How’s Your Relationship with Your Business?

When I woke up this morning, my first thought was, “Wow, I really miss home!”

I miss my sweetheart and seeing his handsome face every day, and I miss my son and his news story ramblings.

And why? Because I left home last Saturday, I’ve been gone all week, and I’m stuck in Texas over the weekend because I have an orientation to attend on Wednesday.

My original plan was to have it done and be headed home this past Thursday, but the trucking industry and loads just don’t work the way you want them to… so, here I sit.

As if that weren’t bad enough, Monday is a holiday so the company is only having a single orientation, which is Wednesday & Thursday.

That means I’m going to be away from home and sporadically working my business for longer than I wanted to be.

And it dawned on me how our businesses are so much like our other relationships.

I Love My BusinessWhen I’m not working every day and getting even the basics done, it’s like not getting to see my sweetheart… even if it’s a short dinner, a touch of hand, or a quick kiss before he leaves… I miss it. So when I’m not getting to participate on Twitter or attend my #PinChat, I miss it.

When I’m not able to get online to keep up with what’s happening with the people I interact with, it’s like not having my son around who walks through the room rattling about today’s local and world news… I don’t know what’s going on and I feel like I’m missing out on something.

And when I’m not able to check my stats or send an email to my followers, or blog, it’s like not getting to talk with my man about important things… communication breaks down if you wait too long and people forget you’re around and stop talking to you.

And how about when you stop taking the time to communicate regularly with your spouse. If it happens very long, it becomes more and more difficult to get back on track because you’ve missed out on too much. They may have misunderstood why you haven’t been talking and think it’s something that they did wrong… and misunderstandings ensue… communications continue to break down.

It’s no different in business. If you spend too long away from it… if you’re not blogging or emailing regularly… your followers don’t know why you’ve disappeared. Did you get sick? Are you changing your business practices? Did they do something wrong that made you not communicate with them?

And, just like there are certain things you do to take care of your family and loved ones, there are also things you must to to take care of your business.

… You must spend time with it regularly.

… You must ask questions and check stats to know that things are ok.

… You must change and grow with it so that you don’t fall into complacency and forget the joy that it brings to your life to build something you’re proud of.

Of course there are also things that come up in business just like life. Even though you love your spouse and/or kids, there are still some things that must be done that may throw a wrench into your ideal plans.

What I’m doing now is a prime example of just that.

I stopped driving the end of January and had no intentions of getting back on a truck. My goal was to replace my income within 6 months (consistently), and then continue to build from there to replace my sweetheart’s income.

Not that he doesn’t want to work… but there are things that he enjoys more than driving that can earn him an income. And I’d love to see him be able to do that… and he’d end up much healthier in the process as well!

Well, it’s been 6 months, and my income isn’t consistently large enough for me to continue to stay home full time, so I’ve been looking for some work here and there just to supplement our income.

Part time jobs locally don’t pay enough to make it worth the gas money it takes to get there… and working that type of job full time, defeats the purpose of having the job to begin with because it doesn’t leave me as much time to grow my business.

Driving jobs pay a lot better, but part-time driving jobs are few and far between. I’ve found and even applied to one or two but so far, no luck.

Then a friend of mine who owns his own truck called me a few weeks back. He’s been having some health issues and asked if I’d consider driving his truck one week a month here and there so that he can take some time off and get better.

If the income weren’t an issue, I’d have said no. I do NOT miss being on a truck and I DON’T want to get back on one… for ANY length of time!

But since we need the income, and he’s only looking for me to drive for one week each month (and if I need to go later or not at all one month it’s not a problem either), I figured it would be an ideal solution.

Financially and time-wise (giving me lots of time to build my business), it’s good.

But for my health and my mental state… not so much.

I Hate My JobI hate having to get up in the middle of the night to use the truck stop bathrooms. I hate not being able to eat as healthy as I’d like. I hate not seeing my sweetheart every day.

And even though it’s only one week, it means there are webinars, chats (like my weekly #PinChat), and trainings that I’ll be missing out on each month due to driving and connection issues.

I’ve loved being home full time to focus on my business!

I’ve created two products,ย set up my affiliate program, gotten my shopping cart up and running, and I’m working on building my holiday sites.

It’s taken me six months to get all that done and sometimes I feel like I should be doing things a whole lot faster. Then I think back on all the frustration I’ve gone through in learning all the technical stuff… and remind myself that I’ve done more than I think.

But like every other relationship, there are things in my business relationship that require certain sacrifices.

The good news is, it will also keep a fire under my ass during the other three weeks I’m home to get my income growing consistently with my business.

Your Turn: What kind of relationship do you have with your business? Are you building it around your job or vice-versa? Does your job motivate you to work harder on your business or do you allow it to interfere? I’d really love to hear how other people view having to work around their business.

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Comments

  1. Excellent post, Debi. I know you wanted to be out of the truck soonest. I also know you have busted your butt working to grow your business. You are one of my heroes, taking time to help me along with others while building your own.

    You will get there and soon, I’ve no doubt. I also know you want to be at home.

    I am almost afraid to voice anything about my own. Every time I say anything, something happens to set me back…usually sickness.

    I am working slowly and steadily, not pushing anything. I have a plan and work the plan but am not feverishly pushing now. I’ll get there – eventually.

    I want to see you and others succeed as much or more than myself. I watch you and a few more and think, “I’m so proud of them.” It’s like I’m watching my kids excel.

    We won’t ever settle for mediocre, you and I (and some others we know.) We do care about our friends and want to do all we can to help them succeed. That’s a beautiful thing.

    Going now to drive 75 miles to meet my daughter for dinner. Don’t get to see her much. I want for you to be able to spend your time at home, with your family.

    You WILL get there. Because you deserve it and because you don’t know how to quit.
    Ruth Clark recently posted..7 Things To Look For In A Mentor or GuideMy Profile

  2. Thanks so much Miss Ruth. The initial set up has been the biggest headache. Past that (which is done now), I’ll be driving one week a month. I just happen to be doing the first week right behind the initial setup so it seems as though it’s taking forever.

    You know as well as I do, we’ll make time here and there even if only a few minutes because tiny steps make big sets of stairs! ๐Ÿ™‚

    And yes, it’s important that you don’t push yourself into being sick along the way too. I’ve done that and it just makes things go even slower rather than the intended “get it all done now” we start out to do! ๐Ÿ™‚

    Enjoy your time with your daughter and drive safe… there are crazy people out there in big trucks (and down the road, one may be me cause I get to choose where I’m going!) ๐Ÿ™‚
    debij recently posted..Use Pinterest to Build Your Online PresenceMy Profile

  3. Hi Debi J! I found your site through a comment you left on My Daily Cuppa. I love your business-relationship analogy. I think my relationship with my business is going well. My only complaint is that I feel a bit overwhelmed at times. There are always so many technical things to learn! I cope by trying to focus on only doing what I can do today. ๐Ÿ™‚
    Avery Wilmer recently posted..New Look for Niche PLR SiteMy Profile

    1. Hi Avery, I’m glad you stopped by! I’m not sure I’ve met any online business people who don’t feel overwhelmed as some point, and certainly not during the building stages because you’re right… there’s a LOT of technical stuff to take care of.

      You have a great attitude about knowing you can only do what you can do. That can keep you moving forward for a long time… and ensure that you get things done, even if it’s ONE thing a day… that’s more than a lot of others do!

      Be sure to drop in again!
      debij recently posted..Yes, I’m Selfish… And Why You Should Be TooMy Profile

  4. I have a love-hate relationship with my business (or so it seems at times).

    I love being able to help people and putting time in to make my business grow, but there are times when I’d rather be doing something else.

    I would love more “me time” and an extra handful of time with the partner too. I know he misses me when all he gets to see is the back of my head. I miss being next to him, listening to his jokes.

    I know there are sacrifices to be made when you’re in business, but I just wish there were less of them to deal with at times. ๐Ÿ™‚

    I know you’ll do what needs to be done, as I will do the same. Good luck in making it work around your schedule and I hope you get back on track very soon!
    Bonnie Gean recently posted..Video Sunday โ€“ Episode #37My Profile

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