Right here we’re, not even 5 weeks into 2025, and work has began spiralling uncontrolled once more. I must cease for a bit to regain management, get on high of some issues, and take a second to recalibrate.
Additionally, I desperately want an assistant. Now accepting purposes right here!
Spiralling, once more
From the outset, I wish to say that this isn’t a submit about self pity. I rely myself fortunate each single day that I’ve a enterprise I can name my very own, probably the most great crew you’ll be able to ever think about, working in a subject that I really like and makes me glad.
It’s as a result of I really like what I achieve this deeply that I work so laborious at it.
And it’s most likely due to this that I discover myself, but once more, overloaded, overwhelmed and stretched past my capability.
Those that have adopted alongside for some time would know that issues have modified quite a bit round right here within the final 4 years. Again in 2020, the RecipeTin world was a quiet one-girl-and-her-dog operation who hid behind the pc display screen with a small help crew that labored from house.
Today, I’ve a crew of 9. I’ve a meals financial institution (RecipeTin Meals) the place 4 correctly skilled cooks work in a business kitchen and make over 130,000 do-it-yourself meals annually (plus desserts!) that we donate each day to the weak.
I’ve written two cookbooks, each of which I partly blame for this new world during which we now function. As a result of it seems you get a little bit of consideration when the primary ebook breaks data, then the second ebook breaks these data. 😉 Actually, who knew books may do this??!
We do public occasions – cooking, internet hosting reader dinners, meet-and-greets, fundraisers for charities we wish to help – each right here in my hometown of Sydney and interstate, and do segments on TV reveals. The enjoyable stuff!
Behind the scenes, I’ve the duties that include having your personal enterprise. Administration, taxes, paperwork, company filings, HR, authorized issues, enterprise inquiries, making selections about “what subsequent” for the enterprise. Taking care of the crew, organising crew occasions, making an attempt to maintain up common communication with a crew that works from many various areas.
And with RTM being a registered charity, with that comes extra obligations, like common board conferences which embody impartial administrators and annual audits.
And lastly, let’s add to that, creating the recipes that I share on this web site. Plus photographing them, enhancing the pictures, filming them, writing up the posts, and testing the recipes.
I share this to not complain or boast about workload. I don’t suppose the latter is one thing to boast about anyway, as a result of I’m right here at this time, placing my hand up and saying – I don’t wish to spiral again into that lure once more of being fully overloaded, overwhelmed and stretched past my capability.
I can’t. It’s unhealthy. Whereas 2024 was a yr of unbelievable highs, I ended it in a nasty state of sheer exhaustion. I spent your complete 10 days of the Christmas break recovering, sleeping 12 to fifteen hours each day. Unprecedented for me – 6 hours is my norm, 8 hours could be a dream!
However spiralling once more, I’m.
My intuition in these conditions lately has been grit my enamel, put my head down, inform my crew “I must go underground for some time” then ruthlessly plough by way of the work alone – creating, testing, taking pictures and getting by way of all of the “businessy” stuff.
This time, although, I’m going to do one thing about it – and make optimistic modifications!
I need assistance!
I all the time inform individuals I’ve “the most effective crew anybody might be fortunate sufficient to have” (and, I swear, the funniest too!). However the roles they fill are largely not entrance finish at what we name “HQ” the place the recipe improvement, testing and taking pictures will get finished for this web site.
And I’m drowning. Completely drowning.
I must rebuild my crew. However first, I would like the time to clear my head so I can set a transparent imaginative and prescient for what my objectives are and the technique to realize them, the individuals I must make it occur.
And so at this time, I’m penning this submit as a method of holding myself accountable (to myself!) to motion two issues:
Rent a kick-ass assistant with an amazing perspective whose job description is to make my life simpler. Apply right here!
Take a break from publishing new recipes for [two to three] weeks. Use the time to recalibrate, have quiet time to consider the following steps for the enterprise, what I wish to do, my strengths and weaknesses (SWOT evaluation!), compensate for sleep, lavish Dozer with consideration (like each day😂), and recruit my new assistant (sure, recruiting properly takes time, a lot time!).
Triggered by a cookie 🍪
If you happen to’re questioning the place this all got here from, it occurred yesterday and it was triggered by a cookie.
As we speak’s submit was alleged to be a chocolate chip cookie recipe that I’ve been engaged on feverishly for a number of weeks – and stupidly (now I realise!), moderately publicly as I jokingly shared fails and successes on social media.
32 batches in, over 250 cookies baked to get to the cookie I used to be aiming for, examined then tweaked then re-tested to make it as foolproof as attainable.
I’ve filmed it, photographed it, I’ve even largely written the submit up, full with all of the learnings, pitfalls, and confidently declared to Herron, my video editor – “We now have take off! 🚀🍪🍪”
Then yesterday, I made it once more, simply to check it one final time – and it wasn’t what it was alleged to be. Did I mis-measure one thing? Is the oven temperature off? Did I put the flawed timer on?
This was the second
I frantically browned extra butter, intent on doing one other batch, calculating in my head – “if I get it within the fridge by 1 pm, I can do the short-chill take a look at batch at 6 pm then the right batch at 11 pm, which can end cooling by 12.30 am so I can pack it away”.
This was adopted by the thought “OK, I’ll make the dough right here at work, then do groceries for the crew breakfast tomorrow, drop into the constructing website on the best way again so I can catch Nigel earlier than he leaves, then I higher duck house and stroll Dozer so he can calm down earlier than dinner. Then I’ll convey the groceries again to the workplace and prep for breakfast tomorrow, take the cookie dough house to bake tonight. I would like to talk to Inggrid about cashflow forecasting, and oh crap, when is the following RTM board assembly? Ohhhh…and I forgot I’ve that 5.30 appointment, how a lot will she hate me if I reschedule? 😭 And I mustn’t overlook to do my slides for the crew presentation tomorrow – and UGH, the aircon on the workplace is damaged, it’s so insanely sizzling, we have to discover one other location for the assembly. I would like to inform everybody we’re shifting, and I higher get than aircon mounted, asap!”
And that was the second I realised – I must cease. Recalibrate. Take a break.
And use my time to discover an assistant!
I will likely be again!
So, I’m taking a break from publishing new recipes, for two to three weeks to compensate for work that has piled up, take into consideration what my subsequent steps are and the crew I must make it occur.
Subsequent week is already full with an thrilling TV filming day (extra quickly!) and we’ve purposes piled up already for the job emptiness which, to be trustworthy, was marketed every week in the past. Sharing it on my web site is one among many little issues which have slipped my thoughts. 🙂
My new assistant is the primary vital step to provoke change round right here. I don’t take recruitment evenly. I’m very protecting of my crew, and the tradition I’ve labored so laborious to create and keep.
So we have to get began on the recruitment as a result of it should take fairly a little bit of time to get by way of the purposes. And in case you might be questioning, sure I get assist from a recruitment firm, I’m simply approaching it just a little in another way this time. As a result of this enterprise is exclusive, my crew is exclusive, I’m distinctive! We discover we don’t slot in moulds – and that’s okay, we like being completely different.
If you happen to made it this far, thanks for listening to my ramblings. To be trustworthy, it’s been fairly therapeutic, forcing myself to place ideas down which were whirling like loopy in my head in a semi-orderly vogue!
Bear with me. I will likely be again! Together with that darn choc chip cookie recipe. It is not going to defeat me! – Nagi x
PS I count on I gained’t be capable to keep off social media fully as a result of it’s my digital playground. I’m not cool sufficient for TikTok however I’m often placing real-life snippets on Instagram and Fb.
Lifetime of Dozer
Video from the fundraiser at SASH Ryde that Dozer and I attended final week to assist increase funds for Sophie’s Legacy! I do know there’s smiles and laughter – and it actually was SO nice assembly everybody – however there’s a severe message behind it so I hope you get an opportunity to look at it:
If you happen to’d prefer to help this trigger, you’ll be able to donate right here or signal the petition right here to assist foyer for change. However even simply speaking about it, as I say within the video, means we’re elevating consciousness and with that comes the beginning of change.
Dozer and I thanks on your help. – N x
PS Sure, I dropped to the ground, grabbed Dozer and took this selfie not 2 seconds in the past!
