Taking chances is hard. Scary. You may be afraid that people will tell you it can't be done. That you're silly. That you'll never succeed. It's amazing the heat you can get from naysayers. Why? Because they're more afraid than you are. They don't want to take a risk. They want to play it safe. They're even afraid that you'll succeed or prove them wrong, or - God forbid - move on without them. Thank those negative, spineless, so called friends. They're part of the reason you will succeed.
Negative people will always be there. The sheep, the followers. They'll say you're crazy and they're right - you are. How wonderful and amazing is that??!! It doesn't matter if you're obese and planning a 5K, a chronic dieter who wants to change your eating habits, someone who wants to win a cross-fit competition, a person starting your own business, a woman with an idea to make life easier. The naysayers will be there along the way. Do your best to ignore them and prove them wrong. Not everyone thinks like an entrepreneur. Most people, in fact, think like employees and just want to clock in and follow along.
The reason I get so excited about small businesses, businesses that start out with one person and an idea is because that takes guts. It takes grit. It takes patience and persistence. I blog about them when I find them, I buy from them or support them, because they are the badasses that didn't quit. They had a vision - one I don't even necessarily share, but I do appreciate - and they made it happen.
I am unemployed. I don't like being unemployed because it is outside of my comfort zone. I like the familiarity of going to work after so many years. I like being able to count on a paycheck and have health insurance. But I love that being without a traditional job gave me an opportunity to do something different, something I've wanted to do for years. Maybe I didn't have enough support, maybe my fears were bigger than my dream, maybe I wasn't ready. The great and wonderful news is that I'm ready now, I'm unafraid, I have support and I'm driven. So I started my own thing. Of course I want to be wildly successful, but what want more is to know that regardless of the outcome - I tried.
Here's how I break down my day, because working for yourself and building your dream should be even more important that working for someone else.
*5:30 am wake up. OR, wake up at 4:30 to go running. Shower, get ready, get all but one of the kids out the door by 7.
*7-9 am. Tavin goes to school at 9, so for this two hours, she gets ready (and I finish), I clean up the house. This is also usually when I make the things I make. Laundry detergent, our main spray cleaner, cashew butter, Nutella, start the bone broth or the crock pot, etc... I don't make a lot of items, but the things that are fairly easy and quick and save money I do. I also get caught up on email, social media, and I'll do some blogging. Things that either involve Tavin or I can do in shorter bursts.
*9 am Tavin gets on the bus and I go to work!! I write from 9-2 ish. The kids start getting home at 2:30 so I like to be fairly wrapped up on writing by then.
*2-5 pm. I still work on things but I'm back to blogging, research, making notes and a "to do" list, making dinner, hanging out with the family, etc...
I try to consolidate all my errands to Tuesday. We've been down to one car for a couple weeks and I actually kind of like it. I take D to work at 3 am, meet my editor (who is full of awesome!) at 9:15 and then run all the errands that have built up. I have a car after 3 pm and on weekends, so it's not like there's a ton of pressure, but I like having one down day to get things done - especially the six errands where you need one thing at each place. I also try to schedule my web designer on Tuesdays if we need to meet.
During that 9-2 slot, I also do things like heat up lunch, throw in laundry, jump on a home project, etc... I stay pretty focused, but things do come up and often they are "work" related - finding a book for research for example. I'm very focused and driven but I'm also pretty laid back. I do have a time frame, though and I like that pressure. Meeting with my editor pushes me because every week I make sure I'm on track and set goals.
I have a coach as well. Diana with Kinsei Business Consulting has been a business and personal consultant for 24 years. She also happens to be my best friend (I know, lucky me!). She's my coach and works with my editor to set goals and keep me on track which I LOVE.
For years I've written for other companies and done a lot of public speaking - two things I love. I've been lucky that I've gotten to use my life's experience while doing both of these things. I decided to do it for myself now instead of being hired by someone else - especially when I had offers to work with another company. If they want me, why not do my own thing. They can hire me independently to speak or write or coach. I'm in the middle of writing a book which I've put off for years (hence, the editor) and I've given myself a two month deadline. At some point, I do need to make money so I have to be realistic and I am still looking for jobs - I'm just very picky about where I will go if need be.