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Tuesday, February 7, 2012

LIVE 2011 – The Challenge

Posted by admin on January 4, 2011

I haven’t blogged here in a while. We have been really busy with the other “other business” and blogging once a month on that site has been about my limit. However, after reading a couple of posts from some wonderful ladies I feel the need to put some things in writing and see if we can make 2011 even better than 2010. And the challenge was something that I think I could do. Rules are kinda lax, so I might hit them.

I shy away from having too many things written down, but know it’s a good thing. Providing an update blog once a month here will keep me on target and meet some of these goals. I stole a few of these, but what can I say… they are right on target.

1. Get Healthy and Fit – Exercise regularly, quit eating junk and go to regular doctor appointments. I know this will not happen overnight, but even small step in the right direction will lead to accomplishing some of the ones below.

2. Work Towards One Less Job – Focus on making the other “other business” hubby’s full time job.

3. Pay Off Debt – Thankfully the other “other job” is doing a great job of this. And helps us get more prepared for number 2.

4. STOP Procrastinating – This might be the hardest, but so needs to be conquered.

5. Ride My Horse – Very hard to admit, but I haven’t ridden in over a year. Partly a time thing. Partly a fit thing. I miss riding, but need to be a bit more fit to do it.

6. Learn More About Marketing – I love learning and applying all I have learned to both businesses.

7. Help Some Folks Along the Way – More than just charity work. Help others learn from what we are doing.

8. Pay Attention to Regular Maintenance – This is everything from maintaining our fences, vehicles, horses to ourselves.

9. Stay Connected – This is a challenge with our work loads, but something that needs to be done.

10. Cut Out Time Wasters – Sadly some of the online games must go.

11. Remember to have FUN – Anything can be made fun and I need to focus on that.

I have all the tools to make this happen, just need that swift kick every now and then to make it happen. Hopefully this will make 2011 a most wonderful year!

Make it a GREAT day!

Deb Stowers
Sierra Ranch, LLC
http://sierraranchok.com/
http://sierraranchok.net/

Importance of a Tribe…

Posted by admin on March 17, 2010

Some friends of mine have started a new site, Girly Gazatte. The site is about how women need to have positive relationships with other women, mostly. They have lots of cool articles about motherhood, fashion and many other things that make you think.

In their kick off week they posted an article about who is in your tribe. (The blog has since been taken down.)

I had left a comment about who I thought was in my tribe. I have a group of ladies that I have devoted a great deal of my time to in the past and I thought they would always be there for me. However, last weekend I had something happen that makes me question that.

I realize that relationships take some nurturing and work. However, I guess I may have not nurtured that relationship as much as I should have in the last year. Our family inherited a business and as any of you know that own a business the first year is often the most trying. So I have not been around for my friends as much as I used to be. Now understand that I had spent 7 years as the leader and resigned a couple of years ago to help raise my step kids. Our family was still quite involved with the group.

Our family helped with a couple of functions a year providing entertainment. Last year they came to me and said they would like to try something different at one function, and I understood. It was business and they needed to be able to pull a crowd. My hubby didn’t understand and took it kinda personal. I discussed this with the group. I chalked this up to male egoism.

Then last week we offered to provide entertainment for the function we did last year and possibly the other one. I sent an email explaining the issue that that we would be giving up a gig at the new business to do these functions. I got no response. Then later in the week got a group email stating that someone else was hired.

I felt confused. On one hand I understand it’s business. On the other hand just one email would have made me feel that they understood and show me the path they wanted to take. I don’t expect to get every gig. I don’t expect much. An email letting me know they received mine and wanted to do something different would have been the nice thing.

Needless to say this really makes me question who is in my tribe? Who has my back? Who will be there when I need something or someone? How much does a tribe need to be nurtured? Do tribes change as you move to different places in your life? Do you need a sub-tribe for work friends, mom friends, fun friends, etc.?

I have never been one to have tons of friends, kinda is part of being a nerdy engineering kinda gal. Most of my tribe growing up and through school were guys. So dealing with a group of ladies has always been interesting, but kinda thought I had made headway. Gives me some new perspective.

So how do you nurture your tribe?

Deb Stowers
Sierra Ranch, LLC
http://sierraranchok.com/
http://sierraranchok.net/