I've always been someone with more on my plate than hours in the day. Between work, raising two teenagers, and all the things I'd like to get around to eventually, I've learned that being busy and getting things done aren't necessarily the same thing.

Sometimes that means questioning a process everyone else has accepted. Sometimes it's finding the missing piece in a spreadsheet, untangling an overloaded inbox, or asking why three people are doing a job that should only take one. I'm not particularly attached to doing things a certain way just because that's how they've always been done. And I've been known to ask a few uncomfortable questions about it.

I've spent more than 20 years working in account management, customer service, and business operations, with everyone from solo business owners to companies like UnitedHealth Group. I've managed $2.5 million in service accounts, led support teams, and worked in organizations ranging from one person to thousands. What I've learned is that bigger doesn't necessarily mean better organized, and small businesses can be every bit as complicated as large ones. Sometimes more so, because the entire operation lives in one person's head.

These days, I work primarily with solo business owners and small teams. I like people who are curious, willing to ask questions, and open to the possibility that there's an easier way to do something. Bonus points if you have a sense of humor about the occasional absurdity of running a business.

My work is a mix of executive and administrative support, operational problem-solving, and building better processes. Sometimes you need someone to sort out the systems behind the work. Sometimes you just need someone capable to take things off your plate. Usually, it's a little of both.

My approach is pretty simple: we start with a conversation. We figure out what's causing the most frustration, look at what's happening underneath it, and start untangling. It's rarely a straight line. Sometimes we find a quick fix. Sometimes we discover that the real problem is somewhere entirely different. I tend to follow the thread until things start making sense.

I'm direct, detail-oriented, and occasionally inclined to ask questions nobody else wants to ask. But I'm also genuinely interested in making things work better for the people doing the work. I'm not here to hand you a fancy report explaining everything that's wrong and wish you luck. I actually like doing the work.

I've worked remotely since 2003, largely because I've always needed work to fit around a life that doesn't operate on a neat nine-to-five schedule. Being a single mom has only reinforced what I already suspected: there are only so many hours in a day, and wasting them on unnecessary complications seems like a particularly bad idea.

I don't believe there's some perfect work-life balance waiting at the end of a better spreadsheet. But I do believe that the right systems, a little less unnecessary work, and someone reliable in your corner can give you back some breathing room.

And maybe enough time to get to one of those things you've been meaning to do since last Tuesday.