April Lately
I had a grand vision for the month of April, starting with a few one-year anniversary reflections, some website updates, and a special announcement, but it was almost as though the universe had other plans.
The little energy I’ve had for this month has been solely getting through the day and making sure my clients were taken care of. I felt like I was treading water while feeling severely overwhelmed depending on the day. My social media content and writing has even suffered.
My husband, Wes, even noticed one night when he walked into my office and I had my head in my hands, fighting back tears. You know when everything and anything happens all at once? Yeah, I have encountered those situations on more than one occasion this month.
“Let’s go, get up, Chris,” he said. “Let’s go grab something to eat.”
He put out his hand to help me get out of my chair and we made our way to Wegmans. Almost instantly, the fresh air, food, and a non-work conversation made me feel human again.
The beginning of April has been littered with lessons learned and adjustments I’ve taken note of, too. I have become a bigger advocate for myself and have established boundaries within my line of work. Yes, I am technically working for myself, but I answer to a handful of individuals, all of which have varying needs on any given day. My time, as I have mentioned before, is often planned out to the minute and sometimes, that day is thrown out the window with abrupt fires and urgent requests. It’s been THAT kind of month.
Lately, I’ve also felt like I am on high alert. Meaning, my brain doesn’t shut off because I am constantly, CONSTANTLY thinking ahead, anticipating the next steps for not only my clients, but in my personal life as well. It’s a balancing act that I pride myself on, but it’s also my worst trait about myself - the ability to balance multiple needs and weave in and out of different deliverables on any given day.
I don’t want to sound like I am complaining. I’m certainly not. I think all my friends who have chosen the entrepreneurship path will understand: you’re going to eat a lot of shit sandwiches with the occasional milestone sprinkled in. Celebrating one year of The Assist is one of them.
I am extremely proud of myself and what I have accomplished thus far. And I know I don’t give myself grace - at all. I really need to soak it all in because I believe I have established a product that is authentic to me and showcases my work ethic and expertise in my field. I am grateful for those who have entrusted me with parts of their business and look forward to future opportunities that may arise.
April is not in the books …yet. And the last half of the month will no doubt continue to test my abilities to perform with a local fundraising event, a conference in Binghamton, NY, and the intense prep and execution of a 100-plus people event in May on the horizon.
I just have to continue to put one foot in front of another and breathe - everything works out in the end.
