Have you heard the saying “Jack of all trades but a master of none”?
That was precisely my lifestyle for entirely too long. For a while, I thought that “Jack” was my middle name ha-ha. Simultaneously I was involved in a variety of projects and being a stay at home mom.
I did not know how to request help, and most of the time I thought I maintained it all under control so why even ask for help.
Operating in SURVIVAL MODE, with-in both my family and business life was becoming my typical approach to life.
All these projects were in hopes I would achieve the financial stability I greatly desired. I learned a valuable lesson about chasing money, and that anything we chase will run away. I completely overlooked what all this running around would cost me.
Nothing received my adequate attention because I was working on several projects on the same day. Things had to crumble before I began to slow down.
My dear friend Jeanette would advise me, “Shannon, all these perceived little projects you are involved in play a considerable part in your overall concentration level because your brain is unable to get a chance to rest.” How right those words of wisdom were, became evident.
In April of 2017, I suffered the first of what would become a series of chest pain event. I was rushed to the hospital three times in 4-weeks.
When you are thinking you’re going to die from a heart attack right in front of your children and husband, that begins to wake you up. I want to say those events were successful in wakening me up and slowing me down, but it didn’t stick. After gaining my strength, I then returned to my hamster wheel.
In January of 2018, I took a 12-week sabbatical, and I was able to see the error of my ways. I was not benefiting my family at all. During that 12 week sabbatical is where my treasure hunt began for reconnecting to my passion and discovering my purpose.
I had to begin with the foundation of self-care. I had to heal.
The busyness, the exhaustion, the people-pleasing all buried my passion and passion is what leads to my purpose. See, treasure hunt.
I establish boundaries around my time by blocking out designated time for myself, family, and friends. I used to schedule life around my busyness, but now I block out time for life and business around that.
I now provide a firm “No’s versus an exhausted, apprehensive, people-pleasing ‘yes.”
I have fallen in love with To Do List and breaking them up into manageable bites. I can follow up at a higher rate than I did before. My head is clear, and I remember much better now. This has increased my bottom line.
I wanted to share my journey with you in hopes that if you are on the verge of burn out, these are simple but powerful steps to take to recalibrate and get your foundation stable.
I am now a Women’s Mentor helping women who are where I was.
Always remember the business can’t run if you’re not here to run it.
Our lives are short so have fun and be successful.
Shannon Turner
www.shannonlturner.com