Comments on: Is your business really hard work at the moment?

By: Sarah Powell

Sarah Powell — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 17:04:25 +0000

Thanks for this post!
I work a regular 40 hr workweek, have a toddler, and also have my own business that is conducted almost entirely at night, when I am making herbal products, teas, and bath & beauty potions. It’s so exhausting most of the time, and it might take me weeks to get to something on the to-do list that isn’t absolutely urgent. Despite that, it’s fun! I have to be reminded sometimes that I am doing this because it’s what I really enjoy and what gives me a sense of purpose in life

By: Sheri Lee Pierce

Sheri Lee Pierce — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 15:11:50 +0000

Talk about the universe lending a helping hand! I started the day feeling overwhelmed by a neverending ‘To Do’ list, but this post in my email inbox totally changed my perspective and my mood! Putting the breaks on and taking stock was what I really needed to do today before any of the tasks on my list.

Similar to your “Success Diary”, I keep a success file with client thank-you notes, etc. It helps me keep focused on why I do what I do, and gives me a little boost if I start to feel discouraged. But you know, it’s been quite a while since I looked at it, I’ve become so bogged down with the day-to-day. Thanks for the reminder!

And I’ll be adding #3, #4, and #5 on your list to my toolbox~ Very helpful ideas

By: Fiona Humberstone

Fiona Humberstone — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 14:12:51 +0000

Great article. Really inspiring! I will try that success diary thing. Sounds like a great idea.

By: Karen Skidmore

Karen Skidmore — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 13:22:27 +0000

Jean – I love your thoughts on to-do-lists. They are really a big energy drainer aren’t they!

By: Jean Davies

Jean Davies — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 07:01:28 +0000

Hi Karen. That’s great, you’re saying exactly what I tell clients too!! In fact I believe it so much that I’m presenting a seminar locally next week very much along these lines.

There’s something else I do too, which really helps stop the stress and all the “I really should have done that” thoughts……. This might be really radical, but I don’t do To Do Lists any more. I find they have a habit of growing and growing, there’s a tendency to populate them with anything and everything you can think of. Of course no-one can do any more than is possible in one day, but people still look at their list at the end of the day and beat themselves up for not having done more.

That’s because they’re not really To Do Lists, they’re just aide-memoires. But the lines get blurred all the time. It’s fine to run an aide-memoire list, but remember it’s just that. Perhaps each day a couple of items can be moved to a daily To Do List, if you still like to do these, but make sure they are things you really want to do, rather than just doing them because they’ve been on your list for a while.

The great thing about running your own business is that, within reason, you don’t actually have to do anything you don’t want to do. It’s your choice, so you can make choices all the time about the things you really want to do – you’ve no-one else to answer to.

Finally, I find it helps me by not calling my list a To Do List – that’s where the pressure starts; and that’s why I say I don’t have one any more. I just call it a “Things I might do if I feel like it” list – takes the pressure off completely, but the right things still get done.

By: Nicola Bird

Nicola Bird — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 06:14:50 +0000

Hi Karen – normally I call you or look at your blog posts to reinspire me! Sometimes all a good moan is all you need to get it off your chest and start afresh – everyone needs a sounding board (that preferably isn’t your husband!) to do this with I think.

As you know I followed your advice – put my message out there and got 2 new clients yesterday