Expect the Unexpected!

Life has been challenging for me the last couple of months.  While some projects have exceeded my hopes, other projects are at a stand-still.  My big reflection the past few weeks is to find more people that can help me take a step back before agreeing to take on a project. 

Part of me wants nothing more than to be validated and appreciated by others.  For most of my life, the only way I was able to get attention was by fixing things that caused others hardship.  I'm not saying that's a bad thing, it's just that too often I neglect to plan, and my efforts take up more energy than the project is worth.  At that point, either I come away with less, or charge too much.  I don't fully know what it's going to take to move through this stage.

Long term, I dream of partnering with others passionate about design, engineering, accounting, marketing, organizational design, as well as others with hands-on skill-sets similar to my own.  I've been making an effort to look beyond my comfort zone in how I approach my work.  It's not always easy to ask or receive advice from others. 

I'm thinking a lot about how to....

-make some of the projects I'm stuck on right now into painful reminders of what to do differently. 

-make a queue for work-flow, so important jobs don't get neglected when rush-jobs show up, which would only leave us with more rush jobs in the end

-focus on set-up and expansion, while taking on projects that are a good fit

-find people who can give an honest opinion at a moments notice

-assert myself to turn a way projects that aren't a good fit, or where expectations won't be met

-create a system to organize and back up records for jobs, purchasing, phone contacts, calendars

-share a vision that makes sense to people

-map out the basics that I want in life; that's in the next paragraph...

The basics I'd like to achieve;

-a cabin that is warm, has running water, and the driveway gets cleared after a snowstorm

-an organic diet, mostly vegetables, herbal tea, some grains, occasionally seafood or meat

-to be able to eat out once a week, and leave a tip

-access to a well-maintained car that is less than five years old with roadside assistance

-a health benefit plan that also covers physiotherapy

-up-to-date cell-phone with unlimited calling in Canada,

-a computer with up-to-date software to Skype, open drawings, email, or maybe watch YouTube

-a plan for IT support/backups for the phone and computer

-two weeks of vacation where nothing needs to be scheduled

-being able to take time off if I have something to look at in my personal life, and knowing people ready to explore with me