Being self employed means you have to work all the hours god sends right? You only get back what you put in? When you go self employed this is what you hear all the time and to some degree I believe it to be true. But thousands of people start their own business because they want to challenge traditional thinking, escape the rat race and carve out a work life balance that suits them.
One of my core drivers for going self employed was that my working pattern needed to suit me. I’m not materialistic, I drive a Skoda Fabia, it’s sturdy, surprisingly reliable and does what I need it to do – gets me from A to B, not necessarily in style, but it gets me there and it’s an estate so it carries all my Neals Yard Kit – another strand to my business portfolio. What mattered when I set up my business was getting some of the control back in my life and enjoying some freedom.
I’m fortunate that I spend about a third of my time in planning and marketing mode. So most of that time is spent with my trusted laptop. So when the snow arrived last week, I was able to make the choice to go and play in the snow and postpone some of my tasks until the evening. It was particularly important to me because last Christmas (2013) hubby bought me a sledge. I’ve not been sledging for about 35 years (you do the maths) but sadly 2014 brought us zero snow.
It was great fun and I learned some key things including as you get older falling off your sledge hurts much more than at 10. One week on, the huge bruise on my backside is now many shades of purple and green and does not seem to be reducing.
The key learning for me though, is it would have been very easy to have said to myself – “I’ll go out when I’ve finished this” – the reality, I would have been distracted by a phone call (which I took on my sledge) and never actually made the time. Yes, it cost me because I had to catch up later, but life is for living right?
Carolyn Trafford is a confidence coach and speaker, if you need help with inspiration or time management call Carolyn today on 
07714 216388 to book your free 45 minute kick start session and create the life YOU want.
words copyright Reflections Coaching (2015)
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