Being

I’m curious as to how other Mompreneurs handle their business during summer. Do you slow down? Do you hire help? Do you send your kids to camp? I tweeted this very question today and received several replies. Everything from they use their Blackberry at the beach to working in the wee hours of the morning to dreaming of that perfect help.

I had my schedule down last summer, but this year everything has been thrown off track because the summer program that I send my kids to totally changed times and are now less flexible.

What I really want to do is take the summer off. I have room for a couple more clients in my practice, but really have no desire to fill the spots.  The thought sends chills down my spine! I would actually have to be OK with where I’m at. For the first time in my life it would mean getting off the hamster wheel and taking a breather.

It comes down to hours. I wouldn’t be working so many hours. In turn it would give me more time and less stress.  I would have more flexibility to take my girls to the pool or to the park during the day.

Is that enough of a reason to slow down this summer? I’ve been working full time since graduating high school and part-time before that (part of the joy in being a part of a self-employed family).  I have never slowed down during the summer. In fact, it’s always been the opposite. Even after my 2 surgeries, instead of lying down and enjoying the drug induced brain fog, I silently played brain games and fought the grogginess.

Is what I have enough? That’s a BIG question. We’re encouraged to go higher, think bigger, move faster. It’s been ingrained into me by my father.  In order to grow bigger you have to think  bigger…does that include taking time out to figure out what “bigger” is?  And how come I feel selfish if I want to actually take time from growing my business and spend it hanging out with my girls and having fun?  It would mean less money coming in for the family. That in turn would mean less meals out, less shopping trips to Target…nothing that would impact the stability of my family, just the frills. Is it selfish for me to ask my family to give those things up so that I can just “be” this summer?

Then there are the “creative projects” that I want to pursue. It could turn into an income generating activity and be great fun for me. It’s something that I’ve wanted to do and haven’t had the time to think big and see where it takes me. I would have the time to play with that if I don’t take on more clients this summer.

But the “what ifs” keep popping up…what if it doesn’t work out, what if I blow the time I have, what if I can’t meet new clients at the end of my mini-sabbatical? I’ve never taken the focus off of my VA practice. It’s scary and that should be my cue that I’m headed in the right direction. In a seminar that I attended earlier this spring the organizer said something that stuck with me (I’m paraphrasing what he said) “if you’re not living on the edge, you’re taking up too much room”. That as entrepreneurs we need to constantly stretch and do things that scare us and it’s a good thing…that’s how we grow. So even if it feels counter-intuitive to let go and be this summer and play with this creative idea, it may be the exact thing I need to grow to the next level.

Hmmmm….my knuckles are turning white hanging on so tight to my old pattern and it’s worked for me…but is it working for me now? In all honesty, I’d have to say no.

All Systems Go?

I’m in the process of systematizing my practice. It’s not easy…I’ve always made it a point to not “follow” the crowd and not to place too many restrictions on myself or my practice. Now it’s coming back to bite me! I’ve been wanting to grow and do more. I made writing down my processes and systems this year’s intention. It’s been very painful! I’ve managed to complete my client interview and intake process in the first 4 months of the year.

I went to the library and checked out Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity
by David Allen.  Hearing great things about the book…I was hopeful. Got home and haven’t been able to get past the first chapter. It’s not the book, it’s my mindset about systems and not wanting to be boxed in. This sucks…

If you have any feedback on how to make this easier let me know!

And wish me luck…I still have 8 months left in the year to fulfill my intention!

Fun Friday!

It’s time to unleash that inner DJ with http://blip.fm Blip.fm is a fun free service where you get to spin tunes of your own choice, listen to other DJ’s play lists and give out props!  It’s a High School Musical/Hannah Montana FREE zone : D

Best of all…you can connect it to your Twitter account and share your fave songs with your Tweeps!   Love it!

I Get It Now….

“Defibrillating Our Funny Bone” I love that! When I first started my VA practice I envisioned my life as being less complicated and easier. I no longer had to worry about calling in sick for myself or because of a sick child. My success didn’t rely upon another person’s vision and my opportunities are limitless. Well….fast forward 4 years and I’m more philosophical about working from home. My experience has been all that AND then some! I found out that it isn’t that life is less complicated…it’s just that the complications are different and some things are easier while other things have become harder.

Last week was rough. I had just gotten back from Las Vegas and the very next day started a 3 day marathon of birthday activities for my step-daughter. Not to mention we picked up our new puppy that weekend. When Monday came around I did a sigh of relief thinking OK back on schedule, lots to catch up on and made my plans.  Well…Monday afternoon found me at the veterinarian hospital with one very sick puppy. The Dr. gave him a less than 50% chance of surviving. Schmitty (that’s our puppy’s name) had Parvo (he was infected before we got him…but that’s another post). We decided to go ahead with treatment feeling that we couldn’t turn our back on him. I’m happy to say we brought him home on Saturday and he’s doing great!

Last week I lost all perspective and humor. I was physically and emotionally tired…I was calling it “pregnant tired” (No, I’m not pregnant!). I would have paid a lot of money for a “pause” button so I could catch my breath.

This morning I took a book off the bookshelf that I hadn’t read in a long time. This book had gotten me through some tough times. It’s called The Woman’s Book of Confidence: Meditations for Strength and Inspiration by Sue Patton Thoele.  I closed my eyes and said to myself “OK what am I missing”. I opened the book and then opened my eyes and saw that I opened it to “Defibrillating Our Funny Bone”. The passage reminded me that it’s important to not forget how important humor is in my life.

So today I’m going to “defibrillate” my funny bone by taking time to be outside in the sun and play with Schmitty.

What are you going to do today to add fun and enthusiasm?

Leaving for Las Vegas….

Yikes…I’m going away this week. I have a conference in Las Vegas and while I look forward to connecting with clients and new people; I’m always apprehensive leaving my family.  That’s why I got into self employment in the first place…so I can spend more time at home. After all I’m the only one who can run the house and make sure the animals, husband and kids are cared for…right? Right? That’s what I thought. I said that to my husband. He promptly reminded me that he didn’t starve and had clean clothes before we were married. Ooops…that’s right I don’t have to be responsible everything and everyone. I can do something big for me. Something like take off for a week to Las Vegas.

It’s not only good for me to get out and be around other entrepreneurs and mompreneurs, but it’s good for my family to function without me overseeing homework, bookbags, laundry, groceries and schedules.  My girls will learn that they will not perish if they miss a Girl Scout meeting and that Dad will still take them to Taco Bell on Thursday for a snack before karate. (A big concern since me and the girls never miss a Taco Bell Thursday).

So while it’ll be business almost as usual at home, I’ll be sleeping in a King sized bed with soft down bedding (white down bedding no less!) and growing as a person…we’ll come  back together on Thursday happy and more appreciative of each other!