How Baby Steps Became a Huge Deal

If you had told me three months ago what I would be doing tomorrow, I wouldn’t have believed you.

A few months ago, my life took an unexpected turn. I was on a second date, which happened also to be my 26th birthday, and he asked me where I saw myself in 10 years. I had no answer. Stumped and on the spot, I had to admit that I wasn’t really sure.

Ouch. For one thing, I knew that wasn’t a good thing for a date. More importantly, I couldn’t believe I didn’t have any idea where I wanted to be in 10 years. I mean, this is standard stuff, stuff I would’ve had figured out if you had asked me a year ago. But since my life was turned upside down last April, I had been focusing so much on my day-to-day being that I hadn’t been thinking about my future.

I thought about it a lot the following couple of days. I asked myself a lot of questions as I spaced out at work staring at my computer screen. I asked myself what I would do if I had no boundaries, no limits, if money wasn’t a factor. 

The answer was instantaneous. I would open a coffee bar. I had dreamed secretly of owning a coffee bar since I was in high school, but I had never considered it a possibility. Owning a business was something other people did, not me. I couldn’t; I wouldn’t know how, I always figured.

But then I thought, why not me? Why couldn’t I do the thing I had always dreamed of doing, but dared not pursue?

That one date, that one question set me on the path I am on today. I bought a copy of Ladies Who Launch and began to define my dream. I learned how to dream even bigger, to flesh out my plans, to become comfortable with speaking about my dream. I even named it and registered the domain for a future website.

Then I was poking through the bookstore again when someone recommended The E-Myth Revisited to me. I started reading it and realized how little I knew about my intended business despite having worked at two cafes. So, I applied for weekend positions at Starbucks and a couple of the local independents.

Tomorrow is my first day at one of those cafes. Tomorrow will be the most concrete step I’ve taken since I started allowing myself to believe that I can do this. Sometimes I pick my head up from my unbelievably busy life and take a look around. I can’t believe how much I’ve been able to accomplish in the past couple of months.

Oh, and I still got the third date.

Dream big. Baby step.

Can social networking exist in a vacuum?

I read a lot of blogs lately talking about how social networking is single-handedly lowering the real-life social skills of an entire generation, that it hampers effective social change, that it kills productivity. At the same time, I read articles about the miracle of social networking, how it’s keeping people connected and helping form new connections in both our personal and business lives by bringing niches together without geographic constraints. What is undeniable is that connecting is important, that the bonds we form personally can be used to further our business goals, and that the people we meet in the workplace or through business networking can become part of our personal lives.

With all of the hype surrounding social networking, the articles on weak ties, etc. I wonder what good social networking actually is if you don’t have the opportunity to meet any of the people you are connecting with. For example, CoolPeopleCare blogger Sam Davidson recently visited Madison to meet with Modite blogger Rebecca Thorman. Employee Evolution bloggers Ryan Paugh and Ryan Healy moved from New Jersey to Wisconsin to co-found a company with BrazenCareerist author and blogger Penelope Trunk. What is it about the personal contact of meeting someone in person? There is something undeniable about that face-to-face connection solidifying what you’ve built up via social networks.

Perhaps there is a bit of jealousy that runs through me that these groups of bloggers have the opportunity to work in such close proximity to one another, or at least fly to each other. Groups breed creativity and allow ideas to grow. I’ve also blogged about accountability partners and how being around one or a group of like-minded individuals who are striving toward goals as well can keep you moving forward, increasing productivity and helping you meet your goals faster.

I live in mid-sized town in south Texas. For those of you in big cities, mid-sized means about 300,000 people. That’s pretty small. Not being from Texas and not having a lot of the same political, religious or social ideals as most people in my area compounds the problem. It’s near impossible to search out people who have similar goals (OK, any goals) whom I can connect with. Granted, social networking has allowed me to reach out to other people like myself, including those I mentioned above, and to keep up with the ones I meet who move away.

At some point, though, I do see myself meeting with the ones I form stronger-than-weak ties with via social networking, which is what brings to me back to the original question. Can social networking effectively exist in a vacuum? Or, is it necessary at some point in the relationship to make face-to-face contact?

I Get Accountable: A Follow-Up

I took my own advice this week after blogging about accountability partners. After all, that’s what the post was about. I met with a girlfriend Wednesday to catch up and discuss a book I had loaned to her a few weeks ago, Ladies Who Launch. It was the first book I read when I realized I wanted to be an entrepreneur and it eased me into the start-up mindset. So, knowing my friend was feeling uninspired, I loaned it to her. It had such an impact at a pivotal moment in my life, I was anxious to see how it would affect her.

After a great hour-and-a-half long conversation that included brainstorming business ideas, we agreed that it would be nice to do on a regular basis. Earlier that day, at a political rally, I bumped into another one of my girlfriends, an ex-coworker, who in the course of the usual chit-chat off-handedly mentioned that she was thinking of starting her own business. I made a lunch date with her for later in the week, and mentioned the idea of adding her to our weekly meetings to my other friend.

Accountability group accomplished. It’s more than that, though, since we have different interests. We’re all interested in starting our own businesses, but some of us are interested in real estate investing, stocks and inventing. The nice thing is that three people can accomplish more than one can. So, instead of one person trying to research sole proprietorships, limited liability corporations, taxes and bookkeeping, trademarking and copyrighting law, etc., we have three people who can split it up. And where one person has X contacts in her network, our group will multiply that by three.

Besides all of the rational and technical benefits of our group, there is also the more emotional benefit of knowing that there are people who get excited about the same things I do, who are striving toward the lofty goals as well, who are unsatisfied with the status quo and are willing to take action.

Stand Up and Be Accounted

Accountability is a word you often hear bounced around your workplace (i.e. being held accountable for your responsibilities) and the big business arena (i.e. corporate accountability). What I’m talking about is a different sort of accountability. Really, the word has come to mean so little to me due to its jargonization from the first two instances that I needed to look it up.

Accountability, according to Merriam-Webster, means the quality or state of being accountable; especially: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility or to account for one's actions.

I first heard of “accountability groups” from their use as post-rehab groups. Recovering addicts and alcoholics leaving rehab facilities who live in the same area get together regularly to discuss their recent progress and actions, and to accept responsibility for them.

That might sound pretty hard-core, but it’s something that I’ve been able to utilize recently to help me make some life changes I really wanted to achieve. For instance, most recently I decided that it would be better for my life overall if I started waking up earlier. I thought a long time before I mentioned it to anybody because I know myself and I know that waking up earlier is not going to be easy for me. Once I made the decision, I knew that I couldn’t go it alone.

How to get started
My accountability partner happened on accident. When I started my running program, I got so excited about it that I told everyone. One friend in particular made a point of asking me nearly every time I talked to him how my running program was going. I always answered honestly, whether it was going good or bad. When it was good, he was glad to hear it; keep it up, he said. When it was rough, he offered encouraging words; don’t give up, he said, you’ll get there.

The amazing thing, though, is what took place in my head. When I thought about skipping a run, I knew I would have to face my friend with the truth. I was going to be held accountable for my decision. Knowing that made me go through the excuses I would try to get away with, know that no one of them would work and I would sound like an ass, so I went for my run. It’s been 8 weeks since I started that running program and I haven’t missed a day!

So, when it came time to quit coffee and within a few days, begin a new morning routine, I told my accountability partner. Day Six without coffee and Day Two waking up early, and he’s asked me about both. And each time I see a tempting cup of coffee or I feel the desire to hit the snooze button, I imagine having to tell my accountability partner my lame reasons why I made those decisions.

Don’t just take – give accountability!
I realized this morning how much of an accountability monger I’ve been! Spread the love, people. You can be someone’s accountability partner, too. All it takes is a genuine concern and a little bit of effort to remember to ask a friend how he or she is doing on whatever new venture or project they are working on.

The nice thing about accountability is that it does have a whole lot to do with advice. If you know something about their project, great. Offer your experience. But it doesn’t matter if you don’t. The point is that you are there.

Tips for accountability
1. You’re there to give/get support. You don’t need to dish out advice every time you talk to someone. Ask them how it’s going, good or bad. Get details if it’s bad. Let them know if you’re seeing progress. This can be especially important for long-term goals.

2. Don’t be an unsolicited accountability partner. It sucks, but it’s true – sometimes people don’t want to be held accountable. I see it every New Year; people tell you about their new resolution, and when you ask them about it two or three weeks later you get a mumble and a growl. Not everyone wants to really change, and you’ll only piss them off, you busy body know-it-all!

3. Frequency is key. If you’re not being held accountable on a regular basis, then it won’t work. Figure out what the optimal schedule is for the task at hand. If it’s running four times a week, then at least once a week will work. If it’s sticking to a monthly budget, then once a month might work. Figure it out with your accountability partner so that you don’t go too easy or too hard on yourself.

4. Your accountability partner should keep you in line. Dump a doormat accountability partner. They’ll get you nowhere fast and you might not be helping them much either. On the other side of the spectrum, ditch an overbearing partner. You shouldn’t dread calling your accountability partner because you think he or she is going to rail at you. That’s the fastest way to give up.

5. Be honest. Otherwise, there’s no point. Remember, this isn’t forced upon you as a class assignment or as a job duty. It’s supposed to be about a change you really want to make. If you’re not honest, you’re only lying to yourself.

6. Spread the love; start an accountability group. If you are a person in the middle of totally reworking your life from top to bottom, honey, you might be too much for one person! In all seriousness, being an accountability partner is a big responsibility. Consider getting a group of like-minded friends together once a month to discuss your goals, actions and plans and hold each other accountable for them. Sometimes it’s just nice to know that not everyone is perfect 100% of the time. A group can be there to share their experiences with similar goals or projects.

7. Post it on a blog. Hard to admit publicly that your attempt at quitting coffee or waking up early failed miserably because you didn't have the will power to pull it off. Heh.

Don't forget the rewards

Providing a friend with support can be a truly amazing experience. My accountability partner told me recently how rewarding it’s been for him to see me achieve the goals he’s helped me with. I hope one day I can experience that kind of reward with many of my friends.

Get accounted.

The Problem With "You Complete Me"

You are, no doubt, familiar with the movie Jerry Maguire and the famous climatic scene in which main character Jerry realizes that he loves his wife and tells her, “You complete me.” Happy ending. Everyone cries and goes home, looking for the person who will complete them.

Don’t get me wrong – I love a chick flick as much as the next gal. Sleepless in Seattle is in my top five movies of all time. What I have a problem with is the part where we all leave the theater with aching hearts wondering where our Toms (both Hanks and Cruise) are. Wondering where and when will we ever find the person who completes us.

The problem with “You Complete Me” is that it assumes that you are missing something. And, many people are missing something, something they seem certain will be fulfilled once they find The One. Everything our culture tells us points to this – eHarmony commercials, romantic film after romantic film, pop songs bespeaking woes of broken hearts with missing pieces. Unfortunately, no one is looking at what our society tells us, which is that it doesn’t work out. One in two marriages end in divorce. Not first marriages, all marriages. So, of all marriages that take place – first, second, third, whatever – of all of them, 50 percent end in divorce. Forty percent of the population is currently single. What does that tell you?

You don’t have to look far. Chances are someone in your family, immediate or extended, has been or is currently divorced and/or has been married multiple times. It exists in my family, for sure. So, what makes us think we’re different? That somehow the first one is going to stick? That any of them are going to stick? That we’re not going to wake up 10 years into our marriage (the average lifespan of a modern marriage) and get divorced? There you are in your 40s trying to figure out how to do something you’ve never been able to do – be alone.

I’m not saying not to get married, not in the least. I believe in marriage. I respect marriage. I respect both love and marriage enough to not look to either as a goal, a milestone that must be accomplished like some kind of checklist. I’m not looking for someone to complete me.

Missing Piece People
No doubt, you’ve dated a Missing Piece Person (MPP). Or, you have been or currently are one. I’ve been one. A Missing Piece Person is one who doesn’t exactly feel whole. Someone who is missing something, something they are certain a significant other can fulfill. The Missing Puzzle Piece to their lives. Missing Piece People want a relationship; they are looking to you to be the piece that completes them.

I dated a Missing Piece Person recently. He was a fine person. The fact that after two months of being together he had professed love, told me he was going to marry me, and took me on house-hunting trips with his real estate agent ‘just in case I wanted to move in’ did freak me out a bit. I’m not a commitment phobe, though, and figured these kinds of things work themselves out.

The breaking point came when it became clear to me that this man had a lot of room in his schedule he was expecting me to fill. My inability to give that kind of time led to the swift demise of the relationship. It was a relief. It had been too much pressure to be the thing he was missing.

It took that break-up for me to realize that I, too, was being a Missing Piece Person. I was waiting to do a lot of things until I met The One. After all, you don’t want to be too busy to date him, right? What if I started on a career path he couldn’t keep up with? What if I made a commitment that interfered with his plans? After all, once I met him everything was finally going to come together right?

When I became a Whole Person
The thing that really solidified this for me happened one gorgeous November morning. I remember exactly what I was doing – brushing my teeth – when I realized that I was OK with being single. Better than OK, I was happy. I stepped out of my bathroom and surveyed my little apartment. My furniture, arranged how I wanted it. My sheets, the color I chose with no question of whether or not they were gender-neutral. My day, laid out before me, whatever I wanted to do that day, a world of possibilities. I smiled.

Then my phone rang. MPP wanted to meet up. “I want to get back together,” he says, later that night. “Why?” I ask, suspicious. “I’m ready for the next phase of my life to start,” he says. It became clear to me that he had decided the next phase of his life was to date someone for a few months, buy a house together, get married and have kids. It was a phase that needed to be started. It was just missing one thing.

That’s the problem with You Complete Me. He didn’t want me. He wanted Someone. He wanted me to do what I could not possibly do – complete him.

Today, I am happy on my own. I have a million things going on in my life, great things, things I that fulfill me, totally and completely. I don’t seek out dates. I read something at LifeHack in the comments section something that really stuck with me. A commenter said, “... being with the other person has to be more fun than being by myself (you’d possibly be surprised at how rarely that’s true).” I echo that sentiment.

I started seeing someone recently. He is a Whole Person, a person who is definitely not looking for someone to fill a hole. Knowing that he spends time with me a.) because he enjoys it, and b.) in spite of his very busy schedule, makes it so much the better. And because we are both Whole People we see each other only once or twice a week, what our schedules allow.

Buddhism – Whole Person philosophy
One of the central tenets of Buddhism is that suffering in life comes from clinging to what is fleeting. Someone told me once that we are born alone and we will die alone, and the sooner I accept that as a truth, the happier I will be in my relationships. Shocking as it was to hear, I’ve found it to be true.

When I’m with someone now, I’m not trying to figure out if they would make a suitable life partner (you know the checklist: earning potential, desired number of children, ability to age well, etc.). I look at whether or not this person would be fun to experience things with. What would they add? What do they bring to the table? Do they like to do the same things I do? Do they come at it from a different angle? Can they teach me something?

I get a lot of backlash about being OK with being single and the possibility that it could be forever. I am reassured always – “Don’t worry, Holly, you’ll find HIM.” “You’re too sweet/smart/pretty to end up alone.” These are all meant well, I know. But I know it will get worse as I get older (like the post and comments at LifeHack) or more outspoken (like Ryan P. over at Employee Evolution). It seems the fear of being alone is so pervasive we can’t even stand to watch our peers be OK with it.

My point in all of this is that I don’t think we should need somebody, like “You Complete Me” suggests. Nor should we want somebody because our lives are boring or seem incomplete without Someone. We should be OK with the odds of it never happening for us, living whole lives realizing our potential, not holding back because we are holding out for the Missing Piece. It would be great if I found someone to experience it all with, but I’m whole already. Everything else is just gravy.

If you’re waiting for someone to complete you, do yourself (and a potential significant other) a favor – go complete yourself. Because Whole People are far superior dates that Missing Piece People, and they only date other Whole People.

Get whole.

How I change my habits

Thanks to a recent article circulating some of my favorite blogs, I found this article on quitting caffeine through LifeHacker.com.

I am drinking tea right now. At 9 a.m. Those of you who know me at all know this is something of a feat in itself. I guess we'll see who the real friends are around Saturday, when the caffeine withdraws get ugly.

Honestly, though, this is exactly what happened when I decided I wanted to start eating healthier. One day I woke up and I simply didn't feel like putting crap in my body anymore. This morning I woke up and I was tired and I wanted to feel energized, not caffeinated. When I walked into the office kitchen I glanced at the coffee pot, and without a second thought, I headed to the hot water instead.

This is how it's worked for me lately when I decide I want something in my life to change. I start to think about it as an option. Then, I try to force myself to do it and fail a few times. I typically take on a "screw it" attitude and gorge myself on something I'm trying to quit or totally ignore something I want to do. It doesn't take long before I come full-circle with conviction to just do whatever it is without really thinking about it. This is how it's been when I quit drinking, started eating healthier, took up running, and decided to launch a business.

Think it, try it, fail, screw it, succeed.

It's what you eat that counts

It’s been six weeks or so since the New Year, and I wonder what percentage of the population have given up their ridiculous diets. Last year, I fell into this category. Except my diet plan was a “non-diet” and despite being unable to stick it to it faithfully, those 6 weeks or so I did stay true to my non-diet left me with some lasting impressions… and, incredibly, results.

I’m not the first person to say it, nor am I even the most recent person to say it, but I can tell you it works: it has to do with the foods you eat, not how little or what time of day, etc. So, which are the good foods? It can be difficult to discern what is true with trends, fads, and quack crash diet gurus telling you which foods to eat for your skin, your hair, your waist, ad infinitum, ad nauseum. I can only tell you what worked for me.

My diet changed when I started tuning into what made me feel good after eating it (sautéed spinach, fresh apples), and admitting to what made feel bad/greasy/nauseous after eating it (McDonald’s, Sun Chips), and also being open to some new foods.

Here are some of the best foods you can eat: sweet potatoes, fat-free/skim milk and yogurt, broccoli, wild salmon, brown rice, citrus fruit, squash and gourds, spinach, tomatoes, beans, whole oats, green tea, dark berries, kale, and – double-plus bonus! – dark chocolate.

Now, does this mean you can grab a Dark Snickers and a bean burrito and feel some great health benefits? Puh-lease. It means reworking your diet to include these foods on a regular basis. I ditched my Whataburger breakfast for a packet of Quaker Multigrain Hot Cereal. I carry my Lean Cuisine meals faithfully to work everyday for lunch. In between, I lightly snack on cranberries, unsalted nuts, yogurt, apples, and the occasional SlimFast faux candy bar. Eating six or seven mini-meals a day is actually better for you than three larger ones – or in my case, the one huge one I was eating at the end of the day.

My dinners now are surprisingly filling – and tasty. I mix it up a bit, but my I’m-too-tired-to-cook standby is low-sodium butternut squash or roasted red pepper and tomato soup, a multigrain or whole-wheat roll, and steamed spinach with cracked pepper – yum! I say that not just because I’ve actually come to enjoy the taste of these things, but because I don’t feel weighed down after eating them. I actually feel better, energized, and satisfied. Before I hit the hay, I reward myself with a cranberry oatmeal cookie or a square of dark chocolate. That’s enough to satisfy the desire for a sweet little something for me.

Am I telling you to follow my diet? Absolutely not. That’s the problem with prefabricated diet plans in my book; they leave no room for the individual. I’ve found what works for me. Sometimes my love for hamburgers rears its ugly head and my black bean burger on whole wheat bun just ain’t gonna cut it. I don’t beat myself up, but I also don’t ignore the way my body feels afterward. That’s what keeps me coming back to my “superfoods” – they make me feel good.

I’ve had fun trying new foods and recipes in my new way of eating. I’ve discovering that I love squash and pumpkin and that it doesn’t have to taste either bland or like pumpkin pie. I’ve found out that steaming fresh veggies is as easy as tossing them in a partially-closed Ziploc with a tablespoon of water in the microwave for a minute, give or take. I’ve learned that I’m more energized at work post-lunch if I have some salmon in my lunch. And I’ve learned that meals can be whatever my body needs – even if it is a peanut butter and mixed berry smoothie with a whole-grain bagel and low-fat cream cheese.

Running on fumes

I have a tendency, like most young paycheck-to-paycheck earners, to let my gas tank get so low, I am convinced it is running merely on gas fumes when I pull into the station. I am running on fumes, vapors, slight wisps of flagging energy as my personal orange light glows insistently.

I don't understand. I've never felt so energized by my personal and professional life. Why at this point am I more tired, nay, more exhausted than I have ever been? I am exercising regularly, getting great cardio and mixing in an occasional yoga class. I am eating healthy, timing my fruit, veggie, protein and carb intake to the best times of day. I am taking a daily multivitamin. I leave my work stress at the office. I go to bed before midnight. What the heck is going on?

I have begun to notice, too, that my physical exhaustion creeps into my emotional life. Both yesterday and today I have felt close to tears on more than one occasion, even making a dash for the office bathroom to choke back some emotion and pump myself back up. And all these healthy habits I mentioned above, there's a part of me that wants to say, "Screw it, I'm still exhausted. Let's skip the run and go have a burger and a strawberry shake." But I don't, because I know I'd still feel exhausted – plus lazy and bloated to boot.

I can't help but feel like at some point I'm going to breakdown if I don't stop to refuel. I think the real problem is that I haven't felt a moment of relaxation in the past three weeks. Even my sleep serves a purpose; it's a necessity, something that needs to get done on the checklist so I can carry on with the rest of the list.

But how do you refuel?

Not just what do you do, but how do you stop your brain and recharge?

Tell us: What restores your energy and brings you renewed vitality to face your day-to-day challenges and big goals?

Graduating into adulthood... means you're broke.

I get paid every other Wednesday. It's a strange pay schedule, but I like that it's every two weeks – different from the 1st and 15th crapola I used to deal with.

Most people look forward to payday. I used to. Until I got a new (to me) car. And a car payment. And a new "real" car insurance policy (when you have a crap car you can have crap insurance). Now, I see an increasing amount of bills demolish my paycheck in less than 24 hours.

Today, for example, is payday. The first thing I do is hit the gas station. Fill 'er up. I land at work with the 90-calorie version of what amounts to a Gucci handbag to me (a skinny latte - I usually get an Americano, no calories and 1/3 the price). I plop down and pull out the bills, launch my browser and pick up the phone. I simultaneously schedule payments for my car on the Internet, pay my phone bill via cell phone, and make payments on my electric and cable bills on the land line. I check the autodrafts I already have set up for my car insurance and credit card payments.

Here's the part where I get nerdy. I open up an Excel template of my finances. I enter my direct deposit from work and the many, many payments I've just made, and factor in upcoming autodrafts that fall into this pay period.

I have $67.50. The same day I got paid.

The strange thing is the amount of relief and satisfaction I feel. It blows, but it feels good to know that all of my bills are caught up. And, while $67.50 ain't going to get me those new running shoes I so desperately need, it will get me groceries and one more tank of gas. And really, the next pay period is looking better. It always does.

So, what have I learned about budgets?

Autodraft, autodraft, autodraft.
Some people might tell you this is a bad idea because you can overdraft your account. I can see how that would happen, but the real danger for me is that I will put off what I can pay in advance to what I will try to pay late. And paying late is bad for your credit, which is my big concern these days.

Be a nerd. Use a spreadsheet.
My coworker showed me this archaic little piece of paper called a "check register." I stared at him blankly, blinked twice, and asked again, "A what?" I have online banking. Why do I need to keep a file on what my bank already posts online? While I can't fathom paper, my Excel spreadsheet keeps me from doing those lovely little calculations in my head where I inevitably find that I have just enough for whatever it is I'm trying to justify buying. It always turns out to be wishful math. By entering everything into my spreadsheet, I can see the payments that are scheduled or not yet posted, and I have a more accurate picture of what I have and haven't spent.

Give yourself a solid "extras" budget.
You ain't gonna rip me away from my coffee. Don't even try. It's not just the coffee; it's the café atmosphere. Call me conservative, but I don't feel right sitting in a café sipping on the free water. I know I'm going to Starbucks. It's gonna happen. So, I take $20 a month and put it on a pre-paid Starbucks card. Saying I'm only going to spend $20 this month doesn't work for me. I simply won't (or won't want to) remember that my coffee budget has dwindled. With the pre-paid option, I get a receipt every time I order a coffee that says how much is left on my card. So if it's halfway through the month and I only have $8 left then I know I only have four more trips left for the next two weeks and I need to spread them out. It works for me.

Trim the fat.
I spend so much time at work, cafés and friends' houses that I am rarely at my apartment. I sleep there. I shower and dress there. I store food there. So, someone tell me why I'm paying $80 a month for Internet and cable? Because god forbid I shouldn't get to listen to Headline News for 20 minutes while I'm getting ready for work, or be able to check weather.com to see if it's going to be cold or hot. This is no longer justifiable to me. Trimming the fat means weighing your priorities – how badly do I need Internet and basic cable versus how badly I need to pay off my car? The car wins. Fare-thee-well, ye bloodsucking communications company.

Accept the reality of your situation.
Hey, it sucks that my whole paycheck is gone the day I got it. But that's just how it is today. Wishing for things to be any way other than they are is only going to create suffering for me. I'm taking the steps I need to take to get what I deserve pay-wise, and I'm doing what I need to do to get my finances under control. Sucking it in a little tighter today will serve me well down the line when my good credit score and history will help me into a mortgage. It's worth it.

About

Bio
Holly Hoffman is a young professional living and working in Corpus Christi, Texas, and is the founder of WorkLoveLife, a site of musings, rants, diatribes and commentary on corporate and start-up life, personal finances, personal relationships and love, health and wellness, spirituality, and whatever else life decides to throw at the driven Millennial generation.

She graduated from Rollins College just outside Orlando, Fla. before making her way to south Texas. She spent three years at a small start-up publication written by young people before moving into the corporate world.

When she’s not posting on WorkLoveLife or submitting way-too-long comments on other people’s sites, Holly works a standard 8-5 while pursuing a host of entrepreneurial endeavors, including uSavvy, a cross-generational IT consultancy for people who are afraid of computers and the Internet. She also works part-time at a café learning the trade she one day hopes to make a dream-come-true – owning her own coffee bar.

Aside from pursuing career and business success, Holly loves to run and train for races, practices yoga, loves health food, and yearns to strike a balance between earthly enjoyment and spiritual enlightenment. Personal motto: “It is better to travel well than to arrive.”

About the site:
WorkLoveLife was founded in February 2008. It is powered by Blogger, and was designed by Holly Hoffman with lots and lots of help from Benjamin Blackwell.

Contact

Contact Information

Holly Hoffman, Executive Director

holly@worklovelife.com

You can also find Holly at LinkedIn, Facebook, MySpace and Brazen Careerist.