2010 marks the start to a new paradigm for mothers. Whether you run a business or not, the age of work ’til you drop is over.

I experimented with many work styles in 2009 and realized that how much I accomplished had very little to do with how many hours I worked. We’ve all heard that it’s better to work smart than just hard- it’s time to put that into action.

Let me tell you a little about how I used to approach work: I’d haphazardly jump into my email inbox and put out small fires one by one with no clear direct or intention for the day. I’d tackle whatever issue screamed the loudest without making list and identifying my clear priorities. I didn’t make start and stop times for work. One of my mentors, Chellie Campbell whose workshop Financial Stress Reduction transformed me into a business owner who was pulling in a deficit every month to where I am now (this will be my first six-figure quarter) once told me, “Your work will expand into however much time you’re willing to give it,” and that’s what was happening.

I was literally working all night long. I’d sleep for a few hours and then jumped in again to another crazy day of working & mothering.

By the end of 2009 I realized that while I was getting it all done; my family was happy, my clients were happy, I was getting worn out. I had little to no time for friends but fooled myself into being proud of that (“Oh look how busy and productive I am!”). Our bodies need sleep even if our minds are stimulated. Our relationships need attention. Our spirits need time to meditate. Our souls need to have fun.

There is a difference between a business owner and a slave who is in possession of a job. I’ve resolved in 2010 to be committed to brilliance, excellence, and balance.

Brilliance: All of us have unique gifts. Our calling and talents serve the world. I have a responsibility to make sure I’m using them efficiently.

Excellence: This means doing what I say I’m going to do and doing it well. This isn’t about perfection, per se, it’s about having high standard for my work and behavior.

Balance: Being a wife and mother means that I have to take care of myself. So many women die every year from heart problems due to years of unchecked stress. Yes, it’s possible to get it all done (I know, I’ve done it) but do you really want to? We need to have periods of intense work, family time, and time to just be still for reflection and meditation. I’ve found that the key to balance is being willing to ask and accept help, create systems, and set limits. More on that next time.

I love my life, family, and the companies that I’m so privileged to serve. My hope for all of you mom entrepreneurs out there, whether you run a single blog or a multinational corporation is that you keep your days inspired and intentions clear.

Tweet This Post

This year has been a huge and happy one for my family. We moved somewhere we really wanted to be, welcomed a second child, and learned the value of being intentional in all areas of life.

Intents are powerful. When every action is the result of an outcome that is chosen in advance, even the most mundane of moments become a mini paradise.

Sitting down to play puzzles isn’t just sitting down to play puzzles, it’s part of my intent to be an involved, loving, teaching parent who can relax and 100% engage with my 3 year-old. Doing dishes isn’t just doing dishes: it’s an act of love and part of my intent to keep my home a serene space.

I’ve been reading The Power of Less by Leo Babauta. He’s a father of six (yes six) children who is best known for his website Zen Habits. Leo is the go-to man for anyone interested in living a simpler, clearer lifestyle.

One part of the book that resonated with me was the chapter wherein he discussed stuff. Moving to Montreal, Canada has been a dream of both my husband and mine since 2005 and one aspect of the move that thrilled me was the opportunity to get rid of lots of our stuff. Stuff, when accumulated, takes on a life of its own. It bursts out of closets, crams kitchen cabinets, fills up every inch of garages and even spills into off-site storage centers. Ugh!

In his book, Leo mentioned the idea of having limits, an actual number, for how many pieces of stuff, one can have in their home. I immediately fell in love with the concept.

All of us with kids know how fast their toys, books, and clothes add up. Toys they never play with and clothes they’ve grown out of or can’t even wear yet.

I recently introduced my 3 year-old to the concept of limiting her things and was amazed at how easily she took to the concept. No crying, no upset, just “Oh, yeah I want to keep that, no let’s give that to the friends (kids who we’re giving the excess to).” She now has 10 toys and 10 DVDs. In terms of art supplies, it’s whatever can fit comfortably in her art box (it’s made up of smaller boxes that contain different items such as crayons, little multi-colored pom poms, colored popsicle sticks, etc. She can have however many books fit nicely into her bookshelf. No stacking books on top of each other or packing them in so tightly that they’re hard to take out and read.

In case you’re wondering what we’re doing during the gift giving season, we have a system: for every toy that comes in, one goes out. To watch my daughter think critically and make decisions as to what really matters to her excites me. It’s a skill she’ll carry with her forever. Not only will it encourage us not take part in mindless spending, it’ll encourage extended family and friends to think twice before buying her a gift and choose in favor of experiences such as a trip to a movie or the Biodome.

Every decision we make is actually two decisions. We say “yes” to one thing and “no” to another. The problem is many of us see only one of the choices. When we say yes to a shopping cart of things for the home we don’t really need or want, we say no to peace and serenity. When mothers say “yes” to an obligation they don’t really want to take on and don’t have the emotional or physical space to give away, they say no to making empowered, responsible choices.

Over the next few days we’ll be going through our home and taking stock and applying limits to how much we want to fill our space with. 10 seems to be a good number.

It’s wise to be careful and intentional with what we put into our lives. Is every one of your friends one that you cherish and respect, or do some need to be politely phased out for the effect they have on you? Do you love each and every one of your fabulously paying clients? Are your days filled with joy and service? Examine and ruthlessly throw out the junk. Let there be downtime, space, and silence. You’ll like it.

Tweet This Post

The other day I received a package from Tamara of The Spoiled Mama. The San Francisco entrepreneur mom started the popular line of lotions, potions, scrubs and more to pamper mom & baby like they’ve never been pampered before.

The first thing I noticed about The Spoiled Mama was the packaging. The spoiling starts right away apparently! Simply gorgeous. No need to worry about ordering this is a gift first and then wrapping. Just send it right to the mama you want spoiled.

I’ve never been one known for my patience and immediately ripped open the box to find pieces from The Pregnancy Collection. The Sugar Scrub, made with all natural ingredients, smelled so delicious that I wanted to taste it. So I did. Honestly, I could have eaten it on toast, it tasted like Nutella’s crunchy cousin.

The Tummy Butter is so thick and luxurious, not at all greasy. I’ve been using it on my spoiled toddler after her bath. Just one of the many ways I say “I love you” to my diva of a 2-year old.

The Extreme Mama Cream forever has a place in my purse. I love it. No generic chemical laden lotion for these hard working hands.

Now, I’ve saved something super cool for last. I LOVE oils. Especially during the winter. This one gets bonus points because it promises to reduce or prevent stretch marks! The Bump Gloss Stretch Mark oil gets two manicured thumbs up for being yummy smelling and feeling SO good on the skin.

Thank you Tamara for creating such an amazing line for moms! Only another mom could have done it. I’m meeting up with Tam (that’s my nickname because we’re so close now. bonded over my love of things that pamper me…) in San Francisco in a couple of weeks. I’ll report back with what she’s working on next!

xo One Crazy Mother

PS. She has boxed set specials starting at $23 bucks so get out there. Do something special for yourself.

Tweet This Post