Other Bloggers Inspire Me. Especially This One...

I read an interesting blog post today that addressed Working versus Producing. It's written by the fabulous Susie who is the author and owner of Not Your Average Mom. Like us, she lives in Connecticut. I've been reading her blog for a couple of years now. One of these days, I'd like to connect with her. I adore her candid nature and realism.

If you have a free moment, take a few minutes to read Working vs. Producing, And How I Went From Dreading Summer To Really Looking Forward To It.

This particular blog post caught my attention for many reasons. It hit home. Granted, we don't have human kids. Contending with Summer vacations isn't a concern for us. But, I can certainly relate to this blog post on various levels.

Amid the post, the author talks about an Amy Porterfield's podcast episode featuring Brooke Castillo. It addresses how we're always busy, but we're not exactly producing anything.

As a Work at Home Dog Mom, I can relate to this. Over the years, I lost count how many times I've said to Lisa, "I've busted ass all day, but I feel like I haven't accomplished anything."

It sucks.

I work on a lot of stuff. I work a lot of hours. At the end of the day, there's very little to show for it. And, I'm certainly not where I want to be with building my business.

The blog post addresses that issue in more ways than one.

I realize I need to shift my perspective on a few things and make some changes.

In my line of work, I get paid for the stuff I produce whether it's content, a column, DIY Dog Mom Projects, custom pieces, and whatever else a client presents me with.

I do not get paid by the hour.

In other words, if a customer wants a medium Bodacious Patchwork Doggy Quilt made, it's $30. I get paid $30 whether it takes 3 hours or 10 hours to make it.

Typically, I get the bulk of my work done between the hours of 5:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. during the week. On the weekends, I put in anywhere between 8-12 hours a day.

During those hours, I work on a multitude of projects. I'll have projects going in the workshop, the kitchen table, and at my desk in the home office.

I work on all of it.

But, what I actually have produced at the end of the day doesn't match up with the number of hours I'm working. The results are not there.

That needs to change.

And, it will.

I need to treat every project, whether written or painted or sewed, like a deadline. As in, "Okay, you have 3 hours to get this project done. You've done it before. You can do it again."

Etched. In. Granite.

Once that happens, I'll begin to see the results. Lots of them.

And, I won't feel defeated or frustrated at the end of the day.

What is my ultimate goal aside from building my business and becoming successful?

I won't have to mutter my infamous words of, "I've busted ass all day, but I feel like I haven't accomplished anything" at the end of the day.

I've got this.