True confessions of a working mom…
One day recently, after I received my acupuncture license fresh from the California acupuncture board, I got excited and then side tracked down that well known alley of “I’m gonna do business things now” even though at the time I was parenting (which has been my predominant mode post grad) and juggling all the homeschool/feed me/laundry/house work stuff that goes along with that job.
I decided that I was going to order business cards! Not the print at home ones that I had made the month before but real grown up business cards from a printing company. It took me 6 hours between all the daily “interruptions”, shopping around for the best price and then the actual layout (no we only accept .jpg not .pdf, I’m mildly fluent in tech specs). I patiently waited for them to arrive and then eagerly began handing them out at every opportunity!
Yesterday at the library I got another one of those “business things” inspirations and decided to streamline my website. As I was updating the contact information page, I decided to double check the phone number from the g-suite source just to make sure I had it correct (who has the brain space to remember a phone number much less one they never dial). Shocked was I to discover that according to g-suite, it didn’t begin with 547 as I had thought but rather 457. My stomach sank and I grabbed for the hard won business card stash in my wallet. Yes folks, there is was in bold black print…the wrong number 😖
You have to understand that I am not a business novice. I’ve worked in marketing and run successful businesses for years. What you also have to understand is something that I’ve known for awhile now…my business brain and my mommy brain don’t get along. I have no idea why, but its one of the main reasons I quit my previous career. I knew that I needed to find a type of work that was more simpatico with my home life. I landed on healthcare and after 6 years of school I’m pleased to say that I made the right choice.
Doctoring and parenting I can do, no problem. I go into caregiver mode and just keep adding patients, but ask me to fix a website or balance a check book or run a statistical analysis and either the kids suffer or the work does.
When I was applying to school, everyone was so pleased that I wouldn’t “struggle with the business of running a business” because I have so much experience. News flash…the struggle is real people!
So today, I printed out some new “on my home printer” business cards because my kids are sick and I don’t have time to layout and order new fancy ones. This is a judgement free zone, I see your struggle and I honor your intention. So, what did you mess up this week?
Oh, and if you need to call me, the number is 510-457-1319.
