So, what’s your plan?

Posted by Trisha Wagner on November 12, 2008

I am a planner. My mother is a planner. My sister is a planner. What exactly is a planner you may ask? A planner is someone who likes to have an organized, scheduled, structured theme to their days. We are otherwise referred to by some as control freaks. Yes I can smile while I type that because I know that planners fall into two simple yet distinct categories. The first groups are individuals that for whatever reason NEED to be in control of everything or everyone around them. It has something to do with power. And then there are the rest of us; planners by default or circumstance. This occurs when two or more non-planners are grouped together in the home and one of them who has no driving desire to lead, steps up to get things done. This may be paying the bills, or taking out the trash, but in extreme cases it leads to the complete rule of the house. Why? Often times no one else wants the job. I remember my sister, dad, and I sitting in the car waiting for mom…what is she doing? she rushed us around, now where is she? Now I know- she’s inside making sure the coffee pot is turned off, the dogs were let back in, the lights and TV are off etc. Ahhh, the moment you realize you have turned into your mother AND you realize everything she did makes perfect sense. It is eye opening to say the least.

So I had this perfect plan on how I am going to make my transition over to working from home. Now keep in mind, I have never worked from home, so it is pretty fantastic that I know everything and how it will work and fall into place. Right? Oh not so. I know nothing. And worse I am not proceeding according to my PLAN. I have less than two months before I start this and I am no where near where I should be according to the PLAN. And then it dawns on me. Idiot! How do you expect to work full time, work part-time, be a good mom, housekeeper, cook, accountant, etc AND have your business up and running before you even quit your day job? Did I say idiot?

So I have a new PLAN and that is to ditch making PLANS until I have the time and brainpower to do so. I have become so programmed to terms such as pay periods, pay dates, vacation and holidays….it is hard for me to wrap my head around the fact that I am jumping into a totally new universe. I have to say, it is just a tad bit terrifying. I keep wanting to have everything compartmentalized and in order- as to not disrupt my life and then I do a head smack and say to myself, “Trisha you are about to change everything in your life as you know it” and after I get over that first bit of panic, I get this very new and different sensation. Excitement, a nervous type of happiness because I’m about to change everything in my life as I know it……..I’m keeping the good things – my home, my close friends, my loved ones and of course my kid-but otherwise out with the old and in with the new. The sky is the limit in 2009! How’s THAT for a plan?!

Disclaimer: This post is written by an individual severely sleep deprived and hopped up on meds due to everyone in her home being sick. If you are in fact considering starting a business at home…you really should have a plan =)