Right here we’re, not even 5 weeks into 2025, and work has began spiralling uncontrolled once more. I have to 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 functions right here!
Spiralling, once more
From the outset, I need to say that this isn’t a submit about self pity. I depend myself fortunate each single day that I’ve a enterprise I can name my very own, probably the most fantastic group you may ever think about, working in a area 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 exhausting at it.
And it’s in all probability 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 rather a lot 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 with a small help group that labored from residence.
Lately, I’ve a group 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 every year (plus desserts!) that we donate daily to the susceptible.
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 guide breaks information, then the second guide breaks these information. 😉 Truthfully, who knew books might do this??!
We do public occasions – cooking, internet hosting reader dinners, meet-and-greets, fundraisers for charities we need to help – each right here in my hometown of Sydney and interstate, and do segments on TV exhibits. The enjoyable stuff!
Behind the scenes, I’ve the tasks 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 group, organising group occasions, attempting to maintain up common communication with a group that works from many alternative places.
And with RTM being a registered charity, with that comes further 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 photographs, 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 present, placing my hand up and saying – I don’t need to spiral again into that lure once more of being utterly overloaded, overwhelmed and stretched past my capability.
I can’t. It’s unhealthy. Whereas 2024 was a 12 months of unbelievable highs, I ended it in a foul state of sheer exhaustion. I spent the whole 10 days of the Christmas break recovering, sleeping 12 to fifteen hours daily. Unparalleled for me – 6 hours is my norm, 8 hours can be a dream!
However spiralling once more, I’m.
My intuition in these conditions in recent times has been grit my enamel, put my head down, inform my group “I have to go underground for some time” then ruthlessly plough by way of the work alone – growing, testing, capturing and getting by way of all of the “businessy” stuff.
This time, although, I’m going to do one thing about it – and make constructive modifications!
I need assistance!
I at all times inform folks I’ve “the very best group 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 growth, testing and capturing will get performed for this web site.
And I’m drowning. Completely drowning.
I have to rebuild my group. 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 attain them, the folks I have to make it occur.
And so at present, I’m scripting this submit as a way of holding myself accountable (to myself!) to motion two issues:
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Rent a kick-ass assistant with an awesome perspective whose job description is to make my life simpler. Apply right here!
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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 need to do, my strengths and weaknesses (SWOT evaluation!), compensate for sleep, lavish Dozer with consideration (like daily😂), 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.
In the present day’s submit was purported to be a chocolate chip cookie recipe that I’ve been engaged on feverishly for a number of weeks – and stupidly (now I realise!), quite 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 principally written the submit up, full with all of the learnings, pitfalls, and confidently declared to Herron, my video editor – “We’ve take off! 🚀🍪🍪”
Then yesterday, I made it once more, simply to check it one final time – and it wasn’t what it was purported 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 is able to 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 group breakfast tomorrow, drop into the constructing web site on the best way again so I can catch Nigel earlier than he leaves, then I higher duck residence and stroll Dozer so he can settle down earlier than dinner. Then I’ll deliver the groceries again to the workplace and prep for breakfast tomorrow, take the cookie dough residence 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 group presentation tomorrow – and UGH, the air conditioning on the workplace is damaged, it’s so insanely scorching, we have to discover one other location for the assembly. I would like to inform everybody we’re shifting, and I higher get than air conditioning fastened, asap!”
And that was the second I realised – I have to cease. Recalibrate. Take a break.
And use my time to discover an assistant!
I will probably 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 group I have to make it occur.
Subsequent week is already full with an thrilling TV filming day (extra quickly!) and we’ve got functions piled up already for the job emptiness which, to be trustworthy, was marketed per week in the past. Sharing it on my web site is one in every of many little issues which have slipped my thoughts. 🙂
My new assistant is the primary essential step to provoke change round right here. I don’t take recruitment frivolously. I’m very protecting of my group, and the tradition I’ve labored so exhausting 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 functions. And in case you’re questioning, sure I get assist from a recruitment firm, I’m simply approaching it a bit of otherwise this time. As a result of this enterprise is exclusive, my group is exclusive, I’m distinctive! We discover we don’t slot in moulds – and that’s okay, we like being totally 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 have been whirling like loopy in my head in a semi-orderly vogue!
Bear with me. I will probably 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 of keep off social media utterly as a result of it’s my digital playground. I’m not cool sufficient for TikTok however I’m regularly 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 wish to help this trigger, you may 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!
