Do What You Love, Love What You Do
/Sunday Reflections:
my happy place: on location
Sunday morning. I'm up early, coffee in hand and sitting here working on my Lookbook and Marketing materials for the 2016-17 season. I couldn't be happier.
Last year at this time I was stressed. Stretched thin. Trying to squeeze hours into already packed days. I was sad that my time to create and crochet was limited to but a few hours a day and I wasn't finding much joy in it at all because my mind was filled with all the things I needed to do. I was canceling and juggling plans and meetings and always running behind.
I had several projects in play at the time: Prepping for the launch of this blog (which is my passion project for a community that I deeply love); launching an extension of the blog: a consulting agency to assist other artisans become successful in their marketing & social media efforts; development of my tech start up (which was my brainchild and baby); designing new projects AND prepping to go back on location for a new show for several months. Not to mention family and home responsibilities.
Then I had the light-bulb moment.
While meeting with the seed money investor for my tech start up, he said something that changed everything. I do not think he anticipated the answer he got, but it was the right one.
my happy place: cozy crochet corner
He said: Michele, something has to give. To move forward you need to be 100% in this. You are spread too thin and before we invest further I need you 100% in this. Skin in the game beyond finance, this has to be your sole focus.
In that single moment, without even needing to think about it I had total clarity. He was right. While my idea and this project was amazing, it wasn't what I wanted to pursue 100% of my time. I wasn't willing to give up my other loves. Other loves which, oddly as it may be, compliment each other and give my life balance.
Look, walking away from my incredibly needed, viable start-up with seed money on the table was not easy. Especially since it fed my inner geek and I truly love the tech & start up community. But it was easier than I imagined and that's how I know it was right and why I've never looked back with regret. The same with walking away from the consulting agency.
I'm a creative. I'm a small business owner. I am not an entrepreneur. And because I know the difference I'm able to invest my time and resources into the places they are needed and the places that will grow. This clarity allows me to have focus which is essential when it is time for the tough decisions. By walking away from those 2 projects I brought the balance and joy back to my life and as a result, my business and this blog are thriving.
This doesn't mean I won't have other ideas and be part of new projects. This just means I have clarity and focus and both of those things feed my passion which leads me to success. But more importantly, it leads me to happiness. I am truly doing what I love and loving what I do!
Are you spreading yourself too thin? Do you need to cut some projects loose? I encourage you to take a deep honest personal inventory this week. It will change your life like it did for me.
