Managing The Hell Out Of Life – Part 3

I don’t want to spend the precious time I have: Compromising my values to hit a sales target, to earn a bonus to buy stuff I really don’t need anyway. Hiding in toilets and cat napping because I’m so brain dead and uninspired by the job I have to do – which I did in order to cope with a temping job I had whilst at University. I lasted 8 days and then went back to bar work, far more fun and interactive. Waking the in the middle of the night completely stressed out because I do not think I can find the answer and neither can I cope with how that affects people’s view of me. Hating Sunday nights because they lead to Monday mornings.

Instead, I am going to spend my time:

• Focusing on what I do have not what I do not have.
• Following what makes my ‘heart sing’, engages my mind and soul and trust that it will lead to value for others and me.
• Freely and willingly giving what is required and fits with my values without a target or expectation of a return.

Taking each day as it comes, living it, not wishing it away and seeing where I end up. Let’s re-define work and start living a life.

I don’t want to do traditional business networking anymore. I cannot face delivering an ‘elevator pitch’. I don’t have one anyway. I cannot bear the thought of being defined only by what I do. And I do not have the energy to pretend to be ‘ok’ every day.

But……

I love being with people, I love laughing and making them smile. I love the intellectual engagement of learning and solving problems. I am genuinely interested in people – not their professional CV but their real story. I get a real buzz when I can help someone or inspire them to believe in themselves, to step out and be themselves.

So, no more traditional business networking for me. Let’s just talk – get to know one another and see where it takes us. Social media has given us a real opportunity to do that. Post genuine content that reflects who you are and what you care about. Stop worrying about what people will think of you – they probably won’t think anything because if it’s not genuine content or their ‘thing’ they won’t read your post anyway! Read the content posted by your connections, have conversations with them, chat via video and in person. Follow the threads, do something different and see where it takes you.

I talk a lot about taking all of ourselves to work – to show up and own up. I think it is so important to be ourselves, to be honest, to share our vulnerabilities and connect with people, particularly in our professional lives, on a truthful and transparent basis. But what does this mean in reality?

For me it means I can offer:

• A love of being with people
• A desire to be intellectually stimulated and therefore curious and creative
• An ability to solve complex business problems – preferably with a diagram!
• A passion to help and inspire people
• A massive fun-loving streak

But I do come with some limitations.

I am experiencing a fairly severe menopause so I can have days when I am physically exhausted and very emotional – I am constantly forgetful and can struggle to remember words and names.

I suffer from depression. It’s always there, just below the surface and as a consequence I have to be incredibly mindful of how much I take on and the level of stress I am able to cope with.

I have 3 young children and I am their main carer and home-maker as my husband frequently works away. They are my priority. Therefore my availability is limited and I can only travel infrequently.

This is me showing up and owning up.