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Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Showing posts with label family. Show all posts
Monday, May 30, 2011
Inspiration
I doubt if Stephen King waits for inspiration; he probably writes everyday no matter what. What's wrong with me? I am pretty depressed over several family things, including the fact our son is leaving for college any day now, and I've been sick. But that can't be what's bringing me so far down I don't even want to write. Can it?
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Five Minutes Again
Always, I have five minutes of time at some point to do something with work. Home businesses not only do not run themselves, but they take what seems like much more time than a big business outside your home, and why not? You're the one running your business, your family, and your "me" time. Of COURSE it'll take more time.
Maybe you don't have more time. Maybe your senior middle son is going to his first and only prom and there are tuxedos to pick up, hair spray to be found, pictures to take? Perhaps you're taking time out to grill the driver, to find out exactly where the prom is being held, and laying down the rules.
Plus, you have all your other kids, your spouse, maybe some in-laws (not me), lunch, dinner, and it's Easter tomorrow, and... and... and...
By this time, I WANT to work my business! I need a break from real life. Don't get me wrong, I can handle putting work away and swimming in the ocean, but everyday life, dealing with it, and knowing it all starts over again tomorrow with new stuff replacing what you just did is, well, it's life.
Take a break from life, just a moment, maybe you can think of it as time to yourself, even if it's not for yourself, give yourself those precious five minutes we're always talking about.
Seriously! Find a quiet space, make a phone call. Make that cold call you've been dreading: one minute to practice, a minute to call and introduce yourself, a minute to sell yourself and your product/business, and a minute to LISTEN, and lastly, a moment to congratulate yourself for stepping out of your comfort zone (regardless of success).
I'm using five minutes to share this thought, answer an email, and check out my recent article query.
The minutes flew by, I'm off to real life again, but I have a fresh attitude, which is great, because it's Prom picture-taking time!
Maybe you don't have more time. Maybe your senior middle son is going to his first and only prom and there are tuxedos to pick up, hair spray to be found, pictures to take? Perhaps you're taking time out to grill the driver, to find out exactly where the prom is being held, and laying down the rules.
Plus, you have all your other kids, your spouse, maybe some in-laws (not me), lunch, dinner, and it's Easter tomorrow, and... and... and...
By this time, I WANT to work my business! I need a break from real life. Don't get me wrong, I can handle putting work away and swimming in the ocean, but everyday life, dealing with it, and knowing it all starts over again tomorrow with new stuff replacing what you just did is, well, it's life.
Take a break from life, just a moment, maybe you can think of it as time to yourself, even if it's not for yourself, give yourself those precious five minutes we're always talking about.
Seriously! Find a quiet space, make a phone call. Make that cold call you've been dreading: one minute to practice, a minute to call and introduce yourself, a minute to sell yourself and your product/business, and a minute to LISTEN, and lastly, a moment to congratulate yourself for stepping out of your comfort zone (regardless of success).
I'm using five minutes to share this thought, answer an email, and check out my recent article query.
The minutes flew by, I'm off to real life again, but I have a fresh attitude, which is great, because it's Prom picture-taking time!
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
It's a New Day!
New days are beautiful and nearly magical. They give you the confidence to "start over." If you had a unusually demanding day the day before, you can nearly count on a new day to give you a boost, an outlook differing from only hours before.
Remember your elementary education? If you used the socially acceptable public school system in the United States, you probably have felt as I have. The drama was amazing but changed each day. One day you were best friends with Betsey Lou, the next, she was your sworn enemy. And then you wake, it's a new day and she's invited you, and only you, to her exclusive multi million birthday celebration on Mt. Everest.
Okay, that's ridiculous, but that's sort of what it's like. The things that mattered the day before were serious and clouding your judgement and paralyzing you and... ridiculous when you put it in perspective.
So what if someone is wrong about something and can't see the light! Who made it your job to make them admit they're incompetent? And let's say they did, how does that change the world? What would happen then? The same thing, more than likely, that happens while you are wasting your time and energy harping on whatever-it-is: NOTHING.
Yesterday, I woke to an email that normally would drive me crazy all day. The reason is that it was not rational thinking by a person. That and the fact I could "fix" it always stresses me out.
Instead of first emailing back and letting them know why this thinking (whatever-it-is, did you forget already?) is nearly outrageous, I realized this: I don't have to reply at all.
They know the same things I know, they came to a conclusion, everything we know is objective, everything we feel is subjective and that's that.
Them knowing how I feel (right or wrong) does nothing for me, nothing for them, besides that, what could they say to make me be "done" with it all?
Nothing.
I replied nothing.
The next day, today, I woke, and sure enough, nothing's changed, but a new email in the box reinforced the idea I did the right thing. I didn't sweat the little stuff and instead, what I had focused on, my family, are still talking about our nice evening last night. What matters, matters.
Pick and choose your fights, not based on feeling, but based on possible and necessary outcomes. If I have cancer, I'm going to fight for treatment. If I hate your shipping charges, I'm just not going to buy from you or suggest anyone else to do so.
It's a new day and I'm alive!
Remember your elementary education? If you used the socially acceptable public school system in the United States, you probably have felt as I have. The drama was amazing but changed each day. One day you were best friends with Betsey Lou, the next, she was your sworn enemy. And then you wake, it's a new day and she's invited you, and only you, to her exclusive multi million birthday celebration on Mt. Everest.
Okay, that's ridiculous, but that's sort of what it's like. The things that mattered the day before were serious and clouding your judgement and paralyzing you and... ridiculous when you put it in perspective.
So what if someone is wrong about something and can't see the light! Who made it your job to make them admit they're incompetent? And let's say they did, how does that change the world? What would happen then? The same thing, more than likely, that happens while you are wasting your time and energy harping on whatever-it-is: NOTHING.
Yesterday, I woke to an email that normally would drive me crazy all day. The reason is that it was not rational thinking by a person. That and the fact I could "fix" it always stresses me out.
Instead of first emailing back and letting them know why this thinking (whatever-it-is, did you forget already?) is nearly outrageous, I realized this: I don't have to reply at all.
They know the same things I know, they came to a conclusion, everything we know is objective, everything we feel is subjective and that's that.
Them knowing how I feel (right or wrong) does nothing for me, nothing for them, besides that, what could they say to make me be "done" with it all?
Nothing.
I replied nothing.
The next day, today, I woke, and sure enough, nothing's changed, but a new email in the box reinforced the idea I did the right thing. I didn't sweat the little stuff and instead, what I had focused on, my family, are still talking about our nice evening last night. What matters, matters.
Pick and choose your fights, not based on feeling, but based on possible and necessary outcomes. If I have cancer, I'm going to fight for treatment. If I hate your shipping charges, I'm just not going to buy from you or suggest anyone else to do so.
It's a new day and I'm alive!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
It's a New Day
Each day you wake, you have a golden opportunity: You can make the day better than the day before. Meet and exceed goals you have yet to meet, relax and enjoy your family, you can make a meal that you've been wanting to try for years... it's all up to you. We don't need "New Years' resolutions;" we need day to day resolutions.
For those of us working from home, it can be difficult to separate home and work. Those are the best days, because they remind you of how flexible you and life can be. Don't take it as a frustration, take it and make it work for them and YOU. Take that time, rest your thoughts about work and lists and goals, and hold your angel. Listen to them. Give them undivided attention. Hear them. Respond to them. Love them.
When all is said and done, aren't they why you choose to work from home? And honestly, when all is said and done, aren't you in a better frame of mind when you come out of that moment and get back to work? Aren't they?
By the way, if you can't get back into your work, take the time to sit down and read a good book. For direct sales, it's always good to study tried, true, and proven methods. For writing, there are thousands of books and it's hard to select only a hundred, so I'll give you a couple of my past favorites. Anything from the late great Gary Provost
is a good read and informative. Screenplay writing... you can't go wrong with Syd Field, he'll show you how to get into your screenplay and propose it so you have a fighting chance. I'm saving my favorite for last. I LOVE, love, love William Goldman. There's no better screenplay to read than one of his. I've read quite a few, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but my all time favorite to read (for my learning purposes) is Absolute Power. I could understand the acts, the direction, the characters, and the words quite easily.
is a good read and informative. Screenplay writing... you can't go wrong with Syd Field, he'll show you how to get into your screenplay and propose it so you have a fighting chance. I'm saving my favorite for last. I LOVE, love, love William Goldman. There's no better screenplay to read than one of his. I've read quite a few, including Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, but my all time favorite to read (for my learning purposes) is Absolute Power. I could understand the acts, the direction, the characters, and the words quite easily.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Grateful
I'm grateful I do not need Thanksgiving to be thankful. Each day, I am surrounded by friends and family who love me and treat me well. Because of this, it's easy for me to pass it on. Happy Thanksgiving everyone. Stop working for a moment and enjoy your presence.
Later, I'll tell you how I wrote a screenplay in two weeks and sold over $500 worth of products in 24 hours. Now go!
Later, I'll tell you how I wrote a screenplay in two weeks and sold over $500 worth of products in 24 hours. Now go!
Friday, November 12, 2010
Goals and Goal Management
Being sick reminds me to be grateful for my calendar. Without a calendar, I'd be stressed each day, when sick, wondering if I was going to sabotage my businesses and family life because I'm down. Because I use the calendar, instead, I'm able to lay down and not deal with anything except getting better (not that my head will rest!), because I know which events and goals can be put on hold. Which ones I can complete from bed with a mushy mind, and which ones I'll have to focus and deal with at some point in time.
I put everything down on paper. Everything I do was once a future goal. Books I want or need to read, time spent learning how to make cascading style sheets, school holidays, bills, etc. There is nothing off limits (though I've grown up a bit and realize setting a goal to check the real mailbox and crossing it off each day doesn't really give me the encouragement I seek).
My goal for today is read a friend's screenplay. I can do that, easily.
I put everything down on paper. Everything I do was once a future goal. Books I want or need to read, time spent learning how to make cascading style sheets, school holidays, bills, etc. There is nothing off limits (though I've grown up a bit and realize setting a goal to check the real mailbox and crossing it off each day doesn't really give me the encouragement I seek).
My goal for today is read a friend's screenplay. I can do that, easily.
Monday, November 8, 2010
Busy, Busy, Busy
This week has been busier than usual. We have family in town and that's actually quite rare, as we live in Hawaii on a military installation. Of course the best thing about my jobs are that they are extremely adaptable. Family? No problem; schedule around them or take that time off.
For the home parties, of At Home America, you can book two additional parties before and after their visit. This is ideal, you won't be rushed to be home in order to prepare and you won't feel guilty or continually apologize for your absence or abruptness.
Writing - a no brainer. Write in the morning, write in the car, write before bed, write in the bathroom. All you need is a pencil and a napkin or a receipt and you can write anywhere.
Everything else I do is 24/7 and no need to push back a thing.
Of course, Murphy's Law comes into action. I am grateful to receive two leads, a catalog party, and an order in the past 24 hours and the best story idea ever within the past 24 hours, AKA My Break.
Tomorrow our family returns to the mainland and life returns to normal. What's normal?
For the home parties, of At Home America, you can book two additional parties before and after their visit. This is ideal, you won't be rushed to be home in order to prepare and you won't feel guilty or continually apologize for your absence or abruptness.
Writing - a no brainer. Write in the morning, write in the car, write before bed, write in the bathroom. All you need is a pencil and a napkin or a receipt and you can write anywhere.
Everything else I do is 24/7 and no need to push back a thing.
Of course, Murphy's Law comes into action. I am grateful to receive two leads, a catalog party, and an order in the past 24 hours and the best story idea ever within the past 24 hours, AKA My Break.
Tomorrow our family returns to the mainland and life returns to normal. What's normal?
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