The MOTHER of Re-Invention
I’ve been in a crisis…a series, actually. It’s not that I’m offering excuses, but in effect I am.
For months, my life has been a whirlwind of clients, traveling, networking, workshops and speaking engagements. It’s been non-stop. Don’t get me wrong, the ride has been great. However, due to recent events, the ride has become the equivalent of a merry-go-round run by a crazy “carnie” who won’t let you off. (If you’ve been to a fair in Chalmette, LA then you’ll understand where I’m coming from!)
That’s the point where I’m at…I’m dizzy, nauseated and OVER the ride. THIS particular ride, that is.
Somehow over this past year and a half, I’ve become someone I don’t recognize. It’s forced. Un-natural. EXHAUSTING! In all this effort to find a niche, a market…I forgot about what brought me here in the first place. The “WHY” I became a work-at-home/stay-at-home mom. The stress of it all has effected my health physically, emotionally and spiritually.
A few months back my body decided to get off the ride. My fibromyalgia and lupus flared to the point that one morning I woke up and had lost function in my left arm. (I’m left-handed people!!!) Seriously? I couldn’t FAKE being fine with one arm. And slowly the realization came that my body was manifesting what my mind had known all along. I couldn’t keep up the pace with a life that I did not want. Our bodies are intuitive like that.
So, I’ve been on hiatus. I’ve had to tell the over-achiever in me to “Shut UP!”. I’ve been forced to say no to many things. It’s been hard and easy at the same time. And you know what? I’ve never been more content with any other decision. Because. I. Matter!
This past week, my Dad has been critically ill while hospitalized at the VA. (Another issue to tackle at a later date.) It’s made this whole re-invention crisis seem rather small in the face of what matters most. Family.
So, here I go again. Deciding what to be now that I’m all grown up. THIS time, I’m putting first things first and doing it all on MY terms. Reminding myself as often as necessary WHY and WHO I’m doing this for. Regardless of where the road takes me, I hope you’ll come along for the ride. (And I promise, you can get off any time that you like.) It’s bound to be hard, scary and crazy–but that’s me…the MOTHER of re-invention.
***Here’s my WHY***
GIVE…Like a Rock Star??
I had to bring you this heart-warming story about two people making a DIFFERENCE right now in the world…two 9 y.o. girls! Yep, 9 year old BFF’s. (That’s Best Friends Forever for those not up on the latest lingo!)
A friend of mine, Aly Calvo (follow her on Twitter @alyandandrea) is doing her part by raising her daughter right–how? By teaching her to live an OTHERS FOCUSED life–and her daughter is spreading the message.
It all started last year, when her daughter Mady and BFF Gabby decided to do something different. Instead of getting gifts for their 8th birthday, the girls wanted to GIVE a gift. That gift was to grand a WISH for a child courtesy of the Make A Wish foundation. The price tag? $5,000.
So, in true ROCK STAR fashion, and with a little help from their moms, the girls got to work–they even had their own website! And after all was said and done, they raised $5006 and granted Christopher his WISH of a lifetime–to meet Stephen Spielberg. But the story doesn’t end there…
The girls desired to continue their “Wish Granting” on an annual basis–and so here we are again. This month, the girls turned 9 and they’re on a mission to TOP last year’s donation. They are raising $6,000 to grant yet another wish. And in true ROCK STAR fashion, they’re Tweeting and on FB too! I want to help and know that you do too!
Any amount is welcomed. Forwarding this post, TWEETING this post, SHARING on FB (Remember to become a FAN!) –all is welcomed.
May we call endeavor to lead the future of our world in a spirit of love and giving…like ROCK STARS! 
(Here’s the video from the Fox Houston 26 News Interview…)
Are YOU In The End Zone??
Ok…I admit it. I’m a sucker for a good movie–especially if it involves football. For those of us raised in the South, football is somewhat of a religion! Let me preface this clip with a bit of background for you NON-football fans (YIKES!) out there!
If you’ve never heard of the “death crawl”, let me enlighten you. It’s one of the TOUGHEST drills dreaded by linemen everywhere! Players must “crawl” on all fours, butt in the air, no knees on the ground while carrying another player on their backs! Needless to say, it is difficult and most don’t make it very far.
This clip is an inspiring account of how much one can accomplish when all we focus on is giving the best of what we have inside.
Have you reached inside to get to YOUR ‘End Zone’ today???
Is there a ROCK STAR in You?
Some dear friends of mine, Aly Calvo and Andrea Kulberg, featured me recently on their blog Rock Star U. I am honored to have been chosen as a ROCK STAR and feel so blessed to have women like these in my circle of influence.
Because I am committed to their mission “to touch a gazillion lives and make a difference in each definition of personal success”, I wanted to invite you to read THEIR story in their own words. Read more
The Multitasking Myth
There’s a television show called Myth Busters where a team of scientists take commonly held myths and determine if they can be BUSTED–or proven false. Recently, I had a little case of my own.
A friend of mine, Steve Scott, shared a powerful message at a networking meeting a few weeks ago and I wanted to share it and the impact it has had on me in hopes that it may do the same for you.
For years, I’ve lived with a fallacy that multitasking means that one is highly productive because of the ability to perform many things at once. If the truth be told, I’ve also held the belief that women are innately superior in this area. Let me see if any of this sounds familiar to you… Read more
The Power of ONE…
There’s something to be said for getting outside of your COMFORT ZONE! For the past 4 years, I’ve used my computer as a way to almost “hide” myself from the outside world. If truth be told, I have a huge fear of networking face to face. I decided that I wanted to get past this fear–not only to grow my business, but to grow as a person.
So, last week I joined a Women in Business organization here locally in Texas to meet other local business owners and network. TOOT TOOT!!! I was SO proud of myself. I was able to easily converse with each that I met and I exchanged business cards with everyone I came in contact with. More importantly, I was finally able to “see” myself as they see me–a business woman! No more thoughts of not being good enough or hiding behind my laptop. This is the start of something GREAT…I can feel it.
WHY settle for "Just Over Broke"????
I responded to another post last week where a fellow business owner wanted to know why so many want to just have a “job” and be someone’s employee. Better yet, they want to be someone’s “employee” from HOME! Very few are able to accomplish this goal. That’s just the truth. If it were EASY to find an at-home-job, don’t you think that MOST people would do it??
We, especially women, are raised to be BROKE! Think about it–we’re taught get an education, get a JOB, participate in the 401k so that when you “retire” you’ll have extra money to live on. We PLAN to be broke. Does that make sense to you??? It didn’t to ME!!!
Don’t get me wrong. I totally value the education I gained in order to be a nurse. However, I didn’t get stuck in the mindset that working for someone else was the only way to have security. Just talk to a nurse manager who’s been “downsized” for a new grad who’ll work for LONGER hours at HALF the pay! This happens in ALL types of professions.
It IS frustrating to those of us who CHOOSE to be EXTRAORDINARY (and this is a conscious choice!) to deal with those who are happier than pigs in you-know-what just to be working for the “man”. We can’t understand why so many settle for mediocrity. You can avoid this frustration by following this advice: surround yourself with like-minded individuals. If you’re job seeking, find someone who has the type of “job” that you want. If you want MORE than a “job” can offer, consider ALL your business options.
Ask yourself this: Who are your CLOSEST 5 friends and how much INCOME do they earn??? What kind of lifestyle do they lead?? This will allow you to glimpse where you’re headed. Doubt me? Ask yourself how many “broke” friends does a “rich” WOMAN have??? 0…otherwise she won’t stay rich for long.
Here is my personal case study. When I started my OWN business 3 1/2 years ago, I can tell you that MANY of our friends and family voiced their opinions on the matter. I heard it all–especially because I had FAILED 4 times before. However, FAILURE is critical to SUCCESS. Not many people understand that. How can you know what to do right if you haven’t tried it wrong???
Anyway, these family members and friends ALL lived paycheck to paycheck. They had NO dreams–NO vision. I didn’t let THEIR lack of support stop me. I DUG in and WORKED like there was no tomorrow. I sacrificed and my family made sacrifices as well. I surrounded myself with those who were “Getting it DONE!”…not the one’s who WISHED they were. I had MANY mentors…not all were part of my team or industry even. We can learn from many and I certainly did.
And you know what??? By the end of the FIRST year I had out earned everyone who we were associated with–even our most EDUCATED friends. I had a NEW vehicle PAID FOR by the company as a reward for my work and I was just getting started!
You may say, “WOW! You worked for a YEAR to reach you goal?” or “But I want it ALL and I want it NOW and I want it to be EASY and I want it to be FREE!!!”
But, if you do NOTHING today your TOMORROW will NEVER change!
Fast forward to now— 3 1/2 years of effort total (less time than most spend in college getting a degree) and I’m on the verge of a SOLID 6 FIGURE income. I have a 2nd NEW vehicle sitting in the drive way paid for by the company I partnered with.
There is no more “paycheck to paycheck”, dodging bill collectors or repo men for me. The BEST part is the FREEDOM to choose how to spend each day and the FREEDOM to CHOOSE who I work with.
Where are all the naysayers???? STILL in paycheck to paycheck HELL!
Hopefully you see my point.
Not ALL individuals are cut out to be entrepreneurs. Some are completely content letting someone else call the shots. Some expect LIFE and SUCCESS to be EASY! There is no such thing! Long-term success IS hard work–that’s why it is called WORK.You won’t find me wasting my time trying to CONVINCE someone that they can DO this–because the TRUTH is they can’t…not if I had to convince them! WHY??? Because SUCCESS is a matter of CHOICE, not a matter of CHANCE!
Some of you moms reading this may AGREE with me. You may be screaming at your computer screen “RIGHT ON SISTAH!!!” and wonder, “What now?”
Find your passion, CHOOSE to become EXTRAORDINARY, SHUT up, STOP whining and GET TO WORK on reaching your goals! Then and ONLY then, will you find that you will spend the majority of your time letting others convince YOU that they are right for YOUR team.
Thanks for letting me share!
Edie–WAHM of 2
