How Did I Do It?
Don’t let the photo fool you:
This was a big year for me. 3 MAJOR milestones accomplished.
In May, my pool was built- If you know me, this was my dream – not a family dream – so I agreed to make the money for it myself.
This week – The first week of December 2022 -I move from writer to published Author. I first had this dream crystallized in my heart at 23 – in Boulder, Colorado, when I came across Thomas Moore’s and Sark’s books.
Next week I finish L1 training in IFS – this gives me one technical “credential,” but what I’m really proud of speaks to HOW I did ALL of these things:
I invested in myself – and boy, if it were as easy as investing cash- wouldn’t that have been fun? And yes, I’ve been my own “angel investor” for years. (I will acknowledge the literally inherited privilege of being white and educated and a small trust fund from my grandfather that helped me invest in my first home and pay off some of my school debt – these gifts were MONUMENTAL support). For many years, honestly, I debted – I borrowed and played a money shell game with myself. I stopped debiting to live or work (other than my home) in 2017.
Yes, I have invested in myself and my business – things that cost money: It’s almost obscene how much I spend on personal and professional and personal development and have for years:
- Coaching, reading, classes, learning, therapy, art supplies, black writing pens and journals, and more coaching – business coaching, money coaching, book coaching, profit first coaching, money coaching, creative coaching, IFS coaching, sales coaching – that’s what I can think of off-hand.
- I’ve invested in implementation support: Podcasting producer who also emotionally supports my creative mojo and flow – not only does she create great sound – she gets the ebb and flow of creativity and believes in me. I invest in admin support, and off and on over the years, I’ve experimented with marketing support. And, of course, I invest in the systems and tech required to run my business – so many subscriptions and little expenses here and there that add up.
Most of these expenses have paid off – some have been monumental failures – expensive lessons.
I don’t spend lots of money on material luxuries, clothes, hair, lashes, nails – I do get good skincare and cheap makeup from the grocery store – but I don’t give a rat’s ass about a new car or highlights anymore.
But here is how I have really invested in myself even more than MONEY: TIME ON TASK. All the coaching and learning without implementation is just entertainment. I am a grand experimenter – and if YOU want to make your dreams come true, then be a daily experimenter – Time on task, over and over.
What I really invest in is Time on task:
Time spent doing my nourishing habits (reading, writing, moving my body, journaling, parts work, drinking water, etc.). Time spent sharing my heart and showing my work – thinking and doing things that hopefully serve my audience and clients. Time Practicing my skills in real-time – not waiting until things are perfect. (The hours – and I mean HOURS I spent coaching my ass off and doing IFS as a coach, client and student have been more effective than any class or training). Time resting and recovering and NOT working. Time learning how to allocate and track my money. This year I’m taking my books back from my bookkeeper to master the daily nuances of my finances- more Time spent ahead). Time serving clients, Time making offers. Time doing the learning and then DOING what I learn. Time writing – every single day. Making it just what I do. Time healing my nervous system Time doing boring stuff – no one sees over and over and over and over. and, yes, time-wasting (playing dumb video games, watching tv, trolling on Twitter, to name a few). Time to recover from all the time I invest doing Time on task stuff.You don’t have to bet on yourself the exact ways I do. You don’t have to invest in yourself the way I do. But Oprah isn’t coming. Life isn’t the “Field of Dreams – where if you build it, they will come.
You do have to choose your actions, attitude, and investments – bet on yourself. No one else’s bet will be stronger, and one day you will look up and see your long tail of accomplishments and be deeply proud. If you want that for you, I want that for you – but wanting isn’t enough. So put the Time on task.
Love, Allison