Before I get to ranting, I have some good news. I’ve completed revisions for book 2 in my middle grade series, Flow. It’s on track for an August release, with pre-sales opening *cross fingers* in March. If you’d like to be part of the ARC team—getting an advance copy in exchange for leaving a review—please reply to this email.
I don’t spend a great deal of time on LinkedIn anymore. It used to be good place for me to hang out when I had my creative video production business. I had lots of valued connections, mostly fellow small business owners, some of who I knew IRL. I still occasionally post there, but I don’t think it’s the right place for me to find new readers. I popped in there last Wednesday, just to have a look-see at what was happening.
I saw a friend had been posting comments all over LinkedIn. She’s been trying to grow her business, working hard for almost a decade. I laughed to myself when I saw the sprinkling of comments she was leaving on the posts of others. I’ve seen this kind of thing before: someone takes a course, wherein they are advised to comment on other people’s posts as a form of engagement. “If you want to grow your business, you need to comment on other people’s posts. Insert yourself into the conversation.” When I was in the entrepreneurial trenches, I heard a variation of this advice was sold this same lie at many networking events and presentations.
When I was done scrolling, I was peeved. This is a friend who is always too busy to answers my texts, who regularly complains about her unsupportive spouse. And it occurred to me: she’s doing the work-life balance thing wrong.
To me, work-life balance is more than learning how to distribute your time wisely between your job and your wellness. I see it as knowing you need to leave space and step up for those who love you. Work-life balance means not alienating those who supported you for real. Is my opinion coloured by a friend who says she is so busy she doesn’t notice when I celebrate milestones in my life? 100% yes.
I feel a bit sad for her, too. I want to tell her that her efforts are misguided. I want to tell her that when she retires and shutters her business, all the anonymous people she tried to engage with will have no clue who she is and won’t give her the time of day. And neither will the ones who once loved her.
If your work-life balance isn’t you showing up, being present and involved with the real-life people in circle, you’re doing it wrong.
You can’t just build a business. You have to know how to build a life.
What I’m selling
Did you know that I have an Amazon affiliate page on my website? Under the podcast tab, you’ll find all the books by the authors I’ve interviewed on What Were You Thinking. It’s a small bump to my income (as in, about $1 for every book purchased from that page), and I do a happy dance every time I see a purchase. Also, my coffee maker is garbage and every morning I’m cleaning up the spew of grinds and murky coffee water from my counter, so I’m saving for a new machine.
Of course, if you are feeling generous, you can become a paid subscriber. I’m really trying to up my game and deliver even more valuable content.
Happy reading!
xo Dana
I actually needed to hear this! I tend to get so panicked about not having enough time to write/work/etc., that I don't make enough time to reach out to people I care about. Also, congrats on completing revisions! I'm going to go get in touch with some folks now!