I walk into my favorite local café, greet the cashier, and order the house coffee. In Spanish, the cashier asks me if it’s for here or to go. To go I reply, but I know I plan to have a seat. My Friday night writing sessions have become somewhat of a ritual.
I often sit at the brown circular table near the window to feel the warm breeze and relax. First, I open I-Tunes and search for the soundtrack to the classic film Love Jones. Without question, I select Hopeless by Dionne Farris, reach for my headphones, and it’s time to dig into a writing session. I open the Microsoft Word app and open a blank document.
"Furthermore, writing is also a tool I lend my soul to use and express what’s inside this mind of mine."
When I feel stressed from the obsessive entrepreneurial lifestyle, writing serves as an additional layer of mental therapy. Writing is a way for me to take gratitude inventory, develop thoughts, make sense of research, and organize ideas. Furthermore, writing is also a tool I lend my soul to use and express what’s inside this mind of mine. Today as a single member limited liability company, the challenges and opportunities, that come with business ownership are preoccupying much of the space in my brain.
This week I traveled to the United States, submitted an article for my weekly column at The Good Men Project, and made numerous changes to my website. On Sunday, I left my home at 4:00 AM and arrived in Appleton, Wisconsin at 9:45 PM. It was a long day of travel which included three planes, one delay, and two layovers. After staying in Appleton for thirty hours to speak at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh, it was time to return home. The following day I finished the article for my column and had a meeting with my business coach who informed me to make some website updates. These last six days have reminded me of the need to hire a virtual assistant to assist with the demands of my schedule.
The entrepreneurial lifestyle, portrayed as only a life full of luxury is a complete farce. As a part-time entrepreneur for seven years and now full-time for the past two years, please take my word that there exist many challenges within the world of business ownership. Yes, making an impact and money on your terms is rewarding; it also requires a lot of WORK! Many entrepreneurs confirm the peaks and valleys that accompany this life and the importance of making time for self-care activities.
Writing while listening to the Love Jones soundtrack is among the activities central to keeping me grounded and motivated to keep pushing my business forward. I appreciate the music from this album because it reminds me of a time when I began to take my writing as a serious craft. The movie, Love Jones is about a writer who struggles to find his voice and love in Chicago’s open mic poetry scene. The film hit theaters around the same time I began to write and share poetry at local cafés throughout Chicago and the surrounding suburbs. Every time I hear music from the movie, it reminds me of one of the happiest and most creative times in my life.
As you work on your vision for your life, there will be moments when it is difficult. Whether you are an employee or employer, obstacles are part of every journey aligned with earning more success. It is crucial for you to identify the self-care activities that motivate you to discover more paths toward progress. In addition to taking time for prayer, meditation, and Capoeira, writing and listening to music empowers me to gain mental clarity around the vision for my life.
What motivates you? Let me know in the comments. If you need some help in this area, check out my course or work with me as your personal development coach.