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