After almost two years of working for myself, I’ve closed up shop. I didn’t do it without a fair amount of thought and a great deal of soul searching. I loved the freedom and the flexibility, but was missing one thing: stability.
I believe in always keeping my options open and occasionally dropped a resume to keep myself “out there”. I’ve made excellent contacts for obtaining new clients, but every once-in-awhile, you just get an offer you cannot refuse.
Yes, I’ve been there before and after the initial contract was over, I decided I still preferred my own schedule. But this time is different. I’m not a consultant brought in to revamp a department. I’ve been brought in as a member of the management team to help make changes that affect the entire company. The employees work with me, not against me because they understand that I’m here to stay; and as their manager, not as a fleeting consultant with grand ideas. I want to make lasting changes. I try hard to make the changes that I feel are best for the company as a whole – while keeping in mind what is good for the individual employees. Best of all, I have the support of upper management in my tasks at hand.
The decision to go back to a “9 to 5” job has caused changes in my home life, of course. I’m now a single parent, and though I get a fair amount of help from my ex-husband, there is still the pressure of getting everyone to where they need to be, homework finished, dinner fixed, laundry done, etc. I’ve hired a nanny for my children again, and was fortunate enough to re-hire the young lady that worked for us a year ago. The biggest difference between now and before: I’ve relaxed in other areas at the house because I know I have to cut myself some slack. I’m learning that it’s ok to not do “everything” anymore – and simply do the best I can at balancing my work life and home life. And I’ve remembered that it’s ok for this working mom to have a bit of a personal life as well….
Like everything in life, it can have its messy moments. But for where I am right now, I know it’s the right thing to do. And in the big picture of this thing called my life, doing what’s right is the most important thing of all – even if it isn’t easy.