An apology

When bad stuff happens, ask yourself these 2 questions…

Welcome to a free edition of Start Up To Grown Up: Your source for ideas, insights and tactics to take back control of your business and scale it sustainably and profitably by Heather Townsend, award-winning author of The Accountants’ Millionaires’ Club and Founder of The Accountants’ Growth Club

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I have an apology to make. There should be a podcast recording to accompany this substack article.

The problem?

I’ve properly lost my voice. And I mean properly.

As I am away on a sewing retreat now is not the time to consider using an AI avatar to replicate my voice. Particularly as training it on my voice ‘live’ is just not going to happen.

But this is the thing, in life stuff happens.

Until now I have managed to record a podcast episode every single week for the last 41 weeks. And I’m proud of that record.

I’m also determined that I am not going to miss publishing an article this week just because I have properly lost my voice.

Right now, I am choosing my hard.

Do I get a good friend of mine who is with me on the sewing retreat to read my words to create my recording? Or do I miss a week of the podcast?

By the time this article goes live tomorrow you will know the answer!

But this is the thing. Sometimes in business we have great intentions. I am immensely proud of everything I have done in the 14 or so months I have been publishing weekly here on substack. And I am not going to break the chain and miss this week.

But… but… with 24 hours to go before this article goes live tomorrow I am very doubtful that I am going to have even a short podcast recording to go with it.

So, what will be will be. I can’t suddenly magic up a non-existent voice. And more importantly I need that voice next week to deliver coaching sessions and a virtual workshop for a good client. That’s the most worrying thing about losing my voice.

I can hear my therapist’s voice in my ears right now. She would be saying to me, do you have to record that episode? And you know, I don’t. The worst thing that will happen is that I will feel ashamed and embarrassed. (And yes, I am feeling this…)

I’m getting a sense of perspective by reminding myself that in a month or a year, no one will notice the lack of a podcast episode this week. (Well that’s what I am hoping!)

But this is a huge reminder to me about the power of planning and having some back pocket time or leeway.

I’ve been meaning to, for about the last 6 months, properly plan each article and then have a bank of articles and episodes built up so if any problems happen, then I am covered. Looks like this is a huge reminder to me to build up this buffer zone for the substack.

But today is also a reminder that what will be will be. I can only control what I can control. This is the first time I’ve had a nasty bug that has stopped me from functioning properly for years. And I really mean years. I now need to do everything I can do to regain my voice for next week. So that means, resting it. (Not easy for me!)

It also means:

• Inhaling steam

• Keeping myself properly rehydrated (as the vocal cords are the first place to dehydrate)

• Finding some Vocalzone Lozenges (horrible stuff but needs must)

• Using some Ibruprofen to reduce the inflammation in my vocal cords

For anyone that says, how about sipping some lemon with honey in it. This is an old wives tale. It may feel soothing but it isn’t going to bring my voice back…

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In summary

When you run a business life happens. The unexpected can derail you.

The questions to ask yourself are:

• What can I control?

• What can I learn from this?