A few weeks ago, when my hubby James turned in his notice at his job of 12-years, I was awake in the middle of the night thinking about how I was going to “train” him and what tasks I’d be outsourcing to him. I thought about what our first day working together was going to look like and how it was going to go. I tried to plan out the schedule in my mind.
In that moment, I got a feeling in the pit of my stomach and knew that our first day isn’t meant to be spent in our side by side offices or on our laptops.
It’s meant to be LIVED.
Yes, I could have pushed that thought aside. I could have given into the worker bee side of me. I could have easily gone there.
What did I do instead?
At 3am, I booked a surprise trip for us (I can’t tell you the location since James is probably reading this!) to celebrate his first day of freedom and the first day of our official partnership within the company and the life we’ve always wanted.
And I have to tell you – it feels pretty darn good to be able to do that.
I’m thrilled by the idea of four days together because in all honesty, that hasn’t happened in awhile.
I’ll be the first to admit that I love my “job”. For those of you who have followed my journey, you know how quickly everything has happened for me.
It’s been the best nine months of my life, and I know that I was born to do this work.
However, I recognize that now is the start of a new season and for that reason, it’s time to take a step back, look at the big picture, and make some important decisions about what I want for my life and IHML.
Admittedly, I’ve been working between 90-100 hours a week to make all of this happen.
I’m not sure how that information is going to make you feel. Maybe relief? Maybe disbelief? Maybe nothing.
But that’s not the point.
The point is that I’ve been working my booty off, and I want you to know that this success – building a multiple 6-figure business and brand in a short period of time – didn’t just fall in my lap.
I’ve worked really hard for it.
Although I’ve love everything I’ve done so far – creating two incredible group programs, working with nearly 50 one on one clients all around the world, travels to Miami, Ohio, Australia and Bali, a mini-partnership with Kate Spade, creating an infoproduct, and being a part of four group programs myself to further my dreams in my business and as a coach – I know restructuring is in order and that 100-hour weeks aren’t sustainable forever.
As I write this, there’s a part of me that’s nervous to tell you that things are changing and more space is being created within my life and business.
As women, for whatever reason, we feel that we need to be superhuman in our endeavours. We feel like we can’t outsource, ask for help, turn over a project or take time out of our day for a yoga class or even take a Sunday off.
But frankly, I started this business so that I could have the freedom to choose my schedule, to choose what really lights me up in my business (working with you, lovely, not accounting!) and to travel with my husband.
For that reason, every decision in my life and business is going to be much more calculated. I’m digging deep to decide whether I really want to work with a potential client, whether I really want to launch that program, whether I really want to say “yes” to that partnership.
I know you get it.
I’m grateful to be in this position, and trust me, I’m well-aware that not everyone has that luxury.
I know that for you, things may be different in this moment. Maybe you aren’t able to take a weekend off or take a surprise trip. Maybe you’re in your well-above 40 hours a week period. Maybe you’re just starting your business and that’s your main focus.
If it’s time to put your nose to the grindstone and work, then do that. If it’s time to restructure, then restructure. If it’s time for a combination, then great.
This is just a reminder for you to do what’s meant for you. To live as you were born to live. To listen to your heart and that feeling in the pit of your stomach at 3am that’s giving you an indication of where you need to go from here.
Listen.
You’ve got this.
