Wow, am I struggling.
I’m coming off the best business week I’ve had in 3 months, but for some reason, I’m just out of whack. For example:
- I described my financial wins this week to my wife and she left the conversation more stressed than when we started.
- I put my daughter in tears by making her think she was in trouble… I think what I said was, “Hi, Honey.”
- My dog, Lennie, who generally races to the door and pees herself from excitement when I come home, has been barking at me when I walk through the door. From a distance.
What the hell, Jase?!
Client work is great, business is solid, but personally… I dunno.
Ever have a week like that? When you can’t get out of your own way, and worse, you don’t even know how to start fixing the problem because none of the feedback you get makes any sense?
Now, if I had lost every deal I went after this week, then I could understand my wife’s reaction. But when I both land new business and stress her out, that’s when I know I’m missing something basic. I mean, clearly there is a gap between what I think I’m communicating and what’s actually coming across…
I just wish I knew what it was.
But that, as they say, is a matter for another time. Right now, I think it’s just best for everyone if I go straight back to bed. I’ll do less damage that way.
So if you don’t mind, would you please leave me a comment and let me know what I’m missing today? Was it nice out? Did you get in a workout? How was lunch?
I’m serious.
I’m afraid the only way I’ll enjoy today is if I live it vicariously through people who, unlike myself, don’t have their heads up their asses.
Thank you!
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I'm Jason. I make people shine. My mission is to help 1 million people tell their stories better. 
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Honestly, I love how real your posts are!
Although you don’t want to live vicariously through me right now. I’m thrilled that I landed a great job opportunity after being out of work for 8 months but it required me to move away from the people I love. I’m still in the “adjustment” phase so tears are coming more quickly than I’d like.
I’d just like to know why we “really” can’t have it all?
1. The grass is being cut as I write. By someone else.
2. The weather is beautiful in Detroit and will be all weekend – or so I’m told.
3. The entire family (kids and grandkids – that’s 21 people) is coming for dinner on Sunday.
4. I’m leaving on vacation in less than 2 weeks. Going to Eastern Europe.
I’ve had those crappy weeks, too – and I have some crappy stuff going on right now. But the good stuff is REALLY good, so I am just dismissing everything else.
Feel better. Post more videos of you and your family. That will make ME feel even better, and maybe you as well.
These weeks happen. Monday will be better.
Maybe more business isn’t what your wife wanted to hear?
Maybe you’re overlooking something else? Your dog is trying to tell you something….Maybe
I had a great week. Blogged Monday thru Friday – didn’t miss a single Crossfit. workout.
Leaving for the Weekend to fly fish for carp.
Yes, the delicate and sophisticated act of fly fishing for massive bottom feeding carp.
Also celebrating my Grandfather’s 80th Birthday this weekend.
Get outside and enjoy the weekend! Cheers
@Kimberly—One of the feelings I’m able to recall vividly from childhood is that melancholy sense of homesickness. You’re totally fine… and then out of nowhere, this scrim falls and covers everything, and what made you happy a moment ago is suddenly lost and inaccessible. It’s awful. The good news is… no, you know what? There’s no good news. The feeling is gut wrenching. Until it passes, which it does.
In the meantime, take the opportunity to tell someone you love them.
@Joan—Thank you. As soon as Elle’s talking to me again, we’ll post. And have a great trip!
@Noah—Do you use a wet fly for those? And how do you not break the line with all the logs and rocks those fish like to hide under?! Thanks for the words, nice job with the blog, let’s see if you’re right about Monday!
overcast here in bethlehem… rained yesterday, looks like it will hold off today, but it’s actually very pleasant out right now. great weather to sit on the porch, or roof outside my window and relax with john mellencamp playing in the background… not a care in the world right now.
it reminds me of that seen in Shawshenk Redemption where they are sitting on the roof of the prison, but yet they feel like free men for a while…
have a great weekend, Jase… there’s better days, er weeks ahead!
Feeling like you I think. Busting my behind trying to juggle way too many things. By yesterday, I was feeling completely like I wanted to just cry. Not for any particular reason, just in general. So, I took a deep breath and tweeted out that I’m off social media until Tuesday at least. The only tweets coming from me will be auto from my hootsuite RSS feed.
Here’s my fix: I went to my son’s baseball game last night and cheered my little heart out as a bunch of six year olds made some great and some hysterically funny plays. I am going to enjoy the sun tomorrow and take my kids to Six Flags….without my phone. We’ll even swim and play at Hurricane Harbor. I’m going to read all the good stuff in my Google Reader (like this post) that I’ve been missing. And, I’m going to finish my book The Killer Angels. Ambitious? Yes. But, all centered on family and a tad bit of “Trish” time to read stuff I like. I’d call that the perfect prescription to get away from all the people pulling at me.
Enjoy your wife and your girls. And Lennie. Have a good weekend.
Jason,
Unless you have the strong feeling that business problems will be obsolete anytime soon, they will always be there for you to resolve — and beyond your and my lifetime. But enjoying your family, given the unforeseen future, will be limited. Demand there is high, so you must use your economics theory knowledge to realize the unlocked value and returns there is high, too!
Your friend,
Thomas
Sonshi.com
@Jeff—Great scene. Nice visual. Feelin’ better already.
@Trish—Great advice. I spent an hour with the girls this morning doing… nothing. Just sitting on the couch. And it was everything nothing could be!
@Thomas—It’s a doses thing, I think, sometimes, with dads: kids instinctively know the optimal amount of “dad” time, and if you go under, it’s a problem, and if you go over, it’s a problem. I think I’ve got the ratio back to where it needs to be. Today’ll be a good day.