Staying connected

Being an entrepreneur is not easy.
Especially when you're married.
Especially when you're still on path to discover the best that you are.

I have firsthand experience with the struggles of keeping a spouse supportive of your efforts.
I never thought it would be this difficult to sell my dreams to my husband.
But what are my dreams? That question used to plague my thoughts, hinder me from action, but no more. It only challenges me to continue my personal journey into the unknown, to be as fearless as I once was as a chubby little baby.

Realizing that entrepreneurship is my path has taught me the importance of convincing myself of an idea first, then others. Then again, I never really had trouble with that. I always did what I wanted and did not concern myself with what the crowd thought. However when younger, I did consider what my parents thought and my extended family. My mom made sure of that with "What's Grandpa gonna think?!"

Now, I concern myself with only one person's thoughts on what I do with my life: my husband.
Why? Because whatever I do affects him, plays into his own happiness, success or sense of failure.

I've been involved in this latest turn of events called Poiseboxx and my husband hasn't.
Those are hurt feelings I have to deal with, yet I've been down this road before with other endeavors of mine. So, I'm on a mission to stay connected with him and to somehow teach him how crucial it is to do the same for my entrepreneurial efforts. There is nothing more important for the survival of a relationship.

I recall reading a Redbook magazine with Giada De Laurentiis on the cover (I've got a huge girl crush on her) and found it extremely interesting and encouraging to find out that she's lasted 18 years with her husband - since she was 19 like me. I've got 8 more years to be able to say that. The difference is, this gal's got her own TV show and has a much more grueling and demanding schedule than I do, which can definitely take a toll on any lovey dovey with the hubby.

The writer asked her, "With so much traveling, how do you and your husband stay connected?"

Giada replied, "A lot of texting! A lot! The key is, whatever I'm doing, he loves to know. Who am I working with? Where am I staying? He needs to know that to feel connected to what I'm doing, even if he's not there every day...that makes us both feel good because it's not just about me but about us, together."

I ended up cutting out that particular section of the magazine, printing a copy and giving it to my husband to carry in his wallet. I also have my copy pinned up on my bulletin board above the computer as a constant reminder. Whether he notices it while surfing youtube for inspiration from Randy Pausch, I can't say for sure, but it's there. Perhaps I can hope that the energy and intention behind my pinning it up on the board will work it's magic and transmit the necessary reminder to him.

Otherwise, I'll probably just have to bust his balls every so often to show him whose in charge of her future. It's what comes with the territory of being a woman that means business.

*C