Paperwork is killing me!

"Choose a job you love, and you will never have to work a day in your life."
-- Confucius

Confusius was obviously never a small business owner. I am DEFINATELY doing what I love. I'm creating art...I'm teaching kids..work-wise..it doesn't get any better than this. But I'm working..all the time!!

Unfortunately..teaching and creating is only about 30% of the time. The rest is paperwork..paperwork..paperwork. Taxes, web crisis..you name it..that's been 2008.

I recently posted a "Fresh Off the Easel" on my home page . It is a small 7" x 5" painting. It is a cute painting..but that is the only painting I have completed this year..and this is March!! I'm behind on a pet portrait commission..I have 3 incomplete horses..and a ton of ideas not anywhere near the canvas yet!

Before I sink myself (and my dear reader) into a pit of depression...I will note..I'm still doing what I love!!

Web crisis? yes..but that was a big nagging to do that is mostly done now! I love the new website and I'm excited by the technology used and the ease of updating. It took a lot of my time to get it up and running..but the time I'll save in easier updates will be made up before the end of this year.

Taxes? I learned that I'm now in the black! How exciting..my dream is actually making money! Not that I'm going to be buying the Taj Mahal anytime soon..but to not go in the negative is a wonderful milestone for every small business!

Paperwork? Yep..I've got a lot more..basically because I am getting more and more 'successful.' This past Winter Session was my largest ever..32 students!! Spring is almost as large and enrollment is not over! On the art side, I'll have grossed more in the first quarter of this year than all of last year (had some great sales so far!). So success=busy..hard to complain too much.

So..I brush off my frustration and look at what I HAVE done so far in the first 2 1/2 months of 2008 and instead of crying..I'm giving myself a little pat on the back!

Steven Covey talks about perspective in his book, The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People (which I WILL finish one day!!). When you are feeling overwhelmed..change your perspective. I have definitely had to practice this but I feel it working. I'm not drowning in paperwork but riding the high of a successful business!

Feeling overwhelmed -----> feeling successful ------> feeling more confident -----> feeling more creative---->creating more work------>getting more business------>rinse, repeat!

It will all come full circle in the end!