Inspired Blogging from Cabo San Lucas

So I just got back from vacation last weekend- a week in Cabo San Lucas with my girlfriends. These are  friends I’ve had for over 25 years (which is crazy because part of me still feels like I’m 25 years old!)- one I’ve known since kindergarten. We’ve taken girls weekends almost every year since college- but decided to go for the week since we’re all turning 40 this year (and PROUD of it! ).

I was SUPER nervous about unplugging for the week- but it was WELL worth it. I actually hadn’t bothered to enable my iPhone before I left (you had to call to enable the ‘Mexico’ plan….which I found out when my friend had her husband enable her phone)- so I couldn’t even get my email (came home to over 800 emails). And I survived…..and more importantly, so did my business!

In trying to get back into the swing of things here and get back to posting, writing, creating, etc. – I decided to go back to my week in Cabo with my friends and see what I could pull from my ‘week off’. The FIRST thing that jumped out at me was a conversation I had with one of my friends while enjoying a margarita in the pool (this is what we did pretty much every day).

She has a really good job with a major US corporation (no details as it’s hardly my place to share this publicly without asking….nor would I want anyone in her company to come across this randomly)- she makes over six figures and is able to work from home a couple days a week. She also has a 6 & 3 yr. old at home. She works a TON….and while she is one of the most in control/even keel people I know- she is constantly worn out by her job. While we were chatting I asked her “But you at least LIKE your job, right?”  Her reply? “Um…yeah, no, not really”. She said she liked the people she works with and the company – but doesn’t enjoy what she does.

HUGE wake up call for me!

It’s easy when you work for yourself to paint a picture of “maybe a job would be easier”……”at least I’d have more security”…. I’m not ashamed to say these thoughts have lingered with me since I’ve started this business. My conversation with my friend changed all that. When I thought about the fact that we’ve got another 25 years of work ahead of us (although I don’t see ever really needing to retire from this….it’s too fun and is constantly changing)- it made me a little sad for her and GRATEFUL that I took the risk to do what I’m doing! Not to mention the only person I need permission from to take time off is myself.

My business has grown month after month…. consistently! I know that as I continue stepping outside of my comfort zone, taking more risks and simply putting myself out there- the rewards will continue to come (and I don’t just mean financially). I’ve got a couple of projects I’m working on that were scary to start….but I’m in the thick of them both and could not be more thrilled! Will they be a huge success?… TOTALLY! Regardless of the income they bring in….knowing I followed through and did it was half the battle!

This experience (that and driving into San Francisco to catch my flight reminded me that I don’t have to commute anymore and that ALONE is a ‘sane making event’) has taught me that stepping back once in a while, getting outside of this space (online marketing) is VITALLY important!

“When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at will change” ,Wayne Dyer.