The Wilder Zone

Live Like You Were Dying

It's a beautiful fall day. Gazing out the window I can't help but feel a deep awe and appreciation for the beauty of the vivid yellow and gold leaves of the trees against the backdrop of a clear, rich blue sky.

The sight, and the feelings it inspires within me, remind me of what a precious gift each day truly is. It reminds me that although I usually take it for granted that I'll be here to see much the same scene tomorrow, that assumption is an illusion.

While the sky and the trees and the sunshine will no doubt be here tomorrow, I may not be. What if this were the last time I saw this beautiful scene? What if you or I were not here tomorrow? What if we lived each day with the awareness that it could be our last? Or that it might be the last for someone we love? What would we do differently? How would such awareness change the way we live? How would it change the way we interact with others?

Our mortality is not something we like to think about. Often it's not until some event reminds us of it that we ponder it at all. But life is fleeting. In an instant it can all change. Becoming aware of the possibility, the eventual reality of death and dying, can enrich our experience and our gratitude for life, for living each moment fully.

I just have two more questions for you....If you lived like you were dying how would your life be different? And....what are you waiting for?

Weekend Reading - 10.27.07

I've been meaning for ages to tell you about one of my favorite blogs. Nope, it's not about marketing or building your biz, it's not about productivity and how to get more done in less time, it's not about how to be happier or healthier or how to be a better parent. It's called Waiter Rant and it's just what it says it is...a waiter's rants about his work in the restaurant industry.

Now at this point you might be wondering what the draw is and why I'd be recommending Waiter Rant as a must-read blog. I'll tell you why - the writing is spectacular. The author is truly gifted. The posts are intelligent, direct, funny, and when I first stumbled upon this blog it was like reading a really great book - I couldn't put it down. So if you've had about enough of the usual fare of biz-related blogs for the week and are looking for something a bit different to simply enjoy, check it out for yourself.

Do You Have an Emergency Back-up Plan for Your Business?

The phone was ringing. Instinctively I was rolling out of bed in response before I was even fully awake. As I did so my eyes fell on the glowing red numbers on the bedside clock - 2:56am. I ran for the phone. 3am phone calls are never good news. As I grabbed the phone from the table where I'd left it the night before the "missed call" message flashed onto the screen. I flipped the phone open to see that the call had come from my friend, the mother of my 17 year old son's best friend. "Shit, shit, shit...." I began chanting as I dialed her number. No answer. My panic rising, I hit redial. Still no answer. "Shit, shit, shit..." I'm mumbling under my breath now trying to keep the panic at bay. I hit redial again and she finally answers.

"What's going on?" I asked, skipping the niceties altogether. "You mean you don't know?" she asked. "Know WHAT?!" the rising panic clear in my voice now. "The boys were in a bad accident," she replied.  "The car was totaled." 

"OhmyGodohmyGodohmyGod!" My panic was full blown now. My heart dropped into my stomach, chills ran down my spine and my throat clenched closed as all the air was seemingly sucked out of the room in that instant. For a moment I couldn't breathe, I couldn't think. Then one word ran through my mind - breathe - as I realized I was gasping for breath, and the mother-instinct that has been fine-tuned over 20 years of raising kids kicked in and the panic receded enough for me to speak. "Are they okay? Where are they?" My voice still sounded a bit shrill to my own ears and the dread in my voice was echoed in hers as she replied, "I don't know. They're being taken to St. Anthony's."

"I'll meet you there," I replied. I was already stepping into my jeans and looking frantically for my shoes. Two minutes later I was in the car, trying to maintain some semblance of calm so that I could drive. "Breathe, breathe, just breathe," I thought. It was taking every ounce of will I had to prevent any other thoughts from running through my mind. My concentration slipped for a moment as I prayed, "Please God, please God, let them be okay. Please let them be okay." I pulled my attention back to my breathing as I realized that silent plea was increasing my sense of panic.

Needless to say, as I rushed to the hospital ER, my business was the furthest thing from my mind and I didn't stop before I left the house to grab the phone number for the clients with whom I had a call scheduled for later that morning.

That was a week ago. Thankfully, my son and his friend were released from the hospital several hours later with only minor injuries and my clients were the essence of understanding about the missed call.

However this leads me to the question in the title of this post - do you have an emergency back-up plan for your business should you ever receive one of those dreaded 3am phone calls? If an unexpected emergency arises that requires your undivided time and attention do you have a plan that will allow someone else to take care of things for you?

While we all hope we'll never receive one of those calls, it's important to plan for the possibility by creating an emergency back-up plan. If you don't already have one there's no better time than now to create one. If you haven't already done so, document the most critical aspects of your business. Create master lists of: 

• Contact info for your clients and for your team if you have one.
• Passwords to any business tools you use regularly such as business email, an online calendar, project management system, auto-responder system, etc.
• Account numbers and passwords for any business accounts.
• Accounts payable/receivable and any associated account numbers and due dates.
• Critical tasks and any details needed to accomplish them, including a schedule for when they need to be accomplished.
• Anything else critical to your particular business.

These lists and an operating manual if you have one (if you don't have an op manual you should, but that's another post), become your emergency back-up plan.

The next and final step is to give this emergency back-up plan to a trusted team member, colleague or friend so that in the event of an emergency you're able to make a single phone call and they can implement it for you.

Creating an emergency back-up plan insures that if you ever do find yourself or a loved one in an emergency situation you have the peace of mind of knowing that at a minimum, the most basic and critical aspects of your business are being taken care of.

   

The Joys and the Challenges of Working from Home with Kids

I hadn't completely forgotten what working from home with young kids was like, but with my sons now 17 & 20, it's been awhile. This past week though, I've had the pleasure of spending the afternoons with my honey's two boys who are 5 & 11. It's been such a kick to spend time with them. They're great kids and our time together has reminded me of just how much time and energy are required to not only run a biz but to keep up with two energetic boys and all of the requisite things that go along with it.

It has truly been a joy to spend time with them. I've had so much fun, and I'm grateful that I had the flexibility and freedom to clear my afternoon calendar for the last several days so that I could focus my attention on the boys and simply enjoy my time with them. I was able to do that because it's only for a few days.

For those of you who have young children at home it's not quite that simple. Raising kids is a full-time job in and of itself, and for those that work from home there are  unique challenges.  This time with the boys has reminded me of how often, when I was raising my sons, I felt as though there was something that wasn't getting the time, energy and attention it deserved. Whether it was my boys, my husband, the house, friends, or my business...I never quite felt like I was keeping up in every area. And that was when I was married. After my divorce that sense that I wasn't keeping up, and the guilt that went along with it, became a nearly constant companion. Being a single parent and working from home poses even greater challenges.

As a result of this renewed awareness I'm pondering how I can better serve those of you who are working from home and raising young kids so that you can both build a wildly successful biz and enjoy the precious, and priceless, moments with your children.  I'll do my best to provide more resources with you in mind.

To start, if you're not already familiar with the eMoms at Home blog it's full of great articles and resources for parents that work from home (not to worry dads...it's every bit as relevant for you). You might find two posts especially helpful, "25 Parent Productivity Tools for Busy Moms, Dads, and Kids"  and "94 Ways to Keep Kids Busy for the Work at Home Parent."

Wireless Printing

I may be behind the times, but I wasn't aware that wi-fi technology had advanced into the realm of printers until I received an email from Mike Phan at RocketXL, the agency handling the marketing for Lexmark's new line of wireless printers.

He wrote a few weeks ago to ask if I'd consider allowing him to send me one of Lexmark's new wireless printers in exchange for my honest review of the product here on the blog.

As a laptop user the idea of wireless printing is very appealing. While I do work at a desk, I don't like to be chained to it and I frequently work from several other favorite spots in the house. To be able to print as needed, regardless of what cozy corner I'm currently working in, would be fabulous.

As you've probably already gathered by now, I replied to Mike to let him know that I'd love to give one of Lexmark's new wireless printers a spin. Late yesterday the printer arrived and I'll keep you posted on my experience with it, from setup to function and performance.

In the meantime, if you'd like to learn more about the technology check out The WiFiGuy, and if you'd like to take a peek at Lexmark's new line of wireless printers pop on over to their site (check out this great URL), www.cutthecord.com.

Sometimes Life is Just Like That

I can't even begin to tell you how good it feels to be writing this post. The last few months have been some of the most difficult of my life. I've been dealing with one personal challenge in particular that no one would ever choose to take on. And as the saying goes, "When it rains it pours." Sometimes life is just like that.

I've missed blogging, missed the creative flow of ideas and the passionate drive to share them with you. Perhaps if the personal challenge I was facing was something I could share I'd have been able to continue posting throughout it, but even if it were, the truth is during much of the last few months I simply didn't have the energy to do so.

It was all-consuming and left me much of the time feeling completely drained emotionally, mentally, physically. Were it not for the amazing love and support of family and a few close friends I honestly don't know how I'd have gotten through it all.

In the midst of it all there were several other things that occurred - my 20 year old son moved out of state, my cat's chronic illness worsened to the point that I had to put him down, and information revealed to me regarding a neighbor required that I report a serious crime, file an order of protection and move from the area I've called home for nine years.

At times there was so much going on that it left my head spinning. It felt surreal and I'd find myself thinking, "Surely this cannot be my life." It played out more like a soap opera, or an episode of Law & Order.

Thankfully, the loved one around whom the most difficult challenge revolved, is doing exceptionally well and life is feeling more "normal" (whatever that is). I am, once again, feeling calm and grounded and as though my world has finally stopped spinning. It feels very, very good.

You have my most sincere apology for having just disappeared, and my gratitude for your patience and understanding. I have truly missed being here, but I'm sure you can all relate to the necessity at times, of having to devote your limited time and energy to the unexpected situations that inevitably arise. Sometimes life is just like that.