Like many of us who have started businesses, I believe I’m well past the point of being employable. Of course, I never know what’s coming up, I may end up working for an incredible visionary project at some point in my unnamed future, as happened for Joseph Jaworsky, which he describes in Synchronicity, the Inner Path of Leadership. This is one of the relatively few books that made my “buy” list, rather than just getting it from the library. (Hint, hint.)
Here’s what I did: I had a meeting planned with my wife and business partner, Holly, yesterday afternoon to do some strategic/admin thinking. And, I was too tired. So we didn’t work. Instead, she gave me a massage, I sat and read a novel and sipped tea for a while, and did absolutely nothing for several hours.
I can imagine few organizations that would trust their employees enough to allow organic, in-the-moment decisions about workflow. Here is one organization that does. (Hint, hint.)
The absolute-must-lesson for anyone. As Christine Northrup says, author of Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom, “The most radical thing anyone in our culture can do, is to rest when they’re tired.”
As an entrepreneur, I’ve had to learn the hard way, through sickness, through exhaustion, through bad, expensive mistakes. But I’ve learned, to a great extent, to rest when I’m tired. I still work until I’m exhausted sometimes, as I did the last two days, which is what prompted this post, but I get back off the horse more quickly than I ever have.
Do you rest when you are tired, and do you work when you’re inspired?
5 Responses
Hi, Mark
Thanks for introducing the topic of rest. I agree w/ Christine Northrup that the concept is indeed radical for our society.
Some years ago, I had a very creative and demanding writing job within a non-profit (which IMO are worse than corporate America about looking askance at rest). Anytime I would stop keyboarding to simply stare out the window and refresh my mind, I would get dirty looks and comments from co-workers about not being productive!
And one day as I was on my way to the soda machine and offered to bring back something for a co-worker, I got an angry snarl: “I don’t have time to drink drinks! I’m WORKING!”
Yes, Mark…I, too, consider myself unemployable and am happy to be so. What is restful about a cubicle and a room with no windows? At 48, I have spent enough time working in unpleasant and unstimulating environments.
Since I started my coaching and leadership training business last April, I look out on five acres of woods and enjoy watching the birds at the feeders and the squirrels at play. I begin my workday at 6 a.m. when I am at my most creative, and can take an afternoon nap if I want.
At present I am still mostly living off of savings and student loans (I also am in grad school) but I know I am on the right path. I have learned more in 9 months of being self-employed than I did in 20 years of working for others, and have been much happier in the process.
I wish the same for everyone who feels unemployable!
Hi Mark –
This is a lesson-in-progress for me (one of many!). When I’m inspired, it’s hard to recognize that I’m tired, and when I’m tired, it’s hard to feel inspired. It’s very much an on/off thing, it seems. I’d love it to be more graceful, as you have described.
You said something a while back that has really helped with this — you suggested letting my day flow around my spiritual practice, instead of trying to fit my spiritual practice into my day. Works brilliantly!
Re being unemployable — I wonder if this is a typical characteristic of the successfully self-employed. One of the things that keeps me going even when business is slow and I feel discouraged is the realization that I’m NOT employable and what’s more, I don’t WANT to be employable! That helps me relax into being self-employed and get focused again.
Very glad to see you blogging, my friend — I’ll be back to browse, often!
P.S. It’s Christiane Northrup, by the way.
Despite having two degrees including M.Sc I got turned down at 250 job interviews. Eventually I gave up. Any advice?
Hi Paul- sorry for the late reply. Ouch! I so feel for you. And, unfortunately, I have zero experience with job interviews or getting a job- I haven’t had a resume since college, and never used it.
You may want to try freelancing or starting your own business. With a job you either have one or you don’t, with a business if it works at least a little bit you’re bringing in at least a little bit of money- and hopefully growing it from there.
Unemployed doesn’t mean you are not successful. There’s a lot of people nowadays taking their chances to succeed in starting a business. However, it would be very difficult to take risks without any effective plans. Currently, I’m working as a recruiter in a staffing agency, and thinking I should not start a business, why? Because I don’t have those skills.