After eight months living the corporate life, I took the bull by the horns and went back to my own business again. That was the end of November, 2005. So, when "On the Job" editor Pamela Hamilton asked about goals for 2006, I had to stop and think. My goal was simple - yet vague: "Make It Work".
Financially, it's certainly a hard decision. It means "good-bye" to regular paychecks and "hello" to living off of savings sometimes. Emotionally, it's a mixed bag. I miss the day to day life an office brings me - the routine, the people, the stability. But I feel a little lighter in spirit office-ing from the house, as I know I'm not stuck running my day-to-day life by someone else's schedule. I like being able to work on All Things Girl at 10 AM and client-related designs at 8 PM.
The biggest influence on my determination to make my own business successful - The improvement in school performance of my youngest daughter. See, I want to reach that broad goal to "Make it Work" because when I look at that balance between work and home, I know I need to swing the pendulum more towards the home side. My daughters are at a time in their life when they need me around a little more.
I'm not sure exactly how my goal is going to be reached, but I'm taking baby steps each day to make it happen. And doing the "best" I can is all I can ask of myself...