Wow, this is great Stacey..my friend Rebecca and I were just having this conversation recently. Love this article, learning conscious parenting skills for our business seems essential. Not forcing things and savoring every moment as these babies grow and evolve into beings we didn't even imagine..

Blessings,
Marjory

Hi Stacey,
Love this! AND I love that I guest posted on another blog using "It Takes a Village" on the same day! (http://www.soulfulparent.com/blog)

For me, I am reading your words today and taking away the reminder of birthing pain, and how beyond "worth it" it is to go through all that we do in labor. So hard, and so intricately connected with welcoming the baby into our lives.

It's hard to run a business, harder than anything I've ever done before, and every day I ask myself "Do I want this?". So far I've had a "YES" in response, which makes the challenges surmountable. The day I hear "No, not really" is the day I will stop trying. I love working with women who are changing their lives, and am so grateful that I call this my job. This gratitude is what fuels me.

I appreciate the reminder to ask for help, the way I know how to as a mother raising a child. I am less comfortable with asking for help in my business, and will do better at it. Promise!

Thank you for bringing this all to light. I'm slowly finding my way in this new world of business, and it's such a comfort having you here!

Big love,
Amy

Another wonderful post! And though I don't have any human children (I am a cat mommy), I can definitely see the similarities. I especially appreciated your reminders about "Finding the Why" and focusing on the lessons learned. Sometimes, in the day to day process of running a business, it's easy to forget our initial vision, and remembering "the why" is so key to reigniting our passion!

This post was so timely for me. Just a few hours ago I was discouraged and bewailing the "fact" that I'm not yet supporting myself as an artist, that my business is not profitable, and that there seemed to be no pay off for all the time, money and energy I'd invested. Fortunately my wonderful husband helped me back to a more accurate assessment, reminding me, in different words, of much of what's been shared here - what is profit, really? what is support? what is sustainability? I've been at this (the business part) for at least three years and we're still managing, so it's clearly sustainable in some way! Um, well, yes ... when you put it like that ...

So when I ran across this post it was such an affirmation and encouragement. Thank you for sharing your experience and insight, Stacey, and thanks to all the folks who shared their experiences in the comments. I'm going to star this post so I can reread it next time I lose sight of my real purpose!

I could go on and on about what it has taken to bring Owning Pink to life (and we have yet to even begin to try to make it profitable!) I've sold my home, liquidated my retirement account and savings, and basically risked everything in order to birth this baby and nurture her. And yet, I wouldn't do anything different. Not one single thing. Owning Pink has been the single best thing I've ever done.

I love your analogy about building other types of careers. To become a doctor, it took 12 years and $300,000 dollars to make my dream come true. And yet, I knew, at the end, it would.

I feel the same way about Owning Pink. I am pursuing my passion and doing so with a pure heart, and I have every faith that it will also pay the bills- soon. But until then, I'll keep on paying my employees, working my tail off, and trusting that The Universe will provide-for my business- and yours.

Thanks again for a fabulous post!
Keepin' the faith
Lissa

Wonderful post Stacey. Having starting my own business last year, and planning on starting another next year, your post resonates.

One interesting thing I have observed about birthing these babies is the false choices we "create". I have spent a lot of time thinking "I could be a better mother (to my business and my business to be), if I didn't have this job. Yet since the baby isn't profitable, how could I feed the baby without the job." It's all very circular and makes my head spin. I get very overwhelmed when I create this false choice.

During a recent retreat I set my intention to clear my head and focus on aligning with my higher purpose. That vacation from my baby (and baby to be) was vital. I returned peacefully rejuvenated. At some point during the retreat, I realized that I didn't have to quit my day job next December as I had been planning. The time will come when my babies or some other source support me financially. What a wonderful epiphany. Poof - the stress disappeared.

I am still studying to be a wellness coach and will birth that second child next year. I am still stretching myself artistically and putting my work in different venues. But I am less entangled in these kids entering Harvard at the age of 16. :) Oh does that feel great.

With light and intention,

Stacey I love your story. I had a similar adventure when I started my coaching business in 2003. Today, with an added focus on my art and photography, I am much wiser and much more confident. It is like having that second child. I started with a toolbox full of tools that work for me and I knew how to go and find what else I needed. And the funny thing is that my second business, as an artist, seems to have wonderful spin-off exposure for my leadership coaching business.

Now the big question for me is - how do we define profit? I am debt free, living a life of simple abundance. I wake up filled with joy and appreciation. I usually start work about 7:00 am and build in a bit of a break in the middle of the day. Then finish up no later than 10:00 pm with a closing tweet and last replies to responses on my blog. My profits are not about money - though there is enough of that. My profits are about creating greater good in more abundance than I need.

Last Friday, my solo exhibit saw the sale of two oil paintings three large photograph prints on canvas, calendars and cards by the end of opening night. The joy and pleasure of those interactions for those who fell in love with a piece or were buying a special birthday present were my profits.

At the end of the year will my art turn a financial profit... we shall see - but it is doubtful... this year:) Energetically for me, my family, friends colleagues, clients and collectors of my work... it has been a very profitable year.

The money need to be there for more paint, canvas, promotion materials for shows. We need to eat, pay the hydro and buy new socks. I trust these things will happen as part of a bigger picture of how we live. It doesn't all have to come from my business or businesses. It is the whole of my life that is profitable - in the living of it.

thanks Stacey... great post.

I've been working hard on my business for a year and a half and while I love it, I've also been wondering (a lot)when the money is going to follow. Your article reminds me to put my focus on what I love and appreciate that it's the experience (the feeling of joy)not the "things" that make it worth while. Thanks! Gail

Stacey

Great article! I absolutely see the connection and even wrote about it once too. (http://www.owningpink.com/2010/03/10/owning-creation-giving-birth-for-a-...)

And, Mrs. Green! I love the "law of least effort" (tho never heard it called that) and have been working towards that myself this last few years. Great insight!

I will say that there is a difference between running your sole proprietor business - which is truly your baby and designed to enhance your life, and running a larger business that is designed to be more stand-alone... i.e., capable of surviving without you. Many people (myself included) don't need any more than the sole-proprietor focus - in which case your business doesn't need to be profitable as much as (1) you need to be fulfilled and (2) you and your family need to keep from going broke.

But if you're running a stand-alone business, where you should be able to step away and have the business keep functioning, profitability is more important. Maybe I should write a post on this.... since I think too many people get these two concepts confused.....

Anyway, thanks for the great article and discussion.

I love the focus in this post on ensuring that what you're doing brings you joy. While I do not own my own business (yet!), I can certainly appreciate the struggle to make what we're doing meaningful and not feel so much like "work," even when this means being willing to make less money.

Hi Mrs. Green!

Thanks so much for your kind and insightful comment. I didn't know about the "law of least effort," but the idea immediately resonates with me and I will call on it as a guideline - and reassurance - in the future, for sure. Thanks again, and take wonderful care, s