one of those things business owners are often told they “should” be doing. But for me, it has not been as simple as sitting down and writing one.
I've had a bit of a block around it.
Not because I don't have things to share. After four years of running Admin Collective and working behind the scenes with business owners, teams, boards, and not-for-profits, I've seen plenty. Inbox overwhelm, messy systems, forgotten follow-ups, board papers being pulled together at the last minute, meeting actions sitting in someone’s head, and business owners trying to do far too much themselves.
There are many practical things I could write about.
The sticking point has been this: I am very aware of how full people’s inboxes already are.
I didn't want to add to the noise
A lot of the work we do at Admin Collective involves helping clients get back on top of their admin. Quite often, that includes inboxes.
We sort emails. We create folders. We unsubscribe from things that are no longer useful. We help clients work out what needs action, what can be filed, and what can disappear altogether.
So the idea of sending another regular email into someone’s inbox has made me pause.
Four years has given me something to say
In some ways, I am glad I have waited.
Four years in business has given me a much clearer understanding of what people actually need help with. It is not always the big, obvious projects. Often, it is the small tasks and loose ends that create the most pressure.
The inbox that never quite gets cleared.
The meeting actions that are agreed but not followed up.
The board papers that take longer than they should because the process is different every time.
The files that no one can find.
The admin tasks that keep sitting in the back of someone’s mind while they try to focus on bigger work.
Those are the things I want to write about, because they are the things we see every day.
What the newsletter will be
The newsletter will not be long, complicated, or full of business jargon.
It will be a practical note from behind the admin desk. Something useful for people who are busy running businesses, leading teams, managing boards, or keeping organisations moving.
I will share thoughts and tips on things like:
inbox management
delegation
meeting preparation and follow-up
board and governance admin
simple systems
workflows
task tracking
what to hand over when you are stretched
It will also be a way to share some of the things we notice through our work with clients. The patterns, pressure points, and small changes that can make admin feel more manageable.
A good place to start
So, the first newsletter is finally going out.
It has taken four years, partly because I overthought it, but mostly because I wanted to be sure it would be useful.
And that's still the test I will keep coming back to.
Is this helpful?
Is it practical?
Would a busy person be glad they opened it?
That is the aim.
If your inbox, systems, meetings, or admin tasks are starting to feel heavier than they should, I hope the newsletter gives you a few simple ways to think about what can be tidied, improved, or handed over.
And if there is one admin task you keep putting off, that might be the best place to start.
And if you're keen to receive little tips and tricks that can make your life much easier, subscribe by clicking the image below.
