Comments on: Starting to Think Strategically

By: Linda Bowman

Linda Bowman — Thu, 10 Aug 2006 22:30:02 +0000

When I was teaching full-time and my kids were toddlers–leaving little time for extracurricular activities–I learned the difference between “process” and “product.” I’d always been very goal oriented. I loved the feel of a finished product in my hands. But when time became a precious commodity, I realized that unless I love the process of an activity–be it gardening, hiking, or writing–it isn’t worth it.
I began to apply the principle of process vs. product to all areas of my life: I changed jobs, spent more time with my family, and devoted any free time to running (the form of exercise I enjoy the most), writing, and reading.
The journey now matters far more than the end result. This shift in thinking has given me real peace of mind. It might work for you too.

By: Jade Barclay

Jade Barclay — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 14:16:29 +0000

Yay – it’s not just me! The double-edged sword of passion rears its head again. God bless mastermind groups and gratitude lists to keep your priorities straight without shoulding or bothering to think too much!!!
It’s great to kinda think a little about this stuff before family actually comes onto the scene. My boy just turned 8 today. I remember when he was still crawling, I’d be so caught up in my work – and loving every second of it, mind you – and this teeny-tiny little thing would crawl over to me and hold up an empty bottle for me to fill, which I would. Then he’d fall asleep under the desk at my feet, and I’d pick him up and put him to bed at 3am with carpet-face.
Thankfully I’ve reshuffled my priorities in recent years, and family’s unquestionably #1 and business and other passions can and will fit in next in the queue. Now when I’m present I’m present – 100% all or nothing – at work or at play. I still have many inspired 3-4am nights, but I have A LOT more playtime, a lot more sunrises and sunsets, a lot more fun, and bedtime stories always come first. That 4 hour work-day theory actually works , and is ridiculously more productive! But so is daydreaming and random surfing sometimes… how else would I have found you!

By: Terri Z

Terri Z — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 02:45:37 +0000

Andy wrote:
“I donâ€™t feel like Iâ€™m doing things that are strategic in the long term.”
Ah, but you are! Trust me, and stop worrying about it already!
I used to try to keep a quarterly plan that was projected out 4 quarters at a time. Then I realized that I was learning so much, and the world (especially the Internet) was changing so much, that 3-6 months was really as far out as I can see.
I’m learning in my mastermind group to just do what feels right, every day, every moment. Which means if I don’t feel like working, I don’t. If I feel like working on X, but my brain is telling me I really need to work on Y to be “on plan”, I’m learning to tell my brain to shut up! And if I find myself constantly avoiding Y, then it’s time to delegate it anyway.
Maybe if we get really good at that, we can work just three hours a day — and eliminate the other 5+ hours that are probably spent worrying on what we *should* be doing!

By: Kathie Thomas

Kathie Thomas — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 22:36:20 +0000

I know how you feel and have been there too. I loooooove what I do with a passion but over the past 12 months have recognised there must come a time when I need to define what I want to keep doing and what needs to be passed on to others. I began to work at home 12 years ago because of my children (5 of them!) who have grown up with mum working at home and always in the office. At least they knew where to find me . Really though, I was always here for them and would take breaks at the times they came home from school, and went back to it in the evenings once they settled for the night.
I’ve been going through coaching (to help define my directions) and am also now coaching others in my own field of Virtual Assistant. It’s been a great journey and continues on.

By: Andy Wibbels

Andy Wibbels — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:54:53 +0000

Thanks everybody for your feedback so far – especially Sharon (I knew there was a side benefit to hiring interns – they can be cheerleaders for ya!).
I’ve also got that usual work ethic thing from my family – my favorite example of this ever is when I’d try to read a book at my grandma’s house and I’d lay on the bed in the guest bedroom – she’d say Andy are you tired? Is that why you’re laying down in the bed? Or if you decided to take a nap on the couch it’d be You need to go back into the bedroom and take a nap.
God love Agnes Krekel!

By: Sharon Sarmiento

Sharon Sarmiento — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:48:50 +0000

Andy,
I think your feelings are completely normal. When you’re working for yourself, there’s so much more riding on the line.
Seems like a lot of a small biz owner’s success has to do with biz planning, but an even bigger part of it is mental and emotional resiliency–dealing with the pressure of having so much at stake. I’m trying to cultivate a zen attitude, not spend so much time stressing over the future and logically planning every little detail out.
You and I were both laid off from our corporate jobs at pretty much the same time. Since then, you’ve established yourself as an expert in your field, written a top-selling globally published book, and through your winning personality, talent and gift for communicating with people have managed to surround yourself with tons of folks who want nothing more than to help you any way they can.
Relax, breathe, and enjoy the amazing things you’ve accomplished so far. You are poised to take over the world in so many respects–take a deep breath and enjoy the ride.:-)

By: Bob Walsh

Bob Walsh — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 16:03:53 +0000

Been there, done that, am still waiting for the tee shirt! Seriously Andy, unlike the offline world, were we all work it’s frightenly easy to see your workload expand infinitely with no measureable return.
By the way, what’s a mastermind group? Sounds like something I’d like to join…

By: Kristie Tamsevicius

Kristie Tamsevicius — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 13:48:59 +0000

Andy,
What standards are you measuring yourself by. The whole point of being an entrepreneur (for me anyway) is to freedom to enjoy your LIFE everyday, to live on your own terms.
Why do you feel you haven’t “arrived”? Are you not making the money you would like? Are you not as famous? Do you personally not feel like your career is at the level you would like?
I think you have done tremendous things for the world of blogging and to influence entrepreneurs around the world.
Give yourself a little credit — and go have a rum and coke for lunch while you sit outside and eat it. Just reflect for you a moment. You really do have it good.
Sometimes it’s just a shift in perspective that lets you see all the abundance you have in your life.

By: webduck

webduck — Mon, 07 Aug 2006 07:19:42 +0000

OMG, you’re human! What it sounds like to me is that you might be feeling that your life is just TOO good right now. I am 55 and certainly have not accomplished all that I would like. I also know at this “advanced” age that I never will. Once I grasped that epiphany, I went on with a new attitude, which is that I do as much as I can, when I can, as I can. Maybe that is good enough.