I have a confession to make. I constantly struggle with work-life balance. Like many of my clients, I also find it hard sometimes to work on my business instead of in my business.
I was raised in Michigan with the good old farm work ethic. We work hard, we work long hours and we don’t stop until the work is done. Translation: Work is hard, work is NOT fun. Intellectually, I know that work can be fun when you’re doing what you love. I know that I need to spend time on my own business. I know that my kids are growing fast and I need to focus on them too.
Intellectually, I know what I need to do. I know what will make me happy and what can grow my business. What I’m working to overcome is the guilt associated with redefining work.
When you become a mom, you are suddenly bombarded with feelings of guilt. Am I doing the right thing for my kids? Why didn’t I see THAT coming? For me, this guilt spills into my business as well. It’s a very definite part of my problem with work/life balance. I guess my business is like another child. A child that has a whole different set of needs. A child’s needs that are at odds with my actual children.
Actually, my business is like two children. There’s the “client work” child and the “business growth work” child. Each of those children have different needs too. So I find myself with 4 children screaming for my attention… Izzy, Parker, Client Work, and Business Work. Mom guilt is at an all time high!
I’m working on this issue, but guilt is a powerful emotion. I’ve been working with a great consultant (Kathie Nelson, Connectworks) to better align my business with my goals so all work can feel fun and inspiring. I’m getting a pretty good grasp on that, but getting over the guilt of enjoying my work is still a challenge.  Writing this post while client work beckons, knowing that children will be home in only 7 hours, was no easy task this morning.
What about you? Do you suffer from guilt in your business? How are you meeting the needs of all of your “children”?
~Kelly