A day in the life of......

....Leanne

Big Sam admin, content creator, lawn mower assistant, interior window cleaner, complaints department, accounts, HR, debt collector, Mother, Wife and anything else that gets thrown into the mix!

Many of you know my name from my signature sign off, Leanne (Big Sam admin), at the end of any text messages, Facebook post, E-mails and any other communications you receive and I am not going to lie quite often if its signed off as Sam, its usually me too that has researched, written, edited and submitted the information before the Big man himself proof reads and clicks send!

When Big Sam The Window Man was established in 2015 we had not long had our daughter Pippa, so my maternity leave was soon given an extra twist of being the unofficial admin for Big Sam's, which was handy really as, for anyone who knows me, I am not very good at doing nothing.

As the business grew and our family grew, we decided that the aim for me to stop my part time employment and become a permanent feature of the Big Sam office, really wasn't a bad idea and could actually work!

In 2021 I quit my role as Activities Coordinator at a local care home and took on the role full time.

My office hours are flexible around our 2 children, the school run and the 100 clubs they attend (honestly better social lives than either myself or Sam), the evenings are still often late but it works around our little family, which as any working mum knows - is hitting the jackpot!

So for those who really do wonder what my full role is and why I may not always answer on the first ring of the phone: Here is a typical day in the life of me - a Monday to be precise as everyday is different!

Rise and Shine to a fresh new day and week!

Its all hands on deck: Kick starting the day with a quick overview of messages that have come in (checking for nothing urgent!), whilst serving up bowls of cereal and toast, and loading school bags.

Sam is in full swing too, getting sorted for the day and making a run for it before the lost shoe debacle begins. Although today we had the rare treat of enjoying Sam's company, as he started later.

School run time, we walk to school each day and its such a great way to get a bit of exercise and wake up the brain for the day ahead at work and school. It also allows me a bit of time for social interaction that isn't phone or computer based too, improving my mood after the morning rush.

Back in the office - Its time to deep dive into the work which has stacked up over the weekend - Processing worksheets from the previous Friday, including sending out quoted prices and booking in new customers, setting up payments for subcontractors for last week, invoicing, checking data and figures, and updating all the lovely spreadsheets.

Calls from the team out on the road, checking a note from the worksheet or struggling to locate a new potential job - google maps and street view to the rescue.

Calls, texts and messages with customer are non stop throughout the day and squeezing them in between the workload is part of the parcel.

Quick gym session (I only get a chance to go twice a week in the day so take the opportunity whilst I can!)

Back to the communications: time to get everyone informed of there cleans/cuts this week then quotes, quotes and more quotes!

Noon

Lunch over social media: A quick feed whilst also updating and creating reels, preparing and scheduling the next post, sharing fellow companies advertisements and advertising on community pages where possible.

Dinner prep is a must on a day like today as everyone is in and out for different clubs and jobs - The Slow cooker is truly my best friend at this time of year. Washing and a quick tidy up as any parent knows, it is never ending.

Banking updates (This is my least liked job!) Bank reconciliation, then onto follow ups of missed payments, and debt collection where required.

I sometimes get an hour or so to complete the tasks that aren't routinely in my week - todays is placing a uniform order with my ever so patient Monty at Chameleon designs, ready for our newest team member and checking if anyone else needs a top -up.

Afternoon School run: got to be a quick turnaround today so short way home, much to Bennie's annoyance, snack, drink and onto the evening.

The manic hours!

Drop Pippa to Netball with the wonderful Boost netball team and Bennie and I run home for some dinner and a quick read of the 13 storey treehouse and log it on Boom reader, as wouldn't want to miss out on those house points .

Bennie and I then hot foot it over to Freedom Leisure Hailsham for his swimming lessons. Whilst the boy swims, I crack on with BLOG writing and website updates.

Sam collects Pippa, fills up with water in the van tank ready for tomorrow and they head home for there dinner - Sam is always  greeted with a list of to-do's or queries and questions I have encountered across the day, which we will get back to later.

Everyone finally home and a bit of family time - Todays choice is Horrible History board game.

Evening soon looms

Sam chases the kids to bed and I jump back on the computer to get a bit more office work done - sometimes with the 11 year old assistance (as apparently sleeping before 9pm is not an option these days).

Kids in bed and the final hit of the day - Finishing off the task list which needed joint brain power and writing the 'To do' list ready for tomorrow.

My love of a good list and a highlighter is Sam's worst nightmare but my saving grace when the brain is full.

Final check of the messages and then the magic power off button for the evening!

The call of the sofa, a cup of tea and biscuit and the most recent Netflix series (which Sam will likely snore through).

I may do a spot of social media, responding to recommendations and sharing posts but for now, Big Sam's has been put to bed for the night.

Each day varies drastically as I never know how many customers will call, how many quote requests or who's van/equipment is going to break down and need rescuing.

As some of you are aware over the summer I was dragged out of the office and pushing a mower around Mayfield, Hailsham, Heathfield, Lewes and Uckfield for Big Sam The Mowing Man. I have also been taxi driver to the Predator Gutter Vaccuum when its in Polegate but has ended up in a different van in Chiddingly, delivery spot for the neighbours parcels, dog sitter for the in-laws and networking queen as I am plummeted into different groups and socials to share the work we do.

Its all in a days work and part of what I enjoy most is the variation of my role each day, hearing the positive feedback from everyone - plus I have the best snoozing office assistance to keep me company.

Forever Busy but never getting everything quite complete.

Leanne

Big Sam admin