You have a reason
Our oldest turned 13 this week. I don’t know how that’s possible since I can promise you that I was JUST pregnant with her.
Every baby is special, but I look back and realize that she was a pivot point in my career.
She is the reason I ever bucked the 40-hr-week corporate norm. It was being pregnant with her that I requested my first reduced work schedule - requesting a 32-hr week and happy trade 8 hrs more with her in exchange for 20% of my salary.
My boss (whom I liked and respected), kindly, told me that the company “didn’t do that sort of thing” and his hands were tied.
I, kindly and without dramatics (actually), told him that I would have to find a company that DID “do that sort of thing”, since I wanted more time with my baby.
After a few days and a few meetings with his boss, he came back to tell me they had accepted my reduced schedule offer (I was too young - 25 - and naive to realize I had offered a negotiation).
From there, I realized that everything was a negotiation. Everything could be “on the table”, if I put it there.
The story takes many twists and turns from there, but 13 years later, her and her little brother are the reason I’ve built what I have built:
A very intentional, simple (but profitable) accounting firm.
Odds are, you have a good reason too.
Maybe it’s a baby with a due date
Or a baby with a kindergarten start date
Or a baby with a high school graduation date
Or…Maybe it’s yourself that you need to care for
Or maybe the reason is that there’s a whole world out there that you want to hop on a plane or RV or boat and go see for yourself. (There doesn’t have to be any baby in the picture.)
Whatever the reason, I bet you have one that’s calling you to reduce your working hours.
Keep that reason in the forefront of your mind.
Make it your north star.
Always.
Erica
PS - If you feel up to it, hit reply and tell me your reason. I’d love to hear it.
Behind-the-scenes in my business this week:
It’s “Week 3” in my close process which means I’ve wrapped up my mid-tier clients’ reporting and am meeting with all 4 of them this week for 45-min each. During those meetings we talk through actuals, forecasting, and anything else that needs to be talked through in their financial landscape. I’ve also sent out all reporting for my bookkeeping-only clients, so close is officially over.
This week I also had my monthly “Think Session”, which is a 4-hr time block on my calendar where I walk away from my desk to assess my business and plan out my next month/quarter. If I don’t do this every month, I feel lost.
No Work Wednesday this week was a mother-daughter birthday date to the “big city” (Pocatello, ID…it’s not big, don’t be impressed lol) where we hit the salon, Panera, and did some slow shopping at her favorite places. I think we both needed it :o)
Money back guarantee, if you get in there and don’t see the value. No questions asked.
More details in the link above.