family

Not every mountain is worth the climb……

Define what is meaningful to YOU. Just because one coach or trainer says work 24/7 like no one else does so you can play like n one else does later…..doesn’t mean you have to, or that you are not giving it your all if you don’t.

What is meaningful to YOU?For me, my FAMILY has been #1 all my life.I started my journey back becoming self employed in 1993 when I was pregnant w our 2nd child……

Things have been rough, I have had some $10 months, some $100 some $100 months, some $10000 months (and many other numbers over the years……

But my FOCUS was and still is my FAMILY.

If you work so much that you neglect your family, you may be successful one day, but lose your family in the process…..then is that worth it?

I have heard many trainers say “treat your business like a business not a hobby” but in that some also say, if you are not working it 10-20 hours a day you are treating it like a hobby and not serious.

That is their opinion, and I disagree. This world and this life is about relationships…..Even if you are not married and don’t have kids, you still have other relationships in your life.

But everyone is different – you need to figure out what is important to you – and then yes, figure your schedule and WORK when you are working time on your schedule…..

Be PRESENT with your FAMILY and other RELATIONSHIPS when it is that time….

I have not always been perfect, and I have a workaholic mindset…..but I watch myself, and I have learned to schedule myself…..still a work in progress…..every day.

But I work consistently and productively when I am scheduled to work. that is the difference, and one of the big secrets to my success 🙂 <3

Do you treat your business, as a business or as a hobby?

This came up again recently in talking w a few people….so I thought I would *talk* about it here –

When I hear people say ‘treat it as a business not a hobby, if you treated it as a business you’d find time’

(granted I agree, to a point) — for me, I was not treating my business as a hobby, I have always treated my *business as a business*, I am very professional, honest, ethical, etc in my business….. and have always worked it consistently for almost 25 years being self employed (25 web & graphic design, branding & marketing, 15 years speaking, coaching and training, 15 years in my Networking Luncheons business, 15 years in my greeting cards and gifting business, etc), BUT I have had a job at times as well, also own a few non-profits, had a husband for a long time and homeschooled my kids, and I was not going to neglect my family *in order to build a business*…..I designed and started my businesses to ENHANCE my family.

Others have said even build it so you can spend more time w your family later, which makes sense “to a point” ….but also I’ve seen many “lose” their marriage and/or kids during that process (and I did make that mistake some when I was younger, and sometimes still do, I have always been a *work-a-holic* but I also absolutely LOVE what I do, so it is not like work), and as I have experienced a few years ago, what if your spouse or child is not *here* one day? so….. then what was it worth????? Make SURE you don’t *neglect* them to build now totally, and plan for later, cuz you might not have a later with them….

My number one focus is FAMILY
but still being consistent in business at the same time…..

You have to learn to schedule…..too much of anything, good or bad, can become a bad thing….so you need to schedule your job, your spiritual time, your personal time, your business time, your spouse time, your kids time, etc, if it is not scheduled, you probably won’t make time for it, and you must be flexible of course as well – and to a point you can work your business around your personal life too….

CONSISTENCY is the KEY, a little bit or a lot a bit, every day, every week, every year, with out giving up…..remember your WHY you started it in the first place, WHY you are doing it and what you want out of it or from it……that is one of the things that has helped me

Building Relationships and Coincidences

#Relationships #Coincidence

Many people ask me all the time, why I spend so much time and money and effort to #KeepInTouch

This week, I traveled to East TN to not only get my hair done, with a stylist I have got to know and grown to love, but to visit one of my closest friends since I was 19 years old, and I got to have lunch w another lady on the road there with a girl I have been friends with probably over 5 years, and same thing since both of them don’t live close, I make an effort to contact when I am going that way to visit and reconnect with and build our relationship.

Facebook and other social media, texting and emails are great! I am very thankful for wonderful technology that helps me to keep in touch easier.

But I still #Love and #Cherish actual #cards in the mail as well as #inperson or #BellyToBelly as they say.

Today, I got a phone call from a man that I hadn’t spoke to in probably 10 years. He is still on my Keep in Touch, #ChristmasCard list.

In our short catch up talk – not only did he want to re-check in about possibly using my cards service for his #personal and #professional life, but also with talking, it was funny, I mentioned remembering him last week, and told him why, and he said, I just read a book on that, was able to give me that information for a health issue I have had, and then he also mentioned his daughter just lost her husband, and so I was able to give some info that might be able to help her, since I have walked in those shoes.

It is really amazing, when you stop to listen, and build those relationships. It not only will greatly improve your life emotional, spiritually, physically, personally, but financially and professionally.

Who just came across your mind while reading this note? Reach out to them today, build that relationship…..if it is *tough*…..that is even more of a reason…..you are not promised tomorrow to do it, and your life will be better if you do it today. <3

Reflecting……People are what’s important

Reflecting…

I have noticed, I don’t have the desire as much to wander through the mall or the fancy stores to see what shiny new or pretty things that I may want.

When I was a younger, I wanted all the fun, glitzy and glamorous stuff. Fancy china, sterling silverware, a big house, nice car, pretty dresses and sparkly jewelry. Now granted, I still like many of those things, and those that know me well, know my style, girliy, shiny, sparkly, etc I love! lol But I forget why all I wanted them….. Maybe something to do with insecurities and/or the thoughts to “keep up with” our friends or society’s expectations.

Over the years I’ve lost that desire, and now I have no need to acquire things just for the sake of having them. I still absolutely love my *pretties*…..But moreso now my focus is to have a fun, comfortable, relaxing, enjoyable, homey place for people to gather and enjoy each other.

The focus is on the relationships, not all the stuff. I have decluttered a lot over the past few years, and I am still in decluttering mode, pretty majorly

The bottom line is that it’s always about the people. Family, friends, business associates that have become friends are what life is about. I can have all the money in the world, and I am very grateful and thankful for all that God has brought into my life and blessed me with, with my amazing clients that I help with web, graphics, marketing and all the other online space platforms, speaking engagements, people I coach, but if I don’t share love, respect and time with others, I have nothing.

So I’m reflecting on what’s really important to me. It’s always the people, and my goal every day is to show love, caring and compassion, and put more thought, time and energy into reinforcing those connections…….If we haven’t connected recently in person, or if not local, through skype or google hangout, for a one on one (just catch up and personal get to know each other hour) please reach out to me. 🙂

First Name:	Last Name:

EMail Address:
	Security Code: