Putting Yourself on Lockdown Mode

Posted by on Dec 10, 2009 in blog | 7 comments

Do you ever feel like you’re just spinning your wheels in your business?

Pumping out new things again and again and again but nothing seems to work?

Or, you might feel like you’re swamped with your current practice and not saying no is costing you your work/life balance.

Looking at the third option, of having no work/life balance, that is totally me.

In fact, I’m in one of those funks right now.  I wouldn’t necessarily call it a funk perhaps… maybe it’s just more of a stopping period.  Generally, I hibernate and close down new operations for the month of December.  We still do our work for our current clients but for new business, we just don’t solicit it.  Instead, we create a waiting list of people who really want to work with us and are willing to wait.

I also launch new websites often on the 1st of January.  A new unveiling of sorts.  This year, I don’t have any big plans for a new site but I am streamlining many of our operations so that I don’t have to focus my attention in too many places.  I’ll be looking at our current projects to evaluate and see where I’m at and what will stay for 2010 and what needs to go.

This is more of an introspective post but I wanted to share where I’m at to also learn where you’re at.

Do you ever put yourself on lockdown mode?  What do you find happens when you do?

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  • trinalamarche

    I think the separation of work and life no longer stands when you are self-employed. I know that I never stop thinking about work so maybe its just an entrepreneur thing. ;)

  • http://twitter.com/Deirdre_S Deirdre Shockley

    I find sometimes it's good idea to turn off email updates, phones and other modes of communication and just focus on what is really important. It may take an hour or a day but it really makes a difference in the whole picture.

  • http://www.bsetc.com Erin Blaskie

    I agree… The brain really doesn't make that separation. Worse is that we often work at home so there is no real separation between home life and work space.

  • http://www.bsetc.com Erin Blaskie

    That's a great idea Deirdre! I don't do this ever… I feel like I'm connected to something technological 99.9% of my day (the .1% accounting for when I am asleep…) haha

  • Glen O

    So… I am consolidating my networking activities this month. I keep meeting new people who I then want to follow up with or who follow up with me re biz and professional opportunties. Sometimes these interactions can seem to explode in every direction and I am left wondering where my focus should be, where I will gain value/traction and, most importantly, where I can contribute the most. It can be difficult to turn some of this activity off – but for me, it is time! But…am I going to miss out on the one linkage that would pave the next step to success and fulfillment?

  • http://www.bsetc.com Erin Blaskie

    Hi Glen!

    Such a valid point… It's sometimes hard to say no because we fear what we might be missing out on. I've learned to trust my instincts – when they are screaming loudly for the quiet, consolidation time, to roll with it. Everything that is meant to happen will and in due time.

    I think if we fear we'll miss out on things, it can breed that chaos so it's sometimes better to think, “When I'm ready, that which I seek will find me again.” :)

    Feeling spiritual after our conversation… :)
    Erin

  • reneemoore

    I am doing that this week. Every year I take off for a few days and just focus on what I want to do the upcoming year. I get it all done so I can release all of mey new stuff by January 8th, my birthday. I love this time of year because it is all about reflection of the past 12 months and looking forward to the next 12 and beyond!