A Few Words

Who has played an important role in your life? Mentors have for me.

Starbucks is my “office” today where creative writing about mentors…will surely happen. You know how your mind drifts when you ought to be focused on an important project? Mine wandered…; my gaze shifted to the window and beyond where a frisky white, standard-size poodle yanked on her leash, and pulled the spry older man attached to it. This scenario somehow inspired me to write about mentoring….I know it’s a stretch to connect the two; however, more about the dog in a few sentences.

Mentors, I decided early on in my professional career, can be any age, size, and shape, etc., that inspire "movement." Mentors are mostly successful people interested in YOU and your success, professional or personal. They ask direct questions and provide honest (sometimes blunt) feedback. If you come up with a bunch of reasons why you can’t do something, they ask you “Why”? Mentors give sound advice, provide assignments, and keep you focused on your goal when you get off balance.

Sometimes mentors only have to say a few words which profoundly affect your direction in life. In my case, on three different occasions, those words were: “Go for it,” “Just do it” (thanks Nike); and “Just jump in (Megan)”! These small though pivotal words moved me to return to work after my second child turned four; select a field of study and finish my college degree; and write articles related to professional organizing.

Back to the dog…as seen through my eyes, the leashed dog tugging the man resulted in him moving. Likewise, mentors provide a gentle nudge or tug (the dog—smile) and encourage action. They motivate one to make changes, big or small—no excuses allowed!

Need a “tug”? Find a mentor!

Progress

I created my home-based professional organizing business a couple of years ago because retirement, from the Air Force Reserve and Civil Service, was looming. I wanted new challenges and had a strong urge to tap into the creative side of myself. You might imagine how this side of me had gone dormant after years of a highly structured, steeped-in-tradition, hierarchical job where many decisions made at the top quickly moved down the chain of command and landed in the lap of the lowest rung of management.

My job now is one-person deep—me. I love it. I'm the sole everything in my business: administrator, secretary, bookkeeper, marketer, salesperson, and accountant, etc.

(This probably is a good place to interject that I took zero business classes in college—only upper-division psychology classes for me!)

Yes, the learning curve has been steep. I had to figure out: where to start, come up with a business name, pay license fees, set up a checking account, and create forms, marketing material, a website, and a pamphlet, and so on. Oh, and ALL decisions were and are made by me, a bit, unlike previous jobs.

I am a challenge to myself sometimes because I overthink projects, which leads to procrastination and zero decisions made. That’s hard to admit. Two months ago, I couldn't make up my mind—write a newsletter, or create a blog? I wrote articles for a newsletter, over-critiqued them, and their somewhere on my hard drive now.

Then, three events occurred in slow succession: I received Publishing a Blog with Blogger, by Elizabeth Castro, a clear, succinct, step-by-step book, (with color pictures!); I picked a blog title; and I decided to get over myself.

I want to thank Amy for the book, Molly for name suggestions and editing, and my twin for her support regarding anything in my world.

My blog is launched. Progress?