Baby Boomers Building Businesses
So here I am – just 6 hours away from midnight.
But it’s not the normal midnight, although the clock ticks in the normal fashion – spending one second at a time … so 60 seconds a minute and 60 minutes an hours – well my math says that means 3600 seconds an hour. So if there are 6 hours left until midnight – that is only some 21,600 seconds left… of which I’ve just spent at least 300 seconds or 5 minutes doing all this math!
What a waste of 300 seconds! Or was it?
I suppose I can get philosophical here and write about how we waste our days which turn into weeks, then months … and that seems to be what we do on New Year’s Eve. We reflect and we dream! We kick ourselves for having wasted so many minutes in the year that’s ticking away and we pledge to do better in the coming year.
As I look back I will admit that 2010 has been a year full of interesting challenges. I remember that a year ago I was dreading what lay ahead in 2010. I had a sense of foreboding. It was not a feeling I liked. Yet, the challenged of 2010 have forced me to spend much time taking a look at life and life’s purpose.
This is not a normal pattern for me to spend so much time in study and reflection, but life in 2010 was marred be several accidents that I believe were “God ordained”. You see, He had to get my attention somehow – and He definitely got it. My whole hearted attention! Learning to deal with pain and regaining mobility after each accident gave me much time to spend in prayer and study.
I won’t say I enjoyed the pain – but now, in retrospect, spending that time in seclusion and immobility (I couldn’t even get on the computer as I couldn’t sit at a desk or table long enough to turn it on) – well, it’s been one of my best years.
I’ve taken the time to figure out who I am and who I want to be! I know that I am here for such a time as this! I know that my steps are guided and my purpose is selected.
I enter 2011 with great anticipation! New Beginnings in this my new life as an empty nester. To say I am excited – well, that’s a bit of an understatement.
I came to the road in the forest where the path divided and I’ve chosen the path less traveled on. But my intent for 2011 is to beat down on the path, widen it, and help others to follow the same path. I’m ready to lead the way.
Let 2011 begin! I am ready!
Let me share with you a Jamaican blessing that a friend shared with me on Facebook today. It is my wish for each of us!
Ok … so now there are only 20,400 seconds left in 2010 where I live! See you next year.
It’s catch up day in my office. With all the craziness of the past week, I had a very full inbox this morning and several projects on my to do list.
So I decided before I started a new project, I needed to finish a few old ones. Done for now!
That’s great because I want to get started in my new course.
Yes, I did … I signed up for a new challenge. Same mentor, Maria and Art, so I know what the quality of stuff I’m going to be learning.
In early December, they offered us in their 90 day challenge an entire year of mentoring about affiliate marketing. Since that’s the route I’m taking in building my business, I opted to learn from the best.
One step at a time .. one week at a time.
And of course, the timing was such that I got the email about Week 1′s lesson on Dec 15. I glanced at the email but never even looked at the lesson.
The next lesson came Dec 22. I never even looked at the email. I wasn’t on the computer much last week.
This morning as I plowed through my email inbox, I realized I should be getting lesson 3 any time so I’d better find the time to go back to lesson one.
That’s where I’m off to now. I have some fresh coffee, a clear desk, and some time before Tina’s webinar of social media this evening. I’m going to open Lesson One and find out how much homework Art is giving us.
Maybe I’ve already learned the basics through this challenge. I almost hope so as I really want to be caught up on all the lessons before the next one hits my Inbox.
I saw it first on Facebook – an ad for getting your own conference room! I checked it out. It was less than $9 a month. Even I can afford that.
So I checked with a friend of mine who I know uses conference rooms a lot. A couple of years ago she and I met over at a place called Veretekk and then we discovered we live about 30 minutes apart. She has a system there but it was costing close to $50 a month.
She told me today, she’s signed up for this deal too! At that price, it’s a great started deal for a new person. Sure, the limit is 50 people a room – but I can use it as often as often as I want each day, each week. And let’s be honest, for someone just starting out I’ll be thrilled to have 10 people show up… so by the time the room is full, I’ll be able to afford the upgrade.
The other benefit is that the company offering this deal – well, they’re not new to the conference room system. In fact, several years ago, on of my up-line partners in networking business was using their system to hold team meetings. The company is relaunching under a new name and that is why they are offering this great deal. I’ve had an idea for creating a brainstorming group for online business newbies to brainstorm ideas and problems – and I would need a conference room for that.
I’ve also had the idea of organizing a group to discuss what we’re learning. I know there is a group that meets each week to talk about the chapter of Think and Grow Rich that they read each week, and I’m currently reading a similar book that is really challenging my thinking. I’d love to meet with others reading the same book and see how they interpret the same chapter. And I’d need a conference room for that as well.
‘mmm I think I need to take a serious look at this program.
What do you think I should do? Remember, I’m open for comments. Just post yours below.
Sometimes the best made plans still go awry.
Whether it’s in business or in our personal lives. Lists or no lists, ideas or no ideas. Sometimes life just happens.
For example, my Christmas. All the fun of planning and prepping – and yes, for me, some of the most fun is the planning and prepping. I really enjoy preparing feasts made of love for my family and friends! I have great enjoyment in watching them enjoy a fine meal and laugh at each other’s jokes. Well, back to my story of my Christmas.
Christmas Eve was one of those most special nights. Almost magical! The food was great, but I’ll admit that because I’ve never stuffed a pork roast before so I was a bit worried about how it would work – needlessly worried, I should add, as it tasted great. The kids were so funny. I love having adult children. The discussions they can get into keep me sitting on the edge of my chair. And the blessing we shared on each other were countless. I know everyone loved the gifts they received but more importantly, they enjoyed giving the gifts that they gave. We ended the evening wishing everyone safe travels to their destinations for Christmas Day and I told mom I’d be there early afternoon to help make the final preparations for Christmas Brunch for Sunday.
Those were our plans. Good thing we understand that plans are changeable.
Christmas Day the weather was nice and roads were clear in my part of the world. And then the phone rang. I was just getting ready to head out. It seems my mom, my dad, and my brother were not feeling well, so she was wondering if I should still come over. We decided I shouldn’t come at that point, so I opted for a nap.
It wasn’t until later in the afternoon that we actually made the decision to cancel family Christmas for the next day. They were all very sick – couldn’t keep anything down and getting weaker by the hour. After doing some checking, we knew it wasn’t food poisoning from Christmas Eve supper (whew, I was worried for a bit that I had done something wrong with the pork roast).
We all compared notes and did conclude they had some form of food poisoning from what they had eaten for lunch on the 24th. The three of them had had the same thing and it was only the three of them that were sick… did I say they were very sick.
So we cancelled Christmas. I spent the 25th and 26 relaxing, reading, watching the Christmas movie on TV and sleeping. … and checking up on my family. I was concerned my 80 year old parents were getting too weak for my liking and that they were getting dehydrated as well. I kept after them to drink water at least … even if some of it came back up.
Yesterday I helped clean up and clear up. We had to deal with a fridge full of food that needed to be used before it spoiled, yet the folks were still too sick to have company and my kids already had other plans so we couldn’t cook it for ourselves. Mom and I gave a lot of the perishables away and made a pot of homemade soup for all of us.
We’re not sure if we’ll be able to reschedule this family Christmas. Everyone seems to have such a busy schedule and even my folks are expecting company from Europe shortly after the first. So the Christmas of 2010 might go down in history of being the shortest family Christmas in our family history. Such is life. We change plans, make new ones, and rejoice in the memories of the wonderful Christmas Eve we shared together.
All this extra free time did mean that I had a change to work on some more site ideas regarding building a list. Check them out:
If you are into networking, this site is geared just for you
And this site is designed for any business owner – whether it’s on online business you are building or you have a brick and mortar office or store you go to each day -
Not sure what I’ll all get done yet before the week is over as I know I have to spend some time with my parents and brother and make sure they have what they need, but I might get a few more things in place yet before the end of the year. Sure wish my logo was done … I’m excited to start working on the Priceless Potential site now that the other ones are up.
The countdown has started for serious.
I have all my gifts wrapped and they are already in the van waiting to head to my folk’s place in the morning to be put under their tree. The grocery list is ready and the plan is to meet my mom at the grocery store in the morning to get what we need. My son has offered to get all the produce we need from the Christmas Farmer’s Market that’s just a few blocks from his place.
Then I’m off to my mom’s kitchen to start working on Christmas Eve dinner. That’s the big one for my family. A special evening meal and then a wonderful time around the tree. Nights like that I’m so glad I have German roots and that tradition is that this is the family night and the night we open the gifts. First Christmas Eve service, followed by delicious food, and then giving of gifts. All by the twinkling of the candles. (I remember the tree when I was young – it had candles on it and it was so magical)
Since I’m a single mom, I share Christmas with their dad, so Christmas Day, my children will be with their father’s side of the family, or with their partner’s families. We’re planning our family Christmas dinner for December 26, or Boxing Day as we call it in Canada (Second Day of Christmas as it’s called in Germany). That means a menu plan for a simple, yet delicious brunch served at noon; an afternoon of games, mostly involving at least one canasta tournament; and then a full turkey dinner served around 7 pm. We’ll put the turkey in the oven after the brunch clean up and we all help put the meal on the table when it’s time. My menu includes several dishes that are prepared in the slow cooker so there’s less last minute cooking. Trust me, by 6 pm the house smells so yummy that everyone is ready to pitch in and help so dinner can be served.
So are you hungry yet? No? Well let me share our menu, maybe that will get you drooling.
Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing
Pork Loin Roast stuffed with Apples
Apricots & a touch of bacon and onions
Potluck Potatoes (cheesy scalloped potato dish)
Spaghetti Squash
Honey Ginger Carrots
Creamed Pearl Onions
Southern Pecan Pie
Coffee or Espresso
Mimosas
Hash browns
Quiche
Caramelized Bacon Twists
Breakfast Sausages
Almond Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Apricots
Cranberry Zucchini Wedges
Cornbread
Brioche with CranRaspberry Butter
Coffee and Espressos
Turkey & Dressing & Cranberries
Mashed Potatoes & gravy
Yams with Pecan Crunch topping
Red Cabbage
Cauliflower
Festive Eggnog Salad
Broccoli Salad Orange
Chocolate Parfaits
Well, that’s my plan. And it’s all about family and creating an atmosphere of love!
So I’m sure you’ll understand when I admit to you that for the next few days I will not have business ideas floating through my head. I won’t be doing research, checking emails or building sites or even writing in this journal. I’m focusing on family and getting all the things done that need to be done to have a wonderful Christmas 2010.
I do want to wish your family many Christmas blessings. May your time as a family be one that is laced with lots of love and laughter. Take the time to create special memories with your loved ones … this business of building a business will still be here as 2010 dies down and 2011 explodes on the scene!
In fact, you probably won’t see too much from me for the next week or so as there are many holiday things happening. But, I will be so ready to get focused after the fireworks are over.
Until then …
Merry Christmas to all of you!
Oh … just one business note … still no word from fiverr about my logo. .. but I’ll give them some slack. Maybe their To Do List is as Christmas focused as mine is! And that’s the way it should be at this time of year.
May God bless you and your family this Christmas season!
