Making One a Priority

When I share that I wrote a book, most respond: “But you are so busy. How did you find the time?”
 
They are right. I am busy. I have a vibrant and active toddler that I am constantly running after. My business is thriving, due to the fact like any successful business owner not only do I spend time seeing clients but also attending to my media presence. As a home owner, there are always projects to be done. And, as a wife, daughter, and friend, I try to be there for my friends and family.
 
Amid all this, I did manage to write a book. How did I do it?
                                                                                        
It’s quite simple. I made it a PRIORITY.
 
Penning One was not only something I wanted to do, I felt driven to do. I knew that if I didn’t write this book, I would have regrets and be disappointed in myself. With this in mind, I found the time. I dedicated time in my schedule for writing. I am not the type of person who could take an hour or two every day to write. I tried it and found that as soon as I got on a roll, time was up. I needed chunks of time to allow the words to flow. To allow for this, there were several weeks where I did not see clients. Instead, I wrote. Every Day.
 
During my writing weeks, my family rented homes and went away. Why did we do this? It limited the number of distractions. These homes were in quiet, serene locations. In fact, one had no cell service. I was not distracted by noises around us. But, I also wasn’t distracted by the day to day chores such as the load of laundry that needed to be done or the sink full of dishes. I also wasn’t distracted by the home improvement projects that could be done. All I had to focus on was writing. That was my job for the week.
 
With that intention, I was able to get to business. I averaged eight to ten hours of writing a day, getting up early and staying up late. Fortunately, in order to avoid burn-out, I was able to enjoy family time in the afternoon. We went to museums and to parks. Reinvigorated, I was able to go back and write some more.
 
Being a priority meant I had to invest more than just time, I invested money. It cost money to go away and write. And more than just the expense of the rental property. During those weeks, I didn’t see clients. Unfortunately, as a small business owner when I don’t work I don’t get paid.
 
In addition to the costs in time, there are costs in publishing the book. I was blessed to have found reasonable ways to manage a great deal of the costs, but I have contactors to pay such as a graphic artist for a book cover, and printers to have copies of the book made. Costs add up.
 
There is no guarantee any of that money will be recouped. It’s a risk. But you know what, it doesn’t matter. Writing the book isn’t about the money or fame it could bring. It’s about sharing knowledge. Giving Spirit a voice in another way. Accomplishing a dream. And for that, it was worth it.
 
The creation of this book was a dream, and I saw it through. That’s an important lesson about making dreams a reality. If you just dream it, it may or may not happen. If you want that dream to come true, you have to see your work through to the end. Even if you don’t know if at the end, the outcome will be what you want it to be. It’s not about the outcome after all, it’s about the journey.
 
The journey of writing One was fun. Can you say your journey been enjoyable?