Life and Work by Design Blog

After a recent first-time kayaking adventure, I found a new metaphor for our lives. The actual trip would have been the year’s big winner on America’s Funniest Home Videos for sure! My friend/guide wanted to try a new location, and chose to ignore the park ranger’s advice that the water was too low.  We struggled mightily over too many rocky shallows, Continue Reading »

One of my favorite small business gurus, Seth Godin, has a new book out entitled The Dip - A Little Book That Teaches You When to Quit(and when to stick).  Many of us have been in a job or position that just seems to become endlessly tedious, unrewarding and makes us miserable.  When this involves a career or a small business endeavor, knowing when to hang in there and when to just quit is sometimes difficult to decide.

Personally, I chose to just quit several years ago.  But I did it in the midst of a temper tantrum over a change in responsibility that was looming, and without any forethought or planning.  I just knew I had to get out of there! Undoubtedly, many of you have felt the same way.  Well, take a deep breath and chill out.  Don’t make rash decisions that you may regret.  (not that I regret it, but you might)

Godin describes how to recognize “the dip” - that low point of any project, job or life cycle where you have reached a dead end and realize that things will never improve much regardless of what you do.  And then he provides ideas for how to move forward. On the other hand, there are times when, no matter how you are feeling at the moment, you need to dig in and give it your all to get over the hump and on up the mountain.  Knowing the difference is the trick. It’s a great read if you are not sure where you are.

This book is available on my web-site in the book store. www.lifeandworkbydesign.com

A couple of weeks ago, I mentioned here that I was stymied by the cybergods who were making it difficult for me, the best problem solver in the world, to make my blog look better.  Realizing that one woman can’t do it all, I went in search of a truly technical person who could also use the creative side of her brain.

I found K C Gagne, a work-at-home mom who is not only good at html design, but has patience, a sense of humor, and good marketing sense.  So, voila, this page is now beautiful and functional! And then she transformed my web-site. Thank you, K C!!! 

K C  has her own blog where she writes about life balance with a house, husband, kids and a part-time business. Go visit it at www.connectingrainbows.com/blog and if you need web-site design help, I can highly recommend her services.

I’ve been on a two week hiatus from blogging while I enjoyed two of my favorite vacation spots. The first is Newport, RI where the tall ships were gathered.  It was a fascinating and educational experience to step aboard these beautiful sailboats. There were ships from many countries - some had sailed for months to get there - and the crews proudly showed off their vessels.  It was a real joy to watch these young sailors working at something that they obviously love enough to spend months away from their families, and to endure the good and the bad of sailing on the oceans of the world for the better part of a year. What a thrilling experience they are having!

It brought to mind my favorite quote from Mark Twain, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. “