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Working With a Difficult Boss

While some people are lucky enough to be self-employed and be their own boss, most of us have to tolerate the emotional roller-coaster of the boss’ moods. This can take a toll on our personal happiness, even our mental health. Today, we will look at one particular example of the “power-mad boss”. One of the worse examples of the power-mad boss is the employee who is promoted up through the ranks and ends up being the manager of the people he or she once worked alongside. Take the case of Vicky. Vicky worked for seven years as a housecleaner with … Continue reading →

Why do we Focus on Whose Messing Up?

The other day, my oldest daughter and I made plans to get together and catch up. We’ve all been so busy with summer fun and obligations that we have not been really keeping up so well so she and I made a ‘date’ to make dinner together and chat. In the midst of our chatting, however, the other two came through and I could not pass up the opportunity to bring up a few “issues” that had come to my attention. My eldest finally asked a very important family question: Why is it that the ones who are messing up … Continue reading →

Whose Welfare Matters Most (Customers, Clients, Family, Self?)

Sorting and evaluating priorities can be one of the biggest wrestling matches we have to face in our home businesses. It might seem obvious and simple when we first get started—family first, business second; but the fact that we are working from home and the boundaries can get a little confusing can make it tough to figure out whose welfare we are really looking out for at any given moment… Our customers want to know that we are going to bat for them; our children and families have every right to expect that they will come first; and somewhere in … Continue reading →

You’re Not the Boss of Me!

This is actually one of my favorite phrases of childhood. I can remember saying it myself on numerous occasions and, I admit that there are still times when I feel myself balking at being “told what to do” by someone and I want to bark, “You’re not the boss of me!” In my own family, my three strong-willed children have often bucked and resisted having anyone tell them what to do—whether it was a parent, sibling, or other authority figure. It seems to be natural for our children to want to be in charge of their own choices and their … Continue reading →

An Afternoon At The Fair

Yesterday, I took Dylan and Blake to the Tunbridge World’s Fair in nearby Tunbridge, Vermont. There are many fairs and harvest festivals in New England in the fall and I thought that it would be a fun way to spend the afternoon with the boys. It was so cute to see the excited look on his face as we went towards the gate and he began to see the fairgrounds. Once we got inside, Dylan told me that he wanted to play games first. We played a couple of kid – friendly games and he won a few little prizes. … Continue reading →

Broadcasting Your Weirdness

As a parent (or human being in general), there are certain tidbits of personal information I don’t care to share with others on a regular basis. For instance, my habit of crying during the last 10 minutes of Undercover Boss, my ignorance regarding car engines, and the fact that I don’t own a smartphone. Oh.No.I.Don’t. Pay-as-go, circa 2010, baby. Yup, I’m living the dream, folks. If you think I’m one of those bloggers who can whack out a post on my phone and publish it while standing in line at Starbucks waiting for my Vanilla Bean Frappuccino, you’d be wrong. … Continue reading →

Focused on Family

Sometimes it is useful to remind yourself why you do what you do with your home – based business. The past few days have been more demanding than usual, as is commonly the case when I am preparing for a court hearing. It is my experience during these most intense days, when I have many responsibilities for my businesses as well as my home and family, when I am most strongly reminded of why I do what I do in the way that I do it. I am certainly not keeping my caseload small in order to become a rich … Continue reading →

Stress and Stress Relief – Keeping The Balance

After reading this post by Richele McFarlin, I felt so relieved. It turns out that I am not the only one who gets overwhelmed or questions her capabilities from time to time. Thank you Richele for reminding me that we home – based professionals, like everyone else, are real. We each have our own things that we struggle with from time to time, and we all have to reach out and ask for help sometimes. Lately, I have been attracting work like a magnet. I am excited because I love my work, but I can not pretend that it does … Continue reading →

Office-Friendly Valentine’s Day Fun

Since Valentine’s Day falls on a Tuesday this year, you will likely be spending the majority of the holiday at work with colleagues you may or may not have a lot of love for. Not exactly F-U-N. While your office may not be the best place to be decking the halls with shiny foil red hearts or candy-tipped arrows being shot by underdressed, chubby babies with wings, it also doesn’t have to be a bastion of death. With a little creativity, some sensibility (and permission from your boss) you can host a whimsical Valentine’s Day party at work that includes … Continue reading →

Knowing What’s Needed

No matter what the situation is whether it’s work, sport or marriage you need to know what’s needed. For example at work you need to know what you have to do and what the boss expects of you before you can do it. On the tennis court you need to know what your partner expects, which balls you will go for if they come down the middle of the court and which they will take and you know you’re expected to play to the best of your ability. Why then do we think it should be any different when we … Continue reading →