Two Goals. One Choice.

This week I had a goal conflict.  I wasn't prepared for the reality of conflicting goals, both in my business and in my personal life... I naively didn't think there could or would be a conflict - just choose goals, work hard, and accomplish.  However, the challenge made me realize that when in conflict, I had to reach deep down and recognize my ultimate goal or purpose in this life.  I don't speak of this to just anyone.... so I am opening myself way up here.  But I am on a journey to nurture my purpose, so you might as well know that too.  :-)

When I started my business, I promised myself that I would not jeopardize who I am in order to sell product.  The straight up truth is that there are so many instances I could have done this... For example, I will not accept a "friend" request on Facebook from someone who gives me a negative vibe in hopes that they may like my product posts and make a purchase.  I will not be an "in your face", tons of pressure type salesperson but rather, I'd like to just talk about my own product success and let that conversation speak for itself.  And I will not sell product to someone for the "wrong" reasons.

I have been challenged with staying true to my promise.  It has posed a conflict for me - growing my business versus selling product to someone who I don't believe requires it.  I have this sweet little friend who I met cooking hot lunch a few years ago.  I call him my surrogate nephew and he hangs out with me from time to time - he gets a kick out of my "crazy"!  He has the cutest freckles.... which he absolutely HATES with a passion.  As much as I've assured him that they are cute and girls LOVE them, he doesn't agree.  He asked me if the Rodan + Fields Reverse regimen would help erase those beautiful freckles.... and it likely would... but I refused to sell him that regimen.  He is 13 with great skin and there is just no way that I could make that sale, despite it being another customer to grow my business.  Acne would be a whole other story... but freckles, not a chance!  So, I refused and I felt great about it.

The same type of challenge presented itself to me this week in my personal goals.  After some self-reflection for Matt and I in December, we realized that Matt really had no self-care plan in place.  Self-care for us is time that we take to do something that we enjoy... that fills our bucket, so to speak - for Matt, this comes in the form of golf, hockey, or date nights with ME (lucky me!).  One of my fifty goals was to support Matt in ensuring that he full-fills his self-care plan.  On the flip side, my self-care plan involves "getting away from it all" and spending some one-on-one time with a friend having a visit, a coffee, and maybe even a glass of wine.  

Herein lies the challenge:  Matt had a hockey tournament this weekend.  He was pretty excited to play in this Old Timers tourney with some good buddies that he really enjoys hanging out with!  However, this week was the first time that I decided to focus on my goal of "getting away".  I quickly realized there was a conflict and it would be difficult to achieve this goal while supporting Matt in his self-care plan because, quite simply, someone has to hang out with our kids!

Two goals.  One choice.  

The choice for me was obvious.  It is far more important to my nature to support my husband.  His care plan or mine?  His wins hands down.  I will have plenty of other opportunities to nurture myself.  Plus it doesn't hurt that I fall in love with him all over again every time I see him on the ice.

I could say that I didn't accomplish my goal this week.  And maybe I didn't accomplish the specific goal that I set out to accomplish.  However, I learned a huge lesson!  And the lesson is that who I am in this world is a culmination of all the tiny choices I make in accomplishing my goals.  I can, however, check off "support Matt in his self-care plan".  And I feel pretty awesome about that!

Ready! Set! Go!

When my Rodan + Fields upline team started a 2016 dream project and a goal setting series, I quickly jumped on board!  At first I wasn't sure why I had.... and then I did some soul searching and discovered that I have a huge list of things I want to do but that list is all in my head and I had absolutely no timeline.  As a result, things just haven't been getting done.  So the dream project was a perfect fit for me because I needed a way to set attainable goals, make them measurable, and then put a solid plan in place.  This will help me in my personal life and will also set good future habits for my business.

You likely gathered this this week's goal would be fitness related.  In fact, little Muay Thai Mickey predicted kickboxing!  I love Muay Thai... it's the only workout I have stuck with in the past 20 years.  However, I tend to run into the same problem every year - I go hard for the first 8 months of the year and then my steam runs out or I lose focus on my goal of staying healthy and fit.  I needed to set a goal that would help me to be consistent and maintain my focus for the entire year.  The focus being something I enjoy, which is Muay Thai.

I decided to reasonably predict how many classes I could/would/should attend in 2016.  I came up with 80.  I'm a numbers girl so so I broke it down like this:

 52 weeks in 2016
- 4 weeks in December (because December is crazy... so if I see a class in December, it's a HUGE bonus!)
- 5 weeks vacation
- 1 week sickness allowance
- 2 weeks travel for work
= 40 weeks
x 2 classes
= 80 classes!

It's reasonable, it's measurable, and it's something I cannot wait to kill!  However, it takes an action plan.  This is an important step for me because when I don't plan ahead, my goals tend to not become a reality.  So, I planned!

Step 1 - Get an accountability partner!  That was easy.  I have Karen - my faithful, reliable, fun, and motivating partner who I've been kickboxing with for the last year!  Having her rely on me to make class makes me accountable!  I need to be at class on our chosen days of Tuesdays & Thursdays or she won't have a partner!

Step 2 - Childcare!  I booked a babysitter for every Tuesday and Thursday for as long as she's willing to do it!  And I'm going to pay her good too!  I want her to keep coming back... I'd rather she didn't go get a "real job" because I need her!  I could take the kids with me to class, but when I do I have trouble focusing and I don't feel like I'm getting a real break, which I need in order to take care of myself.

Step 3 - Eat properly!  Part of kickboxing means I need to have a protein shake by about 5:00 or I tend to get sick at class.  This is part of the planning process for me because I need to be at home or bring supplies with me so that this can happen.  Another part of the process is that I need to eat good food all day or I feel heavy and lethargic at class.  The shake part is easy... the eating healthy challenges me daily.  Planning required!

Ready!  Set!  Go!  Here's how my first week went:

On Tuesday Arielle skates, so before we left the rink I bought the kids some delicious greasy fries from the concession.  On the way home, the fries were screaming my name.  I thought I'd have a few.... by the time I got home, half of the fries were gone.  Sorry Nate.  That's definitely not in the plan.

Also screaming my name was my daughter.  She had an absolute meltdown that I was going to class and not taking her with me.   She literally screamed the entire 20 minute drive home.  When we arrived at home, Nate was as white as a ghost.  He stumbled down the hall and into the bottom bunk asking me to please shut off the lights and close the door as he had a terrible headache.  My poor guy.  At this point I'm not sure I should leave... but on the same token, after the screaming fit I just endured, I NEED to leave.

Class is going awesome (except for the lump of fries I can feel every time I jump) when I get a text that Nate is throwing up.  35 minutes into class I'm dashing out the door and heading home.  Props to the sitter - the puke is cleaned up (which was all over the couch and floor, by the way) and Nate's in some clean jammies.  Arielle is quite satisfied with the situation and sitting smugly next to her brother.

Thursday's class just didn't happen.  To make a long story short, my partner's daughter had a recital which she wouldn't miss for the world and I ended up having the most lovely company from a sweet friend.  Hours went by before either of us realized it and soon it was 5:45 and I hadn't made my shake.  I didn't need any more puke in the agenda this week.... so I cancelled the sitter and read books to my kids instead.

Overall.... I planned ahead and I feel like the planning was good... I did miss preparing my kids for the sitter though, and since last week I have remedied that.  Sometimes all the planning in the world can't help life's circumstances and I'm trying to be flexible enough to deal with those times.

I'm counting Tuesday's class as a WIN.  I'm 1/80 with 51 weeks to go.  Watch for little updates on this goal in the future.

I'm excited to share next week's goal with you!  Stay tuned!

Dreaming Freedom... for the first time!

I've worked hard all my life.  I LOVE working hard for things that I'm passionate about.  I worked hard to establish my career as a Chartered Accountant - enduring hours of studying and a gruesome exam.  I worked hard at getting pregnant and now I work hard to be the best mom I can possibly be... which is especially difficult with a special-needs son and a head-strong little girl!  I work hard at my marriage because it has seen it's fair share of ups and downs.  And now I am working hard at financial freedom!

One thing I don't want to work hard at anymore is my day job... Don't get me wrong, I work for the MOST amazing human beings.  These men believe in their people and support me in a way I have never been supported.  I love my job too!  I love accounting, as much as that may surprise many people!  I love my co-workers - we laugh, we drink coffee, we have a wonderful bond and lifelong friendships....  But.... I don't love my hours.

My hours?  7am - 2pm, Monday to Thursday.  A dream schedule, right?  A long weekend every weekend and I am there for my kids after school.  The only trouble is.... 

I want more freedom!  I want to work my hours on my terms.  I want to travel - I want to see Scotland and Ireland, I want to hike the John Muir Trail for weeks on end, I want to spend every waking moment with my kids on Spring Break, I want.... freedom!

That's where Rodan + Fields comes in.  This opportunity wasn't something I was looking for... I didn't even know I was looking for freedom... but it presented itself to me and I'm forever thankful that it did. With my business background and my passion for helping people, I jumped in with both feet.  I am determined to make this business everything it can be so that I can provide freedom for myself and for my family.  My big goal?  Retirement by age 43.

This blog, however, is about my little goals - the 50 little goals that I never would have set for myself if not for my team, Triple G and Rodan + Fields.  50 goals that I have set to accomplish in 2016... in just 52 weeks!  These goals are everything from seeing, feeling, acquiring, to personal growth and business growth.  They are uniquely mine and I want to share them with you.  I invite you to follow me in this journey of moving closer to my BIG goal by accomplishing my small goals.  I will crush some of these goals and others I will struggle with... but either way, the journey excites me!

Goal #1.... coming up this week.... Here's a hint....