Creating the Life You Have Always Wanted!

Through the years, many people have asked me how I was able to create the life that I wanted to live. My fellow women business owners often ask me for advice about marketing and branding themselves to be set apart from their “competition.” From creating the studio 11 years ago along with a philanthropic breast cancer calendar in 2003, to becoming an award-winning columnist in 2006, and now, to my latest venture into publishing my children’s books, I have stayed very busy doing things that have meaning for me. Over the years I have created my own “jobs” by exploring my talents and finding ways to utilize them to not only make a living but to live my life doing what I love and enjoying it!

None of these accomplishments just happened, though, without thoughtful planning and goal setting, not to mention support. There are several important steps that must be taken to create the life you want. What if I were to tell you that you can become financially successful and still have the other non-tangible things in life? The key to doing just that is to discover what you are great at and begin spending time doing those things. This involves a little self-examination and exploration. In order for you to know where to start you must know where you are going. You cannot set goals if you have no idea what you are aspiring to do or be with your life. In this the first of a series on “Creating the Life You Want,” I will take you through the first two steps into that journey.

Here’s a very important fact about life: We only have time. Each and every one of us is given the exact same amount of it each day and each year, it’s how we choose to spend it that makes all the difference. We as women have gotten very creative in how we juggle our lives to squeeze into every day more than our fair share. In the corporate world, women go to work extra early so they can leave in time to not miss a school play, or a baseball game or to check in on aging parents. Vacation times are often spent reconnecting to the family, even though we see each other everyday and sleep under the same roof at night. We live in a very fast-paced world where more often than not it requires two incomes to meet the needs of raising children and living in the lifestyles that we would desire. Money is always a concern and making more and more of it is what drives many.

Another important fact: You can always make more money, but you can never make more time. Understand that TIME is the most important thing you have and cherish it.

I remember sitting down and making a list of what I really wanted and what I was really good at doing. I wanted to do something that I loved. I had a specific figure in mind that I wanted to make fiscally each year. Most importantly, I was not willing to go to “work” in the traditional sense. I wanted to be around to read books to my children and cook them dinner at night. I knew I would never be successful in life if I gave up the privilege of being their mother. I had a “wish list” for life so to speak. My list revealed to me that I was creative and clearly needed to work from home. I would need the flexibility of setting my own hours based on nap schedules and spending quality time with my children. The list revealed to me a master list of who I was to become. Make your own list, just as I did with everything on it that you love. Include what you want in the bank and what your idea of a successful life really is. If you love to cook, write that down. If you love to read, write that down. If you know already that the most important job you’ll ever have is that of being a mother, then write down what aspects of being a mother are the most important to you. If you want to be a millionaire ... well, write that down too! Make a comprehensive list of all the subjects that inspire you or excite you and even include the things you’d love to do - if you could - or should I say when you can?

Secondly, list out all the things that you do everyday that have to be done. Include on this list things like walking the dog, going to the grocery store and cleaning the house. Now, examine the second list. What tasks on the second list are things you like to do? What tasks are there that you dislike and would much rather allow someone else to do for you? For me, I did not want to clean house, but I needed the house to be clean not only for the obvious reasons but because I was seeing clients at home and my work space required it. In addition, after working all day and spending snipets of quality time with my children, I was not about to have to spend what little time was left over cleaning. Arghh!!! So part of my original goal game-plan was that I had to make enough money doing what I loved to pay for someone else to keep my house clean. Go through your second list and figure out what things you really don’t want to or need to do. It will amaze you at how quickly you’ll be able to set priorities as to how to spend your time!

Over the next three months, as you begin the journey of “Creating the Life You Want,” keep in mind the things that you are great at and or are interested in. Take a few moments each day to think about how those interests could be turned into creating a career. Don’t think for a second about money. I know that is going to be really hard for most of you because we are driven to think that way, and it goes against everything you’ve been taught about work. Just try to focus on what it is you love to do and from the second list of life’s “have-to’s” what tasks can be delegated to someone else. Finally, get in the habit of paying attention to your time. We will get more in-depth with how you’re going to move forward in the next column. I’ll address how to set the goals based on the list and how to schedule your life so that it is productive and balanced. In the meantime.....

Take Care of YOU!