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Email ThisI am a big fan of Naomi Dunsford of IttyBiz, so I hope she’ll forgive me for this half-assed reference to her brilliance, but I think she said something like, when you are trying to decide what to do next (regarding your home business) do what is closest to the money.
If I’ve slaughtered the sentiment, forgive, I couldn’t pinpoint the original reference on her site, so I’ve only her to blame for the a plethora of excellent content through which to scour.
While I think that is a wonderful way to frame your day for productivity and success, I have a tendency to run wild with great ideas until I’ve run myself into the ground. If you are anything like me, whether you work for yourself (as I happily do now) or someone else, at any given moment, you can do what is closer to the money or to the sanity. Though there are moments when the actions you take bring about both, I believe they are at odds most of the time. Even if you love what you do. For example, I’m a singer and private voice teacher. I’m a part time grad student. I’m a stay at home wife. I’m a blogger. I love these activities, and only one pays cold hard cash.
Therein lies my dilemma. If I want to be productive, I will spend all my time studying, or getting gigs and students. When I’m itching to follow this yellow-brick path of productivity promises, that’s when a Wizard of Oz-type figure looms before me and booms: Remember, your job or money was never the inherent problem; you are.
Then I skulk off and ruminate on how I’m doomed to find myself in the same situation I just left at my full-time job: haggard and uninspired. I gently remind myself that money can’t buy sanity. It provides for basic needs and the occasional jolly good time. If I want a sane and healthy life, I have to find balance. I have to shift my focus to taking care of myself, which may mean giving up a few bucks.
For example, right now, if I wanted to do what is closest to the money, I would stop writing this post, and work on my home business. I’d post “quality content” on my other blog about singing, design the ad for a program I bought space in, drum up business from referrals, research new ways to advertise in my area.
If I wanted to do what was closest to the sanity, I’d finish this post, bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies, take a long walk, then start preparing dinner.
Which did I choose? Well, if you are reading this, I think you know.
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This is quite a dilemma. You need to be sane but you also need to eat. lol I am a hard-working perfectionist. Ever since I started my venture I had no problem missing sleep, happy hours, dinner with friends, etc. to “stay close to the money”.
Fortunately, I have some friends who have strongly encouraged me to try to maintain a healthy balance. I don’t think a perfect balance is possible; but, so far, I’ve managed to “stay close to sanity”.
@ Keith Ashe
I agree that perfect balance isn’t possible, but I think most Type-A personalities will veer towards the money (or success, recognition, etc.) Certainly you have to eat, but you’ve got to feed the soul too, otherwise, what are you living for?