One of the reasons we started this blog was to offer a peak inside SharedBook to show how our business works and introduce some of the people involved in the process. In keeping with our original intent, I would like to use this opportunity to share what a typical day looks like for me. My guess is there are many who will be able to relate to my experience in today's fast-paced business world (startups and beyond), especially those with children. Juggling and sports activities are part of what keeps me focused. I'd love to hear what you find effective.
I like juggling. Tossing balls in the air with great concentration and making sure none of the balls fall to the ground at any time is fun -- no matter how crazy the drills can be. I first learned to juggle in one of the management workshops I attended, as a useful drill to balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain, and continued doing so because I enjoy it.
I am also a woman, a modern woman. This means I was brought up to believe we can do it all, and do it all well -- live happily ever after with Mr. Perfect, raise kids, lead successful careers and a few extras. I am not being cynical, I definitely believe women can do it, and I also believe it requires hard work and concentration, just like juggling.
When I think about it, my entire life is one big juggling session from the minute I open my eyes in the morning until I go to sleep at night. Being the mother of two amazingly cute kids (I know I am biased, can’t help it J), a wife and a manager in a startup company (oh, and also racing triathlons and road bikes for fun) is rather challenging.
I wake up way before sunrise, to get my daily treat of running, biking, swimming, or any combination of those in first. Then I go back home, wake up the kids, prepare breakfast, schools meals, lunch with little sticky notes to wait in the fridge, and drive them to school –- and that is just the beginning of my day. As I get to the office, I start another busy day of meetings and calls. In a startup company everything is urgent, important and needs to have been done yesterday. So most of what I do is ask questions, set priorities and make sure we are all focused and working efficiently towards our goal. Just like juggling, you have to be extremely focused, otherwise you’ll drop a ball …
Of course, being a woman, I do several things at once. For example, as I drive the kids to school, I also study the course of this weekend’s race (the national championship in biathlons is right in my town, and they have just painted the course marks). As I drive to work, I make phone calls to the cleaning lady, repair man, and other tasks that need to be taken care of. Lunch break is the time to find out how school was for the kids, things like whether my hubby landed safely abroad (on top of everything, my significant other is on a business trip this week, so I am practically a single parent) and to make sure everything is ticking. Just like juggling -– you have to focus your attention on several issues at the same time – throw one ball into the air, catch the other one, and prepare for the third, all at once.
Afternoon is time spent with the kids. Yet, work still sneaks in on you with countless e-mails on your Blackberry. And while you are solving professional issues at work, you have to keep calm with the kids, and make sure you devote your attention to them as well.
No wonder that by night time I am so tired that I drop to bed and sleep like a log … watching out for those balls all day long, making sure they never hit the floor is exhausting!
What do I do when I want to take a break and relax? That's easy: I juggle!J
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