Progress

I created my home-based professional organizing business a couple years ago because retirement, from the Air Force Reserve and Civil Service, was looming. I wanted new challenges and had a strong urge to tap into the creative side of myself. You might imagine how this side of me had gone dormant after years of a highly structured, steeped-in-tradition, hierarchical job where many decisions made at the top quickly slid down the chain of command and landed in the lap of the lowest rung of management.

My job now is one-person deep—me. I love it. I'm the sole everything of my business: administrator, secretary, bookkeeper, marketer, salesperson, tax preparer, etc.

(This probably is a good place to interject that I took zero business classes in college—only upper-division psychology classes for me!)

Yes, the learning curve has been steep. I had to figure out: where to start, come up with a business name, pay license fees, set up a checking account, and create forms, marketing material, a website, and a pamphlet, and so on. Oh, and ALL decisions were and are made by me, a bit unlike previous jobs.

I am a challenge to myself because of my extreme self-criticism, which leads to procrastination and zero decisions made. That’s hard to admit. Two months ago, I couldn't make up my mind—write a newsletter, or create a blog? I wrote articles for a newsletter, found fault with them, and buried them on my hard drive. (I almost buried them in the backyard, but the hard drive was easier!)

Then, three events occurred in slow succession: I received Publishing a Blog with Blogger, by Elizabeth Castro, a clear, succinct, step-by-step book, (with color pictures!); I picked a blog title; and I decided to get over myself.

I want to thank Amy for the book, Molly for name suggestions and editing, and my twin for her Forever (like the stamp) support regarding anything in my world.

My blog is launched. Progress?