Soak Time is part of the process.

If you're a type A type, you're going to struggle with this column. Today I am talking about soak time and the fractional professional. Much to the chagrin of the impatient, setting things down and walking away while things are unresolved is part of the process for fractional professionals.

Soak time and client problems. Remember when you were in your 20s and early 30s and you felt like you could grind your way through any problem that came your way? Anything could be solved by applying brute force of time spent fixated on the problem. And while that led to plenty of billable hours and the feeling of progress, truly solving the issues probably remained elusive. Why? One, you were probably still a bit too green to think through all of the angles of the issues. And two: you didn't allow for soak time. 

Letting things rest is a critical function of solving problems. Like a home made bread, once you've assembled the ingredients in an artful way you have to step back and let things happen on their own. I know, I know, this is absolute torture for the impatient. After all, isn't there something you can do? Some bag you can hoist to a shoulder? Some hours you can grind through on something? Perhaps. But it won't make the resolution to your issue come any faster. After you've thought things through and applied good, solid strategic thinking to the issue, you need to walk away. Walking away and promising to come back to it later is often the most strategic and valuable thing you can do. Its what gives you perspective- one of your most valuable features as a fractional pro.

These days you are hired to think, guide and mull things over. You are hired to be patient. You are hired because there are enough people hoisting sacks of issues over their shoulders and muscling through them. You are hired for your patience, objectivity and perspective. You earned it of course. All of those years of grinding away provided you a foundation of wisdom no one else has but you. Accept that. Be proud of it. Wear it like the badge it is. (This is also where you get to really kick imposter syndromes ass) Give yourself permission to walk away from the challenge du jour when the time comes. And be confident that the objectivity you bring back to the issue on your return is where you are bringing massive amounts of value. This is when you truly earn your 5k, 10k or 15k retainer. 

I heard a great quote this week that went something like this:

"I totally want to go with the flow. What time does the flow start?"

 There is indeed an art to letting things go so you can have a better grip on them later. Know that that art is reserved for fractional pros like you.

 Go get em,

John and Jason

This week: Cathy Paper joins Office Hours, the Fractional "podisode."

Office Hours, our weekly zoom in Podisode! with Dave Meyer and me. Every Friday at 1. This week Cathy Paper joins us and puts some energy around networking for fractional pros in the new normal. More deets on Cathy here.

Don't forget your other community resources, all here to help your biz grow.

• Last Thursdays, our monthly community round up. Every last Thursday at 4.
• Members Only, our LinkedIn community for you! On live and online 24/7.