Fun Friday

Here’s a fun little app for the iPhone and iPod Touch. It’s called Gratitude and it’s a gratitude journal that you can keep on your iPhone. I use it when I’m at dance practice with my daughter or waiting for an appointment.

Click HERE to read the story behind the app and a link to get it.

It’s pretty cool!

What are you worth?

A couple of weeks ago I spoke with a woman who is just starting her own business and wanted to connect with me and pick my brain.

We got together and had a conversation. We spoke about the different work that I do and the type of clients I work with and generally how I set up my practice and processes. I was happy to spend time with her and hoped the information I gave was useful.

She then asked if it was OK to ask what my rates are. There was silence on her end and then told me what her rate is (much lower than mine). The first question that popped into my mind was “How does she expect to stay in business?”. I explained to her that I didn’t pull my rate out of thin air. I sat down figured out what the costs were going to be for me:

1. Taxes

2. Insurance

3. Hardware and software upgrades (eventually I’ll need a new computer or software upgrade)

4. Phone costs, ink, Internet service, supplies etc

5. Education (very important!)

6. Wage for myself and taking into account that I won’t be working everyday of the year. As a business owner I’m entitled to sick and vacation time (it took awhile for me to be OK with that little concept!).

My thinking is…how can I service my clients when I’m unable to support my business and myself on what I make? How can I continue to offer top notch service if I can’t afford to invest in myself and my business?

This was a huge issue for me. It’s all tied to my self-worth. It’s not easy answering the question “Am I worth this much?” not only to myself but to a potential client. I still come up against this when a potential client makes the argument that they can hire someone for much less than me. It’s taken me a long time to confidently say “My rate is…” and here are the benefits that you receive when working with me. Am I the right person for every client…nope and I don’t want to be.

I’m not a mathematician and it took awhile for me to understand this simple equation that makes all the difference…

right VA + right Client = ease

It goes back to having boundaries and standards for myself and not being afraid of that very scary word– EASY : D

Observations from the Dog Park

We take Schmitty to the dog park at least 4 days a week. Our dog park is split in two. One side for the small dogs and one side for the big dogs. We started out on the small dog side. The people there are generally retired. We’d go and sit down with the other dog owners and chat while our dogs played. Then our dog out grew the small dog side. Not physically…but in attitude. So we go to the other side now.

I miss the small dog side of the park. The older folks were open, engaged and liked to socialize. The big dog side is younger and not so open….hmmmm. It makes me wonder why. Is it that we are so use to texting, emailing and IM’ing that we don’t know how to socialize in person? Is it that we’re so preoccupied with our life that we forget to step out of ourselves and connect with the outside world?

It was a treat for me to chat with the other dog owners on the small dog side. They have experiences and perspectives that are different. They are more relaxed in their socializing. In turn I became more open and relaxed. It was nice….

Simple Pleasures

Today I had the pleasure of discovering how much I truly enjoy my work. With the girls home the last few months…it’s been a juggle and a race to get things done before they get restless.

They went back to school this morning and I went home and got lost in my work.  I forgot how much I enjoy getting lost in my work.

The Power of Intention

The girls are starting school in 2 days…WAHOO! I think they are as excited as I am. I can’t believe summer is over. There were days that felt like summer would never end but here I am – amazed at how quickly it has passed!

When summer began I had the intention of slowing down, enjoying my time with my girls…just being.   Then when school started to turn my focus back to my practice. For the first two weeks it was easier said than done. Eventually I got in the groove. My business naturally slowed down without my really having to do anything special. It was scary.

I learned new things about myself during the summer slowdown.

1. I really love what I do

2. Being an entrepreneur means the world to me and to my family

3. All the little fears that I’d ignored and put aside….about money, success and self worth…made themselves known.

4. To abide by the boundaries that I set for myself

I found that it’s easier to say “I live by and own my own definition of success” than to actually live it.  I found out that my definition of success goes against what I grew up with and what society says.  It makes for some sleepless nights laying awake with the mind chatter going at top speed.

This week I was reminded that it all comes down to faith. Just have faith. With school starting in two days my business has naturally started to pick up and I’m busy again. Just like I intended.