NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Business / Economy / Employment

Debbie Mayo-Smith: The morning of a self-employed woman

Debbie Mayo-Smith
By Debbie Mayo-Smith
A motivational speaker gives her tips on business success·NZ Herald·
5 Oct, 2014 08:30 PM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

Photo / Getty

Photo / Getty

Debbie Mayo-Smith
Opinion by Debbie Mayo-Smith
A motivational speaker gives her tips on business success
Learn more

The alarm rings. 6:00 am. It's my husband's alarm, but I get up anyway.

Although what I mean is I'm awake but it's too tempting to keep horizontal and enjoy a half hour session with my iPhone. I read the Herald online, perhaps have a quick email squiz and a session or two with Spider Solitaire (guilty pleasure). Then it's over to checking the alerts on the social media apps.

Yet this half-hour or so isn't pure joy and relaxation as it's accompanied by remorse. "I should be sitting up working" my work ethic is screaming at me. The battle between want to and should do rages until the laptop wins.

My little Toshiba boots right up - almost as fast as a Tablet but ever, ever so much more useful. The joys of wireless and being self-employed. You're married to both your partner and your work. And you can share your bed with both. Plus I have to add, our two little Chihuahuas Gemlin and Bella.

Since 6.30-ish is a great thinking/creative time- I try not to open Outlook since most first of the day emails are overnight spam, virus alerts, viruses and newsletters that are anything but that.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

So it's onto planning my next presentation, memorising a speech, writing an article, a LinkedIn Pulse blog, my blog or a bit of admin. I won't bother writing anymore books as sales have become non-existent in this day of people being to busy and thinking they can find their answers with Mr G (Google).

By 8.00 am Steve's gone and the university exodus has completed. It's me and the dogs. It's time to open Outlook. 50ish emails deleted straight on. Tasks reminds me of the follow ups I need to do. I take care of the ones by email, and make a mental note of which to call.

Guilt again. Heavier now. I'm torn between 'I should do a search and find some prospects to cold call'. This battle is always lost. 'I should call some of my older clients and have a schmooze for an opportunity or two.' This battle is lost 99.9 per cent of the time. ' I should work on my website revamp'. But that isn't a huge priority now. "I should have gone to the 6am pump class at the gym'. Should have, could have didn't. 'I must walk the dogs'. Later. 'I should plan dinner'. Later. You'll notice the tune of housework isn't calling. That is because this is the only permanent part time help I have.

If I don't have appointments, the morning is spent with a mix of personal and business activities. 9 or 10:30am gym classes at Contours. Then if no appointments - a coffee and more computer work straight after as a wee reward. It seems I can accomplish much more out of the house/office focusing on work than trying to do it in situ. If there isn't a gym class, then it's walking the dogs on the beach (weather permitting) with my speech or article print outs in hand. Life is a continuum of multitasking.

This little intimate look at most of my mornings highlights the dilemma of the home based self-employed.

Discover more

Opinion

Debbie Mayo-Smith: Success lessons from a business superstar

15 Jun 09:30 PM
Opinion

Debbie Mayo-Smith: Where you're losing sales and how to stop it

22 Jun 09:30 PM
Opinion

Opinion: Wow! Best email tip. Ever

06 Jul 09:30 PM
Opinion

Debbie Mayo-Smith: Five must-do marketing tactics

13 Jul 09:30 PM

The many hats you have to wear; and be good at: Marketing. Bookkeeping. Administration. Sales. Design. Copywriting. Promotion. Social Media. Technology including software, smartphones, databasing and documents / documentation.

You live with the struggle between being productive for business and trying to run the thing called daily family life. Being alone (by this I mean self-employed without staff to talk to). Keeping everyone happy, fed, walked (i.e. your pets).

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

If I were to give advice to someone starting out, or improving their self-employment opportunities, it would be this:

1. If you have a partner, they must be supportive.

2. Use of wireless technology. It allows you to be connected to your work/clients anywhere you are. At any time with minimal effort or cost.

3. To be religious (establish a routine that is non-negotiable) on your business marketing and promotion strategies.

4. Never let opportunities fall by the wayside by always following up - especially incorporating the Task/To Do feature of email software. I have had prospects I've followed up with for eight years - until they finally became a client.

5. A monthly newsletter which you promote everywhere and try to incorporate value in receiving it.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

6. Good customer service and adding value

Written by Debbie Mayo-Smith, One of New Zealand's most in-demand speakers, trainers and bestselling authors. Debbie works with companies that want more effective staff. For more tips and business ideas sign up for her free monthly newsletter.
Save

    Share this article

Latest from Employment

Premium
Property

Liquidator helps secure visas for 60 workers from failed NZ firm

Premium
AnalysisKate MacNamara

Reserve Bank's employee benefits: Gold standard or pretty standard?

Premium
Tax

Tax break? Govt urged to make it cheaper for employers to provide health insurance


Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Employment

Premium
Premium
Liquidator helps secure visas for 60 workers from failed NZ firm
Property

Liquidator helps secure visas for 60 workers from failed NZ firm

'The welfare of these ProLink employees was paramount to me' – liquidator Pritesh Patel.

16 Jul 06:00 AM
Premium
Premium
Reserve Bank's employee benefits: Gold standard or pretty standard?
Kate MacNamara
AnalysisKate MacNamara

Reserve Bank's employee benefits: Gold standard or pretty standard?

16 Jul 03:00 AM
Premium
Premium
Tax break? Govt urged to make it cheaper for employers to provide health insurance
Tax

Tax break? Govt urged to make it cheaper for employers to provide health insurance

15 Jul 01:02 AM


Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky
Sponsored

Solar bat monitors uncover secrets of Auckland’s night sky

06 Jul 09:47 PM
NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP