time for 'New Year' goals...

At this time of year I like to think and reflect - and start the year with 'new goals' and a re-freshened focus... Today I started to write down some of my (business) goals - and I must admit already I am confused...



Or more so, already I can see that perhaps the goals aren't right for me!? Just a page of planning the directions and ideas I have for A Little Creative - and already I can see that it seems too much!

I'm lucky I guess to have lots of good ideas, and to have built a business that has so much potential... but what I have learnt more than anything the past couple of years is that my business thinking and actions must come secondary to my family life - and in particular, looking after myself must rank higher than it ever has before.

I love my business. I love what I have achieved so far... but I am in a bit of a quandary... rethinking really: what is the point of it all?

Part of it is to be ME. To exercise my creative mind and my intellect.. to try to prove that I can make money my way, doing the things that I enjoy... But the reality is that a focus on MONEY so often doesn't make sense or blurs the true focus of my creative goals...



It's not that I want to 'give up' on my goals... But if I learn anything from last year - it is that I really do have to change. I have to DO LESS... to pull back a heck of a lot.. so I am left with my list of 'business priorities/product ideas' and the realisation that I really can't do it all - and I need to now CHOOSE which part(s) to focus on... But I don't know what to choose!?

I can see which bits are the most "commercial" - which could lead to a better income in a more straight-forward way... but I don't know if I want to choose them..? - sounds dumb I know.. But I guess it comes down to the whole "meaning of life" stuff.

There is stuff that I want to do that has absolutely nothing at all to do with money! In fact I HATE the way our society is.. I hate mass-consumerism, and just so much about how our society functions..

The core values behind my business are: education, and wanting to encourage, inspire and enable others (and myself!) to be more creative... Yet, you turn it into a business - and the focus so quickly seems to be all about money.

Hmmm... I guess my instinct is telling me just to choose whatever the hell I want to do that is essentially the FUN stuff, and the personal-challenge items. Just to look at my list and choose what I want to do most. Some items I may drop completely.. others I will plod along with... But I think I just need a bit of time to be a bit more aimless.... less driven... to have no significant deadlines or goals - to hopefully enable me to breathe more.. To be ME. The me who is a mum, who is a creative person and an entrepreneurial person.. but doesn't have much time.. and doesn't have all the answers!

So I guess I'm saying that my real GOALS for this year are to be more FREE. To focus more on living, enjoying life, and being creative - rather than 'running a business'.

Creatively I am READY and looking forward to illustrating some children's books that I have recently written. That has always been a goal and a dream of mine.. and I can tell that the time for that has now come!

I also want to just 'play' more and let my creative juices flow... Business-wise I guess I will translate that into being more interesting blog-posts on my website - a way to encourage and inspire others...

My business is all about inspiring others to be creative... and recently my own creativity has been quite stifled and limited. I just need to make, paint, sketch, design - without there being a specific 'purpose'... My values in life are very much about stepping away from the mass-consumerist society that we live in - so I want to LIVE my life much more in that direction by just making everyday things that are useful, pleasurable, practical and enjoyable.. Which means using quie a range of mediums and materials: making gifts, making clothes, creating as a hobby, cooking more, recycling, etc. etc.

Yep. I just want to live from day to day and enjoy it all. A Little Creative will still exist and grow - but I am changing the focus a LOT: the spotlight is no longer on IT, it is now more on me, family and life in general.. - Whatever that means! xoxoxo

a very MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

Oh we have had an absolutely wonderful Christmas - so I thought I'd share some pics and the events of our day...

Thanks to the time that the sun starts to rise here in Queensland, our kids are always quite early risers... they both awoke before 5am - and I tried to keep them quiet and convince them that an extra hour's sleep was needed - but Curtis knew it was Christmas and just had to look downstairs to see if Santa had been... It was SO cute to see him shake with excitement when he saw the half-chomped carrots outside that had been left for the reindeer. He then raced to the table to see if Santa had eaten his cookies and milk and was so excited to see this - he ran straight past all the pressies without even noticing! - Tilly of course noticed the pressies and right on 5am they both started opening them up!

Once the pressies were ripped open - they wanted to get straight into painting the drum and recorder they had got... I don't think it is the best idea to play the drum with wet-paint on it - but Curtis enjoyed it!

Tilly continued her painting onto some pine-cones...

Finally grandparents arrived for a cooked breakfast and more gift-giving.. Ben was already the victim of the zinc-cream, but enjoyed opening his gifts..

Then for some 'quiet' time - where we could play with the new pressies and lie around a bit...

 I took the chance to do more stitching on my place mats which were to be a gift for my mum.

Tilly enjoyed doing more of the creative things making plasticine flowers:

Finally we got dressed and out of the house for a dip at the local beach, then back home for a rest. Before heading around to my parents place for more family pressies and our evening Christmas dinner. But first the annual Christmas race on the lake was on and Ben headed out with both Tilly and Curtis on the kayak with him...

The rest of us sat and watched...

Ben kept them in the middle of the pack - and fortunately did not lose a child overboard, and Tilly was delighted to win the 'best costume' of the race in her red swimmers, safety jacket, antler ears and mask!

Finally the long awaited dinner arrived - it wasn't long until we were all full, and putting away the left over for Boxing day... It couldn't have been a better day!

Boxing Day arrived with blue skies and fortunately a little bit of a sleep-in from kids who had had a late night and very eventful day... A slow morning at home just playing with toys, reading books, watching a show... then off to the beach at Happy Valley to meet up with friends and have a swim..

In the afternoon the kids went to the new water-park with David, Becci and Pop giving Ben and I couple of hours free - in which Ben set about repairing his surfboard in anticipation of better surf conditions due in the next few days...

We enjoyed eating lollies, choccies and left-overs all day - and I am sure I'm doing a good job of putting back on the kilos I lost when I was sick..

Another great day - and we still can't get over how happy we are living up here on the beautiful Sunshine Coast!

Looking forward to 2014

I have so lost track of time...

Someone reminded me this morning that Christmas day is next week. WHAT!?? Next week!??? - I honestly thought there was another whole week up my sleeve.. But no. Today is the 16th of Dec and in 9 days the fat man will have already left all his pressies under the tree.. (which means I'd better bloody pull my finger out!)

I have a good reason to be 'out of sorts'. As I've probably said in my last few posts I have been quite unwell and run down. Lately I have just been kept super busy with lots of dr and specialists appointments and tests etc.

This morning I went to hospital (day surgery) and had an iron infusion - yay! Quite looking forward to getting the benefits of that with extra energy soon - though supposedly it takes a few weeks for the iron to be converted properly in the blood.

Also recently I've had a thyroid ultrasound which revealed a lump... I then had to have a biopsy on said lump.. and I have to leave in a moment to go to my Dr to get the results.. I must admit I am a little bit freaked out - as I rang the Dr suregery earlier on to check that those results were in or not, and the receptionist took a while to check.. and then finally said 'Yes' they are in.. and 'The Dr wanted to discuss some of the results with me" - SHIT!

Anyway.. time to go now... If it's bad news, I'll surely let you know about it. If it's good - I'll probably be too busy stressing out about Christmas to get a chance to write here soon xoxo

Need to find some new 'speed' or 'mode' settings...

Generally I only know two speeds: 'flat-out' doing everything at once (and generally way too much); or 'collapse' - when it all gets too hard, I get exhausted and I fall in a heap.

Neither is very healthy, I know.

Today I am in 'collapse' mode.

I just read my last post - and it is completely right! - I have to change, I need to change and I actually am starting to change my perspective on everything.. for the better. But just 'thinking' in a different way, although it is the necessary first step, doesn't follow-on naturally that I am then able to behave easily in a way to suit my new thinking.

Yep. My perspective on my life, my work (and that elusive 'balance' of both) is changing... but now it's obvious that I need to somehow create 'new habits' for myself as the old ones don't fit!!

Right now - (having stepped away from 'doing too much' and putting pressure on myself about all the business things that I could, should, would normally try to do) - I am at a bit of a loss - because I have been used to operating at just two crazy speeds.

Naturally I tend to think: "Oh my gawd. I just can't do it. My business is going to all collapse, because I just don't feel like doing anything (I need a break)." I have been feeling teary...

But it's not the end. It's just a change.. and I need to get used to doing things differently...

I guess I need to add speeds such as:
- slowly getting there
- currently resting
- looking after me
- family time
- not today
etc.

It's okay Lindy... it's just a change. And big 'pat on the back' for me for making healthier changes!!! xo

Expectations of myself as a MUM...

I have struggled since DAY ONE (nearly 5 and a half years ago now) at being a mum. Don't get me wrong, I have always been a pretty darn good one I reckon - but there was something in my head that just hadn't figured it out.. hadn't realised that being a Mum comes first above everything else... that I will never, ever step away from it. That I must completely and utterly surrender to it - and learn to figure out everything else around it.

Being a MUM means being the support-team for your whole family. Everyday. In every way. If I don't do that 'job' of being the support person.. then everything pretty much falls apart!

I get it that the 'pit-crew' for a successful car-racing team are just as important, if not more important than the actually driver.

When I became a mum - I essentially became the pit-crew... and I guess my husband is the driver... but I have never really been able to accept it. (I'm an AWFUL passenger-seat driver!!)

I was talking to my friend the other day, having a heart-to-heart about how I feel - and we were both very much on the same page as we are both creative people struggling with our creative businesses and juggling that with the demands of motherhood.

I realized that in my head there is "ME" and there is "me as a MUM" and that the two roles didn't really sit well together... I saw them separately somewhat - or at least with some sort of major struggle between the two.

Perhaps it is just today.. perhaps I will forget it all tomorrow.. But I do feel as though I am finally seeing things differently for the first time - the way I 'should' see them perhaps.

My parents have always told me: "Being a mum is a full-time job" - and I have brushed the comment off... I have wanted to deny it... I have wanted to be "Independent Me" who could still work, and have my own unique identity that is separate from me being a mum.

Yes I have my business that I have struggled and worked so hard for... But I feel that I can now "let go" of wanting to control that so much, of wanting that to define me.. I feel like I can let it exist in the position that it needs to exist - and that is BELOW my role as a mum, and not linked so much to my own identity... just more as what I choose to do, what I am doing, and what I am slowly growing - at the pace that I can manage it around my family commitments.

I don't want to struggle so much anymore.

I want to look after myself. I want to be happy. I want to be a loving and fun mum, and even (GROAN) someone who keeps the household in order and cleans up, prepares meals, runs around doing chores and errands and doing all the things that a mum does to keep everything together and functioning for my family.

Yes, there are a zillion and one different definitions of what it is to be a mother.. And a working mum is no less a mum than one who stays at home full-time. But just for me - I think I have been fighting with it all for too long. I haven't been being the mum I am supposed to be... I've been trying to do too much - and at the end of the day I have been suffering hugely.

I am lucky that my husband earns enough money to support the family... I am unlucky that he has MS and thus the future of his health is hugely questionable... But right now, I am going to stop trying to burn the candle at both ends... I am going to ease up on myself - and be a fun and happy mum who does what she can - and gives herself time to enjoy life too!

I was working too hard - working myself into the ground, and it was just horrible! Time to ease up on myself. Be kinder to me, and to let the too high-expectations just completely go: Goodbye!

Thinking too much....???

Ha ha! I couldn't even think about what to call this blog post... I have had several different titles swimming in my head, as I went for a walk and starting thinking about everything...

The reality I am not in a good place at the moment health-wise :(

I am anaemic with very low iron levels... but my biggest problem is not sleeping well...

I am going to do all that I can to change it... One thing I plan to do too - is go see my last psychologist (who I think is awesome!)... because although I think what has got me to this point of insomnia is quite a 'combo-package' of all sorts of things out of whack... definitely there are things on my mind (that are always on my mind) that I could benefit from talking about more....

Here's a brief list (gawd help me!):
- there is NEVER enough friggin time in the day!!!!! - ever since I have become a mum, I have been driving myself bonkers with just trying to do everything. The 'stuff' you have to do: housework etc. is boring and brain numbing... and then spending time with husband and kids and having fun, then my work... and now adding looking after-myself to the list.... I just can't figure out how to do it all!???
- My work - is that the problem??? - So yeah, I run my own business A Little Creative.. I have worked so darn hard on it.. I still am, and it consumes so much of my thoughts and my energy. It seems obvious that this is the one thing that can easily be 'blamed' for getting me out of balance... but the thought of stopping it is out of the question as it means so much to me...
- So obviously I need to SLOW DOWN, try to do less, not take so much on..... but I just don't really even know how. Let's face it, i am not good at it.. It is my pattern..
- With my business I need to PRIORITISE more: I have been trying to do way too much, I have been slowly pushing and dragging everything into 3 main directions... but it is very hard for me to figure out what to let go of, how to FOCUS and keep it all going in the smartest possible way.
- I put too much pressure on myself / my expectations are too high... er duh!
- I keep having NEW IDEAS!!! - yep... that's the real doozie problem, my mind is full of fabulous ideas (okay maybe not ALL of them - but a high percentage) - way more than i can physically do... I have lots of trouble sorting through them all and keeping on track..
- I am worried that I am not 'letting go' of some of my older ideas - the initial foundations of my business - when maybe the new ideas are 'smarter' but I'm not getting to do them because i am still doing everything else...
- Apart from business, there is Ben... Ben has MS - probably I have not properly dealt with my feelings about that... I know that his MS fuels me to push myself harder and try to make my business more successful sooner... That, and also wanting to 'help' Ben by taking over the financial reins - if not because of his illness, just so that I am releasing him from the burden of being the bread-winner.

Hmmmm, have I run out 'problems' already!?? That's good... I thought I would be able to go on for ages....

So really the biggest problems are all to do with my work, and just figuring out how to take things easier, be patient and focussed... and I just need to change my perspective on a few things quite a bit.

If I could just get a good night's sleep on a regular basis - then it would all probably seem a lot clearer...

Lately though I am stressing because I am not sleeping well, and it is making everything harder.. and I feel as though it is all my own fault!

I guess it's just a stormy patch I'm travelling through... and I just need to keep sailing... xo

Oh what a night...

So, the reality is I am getting older...

I have just had my 38th birthday, which also coincided with it being 20 years since finishing high-school!

A Facebook group was formed at the start of the year, and a 20 year reunion was planned for Saturday October 26th at the Royal in Mornington.

A couple of months leading up to the reunion it was quite up in the air whether I would attend or not.. I had definitely wanted to, and had already purchased a ticket... but with plans to sign up for a shop lease I was going to have to give it a miss I thought..

When the shop didn't go ahead, we then thought the whole family could travel down for a week or so break to catch up with family and friends... but it ended up that Ben's parents have bought a house in Maleny and were headed up here at the exact same time.

In the end - I travelled down to Melbourne on my own - arriving there on Thurs 24th Oct, and heading back home on Monday 28th.

ON MY OWN!!!

Wow - the reality of that was way more exciting than the whole reunion thing! - The prospect of having four whole nights to sleep on my own, to be able to pack just my own bags and not a kazillion other things for everyone else... the thought of enjoying some time to myself on the aeroplane, ready a magazine and enjoying a drink - instead of having to be action-packed ready to please and comfort a young child whose needs always come before my own... Yep, just the THOUGHT of it all was pure bliss!

But, sadly, as often can happen - the reality of my trip was not quite as I had planned and hoped... I was utterly exhausted and a bit frazzled and disorganized as I left - having not had enough time to properly organise work things as I had hoped, and as usual I was packing my things at the last minute.. I of course felt anxious about how my kids would be without me - if Curtis would really perform and be a nightmare for Ben... if Ben would be able to cope alright (and not injure the kids!) when left on his own with them for a few days. Also I had an infected toe - which just seemed to get even worse when I was away so that on Friday morning (my birthday) in melbourne instead of heading out into the city and wandering the galleries and cafes and shops as i had hoped, I had to instead go visit a doctor and go to the pharmacy... and hobble around everywhere I went. :(

Oh well. I am used to things not quite going to plan. The good news is that it was absolutely amazing to escape my normal life and just enjoy a few days to myself!!!! Of course I LOVE my kids, my family, my life... but jeepers, to just be ME for a few days is so awesome, and I definitely have to do it again!

As usual I was running myself into the ground in my normal life... I don't quite know why I am such a 'high-achiever' - or more so: so HARD on myself... and although I seem to be aware of my faults, I find it really hard to change my habits. Leading up to this trip I was quite utterly shattered.. I have been having trouble sleeping for months - existing predominantly on a bout 3-4 hours of broken sleep per night, and somehow just functioning on pure adrenalin I reckon. I went to the doctor again to get bloods taken as I was sure that there was something not right with me, and it turns out that my iron levels have plummeted and I am very anaemic again (almost another 20 year reunion of that!... it's actually 21 years since I was severely ill with anaemia the first time).

So despite all my ailments - I caught up with lots of my friends, stayed with different ones each night - and enjoyed a night in a hotel on my own for the reunion night. I got to sleep in, pamper myself a bit, get dressed up - and have a rare night out.. I though it would be fun, and actually the night did quite exceed my expectations!!

It was a busy, loud and full-on evening - such a blast from the past, so many people to talk to... and it was just plain strange to be out on a rare night out and surrounded with everyone from high-school.

Here's a few pics of me from the night:

with Michael Liddell - who used to go on my school-bus with me...

with Tom Saunders - yeah, don't really need a reunion to catch up seeing though he's now my brother-in-law!

with Marisa who flew out from America for the reunion - yay!!

with Sarah, Isa and Travis...

and finally with Sarah! mwah!!

Even though I came home utterly exhausted, the trip away was the best thing for me. It was exactly what I needed to step out of my normal life and routines and be able to have time to think, sleep a bit more, and return with a new perspective.

I will be starting on fortnightly iron injections this week, and I am currently taking sleeping tablets each night - just so that i can friggin get some much needed sleep.

I think I have changed... I know I just have to do less. Being a mum is just so full-on and I was just trying to do way too much. I've been pushing my business too hard - in the hope that I can earn money quicker and either protect me and my family form the worst-case scenario of Ben having a bad MS attack and being unable to work... or hopefully be able to 'liberate' him from having to work in a job that he is not completely happy with... but meanwhile, i have just been running myself into the ground which is not good for anybody.

I can see all the positives. I can believe in myself and my business and my ideas and my plans.. I can just choose to adjust the pace: live life more at a 'leisurely stroll' pace rather than running like a lunatic in a mad panic.

Yep. I feel a LOT happier.. let's hope I can stick with my newest realizations... and continue forward as a much more sane mummy... xo

The Roller-Coaster Ride...

Nothing could be truer than saying that running your own business is quite an emotional roller-coaster!!

Term 4 has started, and this is my usual first week of running no classes yet trying to catch-up with all the work and communications and planning and schedules and a kazillion other things that need to be done for my business... that I would have liked to have got done over the holidays - but had buckley's chance of course...

Yesterday I sorted out my class-lists (there had been a few drop-outs over the holidays, and a few new customers added) and got the new term details email out.. then awoke to 5 more drop-outs in my inbox when I awoke this morning..

That put me in a bad mood!

It is just SO hard to not take things personally when it is your business!!

Intellectually I know that I am on track... I am steering my business to launch in areas that have nothing to do with the classes as I am pretty sure that that will be an easier and more financially rewarding path... So I shouldn't care too much about my class sizes... it is NORMAL to gain some and lose some.. and I should be happy that the overall trend of my business is positive and I am growing with more customers, more classes, more teachers etc.

But always it is friggin hard - and it is hard to push your emotions aside sometimes!

All that being said... there is SO much  I LOVE about my business:

I LOVE my studio, and that me and the kids can just go in there and create and play whenever we want to... Even if my business didn't exist - the studio and what's in it gives so much enjoyment to us!!

I get to order all the art-materials that I want and plan how to use them!!!

And even though most of the time I am flat-out busy.. I DO get some time to play and create as well... As my last post said, I am just trying to go with the flow... and even though today my productivity is a bit slower than I would like - I can smile knowing that I am having a cuppa-tea break in the mug that I decorated, and that I friggin deserve to just have a cuppa and take things slower every now and then :)

Letting life be...

I'll be the first to admit that motherhood is very hard for me!
I am a person who likes to control things, I guess. I like there to be a structure, I like to be busy and creative, and I also desperately need time on my own: time to think, reflect, just re-centre myself I guess...
I am also naturally an evening person.. so young children awaking bounding with energy at the crack of dawn (or earlier) is still pretty darn hard for me to adjust to - even 5 years on...

Right now it is the school holidays.. and although I LOVE the flexibility of not having to get everyone ready and out the door (dressed, clean and with bags and lunch-boxes packed) by a set  time... I HATE not getting to do any work!!

It has been said that I am a 'work-aholic'... I don't think I am ... but oh gee, I do WANT to work.. and the tiny little amount of time that I get each week to do some work and try to run my business, really is never enough...

But I know I just have to go with the flow. I'm not very good at it... But I am slowly learning..

Going out for a nice nature walk with the family.

I was pulling my hair-out almost for the past few hours as I desperately wanted my 3 year-old to have a nap at the 'right' time.. If he had gone to sleep at any time between 1pm and 3pm that would have been ideal - as Tilly was doing an art class, and I could have had a small amount of time to myself - to work!, or just relax even...

But no. All my efforts and frustrations did not lead to any zzzz's from Curtis.

Curtis: I love him so much!, though he is always exhausting!!

Now though, my two kids are naturally and very happily playing together! - I was about to whisk them off out to the supermarket, or try to control their activities.. but fortunately I took a step back, watched and listened - and realised - these two are having fun, they don't want or need mummy right now, so I should let them be!! (yay me!)

So I've had a few minutes to sit down and write... and now, hmmm.. I might just go into the kitchen and clear out the fridge (fun - not! - but something I've been needing/wanting to do).

Tilly and Curtis playing outside the front entrance right now...

Yes, there are quite a few urgent work emails and other tasks that I could start to do... But I just really can't be bothered... And that's good of me to let them lie I reckon..

My business is awesome, and I am amazing for all that I do, and try to do... But my number 1 goal is to somehow find more balance. And in my order of priorities and values: my family comes first, looking after ME is a close second, and my business (although it means a LOT to me) comes third.

And the best way, and only way that I can really succeed is simply to go with the flow and let life be as it will be...

xoxo

Crash!

Aaah, my usual pattern has been repeated...

As my last few posts show - I was loading more and more onto my always already full plate...

I ended up realising and deciding that the shop was not the best option for me at this point in time and thus did not sign the shop lease...
Yep, that was quite a disappointing moment.. A day that was one of my 'worst' ever as I had to deal with the emotions of telling Mike in person and officially pulling out of the deal.. But also there came a feeling of instant 'relief' as well - and definitely NO REGRETS since as I know 100% that I made the right decision and I am proud of myself for doing it.

It was the hardest decision ever.. as in that 3 week whirl-wind period I managed to plan so much: exactly how the shop would work, and I could prove that it would/could be a financial success too... I KNOW I could have made it into an amazing shop and that it would have succeeded very well. BUT it would have come at quite a personal cost to my own time.. and in particular it would have demanded that I needed more support from family members and I would have had to have worked harder and been away from my kids more.

Essentially I decided that it was just: "too much, too soon". And I know I was right..

So I had one day of LOTS of tears, then I managed to just keep rolling along in 'business-as-usual' mode, but with the realisation that I need to take things a little bit slower, and look after myself.

Now the school holidays have hit.. and I have just CRASHED. I was utterly exhausted on Friday... a bit better on Saturday - but I am just tired, teary, fragile, impatient... and completely unmotivated with my business.

That's okay. That's just normal I guess, when you burn yourself out - which I obviously have once again..
I know I just need to take a bit of a break, slow down and look after myself  A LOT MORE!!

- But that is SO hard to do when you run your own business... It is hard to completely switch off - which is what I really want to do/need to do right now.

It's just hard. This post is really a HUGE waste of time I guess.. I'm probably just trying to convince myself, that yes I am doing the right thing by just shutting it all out for a little while... No I am not giving up or giving in... No - don't do anything drastic like throwing it all in (as if I would!?).. I just need to take the time that I need right now, and that is okay.

Yep I can cry. And I SHOULD try to get as much sleep as possible (though that really is so hard with two energetic little kids)... I'm doing fine Lindy-Lou. Your family loves you and are all here to support you. Take advantage of it. just slow down, re-charge and be happy...

Your business is mega-successful.. you just often have a little bit too much going on, and at times it all has to pause. It is not all going to fall apart, just because I need a break.. the foundations are too strong to unravel quickly... It can all advance forward when I have my energy and motivation back..

xoxox

The calm before the storm?

Another week has rolled along.. and I have a list of all the official paperwork that I have to get in order for the shop lease.. I expect that everything should be signed and sorted by the end of this week, and then hopefully next weekend, or the following week at least I can get into the shop and start to do the fit-out and set-up just before launching into the school holidays - eeeek!

Seriously, it still is all a bit surreal and unbelievable when I take a spare moment to think about it... But I guess I don't have that much time to stop and think too much - which tends to be the way that I operate...

Emotionally I have had my ups and downs. I have had quite a few nights when I haven't slept well - mainly because I've been excited, or just have too much to think about. And as usual, when I get overtired the negativity can creep in... but on the whole I am just very excited and optimistic about the whole endeavour.

I think this Currimundi shop is just a fabulous opportunity. The location is absolutely unbeatable for my target audience - and there could be nowhere better to have my first ever shop. Obviously it has launched me into a whole new direction than I was previously heading - but I feel confident that this is a good step for my business and that I will make a great success of the store.

The hardest thing is most likely to be just making sure that I keep on top of things, and manage to maintain a healthy balance in my life and don't work too hard. Realistically I expect that it will be 6 months before we are really 'settled' into the new shop and hopefully have things operating as it should be... I have lots of ideas and plans ready as I prepare to go into the shop, but feel that we just have to get in there and get started and see how it all works out in reality - and adjust the plans and ideas to suit the space and the actual clientelle..

Yep, I'm using all these words... but to be completely honest - I am just friggin EXCITED!!!!

Already this opportunity has launched my business into quite a different mode - a much more serious and professional one, and I think that is quite a good thing. Yeah, definitely scary aswell.. but I do think I am ready for it and can handle it...

One major aspect though, is that I also still believe that selling art-materials to schools and centres on the Sunshine Coast is likely to be my most lucrative area - so as I am the sort of person who likes to ride more than one horse at once, I still fully intend to act on those plans as well as getting the new shop up and running.. Also my new website will be launched very soon - so it is definitely all stations go!
As I said, maintaining BALANCE is the key: ensuring that I look after myself and have my own personal priorities in order too - and let's face it, that is something that I have been practicing and slowly getting better at for the past year...

Although other people may think that I am crazy, I have to acknowledge that I am ME. I am the sort of person who likes to be challenged and pushed. I like to be busy and to be striving to achieve new things.. that is just me. I am so proud of myself so far for the wonderful business that I have been creating - it means so much to me on so many levels. I believe in it and I believe in myself and I can't imagine being this happy at all in any other job.

Yay me! - And here's to the future... let's hope I can continue to make my dreams come true! Let's hope that the coming months see the 'profit' that I have believed is just around the corner, finally starts to reach fruition... Let's hope this shop actually does turn out to be the first of many.. I hope the new employees that I take on turn out to be awesome... and that in a year or so Ben will be able to comfortably leave his work with the security that I can earn enough money for the family whilst he gets a turn to try and work on the things that he really wants to achieve for himself too :)

Here's to high hopes! xoxoxox

WOW what a week!

It's Friday now, after one of the busiest/craziest weeks I've had in a loooong time!.

I definitely need to head to bed very soon - especially as I have to be up early in the morning to set up the studio and host a 4 year-old's birthday party... But lately I haven't been sleeping too well as my mind is too active, so I think a bit of time to write and get things out of my head is probably a good thing.

So, since my last post - things have been rolling along well with the potential shop... OMG I still really can't quite believe it all!!!!!

I haven't as yet signed any paperwork - but it is in the process of being written up and will be coming to me. Mentally I am 100% committed - and Mike (the guy who holds the current lease and will be passing it onto me - and has moved into a larger neighbouring shop) is very happy to have me take over - he even gave me the spare key to the shop today so that I can come and go as I need to measure things up and plan it out etc. I will be putting signs in the window tomorrow stating: 'A Little Creative Coming soon!!'

It has bee a roller-coaster week in my mind as I have been trying to think everything through... as is probably quite normal and to be expected - I had a day on Wednesday where i got a bit freaked out and scared, and was having doubts as to whether I could acutally afford it and manage it all.. but since then I have gone back to being very positive in my thinking - and when I get more time tomorrow I will be able to write out more details of my 'grand plan' which has been formulating in my head, and which I am VERY happy and excited about!!

Staffing is the biggest concern.. I have quite a few options.. and I definitely need to advertise too. Ideally I need to get one or two awesome uni-students who are studying arts/education and can do weekend shifts and random hours.... It was all quite overwhelming me a few days ago.. but I have been reminded that I can 'build up' to where I want to be... I don't have to be open every single hour possible or offer a HUGE range of classes straight away!

It is MY shop and I can run it MY way!!!

It's just utterly exciting and thrilling at this stage... I went there on Monday afterschool and took lots of photos - so here's a few of them :)

 Looking back towards the shops from the beach..

 At the side window to the shop, and we can spill-out onto this outside area - will probably put a child safe fence and gate up here..

The front of the shop.

Looking at the shop from across the road.

Stressful anticipation...

I am writing now to try to calm myself down...To remember to b-r-e-a-t-h-e... to remind myself that things will work out as they are meant to be....

Because I am quite worked up!!!

Today was a lovely day. A relaxing Sunday. We had a yummy breakfast outside in the sunshine, pottered around at home for a while, then drove to Currimundi lake for a beach play and some lunch.

Indeed we did deliberate about whether to go to Happy Valley, Moffat Beach.. whether to buy food there or somewhere else before hand... Making a different decision for any of these matters would have completely changed the outcome of today!

Yep, it's one of those moments where you just ponder: what if this or that had happened instead.

Well as it turned out - I left Ben and the kids on the beach and went up to the cafe at Currimundi to buy us all some lunch (it could have been Ben who went - we didn't really care!). I ordered our food, took my waiting number - and wandered across to the shop next door which we'd noticed was now vacant.. Previously the store had been occupied by the Kite-surfing business. I peered into the empty shop (quite tiny really) and thought hmmmm....? Imagine if I had that space for A Little Creative!??
It appeared that the Kite-surfing business was actually now setting up and occupying the new other retail premises that has just been rebuilt and is across the road... so I decided to wander over there and ask them about the little shop.

Yes. They had just moved out of it. Yes, it is vacant and needing a new tenant.... So I asked how much it was, got the guy's details... my mind was curiously ticking away...

Now if you've never been to Currimundi Lake - you absolutely have to as it is one of the most beautiful places on earth!!!!!

It is a bit hidden away compared to all the other gorgeous Caloundra beaches - but all the local know it and it is such a fabulous family spot. There are only 3 shops there.. One a large cafe, the other the kite-surfing guy.. it has SO much potential for so many other businesses....

Anway, I mentioned it to Ben.. we discussed the idea through snippets of conversations whilst playing with the kids.. Ben had a look at it and before we left we spoke to the guy (Mike) again... I was getting VERY keen on the idea. and so was Ben. The more we thought about it it just seemd like an absolutely golden opportunity with not really any risk as my current number of classes and income prove that I would break even at least....

FARK!!! So, I spoke to a few more people.. and pretty much I am AMPED up about it.. My thoughts have now moved to: I HAVE TO HAVE IT!!

I have communicated again with Mike and let him know I am 100% keen to take over the shop. He is meeting with his agent tomorrow and will ring me afterwards...

I am now freaking out that the agent perhaps already has somebody else lined up... Who frigging knows!??

So.... time will tell what the outcome of all this will be.

It could turn out to not happen and thus I go on with my business and life as before - which was going pretty well and on track...

OR - it could end up being a major turning point for me!!!!!!

- obviously I am quite excited by the prospect of it... but I will just have to wait and see what happens.

If it doesn't work out - I will just have to believe that it wasn't meant to be.... (and probably I won't be able to enjoy going to Currimundi lake as much as before)... and if it does - then that is a suddenly a major change for my business - the opportunity to take things to quite a different level, and an awesome experience and change.

Whatever happens, I can be proud that I spotted an opportunity - quickly assessed it and decided to 'go for it' as best I could! Let's see what happens...

I have all my fingers crossed - that's for sure!

xoxo

Here's a few pics of the locations..... aaahhh..

Life is going well!

Guess what!? I think finally things are all coming together, and I have even figured out how to slow-down, enjoy life more and not take too much on! - yay me!!!

Of course, there is always a LOT on my plate - but I am feeling much more relaxed. I am getting better at 'switching off' on the weekends - or most days that aren't a work day for me - and accepting that my 'deadlines' and expectations of what I can achieve in my business need to be thoroughly flexible.
Here's a bit of what I've been up to so far this month:

July commenced in the school holidays - and for the first time in a while I had not overloaded myself. At the start of Term 2 the Lake Kawana Community Centre had contacted me and asked if A Little Creative would do some workshops at their centre - so of course I said yes. For a fixed fee (in the $hundreds) and them handling all the marketing and bookings it was quite a pleasure!

So being smart - I just did the one day of workshops at their location - and only marketed the studio available for 'private bookings'. It was so good to have a bit of time to relax in the school-holidays, and of course enjoy doing extra-fun things with my kids :)

The two weeks really goes by so fast! - here Tilly was helping me paint some of the prototype dinosaurs for the holiday workshops  the day beforehand. So lovely to be able to go into the studio with her and she is completely happy painting, drawing, making or doing what-ever she wants to. We can pretty much spend a morning in there (or a few hours) where both of us enjoys doing our own thing - can't quite say the same of spending time in there with little Curtis! - but I'm sure he'll get there in a few more years... he has started to take more interest in his art, and that is so enjoyable :)

At the end of the holidays we went to the Abbey Medieval festival at Caboolture for the first time. It was a fabulous outing, and quite a hot day! Curtis started out in a little Knight costume, but didn't keep it on for too long - neither would Tilly wear her tall hat for long which completed her outfit and made her look like a well-to-do maiden, rather than just Snow White! It was a great experience going there - but the queues were very long and Curtis didn't have that sort of stamina.. we will probably wait a couple more years before going again - but we are already looking forward to the next time - and Tilly is planning her next costume to wear!

Regularly we go to Shelly or Moffat beach for a walk/play with the kids - and I always marvel at how awesome it is to live where we do!! I just love it! Shelly and Moffat beach are my most favourtie places in the whole world - I am pretty convinced that we could travel anywhere in the world and I would still think the same. In this pic below, it was a cloudier, and colder day than usual - but still stunning to be there playing on the rocks. Curtis's main attire lately involves a costume - usually batman, spiderman or darth-vadar.

Last weekend - I made myself a bit busy by 'volunteering' to work for free at the local Baby and Kids' Market. A Little Creative did free Christmas craft for their 'Christmas in July' theme. I managed to keep the task relatively simple: just painting and collaging Christmas tree shapes (which had all been cut on my new KNK Maxx cutting machine!!!), and also some Christmas stamp-printing and drawing. It was quite a hit! We were flat-out (probably had about 80 kids do craft in the 4 hours) - and I think it was quite good marketing for my business.

Finally, my Term 3 classes have re-commenced - and I am now running 4 x afterschool classes!, 2 x Kindy-Art classes, and a new Studio-Art workshop for children on a Saturday morning fortnightly.. most of my classes are full which is such an amazing achievement. I really am feeling quite proud of myself :) Our artist of focus this term is Andy Goldsworthy (one of my favourite artists!) and although I am still not giving myself very much time to indulge in my own art - at least I am constantly being creative making examples and ideas for the children's classes - and I am in a good mind-set to be able to think more creatively and do more of my art in the future...

I've got to rush now - as my small amount of time is up, as the kids have emerged from the bath and it's now story-time.

Tomorrow's is Curtis's 3rd birthday!! - so a bit more on my to-do list for tomorrow! - and hopefully I'll make time to write again soon - and show some birthday pics of him.

Goodnight xoxo

Feeling PROUD and positive!

Hmmm, maybe I subconsciously knew something when I wrote this sentence in my last post: "..maybe I'll have a better idea next week and do that instead..." - because that's kind of what happened!
Yes, during the past month I have noticed a few new creative businesses about that irritated me a bit, or made me question my direction... but most of them I dismissed as not really being a threat to me, and realizing that I was quite happy with the path I am on and all the decisions I have made for very good reasons... Then one business I became aware of is moving right into my territory and is running their classes at a couple of local schools (something I have always thought would be a good idea, but have never acted upon)... Seeing their business had quite an impact on me... - so I have decided that I definitely will aim to expand my operations and target schools as a venue also (and hopefully wipe the floor with them!! - no, not to be nasty, but I do think my classes are and will be better than theirs...) - So 'action expansion' is underway, and I am feeling very optimistic about it!
I now have 3 x art-class teacher employees, plus will be getting two others to assist me with moving the business in this new direction and aiming to expand nationally..

Things are just going very well - and I am at the stage where sometimes I feel the need to pinch myself just to check that it really is all true and working out so well! It is quite an amazing and incredible feeling - especially after a few years of working really really hard - but not seeing the instant results.. (of course nothing ever is instant - it takes time to reap the rewards of the seeds you sow... but I guess I got used to not being too hopeful in case it didn't work out as planned..)

But yeah, life is pretty awesome. I am busy, but I like it like that. I took most of the holiday's off to play with my kids and enjoy ourselves, and have lots on my agenda for Term 3 and Term 4 - but aiming to still take time to have fun and exercise and look after myself more...

I have had a couple of amazing compliments through my business lately: one mum wrote: "Thankyou Lindy - your a very important member of the community"


And just the other day Kate in Melbourne (a friend of Sarah's) wrote under a picture of our school holiday classes: "...Lindy, I really hope that when my Matilda is old enough to do these workshops you have franchises of 'A Little Creative' in Melbourne!.."

needless to say I felt pretty proud of myself! - But especially realising that the chances of A Little Creative operating in various locations throughout Melbourne in the next few years is very high!!!

Yay me! Bring it on! - A huge motivating force behind my business has been to be able to provide for my family in the future in the event that Ben is no longer working full-time... And even if his health holds out well for years to come, I still really would love to 'liberate' him from having to work at his engineering work - so that he can have the opportunity to do some of his own designs and follow his passions too... It is so amazing to realise that I am quite on track with my goals - and everything that I dream of is quite possible!!! Just got to keep going!, but in the meantime you will tend to find me with a rather large grin on my face!

 On the family front - we went to the Abbey Medieval Festival yesterday - it was  great experience! the queues were a bit too long for Curtis, who didn't have the stamina or patience for much - but we will love going back in a couple of years' time - probably all dressed up!

Envy...?

I try to be a nice person. I try to not worry about what others are doing, and just be happy being me and going along doing my own thing...

But there are moments when I see something someone else is doing or has done, and I can't help but feel a bit green.


Green with Envy.

Is it really jealousy I feel? To be honest the emotion puzzles and perplexes me - it shakes me that I should feel upset or challenged by the accomplishments of another person... I'm not 100% sure it is jealousy - often it is just that I see someone else doing something similar to my ideas and I feel a bit pissed-off that their artwork/design/idea is so similar to something I have done, or was planning to do.

When I see someone who has done something that is very similar to what was 'in my head' it is like the carpet has been pulled out from beneath me... F*#ck! - they've beaten me to it - now I can't do it! Or I think I should have worked harder, faster, to have gotten there first! (How about I just beat myself up mentally for a while!!??)

But hang-on. Their idea isn't exactly the same as mine... In fact my idea was a bit different, and a bit better too (in my opinion)... but can I still go ahead and do it - even though I have seen what they have done?

Ah, the dilemmas it creates... But really, there are no rules that state that once one person has accomplished or tried something - that no-one else is allowed to do it too!

The BIG problem with me is that I have SO many ideas, that I can't possibly do them all - not at once, anyway.

I know I shouldn't care about what anyone else is doing... or who did it first. The world is full of businesses competing with each other, copying each other... trying to beat each other...

I guess that is the real problem: feeling competitive. Life is not a competition nor a race. I'm sure McDonalds doesn't really care that there is a Hungry Jacks just around the corner - they are separate, yet similar businesses and both can have their piece of the enormous market... along with so many other 'food restaurants' of various types.

I just have to walk my path with my head held high and keep marching along... maybe what I create will be better... maybe it will succeed, maybe it won't... maybe I'll have a better idea next week and do that instead.

Feeling a bit 'green' sometimes is just some of the many emotions I constantly feel - and I have to remember that all emotions come and go. Hopefully the happy, excited, proud and positive emotions are the ones that will be the most dominant... I will now switch my mind to focus on them, and leave this piece of writing with a smile :)

Family first, business second.

So, since my last post I have had a CRASH! - er duh! even the title of my post was so crazy manic... I was skating on verrrry thin ice, and I finally reached the end of my tether last Wednesday (HORRIBLE day - best forgotten!)

At least when I do crash - I then get to pick up the pieces and figure out what went wrong.

And here's my mistakes:
 - I was doing too much
- my focus on my business had put everything else out of balance.


 
As I am a mum: ALWAYS - my 'family comes as a higher priority to my business'... but I had become SO busy that although I held this belief in my mind, it wasn't really the reality of all my actions and I was too over-worked to see it. Yes, my kids always came first - but I was neglecting a few areas (namely the household organisation - and ME! - and yes, poor hubby too...)

I am not throwing in the towel with my business... but I can see that I was putting it in a higher priority than my own needs, and I have to work a lot less on it at this particular point in time.

Obviously this is somehting that will be hard for me to do! - But I'm going to try.

I've reached the point at least of a significant mental-shift... and for now I know I need to focus a lot more on cleaning the house, cooking dinner, going for a walk, playing with the kids... being happy and trying to find that BALANCE that I am always searching for.

A few quiet days are in store for me right now.. not a lot of thinking - just doing the bare-essentials.

I'm sure I will figure things out eventually :)