Working Wednesday: Girl, you need to focus!
I’ve been saying that too myself a lot lately. One of the problems with having so much going on professionally is that it often feels impossible to focus on everything. And while I wouldn’t say that I am spread too thin, I will say that my organizational skills as of late need a booster shot. Added to the issues focusing is the financial stress that my family is facing. I feel like I have been trying to play catch up since 2008. I was hired to do a job and the company bailed on paying me what they were supposed to in a timely fashion. And when they finally got around to paying me it was significantly less than they were billed for. To make a long story short, I learned a valuable lesson. But, to do so meant that my family would be in a sea of debt that has gotten increasingly worse.
So, I am focusing on getting paid. This means that my obligations to things that are not paying me have fallen by the wayside. And I feel HORRIBLE about that. When I commit to doing something and ALWAYS follow through no matter what. But the truth is that being committed to what essentially is volunteer work is just not paying the bills. In addition, for the last two years I have had a bartering relationship with several people but it seems like I am always getting the short end of the stick. I uphold my side of the bargain and they flake on theirs… I am not doing it anymore. It’s just way too stressful.
I was supposed to open my design studio today (Jun 1) but have decided to postpone the grand opening. Keeping deadlines is so important but I did not want to sacrifice… Continue reading
Finding the Time
When I decided to shift to my niche, I asked readers to leave a question for me to answer in a blog post. It’s my way of encouraging a discussion and exchange of ideas and tips. The first question/comment comes from Jeanine aka NaturalMomma. Here is what she had to say:
Hi Kristina!
I have a question. How do you find enough time in your day for homeschooling and writing and meals and …?
I am making a bit of a switch, myself, in that I am wanting to write more, work one-on-one with clients less all in an effort to (1)live my purpose and (2)take my biz to the next level.
But as I have begun to spend more time writing mini-books and blog posts and reports and email follow-up messages, my son has begun to hate my computer!
Jeanine
My immediate response to Jeanine was a short reply which read, “You are not alone”. I stand by that still. You are not alone Jeanine no matter how it feels. Before becoming a work-at-home mom, I worked full time as an English teacher (9th grade) and for my daughter’s first year, I was also finishing grad school. I was a wreck. I left the house at 7:30 am and returned home most nights after 9:00 pm. On the nights that I was home earlier she was in bed by 5:30-6:00 EVERY NIGHT! I kid you not. I barely saw her and I was miserable.
After making the transition to WAHM I thought that life would get easier. I thought that I would have more time for her, but when you work from home it is even harder to draw boundaries at times. I was working 40-50 hour weeks trying to build a… Continue reading
Plan it Out Thursday: The Bedroom
I know; it’s not Thursday. But, I started this project LAST Thursday and because it it a massive one, I gave myself a week to complete it all. So look for the update to this post on Thursday, April 23, 2009.
Before I get to the video, let me explain exactly what the problem is with our bedroom. We moved to this apartment in April 2008. It is the nicest place we have ever lived and the only place that I really ever felt like calling home for longer than six months. So, when we moved, I vowed that I would unpack fully and decorate, and keep it clean and presentable. Of course, life does not understand these kinds of promises. We never fully unpacked and while I clean, it has never been the way that I want.
My bedroom is the messiest and the most embarrassing place in the whole place. I never let anyone in my bedroom and when I usually start cleaning it, I am so overwhelmed by the mess that I give up.
But not this time. I decided on Thursday of last week that I was going to tackle my bedroom once and for all and make sure that I declutter and make it comfortable. I wanted to document the process partly because I wanted my husband to see just how much work needed to be done and partly because I really wanted to see the difference.
The video below will show you what our room looked like 40 minutes into the cleaning process. It is not a pretty site but it will be.
Free Membership to SHEBang for One Year (REVISED)
The Giveaway
Last week I interviewed Krista Colvin and she is offering one lucky reader a FREE One Year VIP membership to theSHEbang.com
What is The SHEbang?
from the SHEbang website:
She’s the plan you’ve been craving.
A hip and sassy website
guiding and inspiring you with
monthly projects, weekly to-do lists,
coaching calls with featured guest experts,
solution based products + discounts to boot.
SHE’s the answer to how “that girl does it all”.
SHE’s the whole shebang!
How Do You Enter?
Do the following on your blog:
Leave a comment explaining the one area in your house that is your biggest embarrassment.
I will stop accepting entries at 11:00 PM 3/1/2009.
I will select a Winner using Random.org on 3/2/2009.
Good luck, and be sure to spread the word.
And another big thank you to Krista Colvin.