Are you thinking about starting a side-hustle too?

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I am always thinking about starting my own business and it seems somehow more do-able as a side-hustle.

Photo by Paul Wesson Photography

Photo by Paul Wesson Photography

The challenge to move forward, my side-hustle

I sit here contemplating the adjustments our bodies go through from to pre-op to post-op/recovery from major surgery. I am struck by my challenge with moving forward these days. Every time my health seems to be on the upswing, something else comes along…

I feel like much of my life has had the same kind of momentum. Two days ago I was ready to start spending my recovery days working on a project. I pulled out my laptop and launched my current digital scrapbooking project and worked on a few pages, knowing that tomorrow I’d have more time to complete more. “Tomorrow” came and I felt like crap. Hot & cold. Achy all over. I woke up late and then had no energy or ability to focus. So I read a little, watched a movie related to another personal project and tackled about 2 more pages. One thing I have learned but seem to need to keep re-learning is that we never know what tomorrow will bring. Today we must live as if it’s the only day/moment that we have.

Take action now

Now I could consider this as a bit of a fail in the world of follow-through, or I could cut myself a little slack, and see what the next tomorrow brings. It’s not that I can’t do that. But, I feel like life throws an awful lot of wrenches my way, and I wonder when dodging those wrenches becomes making excuses. Today, I slept. More than half the day away. It took some time to get my butt in gear. I still feel a bit wonky, but better. I will work on that project next, but I first thought my mind has cleared enough to tackle a bigger project. The side-hustle project. The project that requires a bit more focus and clarity.

Side-hustle

My blog. This project has been in the works a long time and has certainly been far more active and likely more influential by times. It’s still my side-hustle of choice. I just haven’t figured out exactly what the plan with it is. One thing I know is that I need to keep moving forward to build the momentum back up. Hopefully in the process the plan will become clearer.

Flexibility

Just as we have to be prepared to have a little flexibility with our plans in life, clearly we also need to with plans in business. It’s hard not to feel like that is some sort of indication of my ability or passion. So, I try not to pay much heed to where I have been, and keep my eye on where this may be headed. Here’s hoping I can pin that down soon.

Resources

I’ve found a few great resources that I turn to while trying to do just that:

I have followed Chris Guillebeau for quite a while now, from before his first book launched. Most recently, I got a lot out of his Book “Born for This”, and I’ve started following his new project “You Need a Side Hustle”. Chris gives a new perspective to all of the traditional business model advice that is out there. It is very refreshing.

Another great leader I recently started following is Marie Forleo. She is another who speaks passionately with her own voice. Following her videos feels a lot like you would imagine sitting across a diner table and chatting would feel like. I’ve been considering taking one of her courses and have noticed a new project “Start the Right Business” just launched today that seems to be calling out to me. Here’s hoping I can get the extra funds together soon!

Both Chris and Marie focus on taking Action more than anything. I’d love to get moving!

What actions are you taking to make that side-hustle/business happen? Do you have any great resources to share?

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Drop me a note in the comments below, or connect with me on Twitter @ceilidhontherun or email me at trish at trishblogs dot com!

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Filed Under: General, Leadership Tagged With: ,

Living for today

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I have been living in a sort of “quarter life crisis” since at least 8 years ago. It came to a head at the age of 29 after the birth of my second child. My marriage was unhappy and struggling but before I had accepted that I had started looking outward for solutions.

I had been a very happy stay-at-home mom for four years, but suddenly determined that I needed to go back to work or school or both, to regain my authentic self. During the process of trying to identify what I really wanted for myself I realized that what was really at the depth of my despair was my unhappiness in my marriage.

I left my husband and returned to the community that felt most like home, with 2 children in tow, entering a second degree (my social work degree) and desperately needing to be employed to support ourselves. So began a long and difficult journey.

I have written multiple business plans over the years, explored funding options, sought endorsements, even begun the initial start-up process, only to halt mid-way and never see my dreams through to fruition. I have always feared that I might have the wrong plan, that I might be headed in the wrong direction. That I didn’t really know my own mind or purpose.

Instead I stuck to the norm, seeking paid employment in areas of my skillset. Only I have found I have always reached a point of dis-satisfaction. My expectations for the role we played, the work ethics we practised, the passion we felt in our work always left me feeling like my standards were set so high that I could never be happy where I was. I have moved on to new jobs for multiple reasons all brought about by my desire to work harder and smarter in an environment not willing to change.

I’m a big picture person, usually seeing the vision before the specific goals and objectives, and always prepared to break new ground to get there. Unfortunately those around me were simply not on the same page.

I have a desire to do something big with my life. To know that my efforts have brought about a positive change in the larger social system of our world.

I’ve been on a journey for years now, often finding my progress met with seemingly insurmountable obstacles. Most recently, just as I began to get a handle on things my mother passed away suddenly after a short aggressive illness with cancer. My mother has taught me so many things, most especially to love life itself and seek the positive in everything. Most recently she helped me see how important it is to never put off that which is important to you.

And so I am like a dog with a bone going after this authentic life NOW, feeling an urgency like I’ve never felt before. As Oprah has said: “this very moment is the only one you know you have for sure.” If we have only this moment, then we’d better make it a good one!

I’ve been actively pursuing goals that I have long put off or been afraid to take action on. I am about to embark on the biggest one yet, starting my own business. It officially begins March 16th.

How are you embracing the moment and living for today in your life?

Trish

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Drop me a note in the comments below, or connect with me on Twitter @ceilidhontherun, email me at ceilidho at ceilidhontherun dot com, or use my contact form!

I invite you to subscribe to my blog using one of the options available on my page (email, rss, Google Connect, like my page on Facebook, etc.)

If you enjoyed this post, please do like/share it. You can do so using the easy share button below!

Filed Under: balance, General, West Nova Family Tagged With: , ,

Dreaming again

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Alright, so I’m dreaming again.

I know, dreams are the stuff life’s made of 😉 , but I think you have to actually DO something. ANYTHING. To pursue them.

Don’t you?

I’m working on working on that.

I know that sounds like anything but pursuing my dreams, but I think it’s a step. Perhaps not a big step. But it’s step. I’m seeking quotes, and checking out my options. I’ve written out a vision, and I’m exploring possibilities. I’ve been here before. So, why am I here again? I haven’t had the gumption. Haven’t had the gumption to DO it.

I know what the next step is. It’s moving forward. Moving towards the dream(s). Taking risks.

So here it is.

I have a much better understanding of my priorities. I KNOW I want/need a challenge while still having a great deal of flexibility. I have visions of great things, but they do not well afford me the flexibility that will bring my happiness. I am adjusting the vision, to something that is a sort of bridge. If I can achieve successfully this bridge, then the dream doesn’t HAVE to mean sacrificing flexibility. It’s true that money doesn’t buy happiness, but it makes it much more reachable.

Two dreams that I am determined to make happen while I am young enough to enjoy them: I am going to fuel my entrepreneurial spirit and become independent; I am going make a home where a lake is our family’s backyard; and heck, let’s throw one more dream in for fun – I am going to travel when I want, where I want.

I know these are not remarkable dreams. Many, MANY people have the very same dreams. So, why is it that so many of us do not make them happen?

I’ve been exploring just this, and what I need to do to change it for me. I’ll keep you posted.

Postscript: I do have one more dream, but it’s not one that I feel as much in control of. It’s to be pain-free. I have an appt in March for an interview with the Pain Self-Management program. Until then, I feel as if I have tried everything. Never give up. Right?

Filed Under: General Tagged With: , , , , , ,