I mentioned to a former leader of mine that I’m visiting California this winter.
So this morning he checked in to see if I’m still planing to come to California, because I could work at one of my favorite companies for the two months I’ll be there. Conrad thinks I’m romanticizing my memories of working for this famous employer, and is concerned that I won’t have enough flexible time to explore California to our hearts’ delight. That it has been a good year and we can both take a rest. I have a good feeling about this.
Work. I think if we didn’t work we would be very depressed. But what I don’t understand is why the offhand comments people make about our business come across as judgmental. In California nobody would think to say that an entrepreneur isn’t working. On the contrary. Oh, how we wished we could clock in and clock out somewhere when we moved here. Beating the roads, investing loads of time and money without immediate return and no promise of long term gain, seemed futile. It takes self restrained patience, resilience to not give up.
To everyone who ever did something independently from an employer, I applaud you! There is nobody to weigh your day’s work and affirm your sweat, and keeping at it, adapting, pushing through is what sets you apart. You are working! Not in the traditional clock in – clock out – take your pay way. Your work is so much more complex and constantly morphing.
When Conrad started designing independently full time it felt like he was procrastinating a lot. Yet he is so organized and timely, resourceful and incredibly creative. And creativity does not happen on demand. Over time we trained to focus our energy and creativity. But it’s a journey, no matter anyone says.
Appearances can be deceiving.
We diversify, do any work that needs to be done, and then we also learned to relax, explore nature, take walks. “What’s it to you?”
I like to work. I like to do the work I like. It takes time and courage to discern that. Especially coming from my background. Yet we do it. There are the things I like to do least, and things I thrive doing, and I do both with equal responsibility.
The past weeks I have done some company trainings. And it was just a re-ignition of old fire. Now it’s a matter of constantly feeding that fire, polishing my comfort, skills and approach.
So how will it go? I have had very vivid dreams about working *there long after we moved to Romania. It is surreal to think that I’ll be back there again, even if for a short time.