Each week I share things – experiences, things I’ve read, things I’ve done and more – that have helped me achieve or kept me in the flow. It’s been a tough 2 weeks for a number of personal reasons – hence the missing post last week – and this week has been plagued by colds, snuffles & fevers (for both Mali and me) but nevertheless there have been glimpses and moments of flow…
#1 Teleseminars & Webinars
If you know me well, you’ll know that I’m not a big fan of phones. I would far rather email or text chat with people than speak to them – and I know I’m not alone in this. And yet, ever so slowly I appear to be learning to like and even look forward to hosting and holding teleseminars & webinars – like the first Q&A session I hosted for Startup Training School this week.
Perhaps it was the fact that I’ve been house-bound and even bed-bound (nothing more frustrating than *having* to spend a day in bed when you’re not actually ill but are accompanying a little person who is and doesn’t want to be left alone!) that made me look forward to contact with the outside world (!!) but I actually found it a thrill to connect with the students and do some brainstorming and troubleshooting with them.
What a great group of women they are with some amazing projects being born (yep, the women are far out-tasking the men so far even if they do outnumber them at least 4 to 1!) and what a privilege to be working with them.
I’ve realised how much I enjoy working with people in a teaching capacity which is just as well since Startup Training School plays such a big part of our business these days.
#2 A (Very Short) Haircut
Again if you know me well, you’ll know that I hate having my haircut. I hate all the faffing and preening that one is subjected to. So it’s been a huge revelation since I had my hair cut short that I no longer have to spend an hour or more in the salon and instead can be in and out within 20 minutes. (Never mind that I have to go somewhat more frequently than the once a year I used to go when it was long. I conveniently just ignore that part).
After years of being nomadic and being too chicken to ever have my hair cut overseas (would you be brave enough to ask for the haircut you wanted in a foreign language that you don’t speak that well?!), I’ve finally found a stylist who I can trust enough to say, “Go as short as you can so that it still looks good”. And short she went…very short but I love it.
#3 Paying Taxes. Early
If you’re in the UK, you’ll know that the deadline for online filing of your taxes is almost upon us. I did mine early ;) Ok so it was only 10 days early but that’s a big difference from my usual last minute panic.
And not only did I file it early, I paid it using one of my cards and got air miles for it. And not only did I get air miles for it, when I then immediately paid off the card I found myself with a surplus of the money I’d put aside throughout the year.
Having done it this way this year, I have to say that it’s a far, far nicer way to experience the whole tax palaver and put yourself into a financial flow at the very beginning of the year, versus that “not enough” feeling I’ve had in the past when I realise I’ve not quite put aside enough or forgotten that we’re now liable for Class 4 NICs since we’re UK residents again. Ooops.
—
There aren’t many things to share with you this week. As I mentioned it’s been quite a challenging couple of weeks – but just the practice of writing this (and forcing myself to do so even when I feel like doing anything but) is something which helps me get into the flow.
Forcing yourself to look for the good and for the small moments of flow during tough times is a practice which I feel these blog posts are truly helping me develop. Thank you for listening.