My best practice that I've implemented within the last 12 months was bringing in an operations manager. Prior to that, I was running the business, writing the business and pretty much doing everything around the business to keep everybody doing what they needed to do. And it became so reliant on me keeping that energy going that the busier I got the less time I had available for doing things within the practice.  

So I hired an operations manager to take over the day-to-day running of the business for me. I've stepped back and now handle the leadership side of things and the financial planning, the bread and butter of going out there and earning money. It means that I can leave the actual day-to-day running of the business to her, which has been an absolute godsend. It's given me so much time back; it's allowed me to not be so distracted all the time. And also from a personal perspective, it's taken a huge weight off my shoulders and given me more time for family life and fun as well.   

Carla Brown, FPFS, is a four-year MDRT member from Cuddington, England, U.K.