I'm the worst boss ever

Last year I worked too hard. Not because I was told to, definitely not because I was forced to, but because I was the worst boss ever.
 
How did I finally realize this? Another women told me!
 
Imagine me bumping into a mommy friend who I haven’t seen since those lovely maternity days (and yes even with a new born I was still working, but I spent a lot more time getting to be a mom.)
 
                         She says, “Wow you’re busy. I see you all over Facebook
                         with your coaching, DWA meetup, and your workshops,
                         along with other places.”
 
And so we chatted about the things I was working on, I heard how she was doing and got updated on the progress of her kids (she has two.) She told me I should be proud of myself. (That comment in itself could be an entire blog post on the impact of a positive acknowledgment).
 
I thanked her and said that this year I was focusing on getting my programs online so I could reach more people internationally. I wanted to streamline and spend more time with my family because I worked too much last year.
 
                         Her response, “Well, don’t you work for yourself?”
 
Well smack me over the face!  I do!  Hahaha! She was so right! I do work for myself and I work myself hard!

• I set my own hours and work late into the night.
• I agree to work weekends and don’t always take other time off.
• I make dates with business connections more than my hubby.
• I create curriculum over creating art.
• I speak at events more than I go to the gym.
• I spend more one-on-one time with my clients than my friends.
•  I spend more time, attention and energy caring for the lives of others over my own.

Yep! That’s my honest list. I’m putting it out there to see the reality of it, not to sound like a martyr or to judge my actions!
 
I LOVE what I do! I really do.
 
With the drive I have for my work and the passion I have for the people I serve, I feel like I want to work…A LOT. But it’s a thing of the past; I’m changing.
 
WHY?
Well, the hard work gave me success, got me established, achieved great results for my clients, and gave me great nourishment. But it also cost me some things. We can only sprint for so long. 
 
I want to live the width of my life as well as the length of it. (Something I just spoke about in January to a group of mompreneurs).

Now I have a different set of goals; ones that focus on the process of life over the results.

• I’m going to take more time “to BE” rather than DO
• I’m slowing down to smell the roses (as cliché as it sound
• I'm living more "in the now" and taking it all in
• I’m celebrating the successes a lot.
• I’m streamlining for simplicity and ease.
• I’m creating systems so I can replicate and delegate. 

Bottom line?

• I’m going to be the type of boss that gets pissed if their employee is still in the office.
• Tells her to take time off.
• Takes her out to lunch to celebrate.
• Gives her Friday afternoon off – just ‘cuz.
• And really believes the best ROI is to invest in the employees (yet another thing I just taught in the past few months).

What does this mean to you?  
Maybe in a part of your life you need to be a better boss to yourself. Or maybe you just need a friend who points out things you’ve been blindly ignoring. I’m curious, what would they say to you? 

xo

Diane

P.S. I’m thinking that I’m not the only one who works themselves hard. Please tell me I'm not alone.
P.P.S. Inspire me and other entrepreneurs with how you are going to be a better boss to yourself.