got my business cards....now how to talk about it? & other news.

So I feel kind of official now.  Though rather worringly a friend assumed that I was now some sort of "lady that does" in the way of ironing, cleaning and so on.  Hmm.  Don't know if I like that sort of assumption!! Of course its not like that at all.  Goodness knows I would rather find someone else to do that sort of do for me than the other way around.  Not that i'm proud.  I mean. If I had to, I would.  And its not that I don't do all that sort of thing for our house myself at the moment.  But you know.  I do dream of employing a cleaner.....

Its been interesting working out just how to talk about my new job.  Its not that straightforward.  Its not like, "I'm an Architect" or "I'm a Teacher" or some such other profession.  Or even, "I work in TV" or "I work in a Yoga Centre" which is things I have said about myself in the past.  Its not, of course, "I am an artist" which is a claim I do not want to lay by the wayside.

But hmm, what DO I do? Who is  a Person Who Does and how do I "Make Work Better".

Exactly.  So far in discussion, we are NOT: trainers, advisors, coaches or consultants.  We ARE  mentors.  Apparently.  And we help deal with that whole "got too much work on to ever be able to finish it, getting stressed, losing focus, being swamped, working long long hours and dreading Mondays type stuff"  Yup.   We sort that stuff out.  And help people get some sense of control and focus and feeling on top of things again.  

I am indeed practising talking about it.  As I have been practising delivering it. Fundamentally I am very, very happy to be part of it all.  Its so interesting.  And its a company I just LIKE.  I like what they are about.  I like their ethos.  I very much like their rule that "nobody works more than 4 days a week" (I mean, how cool is that?) I like that they are about more than just work.  I like this too.  For example.

I have another practise session in November with the very talented and very busy Amelia.  Amelia has just launched her YEAR LONG experimental  Art e course  - which I am all signed up for and rather relishing as despite having done it twice now, I  have felt that there was always so much more to explore and do.  I am looking forward to being part of that online ART community for the whole year. (if you decide to come and join me, I have signed up as an affiliate so tell Amelia I sent you!)

OH And of course I am very much looking forward to meeting Lizzie who along with a colleague has signed up for a Accelerated Productivity session.  Which got me BIG brownie points being the newbie and all, I must say! Thanks Lizzie!!!!!

Another thing I have been doing lately is skyping with a bunch of ladies regarding the Spark Kit which is that e book that Danielle La Porte brought out and I bought when she was doing a special pay what you like birthday offer.  Its rather good, as is most of what she does I think.  And we ladies, rather internationally from Belgium, Holland and the UK meet for a skype chat and catch up  / support session every 2 weeks.  Its cool.  Cheryl, who I met at the Do What You Love retreat, and who is a very interesting and dynamic person, set it up.  Hmm.  I guess there is a lot more to say about this.  So I will leave that for another post when I have more time to delve into.

Not much more news here.  I am no longer ill, which is a blessed relief.  I hate being ill.  So boring to have no energy....

OH!  I have a Supergroup tomorrow, which is most excellent as I thought I was not needed. IN fact I had just deleted it from my diary.  I always put them in as definate, as some sort of wish that they will happen.  But just as I let go of it, I got the call.  Seems that I am the reserve they call at the last minute when someone pulls out.  I am not sure if this is a good thing (as in I am the person they call first) or a not so good thing (as in they obviously would have preferred someone else for some reason)... .... Actually I don't really think either of those things.  I know that they have demographic or brand user reasons for choosing people.  Or they may have wanted a different age or gender mix.  Either way, I have £250 worth of work tomorrow.  And as its last minute I am not expected to do anything other than think about the pre task work (breakfast recipe with cheddar cheese anyone? I am thinking a cheese and apple muffin or scone. btw)  AND I have the chance to practise talking about being  a Person Who Does some more.  I really LOVE supergroups actually.  Its just such cool work. Its getting paid for having ideas and hanging out with some really great folk.  It used to involve rather nice lunches as well, though lately these have just been sandwiches, which is a damn shame.  Never mind.  Tomorrow I am up early and out and away to London Bridge for the day to invent.  I love how random that is.

a day at channel 4

Yesterday I assisted on a group delivery of accelerated productivity with People Who Do.  It was great.  The team at Channel 4 digital really got it.  They were all game and had chosen to come along and do the course, so that was a good start.  It is, obviously, sightly more formal, when doing a group.  Not formal as in stiff and contained - there was lots of good chat - just more structured.  I am feeling hugely more confident that I will be able to deliver very soon.  And looking forward to it.  Am enjoying this new role.  And am going to get some fancy schmancy lovely new letterpress business cards soon too. 

Other than that I have been looking at my own busy schedule and seeing where I can fit in all the things I need to do.  I am getting frustrated about how it feels as if all household and childcare stuff is firmly in my camp, but complaining about it makes me a nag!  No good to anyone that!! 

I don't know quite how to tackle it at all.  Maybe get a cleaner??  I think when I start earning more and properly then this will have to be the case.  Until then I find it hugely difficult to justify.  I mean £21 a week (or there abouts? it maybe more?) is going on £100 a month and that is £1200 a year.  On the other hand... that makes it £10 a week each.  Which surely we could manage? Its a perennail and tricky issue this one!!

Yesterday I came home and complained about the cutlery not being put away and the bin not being emptied.  I do recall how it drove me MAD when Hub used to come home and do that very same thing.  And poor Hub had managed to actually mop the kitchen floor, clean out a cupboard and go to the dump with the garden debris.   Having said that it drives me mad that if I don't do it the cutlery thing after washing up it overflowing and there are no spoons in the drawer.  And the bin is always left till the bag breaks (when I am trying to empty it).  grrrrr

And the other thing that really pissed me off this week, was that for months, a year even - my plan to move Bub into the spare room to commandeer the back box room as my studio hit a set back on Monday.  I  was blocked on it for ages, because it has been nice to have a spare bed.  When Hub gets a cold, he snores really badly, so I would sneak off and sleep somewhere else.  But since I got rid of the mattress (because it took up the whole floor in the 'studio') I realised that I had no where to go!  And the other night I ended up camped on the floor because I needed to sleep!! My solution idea was to get bunk beds for Bub.  On Monday I measured for where the bunk beds ought to go, and there is just not enough room for them.  The only place they can fit is in the middle of the room which is just not very pleasing.  I regret getting rid of the double mattress, which I could have left in Bub's room and have been fine for a while....

Sometimes progress means letting go of something.  And I realised last night, that bunk beds will mean I won't get to snuggle in with Bub any more.  He is nearly 4 and we are rushing him into these bunk beds when, had I just stopped and thought for a bit, he could have had that double mattress for a while more and if Hub did snore, I could have snuck in and slept with Bub.  It would have been fine. More than fine.  It was something rather lovely and I will miss it.

Anyway, we have ordered the bunk beds from a chap who goes to Ikea for you and assembles everything. Worth every penny I reckon.

Today our handyman is round ticking LOADS of things off the to do list.  Doorbell will be working consistently, the oven door will shut again, that light Bro gave me for Christmas will be up, the towel rack is up, the bathroom door knob wont fall off every time we use it, the ugly satellite dish will be gone, the hooks are up to hang a curtain over the doorway when guests sleep in the new 'guest room' (sofa bed in the living room....)

The inside of Bub's new toy cupboard will not have big holes in the wall and Hub will have a new shelf inside the wardrobe to put his jumpers on (and there will be room to put the spare bedding in there).  There will be a nice 50's hook rack on the back of the door to hang up coats and stuff.  The powerpoints in the bedroom will no longer be INSIDE the wardrobe (why was it like that??)

Oh and we will have a mains water tap INSIDE the house.  All good.

A day at the the Farm

On Thursday I went to Hawthbush Farm for a day with People Who Do.  It was a meet up of all those interested in becoming associates or working in some capactity with them, and a kind of introduction to the company and a chance to  hear where they are at, and discuss what our input could be.  Good news is that they have plenty of work and desperately want to step away from the deivery side of it.  Which is where I (and a few others) would step in. Good to know there is work there.  I was slightly overwhelmed when the talk was around business development.  I guess I feel really out of the world of business.  Perhaps I don't even really want to get into that side of it so much either? I don't know.  I guess if I knew the language and had some experience it would feel better.  For my part I am excited about doing the delivery side of it, and also the options to bring in business and how that might pan out with commission and so on.  What I really liked was the group of people gathered together.  A bright, creative, interesting and more importantly, interested bunch of folk.

The other thing was the wonderful place that is Hawthbush Farm.  One thing completely and utterly got me.  They had this beautiful function room, with this massive table, and they had had a dinner there the night before.  A chef had come down from Claridges and cooked a show piece several courses meal.  And they were going to do this, often, and it be a non profit, but for fun thing, with guests paying £30 and bringing wine.  OMIGOD yes.  This also made me insanely jealous. No, not jealous.  But you know sometimes when you experience something, and its some one's way of life, and you think.  BUT THIS IS HOW I WANT MY LIFE TO BE.  The big table thing.  Its so totally my dream.

But, see, the other good thing, is that People Who Do, want to book that experience, I will get to go there and have a splendid dinner. And while it may not be my table, at least I am going to get to eat at it.  Quite frankly I could not imaging a better way to spend my time.  Apart from doing that and spending the day painting and then having a big meal prepared like that.

At this beautiful farm there is also a large house to rent out and subsiduary cottages so that a group of people can stay there,

So my Art Retreat ears pricked up and my heartbeat grew a little faster at that idea.