Purposeful Parent Tip:  Celebrate the baby steps in your life.

Every Monday morning, I received a “Monday Morning Message” from Trudy Griswold, author of “Angelspeake” and contributor of the Foreword in my children’s book, “Frittabello and his Angel.” These angel messages (channeled by Trudy) are uplifting, inspiring, and many times give me pause. This week’s was no different.

Here’s what it said:

“Experiencing life lessons will develop your soul’s growth and healing. Find satisfaction in your progress rather than perfection.” Blessings, Your Angels

I speak often about the life lessons I’ve learned in the past few years, especially those I’ve learned from my two children. I’ve also spoken about how I’m more of an idea/end goal type of gal who doesn’t relish “middles”. For example, I’m known for my creative ideas and problem-solving skills. Give me a challenge, provide a bit of the details around it, and within a few minutes, I’ll have a suggestion for you to try.

In my mind’s eye I can visualize the strategy and the end goal. Now, all those pesky details (aka baby steps) to get you there, well, that’s for someone else to figure out or do. I’m not interested in those.

I guess I’d have to blame this on a former manager I had in my corporate career. You see, I was relentless in asking her to find monies to hire someone to report to me as I was overloaded with work. When finally, my wish was granted and this employee was up-to-speed, I delegated everything. And I do mean everything. He handled it with ease and never complained. Plus he made me laugh nearly every day. A perfect employee.

BUT…

I got very used to delegating all of the tasks I didn’t want to do or didn’t have time for anymore. While I was truly grooming him to take over my job one day, I was also getting incredibly spoiled, for when I moved on to a new position and didn’t have anyone reporting to me, I had to go back to those dreary tasks. Hence, I was not very motivated and my creativity was lost.

Fast forward to today where I own my own business, Frittabello baby gifts. As a solo mompreneur, there is no one to delegate anything to! When a press release needs to be written, I write it. When the financials need to be updated, I do it. All of these little tasks are what keep the business going but like many of my small business owner peers, we do not enjoy it at all. We need a team!

What I’ve noticed however, in these past few years is that while I still do not enjoy the ‘middles’, they are a necessary part of growing a business, and for raising children. Yes, many expectant parents have the vision of children and once in the thick of parenting, await the ‘end goal’ of them leaving the nest, but it’s all those years in between that are going to shape this young person into a thriving adult. (See how much it costs to
raise this thriving adult in my June 18, 2012 post).

Since owning my business and having to be responsible for many ‘middles’, I think I have learned more about myself than in any other time of my life. Not only have I acquired and sharpened my business skills, but I’ve discovered what I’m really made of. In short, I’ve begun to discover who I really am. Once defined by my corporate job and title, I’m now defined differently. I’m not sure if my current definition is the one
I want to be known for at the end of my life, but I’m working towards something that will authentically be the real me.

And isn’t that why we’re here on this earth anyway? To grow into the person we were intended to be? Aren’t the people we meet and the situations we encounter the “middles” that help us to find our true self? It’s not always pretty and yes, we meet many people who rub us the wrong way or have to deal with situations that are challenging, but without them, we’d just be skating along not really discovering our true purpose or reason for being here.

I can’t say that I’m at a point where I can celebrate the middles of my life, but I can appreciate them for what they are. Lessons. Lessons to help me be a better business owner, a better mom, a better person.

Letting go of my need for things to be perfect and enjoying my own baby steps will be the biggest life lesson I learn. Thanks Trudy for this timely and important reminder for me to pay attention to the baby steps and to my own middles.

What kind of person are you? Do you enjoy the middles? Or are you like me and prefer the vision/end goal approach?