Category: business

business, challenges

3 am Oh No

2chicksandapen

The alarm was set for a hair past 3 am on a Tuesday. A 6 am meeting didn’t seem so early when I put it on the calendar. Then I had to calculate the drive the time. The get ready time. The wake time. The cushion time to build in. Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.

To say I was dreading the alarm clock was an understatement. However, I got up like a champ. Now I thought I was up and alert but clearly I wasn’t. My first uh oh was putting on my shoes. I had picked out black pants and silky striped shirt. I was matching my shoes to the stripe in the shirt. I had a plan. Then I sat down to put on the shoes and realized my pants were not just black. Rather the pants had a baby blue square-like check pattern. Holy cow. I would have absolutely not matched. In fact I would have clashed.

Good thing I had time to make a quick change and save myself some embarrassment.

Now I am off on the highway. Munching on my snack I packed, jamming to some music. Little did I know I would be listening to Pickle Jar Patrick! Why he is the up all night funny DJ that sounds like boundless energy coming through my car speakers. Why can’t I just bottle his energy through my speakers?

I pass through the major metropolitan downtown area on the highway. Several lanes normally packed to no end, yet they seem desolate at 3 am. What a difference a little time makes in a day. Normally I sleep through the quiet in suburbia but today I was on the road alone. Enjoying the scenery in a different light or should I say darkness.

As if I thought my morning would continue peacefully I was wrong. My go to Starbucks wasn’t opening until 6 am so I was going to go without my rocket fuel for this morning. I opted to pull into the gas station for a leg stretch and a quick map check. Oh my car needs a software update. I have a few extra minutes, let me do that…

Little did I know it takes a little longer than I anticipated and my car is well let’s just say dead in the water while I waited. The minutes seem like hours. Over 20 minutes and I should have been thinking how long it would take when the console message said I could exit the car. My brain just wasn’t awake yet. All the preparation to get to where I needed to be on time seemed like a waste because my sleepyhead self said yes to a software upgrade mid trip. Who does that? 

Thank you Jesus. The upgrade completed and I could continue to my destination. Oh wait, a new feature in my car is discovered. Flashing lights under my rear view mirror and an odd alarm. I can’t make this up. I had to stop my in tracks to figure out how to solve my problem. I shut off the car. Waited and started again. Thankfully the alarm subsided and I was on the way, again.

With moments to spare, I arrived. A little flustered, but ready to put on my business smile to slay the day. Next time I’ll think twice before meeting at 6 am. I am just too old for these early morning encounters without coffee.

balance, business

Chipping Away

2chicksandapen

Chipping away at the long days. The endless to do lists. Chip. Chip. Chip. The rat race of life. Where does balance come in?

Fitness

Fun

Purpose

Passion

Balance

Today I was stuck in my pilot seat, otherwise known as my office chair longer than I would like. I was participating in training that required hours in the hot seat. I was learning a ton but wasn’t moving much. Hence my Apple Watch rings were not moving at their normal pace. As I chipped away at my training I would drift off here and there. It happens to the best of us.

For me today I was thinking how to balance my day since it was so sedentary. I started with fitness. I made sure I had carved out some time for tennis and cardio later in the day. This made me happy knowing I could move a bit after a grueling day.

Then I thought about how to make my day fun since my training was a bit of a depressing topic. I managed to meet up with a friend for cardio which consisted of many good laughs. Especially when the fireman told the story about the most bizarre call at 3am on shift: the woman who called to say her vagina was on fire because she put a jalapeño in it. Not kidding at all. And a county does have to use your tax dollars to answer all the crazy dispatches for emergency services. This was definitely the funniest part of my day.

I always need to know I dedicated some time to my purpose work and today this was super easy. My training was to to enhance my knowledge on a mental health training I present several times a year. My purpose work. This kind of work in my day brings joy, not only a sense of accomplishment but also such a warm feeling due to the benefits to others.

Passion: am I being passionate about what I do each day? Is my passion showing in my work? Is my passion inspiring others? Does my passion impact my bottom line. Why yes to all of the above. When I can see my passion oozing out my pores in any given day, I am elated.

When I revisit my five words noted above in my day and I see success in all.

Areas I know I am succeeding in at life. I have achieved balance. The balance that is important to me. My measuring stick. Not yours. Mine.

business

Business

2chicksandapen

I do enjoy a good title to a blog. I find the simple pleasure of choosing the title is soul satisfying to me. This title is not your typical business post. It’s more about the word business and it’s variation as it is used. 

I own a business.

You need to mind your own business.

My health is my private business.

My business is none of your business.

As you can see by the statements above the word business can take shape in multiple ways. Business can be a tangled web in most folk’s lives, mine included. For today’s post I will just give you the business.

In recent days, a health issue arose in my tribe. A mental health day was needed. It was nobody’s business but the person and whom they chose to share it with. Despite this, many around the way gave that private business the run around. Meaning they formulated their own opinion and cast judgment, ridicule, etc. Not any of their business but many made it their business. My two cents: if you are not medically qualified to weigh in on any health issue, don’t. Stay away from the topic. If you don’t want your health on the next Wall Street Journal cover don’t talk about others.

I own a private company. My business is private. That means I know my financial numbers and so does the IRS. My private business is not for general viewing and anyone who makes assumptions of such success or failure is in essence assuming. My two cents: if it’s not your business it’s not your problem.

The water cooler conversations. The coach. The kid. The parents. The fans. The officials The coach is paid to handle the athletes. The athletes work hard for the coach. The parent’s business is only to cheer for the athletes. The coaches’ business is developing the athletes and that varies greatly in most cases. The fans are in the fan business, not the officiating business. No matter what sporting event I attend, from youth to high school to college to professional the fans are all still the same level of crazy. They yell insane stuff. They coach from the sidelines. They make the whole match/game their business, but it’s not their business. Paying to attend an event doesn’t qualify you to coach or officiate the event. No more than giving medical advice when you are not medically qualified to do so.

All of the above blows my mind when any of the above is front and center for me. Sometimes my business is up for debate or discussions. Sometimes it’s my kids business. On occasion it’s another family member’s business. Nonetheless this post is about the word business and it’s usage.

If the business at hand is not your business, mind your own business. If your neighbor has cows in their yard and they don’t bother you, don’t ask about it. It’s not your business. 

Just ranting about everyday life here. I did have random cows show up next door to my home in suburbia recently. They stuck out like a sore thumb but it was none of my business. Of course, others couldn’t refrain from minding others’ business and away went the cows in the middle of the night. Life is full of odd days. I try to mind my own business most of those days. 

However I am not perfect. I am working on perfecting the mind my own business philosophy. You should pull back the reins and see how you are doing in this area.

Are you a nosey neighbor in other people’s business?

Are you a fanatical fan boy/girl obsessed with officiating a game you don’t know the rules of?

Do you probe in your friend’s financial business?

Do you like to coach from the sidelines of your kid’s game but never take the time to coach yourself?

So much business to rant about.

business, challenges

Good Help?

2chicksandapen

How hard is it to find good help these days? For me the answer is: it’s pretty hard. Nobody wants to really work hard to prove their worth. They just want to get a hand out or slide by or just mooch off others.

I’m fascinated by this subject. Recently I had a need for a laborer. The pay was good and there were not many expectations. Well the basics of work hard, neat appearance, adhere to safety rules and be okay with physical labor. Now mind you, I’m a woman and met the qualifications and was capable of doing the work yet I was looking to provide an opportunity to another.

No takers. Tired from a trip I heard from more than one prospect. No answer from a couple, as in no interest. Too long of a drive for another. Have to get off by x for another. So many reasons that were just excuses of sorts. I’d rather hear no thanks I’ll pass rather than the lame excuses folks make up.

I’ll also remember the opportunity offer for when one asks for support. I’ll share “I offered it but you had to work for it.” Funny the tune will be different then. I’d like to play the recording of their voices when they cry poor me later. I work hard for everything I have. I almost never pass up an opportunity unless it just doesn’t make sense. I see so many now hiring signs but how many actually want to work?

I hustle but stay humble. I was taught a great work ethic. I honestly feel today’s younger workers expect more to do less and if anything extra is ever asked the answer is a fast NO. Many seem to lack foresight or are incapable of the big picture thinking limiting their long-term potential or this is how I see things today.

I can’t recall a time where I ever felt this way pre-pandemic. There used to be kids hustling to mow lawns or do other odd jobs. Today I just don’t see it. Maybe it’s just my environment. Maybe not. Just a ponder post of sorts.

I’m choosing to end this post on a positive with a photo of a fresh spring bloom from the family farm. Enjoy.

business, change

Play it Safe?

2chicksandapen

Do you like to play it safe in life?

Do you like to play it safe in business?

I recently read a short brief on playing it safe and it made me think a bit. In sports, coaches often times (especially in football) choose not to play it safe in games by attempting a 2-point conversion vs. opting for the easy field goal. A stretch of sorts. A chance. The unknown. Said chance could pay off big or make you fall short.

I never really thought about how sports is a form of gambling for the coaches. Choosing the players. Choosing the plays. The key decisions. The crucial thinking required. The dynamics of it all.

I’ve seen some crazy stuff happen at sporting events. Sometimes fanatical sports fans will go crazy if said coach has too many failed 2-point conversion attempts while others may go crazy at even the thought of going for it when you could just play it safe.

Again just that one example made me think. As a coach for competitive sports I play with my business mind. I play with strategy and I play to win. If it’s the last 2 minutes of the game I’m going for it. I have my best players on the field. I’m playing out my strategy. Boy do I get annoyed when other coaches play it safe.

Keeping this in mind many choose to play it safe in life. Maybe it’s taking the safe job. The fixed salary with two weeks fixed vacation every July. For me, I’d opt for the commission-only gig that pays out big dividends as I am confident betting on myself. Vacation time is good but not requirement if you are writing your own check so to speak.

Then there is the play-it-safe home choice. The planned neighborhood in suburbia with strict can-dos and can’t-dos. The flip side would be the plot of land where you make your own rules. 
A short article I read today had me thinking. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Take a risk here and there. Without risk there is no reward. Worst that can happen is you fail. If you fail you should learn something. That something you learn can be avoided next time you take a chance.
Life is a gamble. Don’t play it safe every day. You will miss those golden opportunities hidden in plain sight. Push the envelope. See what happens around you.

As I wrote this post a friend celebrated her six-month job anniversary. A change of careers took place six months ago. A scary change outside her comfort zone. She is thriving and growing each day. She is thankful to herself for embracing the unknown. She took the gamble. It’s paying off. There is a growing trend amongst the workforce post-pandemic where many are embracing change. Some due to a required change while others choosing to spread their wings. Either way it is a risk. A risk worth taking.

As I write this today, I’m taking a chance. Risk of course. Reward, unknown. Time will tell. Off to live my choices wherever they lead me.