Be sure to stop by his site, as he has a BIG announcement about the group today!
At the moment, time and balance are my biggest issues. Right now I am a spoonful of peanut butter with about a loaf's worth of bread to cover. And I need to be spread in about one minute. I don't think it's going to happen.
I have obligations in so many areas, many of which I never mention here. I was taught by a wise group of business owners that the key is to diversify, but I've over-stretched what I can accomplish. It's time to cut out a few things, even if they make money. No use killing myself just for a buck, especially if it's something I no longer enjoy and it's stressing me out. Because if I chuck a few things, I'll have more time to focus on what I do enjoy. (And visit you guys more often - I know I failed big time this past weekend.)
Speaking - No way I'd give up public speaking. I love it. And it pays very well. The long drives to events might drain me, but the time in front of a room of people invigorates me. I give my all when I speak, and I enjoy seeing the spark transfer from me to them. Freeing myself of a couple obligations will give me more time to secure speaking engagements.
Book formatting - Call me whacky, but I love it. I'm a detail person and very organized, so this fits my personality. I enjoy formatting manuscripts for ebooks and print books and I have a good group of clients. Dumping a few things would give me more time to find even more clients.
There are other things I do that I enjoy. Being able to offer my photos for sale gives me great joy. (And sorry, I've been so swamped, I didn't get to upload any new ones last week.) I enjoy consulting. I don't do it often, but I always learn new things when I guide an author down the publishing path. I also have a major business obligation that requires time, effort, and knowledge, and with others depending on me to do my best, that one absolutely cannot suffer.
I also miss writing. Would love to write my own fiction stories again.
So my goal over the next month is to X out a few things, money-making or not, that are making me crazy. I'm beyond the Energizer Bunny right now. This Type A, never holds still kind of person has got to come down from spaz mode before I hurt myself. (My husband would be REALLY happy about that, too!)
As for the Battle of the Bands, Mama's Boys won hands down for their version of Mama Weer All Crazee Now.
Monday Summer Ross hosted the In Your Pants Blogfest, and this is my entry:
Must be some big pants - LOL!
49 comments:
Giving up things you don't enjoy sounds like a perfect idea - that's the reason for freelancing in the first place, isn't it? I envy you for your love of public speaking. I break out in a cold sweat just thinking about it.
I'm stopping by from the "In Your Pants" 'fest. Love your entry - it's funny that I get all sorts of visions from the few "in your pants" titles I've seen so far. This one included. ;)
My post is here (at the bottom)
Time and balance...yeah...my problem, too.
Hugs and chocolate,
Shelly
I think the balancing act is one trick I'll never get. But I keep trying nonetheless. Hope you find time to get back to the things you love the most and ditch the crazy stuff.
You always have such a healthy outlook on life. I'm sure you'll get your balancing groove back on and figure out what to cut and what to keep.
Do what you enjoy and dump the rest. Life is too short.
And thanks for being dedicated to this group - you and Marta have posted every single time and I appreciate that.
Definitely when you no longer enjoy doing something it's time to let it go. Better to be happy and healthy than rich and sick. :)
Wow, you are one busy lady. Sounds like you've set your goals well, though. Good luck with the offloading.
From one type A to another,
Tina @ Life is Good
I should give up things I don't enjoy. All right, that's it. No more day job or housework for me. I feel better already.
And like Annalisa, I envy your love of public speaking.
Annalisa, I never realized how much I would love it.
Karen, I started weeding already this week.
Tina, you understand me.
I'm positively lazy compared to you! What an inspiration. Thanks for sharing all that you do, and for, on top of that, co-hosting the ISWG. I'm checking out the rest of your blog now...
I love your peanut butter and bread analogy. As a fellow Type A myself. I feel your pain. Maybe I'll X out a few things and finish my book faster. Or like M.J., just give up housework :)
I've had to streamline some as well. You don't want to be that butter scraped too thin across the toast, as Bilbo would say!
It's awesome that you love public speaking. I don't. Haha
Cutting out what you don't enjoy makes perfect sense, life is simply too short not to ;)
I understand you problem and would much rather have it that way then the opposite. Their is nothing more soul sucking then to want to do so much but not having the knowledge or the guts to attempt them. Have the choice to scale back is a good place to be. Good luck.
Yup. I have to step back and reevaluate every so often. It's healthy to chop out the excess every now an then so we can breathe, right? ;)
You're so beautiful and confident, Diane, I would love to hear you speak! I'm sure the presentations you give are incredible. <3
I agree with Alex. Do what you enjoy and what makes you happy and dump the rest.
Always try to have fun and I wish you all the best.
Enjoyed your post enormously, thanks for your comment......great to be back.
Yvonne.
Diane, you are NOT allowed to use all the energizer bunny's batteries. I need them too, lol!
Balance has always been important to me. There are times when it's a hard thing to achieve and maintain.
It's smart, on your part, to decide what you do love to do and weed out those things that drain you. I think you and hubs will be much happier as you sort and jettison the excess baggage. :-)
Sia McKye Over Coffee
we are simpatico!
and i like your pb to bread comparison, the ratio needs to be closer to 1!
and yet you are helping with the website! thank you for that! wonder woman!
Gotta get a little Weezer in your day now and then. Good luck with everything. Love the peanut butter illustration.
I know how you feel - sometimes I feel like I'm trying to live three lives at once! Best to only take on obligations you really want to - I've been a lot happier since dropping stuff I didn't enjoy as much.
Lisa, I just can't hold still is the problem.
Jenn, give up housework. It's overrated.
Morgan, they are energetic, I'll grant you that.
Sia, what if I use rechargeables?
Tara, not sure how that happened either.
Emma, I'm like my cats - I think I'm living 9 lives.
Wow. I feel like I'm in molasses and you are doing wind sprints in the clouds! I need to get my act together!
I hope you find the right balance!
Heather
I hope you figure out what you can cut out. My daughter accused me of being ADHD last week because I can't seem to do only one thing at a time.
I would offer some advice, but it sounds like you have this figured out. Now it's time to Just Do It. Keep those things you love and ditch the rest:)
Wonderful post. You sound like you know what you love and you're doing it. I get anxious when my schedule starts getting even a little busy!
Hi, Diane,
You're a smart cookie. Better to preserve your health and sanity than piling up money you can't enjoy.
Maybe someday I can make it to one of your public speaking events ;D
YOU are amazing! I hope to get my EB skills back soon~ I'm tired of turtle mode~
I love that Mama's Boys won and your contribution to the blogfest. I am reading Sweet Thing-oh my!
It's so easy to get caught up in everything, we forget that some of it is not any fun! It's great that your taking the time to set it all right.
Love the in your pants entry! :)
I know how you feel about feeling spread too thin. My fiction writing is only getting one day a week, and then I'm journaling in bits and pieces to keep writing around the rest of life. Someday, somehow I'll get Champion in Flight done . . .
Now, cut back and stay healthy, and have joy!
I certainly never have enough time.... Now one handed typing is REALLY slowing me down...
I hope it all works out for you Diane!
Thanks for your prayers and good thoughts/// they mean so much to me!
I read an encouraging quote somewhere:
Want something done? Ask a busy person.
Thanks Dianne, for all your visits and tips and funnies and encouragement. Its ok to take care of yourself sometimes :)
......dhole
I'm in a similar boat. I've over-committed. My problem is, I mostly enjoy the things I'm doing, so what do I cut out? I am handing one thing over tomorrow, and I'm such a control freak that it's hard to do. That's probably my problem with the other commitments, too. Do I enjoy them, or can I just not let them go? Sigh, I don't know.
Shannon at The Warrior Muse
Susan, some of us just can't do one thing at a time.
Ella, I would love to meet you.
Donna, that's very true about busy people.
Shannon, if I could hand off some of these things, I would.
I admire your sense of balance very much.
I have a teaching job coming up that is leaving me a bit nervous. I really don't care for speaking in front of people, but I'm going to have to get over it!
I don't know how you do it all! The public speaking would shut me down. I can barely do an author appearance! (though I'm moderating at an event this weekend). But we definitely need to make our choices. I wish money didn't have to be a factor, but it does...
I really admire people who can stand up and speak in front of an audience... and some can do it impromptu style!
I'm the kind who has to have it written down on a piece of paper...
Writer In Transit
It sounds like you have the right priorities: things you love doing and that invigorate you.
I'm appreciative of your help with the IWSG site, and everything else.
Time and balance always offer challenges. I hope you carve out time to just relax, every so often.
Be well, Spunk.
xoRobyn
How I envy you for being organized. I am not and wish I could be less scattered...
Mary Montague Sikes
I believe in sticking to my to-do list. I also believe in working smarter than harder. If I can find a shortcut, I take it. I do have my scattered moments, though.
Busy is as busy does, cut out the chaff and excel at what you love!
Balance, a hard thing to accomplish, but you, my dear, seem to have found your way!
Hi L Diane. It is good to reevaluate our lives. Public speaking. I knew you did it, brave girl. I guess after awhile it becomes easier but I think it is still No 1 Fear worldwide. It's great to chop those things you're not enjoying so much. I selfishly hope you can find the time to post a beautiful photo for the WEP bloghop again.
Denise
I suddenly feel less stretched and stressed.
I agree with everyone else do what you love!
I think a lot of us share the time/balance issue. You more so than many of us. Your efforts have been impressive.
Lee
A Faraway View
I hear you about too many irons in the fire. I need to do the same.
I give you kudos for doing the public speaking thing. I would have such bad stage fright.
Aww, I'm sorry you're so tied up right now :( And I thought *I* had a crazy schedule! It's good that you're considering putting some things aside, though. As much as I'd love to do everything I want to do, there are a few hobbies in a shoebox in the closet that I'll get to some day...just no TOday!
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