Archive for September, 2006

Working For The Boss

I think many people have the dream of working for themselves. Imagining the long, lazy lunches they can take, not having to answer to anyone but themself, being in total control of their own success. And it’s the brave ones who go for it…
…and find that the reality is far different. Some people seem to [...]

I think many people have the dream of working for themselves. Imagining the long, lazy lunches they can take, not having to answer to anyone but themself, being in total control of their own success. And it’s the brave ones who go for it…

…and find that the reality is far different. Some people seem to have a knack for it, whilst others, who on paper have all the "right" skills and experience, flounder around and end up going back to "safe" jobs.

Being your own boss is great! At least, that’s how I feel now I have a very clear, definite plan for the business and where I’m taking it. My mentor keeps saying to me "Lea, just because you can, doesn’t mean you should" – which I really think should become my motto. I often have to stop myself from falling in to the trap of taking things on just because I can, instead of outsourcing or getting someone else to do the job for me, leaving my time free for the income-generating activities – or at least, the core  activities of my business.

I think one of the hardest things about working for yourself or running your own business is just that…recognising that just because you can do everything, doesn’t mean you should. I know a number of small business owners who fall into that trap.

Instead of paying to get somebody else to do a job for them in half the time, they persist in trying to do everything for themselves – and waste the little time they do have on things that aren’t core business activities and that they don’t excel at…leaving even less time to do the things they excel at and that will generate an income.

And I know what you’re going to say…"but surely it’s a way to save money and if I can’t afford to pay somebody to do these things, then I have to do it myself anyway".

Aha, there IS always a way!! Try swapping or exchanging services if you can’t pay with "money" – and there are plenty of cheaper ways to get things done nowadays on the internet. Things like eAssistants & eLancers – there’s a whole load of people out there who can do what needs to be done for you…

It’s about being smart with your time and using it in the most effective and most efficient way. That’s one key lesson I’ve learned.

A Trying Time of Year

This time 3 years ago, I’d just had the last conversation I was ever going to have with my darling Mum. I left her hospital bedside as she was about to be sedated for the night, to help her cope with the pain.
She died the next day on 25th September, 2003 at 11.36pm from a [...]

This time 3 years ago, I’d just had the last conversation I was ever going to have with my darling Mum. I left her hospital bedside as she was about to be sedated for the night, to help her cope with the pain.

She died the next day on 25th September, 2003 at 11.36pm from a perforated bowel after living with (and almost overcoming) ovarian cancer for 3 years.

I’d spent the day at her bedside, laughing & joking and thinking she should be able to pull through again, as she always had done. I thought at the time that the serious conversation we’d had that day, when she asked me if I was going to be ok if she died, was just her being maudlin. I didn’t know what she possibly knew, that she was close to dying.

So, it’s at this time of year that I could struggle and that I could get quite down (it’d be really easy – I only have to think about these 2 days 3 years ago and my eyes well up). But instead I choose a different strategy.

I’m trying to think instead of all the positive things that have happened since she died. Things like:

• Marrying J on a gorgeous day in the botanical gardens in Sydney at the wedding of my dreams (small, informal, intimate & relaxed)
• Getting out of the rat race to start up my own business and finally finding out what I really, really want to do in my life
• Being able to buy our own home and even get on the rental property market
• Realising that I might never have come down this path and that I’d still probably be stuck in the rat race, no closer to knowing what I really want to do with my life
• Being eternally grateful for everything my Mum did for me & my brother and knowing that I wouldn’t be where I am today without her – but realising too that I was able to be there for her when she most needed me and I am extremely thankful for that

And I choose to remember how full of life & energy she was – and that energy can’t be destroyed or created (and boy, was she full of energy) but just transfers from one form to another. I can’t "feel" her, as other people say they can of their loved ones, but I know that her energy is there somewhere.

It’s a trying time of year, only if I let it be. So instead of that, I’m looking to the positives – the exciting things to come…like moving to Panama in 6 months time or setting up our own network of businesses or going after the life we really, really want to live.

And when I think of my mad, crazy Mum – who loved fancy dress, who ran around  putting everybody but herself first, who gave us the best childhood ever whilst working full time as a single Mum and who lived every second of her life to the full until she died – I only hope I’m doing her justice.

Do You Want To Learn?

I’m a huge fan of "CPD" (continuing professional development). Something that I think a lot of people lack once they leave school and get a job. At Accenture, I had to do the odd course or two, but they were mainly required and not by choice. Since leaving my ’safe’ job however, I’ve probably done [...]

I’m a huge fan of "CPD" (continuing professional development). Something that I think a lot of people lack once they leave school and get a job. At Accenture, I had to do the odd course or two, but they were mainly required and not by choice. Since leaving my ’safe’ job however, I’ve probably done the equivalent amount of studying as I did at university.

First there was the personal training qualification, then the GP-referral course, then the Optimum Nutrition course, then the CHEK Nutrition & Lifestyle Coach, then the Advanced Metabolic Typing, then the CHEK Exercise Coach, then the NLP Practitioner, then all of this internet stuff. And now there’s this…Virtual Seminar Week.

It’s well worth taking a look at – and you can attend from the comfort of your own home, which is a fabulous concept, although one of the best things about all my courses has been meeting some great people. But what attracted me about Virtual Seminar Week was the fact that there are some of the most fascinating speakers lined up. People like Dr. Joseph Mercola, who I am a big fan of and who runs the largest natural health site in the world. And Jay Abraham, one of the world’s best marketers. And Bob Proctor (of The Secret www.thesecret.tv).