The New Year is almost upon us, and with it a widespread, magical belief in the impossible. It’s a time when the air is filled with a Peter Pan sense of wonder, and dreams take over everywhere you look.

And I get wrapped up in EVERY MINUTE of it. I’m a dreamer. I’m also a doer. But, if I am being honest, that dreamer mixed with doer quality is what gets me into trouble. It’s a big part of what contributed to my self-proclaimed workaholic status. A status where all of a sudden and out of nowhere I am overbooked, overwhelmed and over extended. It’s a rotating cycle that I have vowed to break this year.

But you maybe thinking, “That vow is all well and good Samantha, but how exactly are you going to break a habit that is so ingrained into the way your brain operates?” At least, that’s what my husband asked me. (Not in those exact words, but what he said was along those line)

How I am going to break the habit:

Don’t get me wrong. I am still allowing myself to dream, but I’ve built a step in between DREAMING and DOING. It’s a step that has been very successful in stopping me from running off in the direction of overbooked, overwhelmed and over extended.

My dreaming ignites my wildly creative side. If left unchecked, I know I’m more likely to get swept up in the excitement and euphoria that the brainstorming process gives me. Before I even allow myself to start taking the dream through the SMART goal setting method I use, I force myself to stop and set the dream aside. I use the Voice Memo app on my iPhone to capture both the idea and the energy behind it, and then I walk away from it.

This is usually pretty easy because one of my children are inevitably on their way back into my room (yup, I prefer to work from a desk in the corner of my bedroom) to interrupt me. For me, however, that interruption is welcome. It’s needed – desperately.

I call it THE PAUSE:

The Pause is a step in between dreaming and doing where I ask myself, “What is the purpose of this?” It allows me time to let go of the excitement of dreaming and do some reflecting around that question before beginning to set goals around the dream itself.

And the clarity that I have found just by implementing this step has caused a ripple effect throughout my business. I am even more focused and intentional than before. I have created a habit of critical thinking that now innately woves itself into every thought I have about my business day-to-day.

It’s an integral tool that I am using to make this year different. This is the year that I WILL NOT END UP overbooked, overwhelmed and over extended. Not even once (if all goes according to plan, of course).

 

Samantha King is a busy mompreneur and homeschooler with two young children and a couple of businesses at home. When Samantha’s daughter was diagnosed with autism, she had to learn how to keep her priorities aligned within her family, while operating her business at the same time. She is excited to share her knowledge to empower entrepreneurs by giving them the tools they need to do something they love while building sustainable, profitable businesses.  

Contact Samantha:

Tel: 416-885-6841

Email: samantha@fempirebuilders.com

Facebook: @FempireBuilders