Today is a Tuesday and it’s noon. And I am just now starting to do work. Why? Because I live in a place that is currently experiencing dreary, gray, cold winter months and today there was a respite. The sun is out, and it’s 45 degrees! Positively balmy. The forecast for this coming weekend? 28 and snow. So there was no way I was going to let this gift of a day go by with me sitting inside typing away on my computer.
Instead, I woke up, got dressed, went out, and stayed out, walking the streets of my city, sipping a coffee, taking deep breaths (through my mask, of course), and soaking up the vitamin D that I am so badly in need of.
Why am I telling you this story?
Because sometimes, even when conventional wisdom tells you otherwise, you need to take advantage of the moment.
It used to be that my brain would have been screaming at me, “What?! It’s a Tuesday, get your butt in the chair and get to work.” But years of business ownership have taught me that when you are presented with something special, out of the ordinary, or just plain delightful, the “rules” don’t apply.
It’s easy to listen to the “supposed to” messages that we’re fed. We’re supposed to be working at 10 am on a Tuesday. We’re supposed to be reaching certain milestones by a certain time. We’re supposed to do things in a particular order.
But to that I say, Why?
Why can’t we make the rules for ourselves?
Why can’t we decide to do things our own way?
Why can’t we chuckle in the face of conformity and structure our time in whatever way we want to?
I think there is a lot of guilt that comes with business ownership.
Guilt that we’re not working hard enough.
Guilt that we haven’t become successful enough.
Guilt that things are taking so long.
Guilt that we’re not making enough money.
Hell, guilt that we’re making too much money (yes, this a real thing that some people struggle with).
But what if we removed that guilt? What if we reminded ourselves that this journey is our own to forge? We can create it in any way we like, developing the rules that fit our personal lifestyles, needs, and circumstances. And that any fear we have about doing things we “shouldn’t” be doing can get wiped away.
We are in a time, COVID time, that comes with a lot of hardship for many people. Every day so many of us are faced with difficult choices, as well as fear, sickness, and uncertainty. If there is some part of your world that you can enjoy, even if that’s at the expense of the traditional approach to business, then by all means take advantage of that. Do it. Close the computer, take the walk, make the decision that seems “irresponsible.”
This business is yours to create. Create it in a way that complements the life you want to live.
Lots of love and encouragement,
