Archive for Parenthood and Entrepreneurship
What Did You Do and Learn This Summer?
Posted by: | CommentsThe last weekend before school begins for my family is here. It used to be that Labor Day weekend was the official last weekend of summer. Not so much for most people anymore. Some are in year round school and some start at the end of August.
This led me to think this morning about the questions asked by many teachers to our children, “What did you do this summer? How was your summer? What was your favorite part of summer?
I’ve been thinking about these questions the last day or so and I thought I would turn it into a blog post instead of an essay for my teacher.
How was my summer?
My summer was terrific. It went by really fast and was jam packed with friends, family, fun and learning. (Honesty, back in May I looked at the calendar and there were only 2 weekends fully open between June 1 and September 1 – and yes, that made me nervous)
What did you do this summer and what was your favorite part?
I spent a lot of time: traveling, with my family and friends, working on my businesses and making new friends. Most of the summer I wasn’t home. I was in another state or place. We had a two week trip to New England, some local trips with the kids, some business meeting trips and a couple of trips with friends. The best part about all this was the flexibility I have to run my businesses from anywhere as long as I have an Internet connection and a phone. (Below is a photo of our friends lake house deck at dusk).
My Mobile Office
What I learned this summer:
I learned so many new things about myself and remembered some older stuff. I remembered how much I love to learn, meet new people, try new things and how much I like to take leaps of faith and risks. I proved to myself that I can pull out all of the stops when necessary to implement on projects, no matter if sleep was lost. I took classes that taught me new skills. I remembered it was ok to “relax and let my hair down” (in this case, I went back curly for summer). I went to live events that gave me new knowledge and opened new friendships and I reacquainted myself with the driving factors behind my purpose in life and used this to recenter myself and do a goal check.
It was a great summer. One of the best in a long time. I can say that with a huge smile my face. And for those of you who have ever, now or in a past life, spent a lot of time on the road in planes, hotel rooms, cars and OPB (other people’s beds), I can tell you this:
There’s nothing better than coming home and having your own bed and pillow.
Good-bye sweet summer of 2010. I will remember you fondly.
I’d love to hear the answers to the “Summer Questions”. If you’d take a moment and post them in the comment section, that would be great! If you like what you read please share this post with your friends through Twitter and Facebook.
Have a great day!
Vacation Thoughts – A Clearer Mindset
Posted by: | CommentsThe month of July was a whirlwind. Between the 4th of July, The No Excuses Summit and my 2 week vacation in New England with the family which was followed by friends visiting town I didn’t really have the chance to work much in July. Part of me thinks that the 18 hour days I pulled in the month of June really pulled me ahead so that I was able to goof of last month.
Before I share some thoughts that came to me I have a video hello from the trip that I want to share with you…..
And now…the thoughts that came to me:
1) Relaxing your mind and letting it wander leads to creativity – So many times while I was just hanging out I would have an idea come to me. Because I wasn’t in a rushed or g0-go-go mode I found that this happened often during the day. I was creative and inspired. I would make notes on my phone (I use the Evernote App) so I wouldn’t forget.
2) My family really enjoyed hanging out and just being with mom. It was nice to just “BE” with friends and family. We must remember, that for many of us, this is why we work so hard. The more time I spent hanging out, the more I was reminded that my motivation was directly in front of me swimming around.
3) I became clear on my “Why”. The “Why” for what motivates me on a daily basis has never really strayed too far from course but I’ve run across people who have attempted to convince me that my “Why” wasn’t good enough, or big enough, or bold enough or not fine tuned enough which has caused me to really delve into my “Why”.
#3 was truly one of the highlights of the trip. Sure the sights of New England and seeing Family and Friends was awesome and why we were there. It just never ceases to amaze me the insights that come to me when on vacation.
I also realized that I LOVE my internet connectivity. I didn’t really have connection time for almost two weeks – except for my phone. So, yes, I was able to stay on Facebook and keep in some form of contact but I did have withdrawal symptoms. My hands seemed to want to rest in Home Row mode. (Those of you older folks may get that 
So, I guess part of me is just a geek. 
Anyway, whatever your vacation travel plans are – see if you can steal a few minutes for yourself let the ideas come when they may.
From the trip, I’ve come up with what I believe are going to be some great webinars, challenges and interesting themes for the rest of this year.
Check back soon and until then – Happy August!
No More Corporate Lunches – Motherhood and Entrepreneurship
Posted by: | CommentsAfter spending 3.5 days in Las Vegas attending the No Excuses Summit I was happy to get home to my kiddos and family. (More to come about the conference). While Monday was spent flying and then catching up on sleep and recovering from 3.5 days in Vegas I awoke yesterday to a list of Mommy chores, as later this week brings our next vacation of the year. (You might remember my post about Mexico a few months back ). Believe me, there is a lot of preparation to be done to pack up 2 kids and 2 adults for a 12 day trip!
Back to my story – I got the kids ready for the day, dropped my daughter off at her caregiver’s and took my son on an adventure, a boring chore adventure. We made stops for the usual: banking, visiting a client to pick up a check, picking up new contacts, getting the mail, etc.
While on the road, I told my son I’d take him out to lunch where he could choose the location. I figured it would be McDonald’s or Burger King but instead he chose Who Song and Larry’s – a local Tex-Mex sit down restaurant. I was surprised and quickly agreed. We arrived right about 11:45am and were quickly seated. We ordered our lunch and proceeded to spend the next 45 minutes catching up on what he did for the weekend while I was gone. We laughed and connected as a mom and her 6 year old only could. It was awesome. During a catch up pause (so he could hold and eat his huge burrito) I looked around the room. There I sat in my jeans and tennis shoes casually hanging out with my son, in no rush for time.
As I looked around I saw people laughing and talking – as it should be in a restaurant. I thought nothing of it.
When it was time to leave, the line at the front door for tables was long. What I quickly noticed was the suits and ties and traditional business attire that goes with a more structured work role. The waiting faces looked tense as if they were in a hurry and rushed.
It was another AHA moment for me. It struck me that as an entrepreneur, even though I do make lunch appointments with clients and colleagues or coffee appointments throughout the day, I wasn’t on a 1-hour lunch break. I didn’t have the pressure of a traditional Corporate America role. And in that moment I was thankful.
Don’t get me wrong. I word harder in my own business as an entrepreneur than many do watching the clock working for someone else – but my time is my own and I choose how I spent it and the results are directly proportional. I work hard so I can play hard.
My freedom and flexibility is critical in my life. I want more lunches with my kids, more vacations with my family and to help more people who want to be able to do the same thing in their lives if they so choose.
I’m going to work on kickin’ it up a notch for you, dear readers, who are ready to work hard to play hard.
“Good things come to those who wait, but only those things left by those who hustle.” – Abraham Lincoln
