Lately, due to a shortage of manpower, things have been quite busy at times, and I've become somewhat overworked. Being overly tired can be exhausting, and pushing things out for a short period is manageable, but if it goes on for too long, it becomes truly strenuous (especially when the rewards aren't immediately apparent, making you question the purpose of all this hard work—but I believe the right path is difficult and less traveled, and the rewards come gradually). When you're exhausted, it's natural to want to escape. There are two options: give up or find someone to help share the workload.
I probably wouldn't consider giving up; I'll keep pushing until I reach my breaking point. However, finding someone to help share the workload does require some thought. There are two approaches: the first is to have existing colleagues each do a small part to share the burden; the second is to hire a personal assistant to help monitor and manage the workload.
Regarding the second approach, it's true that some of my friends and clients have wanted to help out at Re Pillow Co. for some time now, but I've declined them all. First, regarding my own friends, when you've known someone for over a decade, you roughly know their capacity for pressure and workload. I know that if they joined, they wouldn't be able to handle the workload. Therefore, I felt that if they joined, I probably wouldn't be able to give them the work, and they would find the work too difficult and unpleasant. In that case, we might not even be able to remain friends, and losing a friend of over a decade would be a greater pity. As for other friends, I know their capabilities and know they might not be able to handle the work, so I simply declined to avoid an unhappy ending for everyone. As for my clients, I can genuinely sense their love for the brand and our work, and their strong desire to continue. However, I haven't yet found a client/applicant with sufficient ability to work closely with me, so I have to decline. While these are certainly easy to hire, ease/reliability doesn't necessarily mean what's best for the company. The most important thing is to do things well.
Share the work
So I continued working on my own, but I'm truly grateful that my current colleagues are incredibly helpful. They handle various problems on their own, so I don't have to worry about anything (like what to do when the shop's gate breaks – they handle many things themselves), allowing me to focus on my main tasks. Actually, looking back, the amount of work I handle each month has been steadily increasing, and I really have to thank my colleagues for their help. I've also realized that I can't keep up; I need to learn to communicate more and not try to do everything myself. Everyone is willing to help share the workload, and they understand how busy I am, so they proactively help solve problems. I'm truly grateful.
Future Concerns
Fortunately, the team is small now, and my colleagues are all good and caring people, so I can take care of myself. However, if there are more people in the future, I may not be able to rely solely on my own abilities, and how to effectively manage and operate the business will become a problem. I have two ideas for now: 1. Learn it myself; 2. Hire a suitable person with management experience to manage and train them. I haven't made a decision yet.
#143 The risks of "being proactive", "stopping breathing" (01/03/2025)
#145 Business trip and dinner with senior colleagues (16/03/2025)