Not too long ago I was asked the question how I balance it all, the day job, doing talks and teaching as well as working on byflock and our products, which to complicate matters further is more than one thing. The simple and honest answer is that I work. A lot.
I’m fortunate to love what I do and I’m also fortunate to have the support that I need in order to be able to work the long hours. It does mean saying no to quite a few things and it does mean being a bit more tired when the evening or the weekend comes. But that’s what parents with young kids go through everyday and they must a whole lot more.
However, freelancing full time, speaking and teaching as well as working on byflock – it doesn’t work. There aren’t enough hours in the week to give each what it needs. So, as planned back in early September when I learnt that a freelance contract was starting earlier, post New York and Dublin was supposed to be all about a more flexible setup and so far I’m sticking to it. It does mean that I’m not looking for long contracts, at least not full time. If they are full time they have to be short so that I for a limited period of time have to juggle it all but then can go back to having at least one day off during the week. That is what I need to make this happen and to manage all the admin related things, of which there are a lot.
We can only keep so many things going at one time and for the last few months the first things that has sprung to my mind when the weekend is approaching has been how I’m finally going to be able to catch up on the week. That is not what the weekend is about. And not a positive feeling to walk around with. I am a firm believer in the power of the little positive achievements throughout every day and having unfinished things hanging over me is not conducive to feeling like things are progressing. Rather the contrary. So, flexible approach to work it is. Daring to leave things a bit more open and uncertain. But it’s long overdue and unless you try you don’t know what it brings.
Tomorrow – Day 304 | To laugh and laugh some more
Image source: www.flickr.com/photos/hamed/2302808818
