After 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
Flexibility is SO key for self-employed or WAH parents in order to squeeze work, home, kids, and “life” stuff into each day or week! I have seen some corporations slowly adjusting to accomodate all of the educated, intelligent and experienced parents leaving their ranks to juggle things on their own time. As a working mom, I just wished they’d speed it up. 😉 I think that recognizing the importance of families and free time in our society can only help make work time more productive, creative and successful…and workers happier and more motivated.
Glad you enjoyed lunch with the kiddo! 🙂
Totally Agree. As time goes on corporations will adjust out of necessity and I would love it to be faster as well. It was just one of those moments where I was glad I am creating the life I am creating on my own terms. Like you – I work random/crazy hours but that Flexibility is so key. If we can shift to a mindset of Results vs. TIme I think we’ll increase productivity and motivation for all (just as you wrote). Thanks for taking the time to share.
I have noticed lately the biggest joy for me comes on a day when my kids are sick (which happens A LOT with a 4 yo, 2 yo, and 1 yo. When I was doing the corporate america track I had to call in (even went to an out of state meeting during my 6 week maternity leave) and work like crazy hoping the kids would be quiet. Now, I may work when they go to bed at night. I do have to “hustle” however, I can be fully PRESENT and there for them when they are sick and needing me. What a BLESSING!
VaNessa,
I loved hearing this great story showing why you do what you do. The special time with your children is priceless. You have created a space where you can choose your own time and place for this.
Val 🙂
Appreciate the comment val. My children/family are my number one reason for staying motivated to do what I do followed closely by my strong desire to help others. It is special days like this one that make it even better. This is a memory I’ll cherish forever. You hit the nail on the head. Priceless.
VaNessa,
The story of taking your son out to lunch and noticing the demeanor in the two types of crowds is an eye opener. I’ve come to know many home business owners who work just as hard on their business (or harder) as most do in their jobs. Yet they take the “non busy” time of the day to do what they want. this just happens to be when everyone else is at work. How ironic this is.
Thank you for a great story.
Ken Pickard
The Network Dad
Ken, the irony is interesting. An you are so right, I work very hard in my businesses, sometimes 50-60 hours a week. It just happens that entrepreneurs who work from home can structure their own time. I end up working hard but I am having a whole lot of fun while doing it.