33 www.printmonthly.co.uk INDUSTRY TIPS | THE ONLINE PRINT COACH the production fixer, the customer contact. But here’s the thing: If your business can’t run without you, it owns you, not the other way around. The solution isn’t to clone yourself, it’s to build something that works without you. That means systems, empowered staff, and documented processes. You don’t have to disappear for one month tomorrow. But what if you started with a long weekend? Then a week? Then two? Here’s your challenge this week: Block out 90 minutes to do owner work. That’s not production, it’s not emails, and it’s definitely not quoting. It’s planning. Reviewing reports. Systemising. Thinking ahead. And once you make that space, protect it. This is the invisible work that pays off big. It’s what separates the owner from the operator. And it’s what allows you to finally You didn’t start your business to run yourself into the ground. If you want to reclaim your time, build scale, and avoid burnout, this is the work you need to do. Hiring Help? Here’s Why It Might Feel Harder (at First) So, you’ve taken the plunge. You’ve hired someone to help take the pressure off. It should feel like a relief, but weirdly, it doesn’t. Suddenly, you’re managing mistakes, redoing work, training, and wondering if it was easier when you were doing it all yourself. This is the messy reality of moving from being a solo operator to becoming a team leader. It’s uncomfortable, but it’s also necessary. Here’s the truth: You don’t get the dream team by default. You get the team your leadership deserves. If things feel chaotic, that’s not a sign you’ve hired the wrong people, it’s a sign your systems (or lack of them) are being exposed. What used to live in your head now needs to be shared, taught, and embedded. And that takes time. But trust me, it’s worth it. You can’t scale chaos. But you can scale a documented, consistent way of doing things. Here’s what I recommend: Start small. Pick one repeated task, like onboarding a new client or setting up a proof and write it out step-by-step. Get it out of your head and into a shared doc or SOP. Then walk your team through it. Test it. Improve it. Delegate it. You’ll still have growing pains, but they’ll turn into growing capacity. Hiring is a long game. Yes, the early stages are messy. But if you do the leadership work now, you’ll unlock time, headspace, and freedom down the line. The messy middle is a sign that you’re building something bigger than yourself. Could You Step Away for One Month? Could your print business keep running if you stepped away for one month? I’m talking zero calls. No emails. No checking in. Just you, offline, and the business still operating. If your first reaction is to laugh (or panic), you’re not alone. But this is one of the clearest indicators of whether you’ve built a true business or just a high-paying job. Most owners are so deep in the day-today that they can’t imagine things running without them. They’re the quote machine, stop being the bottleneck. Because one day, you might want to sell. Or step back. Or pass it on. And if you’ve built a business that only works with you, you’ve got nothing to hand over. Is Your Print Business Building Wealth or Just Paying Wages? What’s your endgame? You started your business for freedom, right? More control. More income. Maybe even more time with family. But fast forward a few years, and you’re flat-out. You’re paying wages. Keeping clients happy. Reinvesting every penny. And wondering when the real reward kicks in. Here’s the deal: If your only goal is to cover costs, that’s all you’ll ever do. To build real freedom, you need to think like an investor, not just an owner. That means using your business to generate wealth, not just work. Can you build something you can sell? Pass on? Step away from it and still get paid? It starts with one key mindset shift: Stop focusing only on revenue, and start focusing on value. How do you increase the value of your business, not just the turnover? • Create repeatable systems • Build a strong team • Reduce reliance on you • Generate consistent profit Those are the things that create freedom, equity, and long-term impact. Even if it’s one action per week, that’s the path to building a business that works for you. You don’t just want a thriving print company. You want a future-proofed asset. ▲Sinclair McDermott says it's important to step back to understand your operations July / August 2025 - Issue 355 ▲Print businesses can vary from small teams to multiple sites and offices, all of which need managing
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