If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like being a work-at-home entrepreneur, well, let me tell you. It’s a lot more than simply shambling down the stairs in your pajamas with a cup of coffee and an endless day of joyful creating ahead of you.
If only.
However, the day ran like this:
1) Oversleep. I have an excuse. I was up until 2am the night before working.
2) Due to oversleeping, missed my window of good light for photographing new jewelry for the web site.
3) Make coffee. Leave coffee on the counter when the dryer dings. Forget I made coffee.
4) Sit down at the computer to order the booth displays. Remember I have to stick postcard stamps on a 10″ stack of cards for the craft show.
6) Run upstairs to put on real clothes as Zack has just been invited to go play kick ball. Watch for a moment and remember why I hated grade school gym.
7) Where the heck is that danged coffee.
8) Sit back down at the computer. My order for booth displays has timed out and I have to find everything all over again.
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| Beads by The Gritty Bird |
11) Open computer programs to work on web site. Notice that it is now 7:30pm.
12) Upload exactly two (2) pieces of jewelry before it’s time to read to Zack.
13) Finally drink my coffee. It’s 9pm.
14) Everyone goes to bed, and thanks to coffee, I am up until 4am making jewelry.
Woody Allen was right. “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him your plans.”
When Lori isn’t searching for a Venti Starbucks Mocha, she’s (trying) to create jewelry in her Easton, MD studio. She writes a blog, Pretty Things, and you can see her work at http://www.lorianderson.net/.
Spirited Earth
February 16, 2011 at 2:18 pmLOL this so sounds like many of my days..my new plan..go to bed really early and then get up before the chickens and everyone else..hmm, we'll see how that works out.
daydream: when i win the lotto i will hire a personal assistant who will make my coffee and keep all loose ends beautifuly tied up.
Debrafide
February 16, 2011 at 2:18 pmThank you for sharing – this really made me chuckle – I have a horrid feeling that my free days that I want to devote to Crafts go a similar way esp. when I make my cup of tea or coffee and it gets cold because it is still next to the kettle because I totally forgot about it 🙂
Sissy and Jack's
February 16, 2011 at 2:44 pmTo funny! We have a lot in common when it comes to mompreneurs. I have my jewelry business and I am a my own EPA consulting business that I run from home. Though I cannot stay up late like I used to. It is a true balancing act.
Keep up the good work!
Cheers,
Stacy
http://www.sissyandjacks.com
SummersStudio
February 16, 2011 at 2:52 pmI've had days like this, lots of them. Only, I don't move until that cup of coffee is down. It's a priority (necessity).
Michelle Mach
February 16, 2011 at 2:55 pmI love this! Sounds a little like my day, except that I am always forgetting about my tea, which keeps brewing and getting more and more bitter and undrinkable as it steeps . . . .
Alice
February 16, 2011 at 3:05 pmLori I can relate to your story! It happens to me every day. And at the end of the day I'm so frustrated because, despite my best intentions, timers and to-do lists, at the end of the day I feel like I've accomplished nothing.
Thanks for reminding us that we are not alone in our efforts to have a business and still try to keep the home life running smoothly.
Gardanne
February 16, 2011 at 3:07 pmThat top photo is me every night before I go to sleep. Not sure if that is good or bad, I used to draw ideas in a journal, so it is probably bad.
Evie's Tool Emporium
February 16, 2011 at 3:33 pmOkay…you had me until you mentioned being up until 4:00 am! I just can't do that! I have to maintain more traditional hours myself! That includes sleeping! I am nothing without sleep! I gave up Coke 2 years ago…that may have something to do with it! Enjoy your day today,
Michelle-
TesoriTrovati
February 16, 2011 at 4:05 pmHAHAHA! This is exactly why I use the word FOCUS this year. Becuase I have had my fill of days like this. I have learned to just let it all go and not have so many demands on what I can get done. I have a suggestion list and if I can get one or two knocked off I feel pretty good. You made me smile today, Lori!
Enjoy the day!
Erin
Desert Rubble
February 16, 2011 at 4:57 pmOh, this cracked me up! I can't count how many times I've left my coffee laying somewhere only to find it later, cold. Or how many times it has happened in the very same day! I am not above putting it in the microwave, but that only works if I sit and wait for it, because I also will find it in the microwave hours or even days later.
And shopping sites that time out, that is so wrong! I usually will spend hours or even days contemplating everything I need form a particular store before I make my final decision, it is heartbreaking to find all that work and decision making gone.
Lynn
Genea
February 16, 2011 at 5:18 pmOMG, SO true! I totally feel ya on the trying to get things done and doing completely the opposite!
Totally agree on the coffee thing too! I really MUST indulge in my morning cup to get prepared for the day!
Brandi
February 16, 2011 at 5:33 pmThis sounds so familiar!!! I'm right there with you when it comes to a crazy kind of day.
Malin de Koning
February 16, 2011 at 5:45 pmWell Lori, I know exactly how you are feeling. And your story only proves HOW important coffee really is!
beadphoria
February 16, 2011 at 7:08 pmUm, yeah. Can TOTALLY relate. Don't you just love it that people think that just because your office happens to be in your home, that you are free to do as you please? Oh, if they only knew…
Natalie
February 16, 2011 at 7:32 pmLove number 5, don't know how many times a day I do that!
Holly
February 16, 2011 at 8:34 pm::running to get caffeine:: Oh Lori, thanks so much for the laugh! And I completely feel for ya…
Elisabeth
February 16, 2011 at 10:24 pmGreat post! It's exactly how I imagined it and still I want to give it a try – sigh – someday 🙂
Jenni C
February 17, 2011 at 6:37 amYou are so funny Lori!
Some days are just so frustrating!
However, ther's always tomorrow….,
Jenni
JeannieK
February 17, 2011 at 2:40 pmHILARIOUS!! I'll be thinking about this all day.
Michelle
February 17, 2011 at 3:15 pmi don't work from home…but this sounds like my days–minus the wee folk. Up at a bit after 4am…go off to the paying job, then in to the shop, then home then design new items/order/update website/email newsletter/photgraph/ etc…you get the idea. And TRY to be in bed by 10 so that I can function at both jobs the next day…my life for the past 4+ years!
Thanks for the smile!
Bead Happy!
Michelle
Megilon
February 17, 2011 at 4:04 pmGreat post! I can relate and I don't even have children. I still think owning my own business and working from home sounds amazing.
FryeStyle
February 17, 2011 at 7:01 pmSounds like the"perfect storm"! Creating in "stormy weather conditions" is not easy. However, I think we all do this a lot! You made me laugh! I hope tomorrow is just partly cloudy with a chance of sunshine. Optimum conditions. And yet, we keep plugging away…determined…passionate…exhausted. 🙂
French Elegant Jewelry
February 18, 2011 at 12:47 amyup sounds about right except My hubby likes me to go to bed with him and I can't think straight past 10 pm. And if I get up too early I am dead tired by noon. Momprenuer with fibromyalgia. Can't over do it or my whole body shuts down for weeks.
Jenny
February 18, 2011 at 1:12 amSo true! Pour the coffee, lose the coffee, find the coffee, repour the coffee, go to studio, dip paintbrush in coffee, pour new coffee…
I am glad its not just me!
Everyday Gypsy
February 18, 2011 at 1:13 amWow, this sounds exactly like one of my days. I'm glad I'm not the only one. It's nice to hear that others face the same sort of things on a daily basis.
Marsha of Marsha Neal Studio
February 18, 2011 at 5:40 amOh – we are sisters in this, big time (see – it's almost 1am and I am just getting to catching up with my blog friends).
My husband teases me that the microwave is going to have "Finished. Enjoy Your Meal" burned into the screen because I alway re-heat my coffee, get distracted for hours, and have to constantly re-heat…
I am so happy it is not just me – pshew!
Ilenia
February 18, 2011 at 12:01 pmahahahaha! All this made me laugh a lot but i think that is the reality also for me! the same thing happens to me, if i survive because i have an old agenda on which i write by hand, and thousands of post cards and spread it around the house, they look bad … but luckily they are!
Shirley
February 18, 2011 at 12:55 pmI so needed to read this today. I was trying to catch up on blogs…as my coffee was perking! Had me laughing so hard I had to go get a cup before I wrote my comment!
Not making jewelry to sell yet, but am a stay at home, homeschool mom, so I totally relate with all the distractions.
Have an awesome day, and a hot cup of coffee! 🙂
Marla
February 18, 2011 at 5:56 pmLOL, I can totally relate!
roseworksjewelry
February 18, 2011 at 6:40 pmI love it! That sounds like one of my days…
Kayla
February 18, 2011 at 9:11 pmSo true! Thanks for sharing. Now I know I'm not the only one who has days like this!!!
Regina
February 19, 2011 at 1:52 amAnd I thought if only I could stay home and bead, and blog, and sell, and do all the things I want to do….. still someday…
My Life Under the Bus
February 19, 2011 at 1:23 pmThis is every day for me!!!! Where does the time go? My kids are all finally in full day school and I put them on the bus, splash water on my face, pick up a pair of pliers, answer the phone, look for the %(^$ coffee and they are back – where does the time go?
missficklemedia.com
February 20, 2011 at 11:27 pmYep.
Raj
March 25, 2011 at 1:53 amThanks for the honesty, the humor, and the glimpse into your day.