I didn’t expect to be preoccupied with work this week, but I’m still up to my ample ass in projects. And then something super yummy popped up this afternoon.
There is a lesson here, so roll with me—First, I’m ghostwriting a book and in the middle of the first draft. My self-imposed drop-dead deadline is COB Thursday.
Second, that database project from the winter? Yeah, that one. It’s now gone into extended-remix mode. No fault of mine. It just lingers on with last-minute, after-the-fact, out-of-scope requests made by the friend who hired me. The sooner I do them, the sooner it will be over. All I’m sayin’.
Last (though in some ways first), I absolutely must be at the airport at o’dark thirty Friday morning for a flight to Jamaica. There is a huge family event planned and I will be cast out of the clan if I’m late or bring work with me. And no, I’m not Jamaican, but my mom wanted a party planning challenge. And whoa, did she get one.
AND throughout all of this week, regardless of what else is going on, I’m making time to write my love letters to y’all and trying to be part of the conversations in the comments.
Ready…?
And into this working chaos (that sometimes feels like it’s held together with duct tape and spit) comes an opportunity that—if it comes through—means 3 fast-paced weeks of video-tutorial-making and users-manual-compiling followed by…
(I so hope)
…3 weeks of travel throughout Europe and China as an assistant (read: gopher) for the training team. I’ll be damned lucky to get the travel part, but ya never know. Ya just never, ever know.
Set…?
I only have room for this new project (and the travel, too, if karmically aligned) because my current bits and pieces are managed…or at least, manageable. Check it out—
- The database project lingers, but the requests are out-of-scope
If push comes to shove, I can bow out gracefully. And ethically. And legally. I am very glad that I built the database to be robust, that I developed the video tutorials and users manual so they wouldn’t need me to train…and that I didn’t agree to provide ongoing technical support. - I’m already working toward a drop-dead deadline of Thursday for the book project
It’s been on my desk too long and I didn’t want it staring me down when I get back from my trip. Good thing I didn’t procrastinate…if this new gig comes through, it will begin 1 week after I get back from Jamaica. - My Jamaica trip is way short
I was invited to stay the week, but I’m coming home on Sunday. Independent consultant or not, when there’s work to do you bring your ass home. Yeah, maybe I could write books and whatnot from the beach, but there’s no use pretending I’d be effective. Know thyself.
Go…?
Earlier decisions worked out to make this new thing possible. Is it probable? I dunno. All I know is I’m prepared to do the work if they want me to.
But don’t I wish now—
- That I had finished this book draft last month as I meant to?
I let other people’s priorities divert my progress, and I should have kept to my original plan. - That I had already updated my passport to my married name?
Now I have to pay the expedite fee and overnight postage to get it back in time (just in case). - That I had a collection of love letters already written?
I’ll write on the run if I must, but I’d rather chill and enjoy my time with you guys. - That my closet wasn’t a fucking disaster area?
If I do get to travel, packing will be drama, drama, drama. Drama. - That I had kept up with my French lessons?
I wouldn’t be fluent, but I’d know a heckuvalot more than I do right now.
Seriously. Go…!?
To many of you, this isn’t a big deal. You have yummy gigs drop in every Monday afternoon and travel globally every quarter.
But in my wee world, this is a nifty thing to have happen, even if it doesn’t come through. It’s encouraging and confidence-building to be asked. It’s like the cherry on top for working well and doing my best (which doesn’t always feel real rewarding at the time).
And the lesson in all this, for me and maybe also for you (regardless of how it comes out) is:
It’s good business to
Be Ready For Anything
.
Et tu? Any surprises happenings (good or bad) in your world? Were you ready?
Photo credit: julianlimjl
