Running your own hustle should mean that you have the flexibility to work and play in equal measure. After all, you determine the hours you work. You decide holidays and afternoons or mornings off. You even decide when others can be off and when they need to show up! You really are the captain of this ship!

So, our baby exits the hospital on a Friday afternoon (In their morning rounds, the doctors said we could leave. Discharge processes in hospitals need to streamline. And that’s a story for another day). The first weekend home is very exciting. “Firsts” are super important in those early days. First night home. First nurse-unassisted burp. First bath. Well, back to the first weekend. It was easy and relaxed. It must have been the newness of it all. We quickly settle the baby and get to growing him up. Fast forward to Friday of the following week and better still, 3 Fridays down. I realise now that every day is the same. The baby doesn’t sleep in because it’s Sunday or because he went late to the bed the night before. The newness is starting to wear off. The excitement is waning.

The truth. Whether you’re raising a child or building a business, you put in long hours and hard work. In those early days (ok, I’m beginning to understand that it really is, early years), you put in the work. It doesn’t seem to let up. Every day is the same. Taking a break on Friday morning probably means that you’ll have to make up for work time on Saturday night. On some days, there are no breaks. This “baby” must be nurtured and grown. So, you show up tired. You show up sleepy. You show up when you don’t feel like it. You show up when bills are due and you have no idea how they’ll be paid. You show up when customers are happy and when they are complaining. You show up.

And when I show up, I just never know what “first” I may have to handle today. So, I’ve learnt to bring my whole self when I get up to pick up the baby. I’ve learnt to bring my whole self to work. In the early days, I’d complain a lot that this nurturing and growing was hard. Don’t get me wrong, I still have days when I complain, but bringing my whole self has built my tenacity. My whole self – having said a prayer, a positive mindset, openness to possibilities, courage that I can handle whatever comes, a smile and the hope that today will be a good day – is better able to deal with the day.

And I’ve learnt to study patterns so that I can better manage non-firsts. I plan the baby’s routine and the company’s processes so that I can notice when something is off and not going as it should. When the baby doesn’t nap as he should during the day, I put him to bed earlier at night. When new business is not forthcoming from referrals, there is the understanding that new business must be sought by consistently generating leads. And no, I cannot predict everything, but by seeing and understanding patterns, I am less apprehensive about “showing up”.

And finally, I’ve learnt to create and savour moments. In the every day, it is easy to miss things because they are often considered normal. The baby will turn towards your voice. A client will rave about you to their friends. An employee will get a job done well. Moments are experienced when you show up.

If any of this resonates with you, leave me a comment.