Samantha McDonald

Sometimes, imperatives on one side of the work/life scale take priority. Here is one of them…

A matter of priority (and au revoir)

We start off with best intentions, don’t we? I mean, most of us intend to have great work/life balance, but sometimes things don’t always go to plan. Take me, for instance… I’m sure at least some of you could identify with my year so far…

So, first up, I’m pregnant, and due with my second child in May. My first child, a gorgeous little two year old, is going through that really fun toddler stage where nothing I do is right and I am simply there for her convenience. I’m sure you get the picture. (I must say, though, I do like to see her feisty attitude coming up once in a while – I love the fact that she’s a leader!).

Second, I am still running my coaching and training business at full capacity, and that is taking up a lot of time. And third, my partner and I are just about to launch another company – keep your eye out for Aussie Wine Group Australia – and this means that I have very precious little time to do anything other than work at the moment.

And that’s not good. Especially for a coach who writes a weekly blog about work/life balance.

So, I’ve had a little sit down with myself and worked out my priorities and what exactly I can really fit in to my life at this point. Of course, my family comes first, but in that, I also recognise that one must be able to put food on the table in order to have a happy family.

So, family and work take on an almost equal importance to me because they are so directly linked. Could I give up exercise? No. That would be no good for my self esteem, and it doesn’t really affect my day anyway, because I get up at 5:30am to go for a walk. Could I give up social events? Ummm… What social events?

After going through my big commitments and realising that realistically most of them are here to stay. I finally found some other commitments that perhaps I could give away until things settle down. And one of them is this weekly blog. How ironic is that?

I hope to be back up and running with my blog in a few months (perhaps I’ll give myself time to have a baby before then), and I promise to be back with more stories about work/life balance (once I’ve achieved it), or perhaps some funny little anecdotes about the fun early days of running a new business.

‘Til then, enjoy!

Samantha McDonald started Dare Coaching & Seminars five years ago, and is featured in the book ‘The Secrets Of Great Success Coaches Exposed’. You can see what she’s up to at www.darecoaching.com.au

To read more Work/Life blogs, click here.

Comments

Barry Sheales writes: Congratulations on your great business achievements, and as a mother. Today is the first time I have read your blog, but will keep an eye out for your return. I am also a life coach, and have raised seven children while running my own companies most of my life. Of course, I did not have the problems that you, as a working mother, can expect.

However, I will run a couple of thought starters past you, just in case. You mention a new business and your need to maintain “bread on the table”; also a partner. I can’t discern whether your partner is your business or life partner, or maybe both.

My tips for you are:

1. Check that both you and your partner’s income protection insurance is the best available, and that you are both insured to the maximum.
2. Trauma insurance.This vital insurance pays out while you are alive; is tax free. As your income protection probably only covers 75% of your income, you may need extra cash in a “worst case scenario”. Cover required can be used either to retire debt or invested to provide you with a return sufficient to cover the 25% gap in your income protection. That will then assure you of bread on the table, indexed annually to keep pace with inflation,through to retirement.
3. Your partner or company should have you insured and vice versa.
4. Make sure your personal will is right up to date, including the vital decision on legal guardianship of your beautiful children, if.
5. Check that your buy-sell partnership or share-holder aggreement is in force and up-to date.

Apart from that, with your attitude to fitness, and mental attitude are excellent.

Good luck and remember two children are not much harder on the family than one.