It’s now been 2 full weeks since we moved into our new house. Besides finding a bigger, nicer house with a dishwasher (revolutionary, people, revolutionary) in the same neighborhood for pennies more, the best part of the move is that I am now working from my own home office.
My business outgrew the comfy confines of the couch about 6 months ago and this is the realization of a serious – and practical – goal.
My office is complete with a desk, a real chair, a huge closet, and a door. When dealing with a toddler and a husband who don’t understand my need for concentration (or talking loudly at the computer while video conferencing), a door is a necessity.
What I didn’t expect to come with the door is the very real sense that my business is now a job. Don’t get me wrong, I still love what I do. I’m still ridiculously passionate about living creatively, thinking big, and helping you do the same but I don’t want to be in this room until 3am every night.
And ya know? That’s a good thing. I’m working smarter. I’m keeping up with my email (well… almost). I’m ignoring Twitter when necessary and taking more phone calls. I’ve got a job that I’m taking more seriously than ever.
And it’s all thanks to a door.
The last 6 months have been a whirlwind of growth and progress in my business and have fulfilled many of the ideas I had for myself as a professional. But I’m feeling a real paradigm shift again. Big things are coming (literally: check back on Tuesday for a huge announcement), things are happening, the earth is shaking, and I’m not coming along for the ride this time. I’m making it happen. I’m in control.
Have you had a similar paradigm shift in your business? Tell me about it in the comments!
Yes. This.
Not that mine came with a door, but it came with a ring. When I got married recently, I had just lost my job at Microsoft and so I plunged headfirst into full time perfuming because I finally didn’t have to rely on my dead-end design job for health insurance. (I now have a husband for that. He’s a seriously supportive one, too. I kept whining my fears to him saying, “How do I make this work?” and he just kept answering with, “It already works. What’s the problem?”) I’ve been perfuming for 3 years, but it’s been full of a lot of headaches because I’ve had a 40+-hour day job on top of the 60+-hour crafty business.
But now, it’s not that I work any less, or have fewer sleepless nights thinking about formulas and design and new products to launch or a shop I should contact. But there are certainly fewer headaches and surprises when I wake up the next day. I feel like I have more drive and what feels like more of a reason to really get things done in advance, and really make big plans so that those sleepless nights actually turn into action rather than just chronic insomnia. So for some reason, this newfound freedom of full time and marriage allowed me to also take things more seriously, really do this the way that I want it done, and really actually get things launched. At any rate, it’s working so far.
So, I totally get it!
love it, meredith. and hooray for supportive husbands!
mine was not always – that was his big paradigm shift and it happened when we realized that i was making more money than him consistently. that’s when he got serious.
sometimes we just need that push that reality likes to give us, huh? we know the truth all along but she just sneaks up behind and says, “get with the program!” really loud in our ear. it’s scary… but it feels so good!
My shift actually happened a couple of weeks ago, but began yesterday.
I started a new part-time job earlier in the year – doing something I’m passionate about. Helping kids with disabilities.
But my *passion* was suffering.
So I made the decision to focus. Focus on blogging, creating and listing. Daily.
Starting at the new financial year.
I’m determined to do it. I want to succeed. I *will* succeed. I’m determined.
i have a lot of faith you WILL succeed, tasha. sometimes you can just sense future accomplishment emanating from the computer screen! and congrats on your new part-time job – sounds like it’s something that will fuel the fire and not hinder it.
It’s amazing what having an actual, dedicated work area can do for your business, isn’t it? I’m glad to read you are reaping the benefits.
thanks, yazmin. and not only has it been good for my biz – but it’s really great for my family.
Tara- YES – when we converted our connected garage into my studio a few years ago, the guys we hired to do the stuff we couldn’t do really encouraged me to put in a door between my new studio and the house (laundry area) but I insisted that I wanted an open doorway so my family could come and go and I could stay connected with what was going on …. seemed like a good idea at the time … flash ahead a couple years and I am really wishing I had put it that door – as in – solid wood door – closed solid wood door – I’m out of here closed solid wood door. I recently put up curtains and having that tangible separation has really helped me leave work – I can even have lunch on my front porch (instead of in front of my computer) without feeling pulled back into the studio as long as I close those curtains …
LOL I do have a door to my studio, but I’m scared of the door!! Everytime I shut myself away to actually get work done, the kids run rampant over my husband and chaos is waiting on the other side when I emerge.
I’ve actually made a huge mistake in creating a “play area” in the corner of the studio, so they can join me and occupy themselves. I think, “Better the destruction under my watchful nose…” but it defeats the whole purpose of having a separate studio in the first place.
I realize it has much to do with being a control freak, and not letting my family be held accountable for their own messes….
Ah, the difference a door can make. I’m glad that you are in control and things are going so well. Exciting.
I made a shift about a year ago saying I no longer wanted the content of my workshops or speaking to be about quality process improvement, but rather about women’s issues and stories, which have been a passion. However, I only felt a visceral paradigm shift recently with the help of a coach and faithfully reading your posts. They resonate for me and made me remember that I can do things my way vs. standard business plan way and I can think BIG, even if there are some small steps to get there. I feel aligned in thinking, feeling, and doing. Woo hoo. Cherry
Yep! There’s a paradigm shift happening with me too. With all the blogosphere talk about creating alternate revenue streams, I finally decided it was time for me to expand my earning potential. I focused on developing a creative workshop to offer in my community. I realized the benefits of this would not only be alternate income but also increased exposure in my community, increased networking potential, and new creative posts to share with my blog readers.
That was the beginning and then…an opportunity came up to share a studio. I was pretty worried about the financial implications but was glad I had already started working on alternate revenue streams. Moving into a studio outside the home is the kick in the ass that I needed to take myself more seriously and make my product based business pay for itself and get me some salary! Also, having a proper studio means I can offer workshops at my studio too! It’s gonna be great!
i love this
I have a door, but beyond that, I’m at home while my husband is at work, and the simple ALONE TIME does me so good. I don’t feel pressured to immediately do something, I can write in my notebook (which also is a godsend) and brainstorm without someone saying “whatcha doin’?”. It’s just the overall feeling of being on my own wavelength with my own space… so I totally feel you!
Don’t be afraid to make a pretty “do not disturb” door tag if people stop respecting your door!
I long for a door…… my spare room is currently occupied. But hopefully for not too much longer, and then….. Nirvana!
It’s eerie that I, too, have a new door to a new studio space that I’ve just moved into and that I’ve made my ‘own’. My door is a bright berry, fuchsia one that leads into my creative haven, my workspace that I spend most of my days and nights in. The new door went up as a bright, new opportunity was forming alongside. So, this door not only opened up a new avenue of my business, but everyday it leads me into my haven of creativeness. Yes. New doors are pretty damn amazing.
I have not had the paradigm shift yet, but I’m waiting for my own door. My studio is about 10 down on the project list…though I know it will be lovely when complete. Good for you to have your own office…we all look forward to more words of wisdom spewing from your creative space. :0