In part two of this three part Ready, Set, Go series, we are going to discuss the middle child of the Ready, Set, Go family - SET. What does it mean to get SET and to be SET?
The running joke for visionary entrepreneurs like myself is the quote, "Ready, Fire, Aim!"
And boy have I lived that quote in the past! At first, in my 20s, it was because I didn't know what I was doing - at home, at work, or as a parent. I learned the hard way - every time!
But later in my 30s, it wasn't really my fault anymore. There wasn't enough time to prepare or aim. Life was moving so fast that I was missing important things while running at Mach 1 speed!
It wasn't my fault. And it's not yours either.
The last time we had "preparation time" in our calendars was in grade school where our teachers carefully planned our assignments and workload so we had time to complete things.
By the time high school arrived: extra-curricular activities, part-time jobs and sleep filled in all the cracks and then some.
No one has enough time. And no one is going to give us more time. #truth
Work colleagues, parents, children, partners, neighbors and friends all want our time. Some demand, some plead, some expect it without question. And we give it…gladly, lovingly, freely.
We get up earlier, stay up later, eliminate hobbies and rearrange our days.
Eve Rodsky compares our time this way, "Men's time is worth diamonds, and women's time is like sand."
Ouch. You can't unhear that. But, it's true for me.
Greg has a golf night. He goes on fishing and golf trips. I haven't had a hobby night or gone on a trip with friends since having children (22 years ago)!
After work, Greg makes dinner and then watches TV. Now, I do the dishes (sometimes), take a bath and do a puzzle. But I feel weird about it.
Until a few years ago, my after-work activities involved driving kids, cleaning the kitchen, laundry, straightening up, etc. until I felt it was an acceptable time for me to stop "working" and take my bath.
When are we going to give ourselves the permission to take back a little of our time?
Last week we talked about being ready. The truth is you and I are OVER ready. We have been for decades. But we don't make the plan and run the race to a different end. Why is this?
SET is all about saying your time is not more important, but AS important as everyone else's.
For me, in this season, it means I am going to start my Ph.D program and travel - A LOT. For work, for pleasure, and for me.
Let me be clear. My family is not happy about it. They intellectually support it, but in words and actions, they are not pleased with the change.
Am I being selfish? Maybe.
Would I want it for every single one of them? Absolutely! When one of my family members wants to…further their education, move out, have a baby, take a trip, find a new doctor, pursue a new passion…I facilitate the how, when, where, and payments.
I am happy for the sacrifices of time and self-focus I have devoted to my family over the last 25 years, and for the ability to grow Organize 365® around my family.
But now I want to pour more of my time and talent into my unique gifting.
So, how do we get SET to do the things we want and need to do in life?
We know how to help others in our lives get set. We set our kids up for school, set-up their school supplies, bookbags, dorm rooms, etc. We set our partners up for their endeavors and trips. We know how to get set-up; we just don't often look at doing it for ourselves the way we do for others.
How do we SET ourselves up for success?
Getting SET comes after getting ready because when you are getting SET you are already ready. You are doing the final steps before you GO (more on that next week).
What do you need to GO? Get that together now.
How can you get SET for a productive and proactive new year?
If your goal is to reclaim your home and your time - I have the solution for you. The Productive Home Solution™ is a new way of thinking about your space and time! Half of the battle with anything we are ready and set to do is deciding what the next step is (and then the next step after that). Avoid decision fatigue and use The Productive Home Solution™ as your roadmap to guide you through the journey of getting organized. Organization will carry you through so many of your goals and was the first step for me getting to where I am today.
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