Thank you, Tom Volkar, for your compelling post, Get Real About Your Work.
Tom's post came out in perfect response to my own need a couple of weeks ago. It sure does illustrate the impact we can have on one another through writing, as well as the underlying synchronicity that can occur through the medium of the Internet.
Rather than summarize Tom's post, I urge you to read it and to take the 4-minute written exercise that helps you uncover the real truth about your work when money is no longer an issue.
Now allow me to back up to tell you where I lost my groove and how I got it back, thanks in part to reading Tom's post.
Ironically, a positive change in my business created the conundrum. It begins when my business partner and I make the decision to get an outside office to work out of (in addition to our respective home offices). With the addition of an assistant, we find great benefit in working more cohesively in the same physical space.
Three plus months later, we are reaping tangible benefits from the outside office. We are developing processes and systems to work smarter; we are making far more offers on real estate; we have increased our income; and we enjoy great camaraderie.
So what's the downside to positive change? I'm hauling my laptop and a number of essential files back and forth between home and the outside office. I figure I'm losing an hour in the packing and commuting each day. I've given up a great deal of flexibility and autonomy. I begin to feel like I'm going to a "job." The office is an environment laced with adrenaline and constant interruption. After several weeks of this I find myself exhausted each day. I fall behind on stuff at home. And by the time I could blog later in the evening, I'm simply too spent. I have shot my wad of energy. Creative expression? What's that?
As I note what my body and heart are telling me, I realize that the outside office is not the problem per se. HOW I am working is a problem. In a flash, I get it. (When I did Tom's exercise, I discover that if money were no longer an issue, I'd write a whole lot more, and I wouldn't necessarily stop doing my day job. I'd just do it differently.)
A pleasant shock of physical relief surges through me. A solution presents itself and I implement it immediately. I make the decision to come into the office on Monday/Wednesday, and part of Friday as needed. Tuesday and Thursday I work from home, by phone and laptop, In addition, I will go out to any seller's home on any day of the week if we have a deal. But I don't need to sit in an outside office to wait for my phone to ring.
As soon as I implement this, I stop feeling tired. I hadn't realized how much inner resistance I experienced each day on an unconscious basis. Once I get aligned by changing how I work, I almost feel giddy. Doesn't take much for me to feel light and joyful once I get aligned.
This is a lesson to me in the art and care of my creative being. That part of me is especially happy. I can only imagine the positive ripples that will continue to flow out, not only to other areas of my life and business, but further and further into the world. Abraham notes that our purpose in life is to feel good. And let's get real. It's a lot more fun to hang out with people who feel good, isn't it?
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